Concord man, woman charged with murdering her husband, other crimes
By Ted Asregadoo, Public Information Officer, Contra Costa County District Attorney
The Contra Costa District Attorney announced, today murder charges have been filed against a Concord couple. 34-year-old Ismael Alvarez and 44-year-old Francesca Charlene Lopez are currently being held at the Martinez Detention Facility for the murder of Felipe Dejesus Lopez which occurred on January 31, 2022, in Concord. Alvarez was scheduled to be arraigned on May 3, 2022, in Martinez while Francesca Lopez’s arraignment was today, May 4, 2022.
Francesca Lopez is the wife of Felipe Lopez, but it appears she was in a relationship with Alvarez at the time of the murder in Felipe’s home.
Alvarez and Francesca Lopez are also charged with two special circumstances allegations accusing the pair of murder for financial gain and murder in the course of a burglary. Alvarez faces other allegations due to a prior conviction for attempted robbery in 2019.
Case information: People v. Ismael Alvarez. Docket Number: 01-22-00305
People v. Francesca Charlene Lopez. Docket Number: 01-22-00307
Contra Costa Water board Division 1 vacancy to be filled by appointment, application deadline May 19
CONCORD – The Contra Costa Water District (District) Board of Directors has decided to fill a vacancy on its Board by appointment, as provided under state law. The vacancy is due to the resignation of Division 1 President Lisa M. Borba. Division 1 includes the District’s service area in the cities and communities of Concord, Pacheco, Clyde, Bay Point, and Pittsburg. All applicants must reside within the boundaries of Division 1. (See related article)
The Board set up a process that includes:
- Confirming 5:00 p.m. Thursday, May 19 as the deadline for interested parties to submit an application (applications are now available at District offices and on the District’s website,ccwater.com/907).
- Eligible candidates will be notified on Friday, May 27 if selected for the interview process.
- Candidates selected will be provided the opportunity to present their qualifications at a regular meeting on Wednesday, June 1.
- The Board intends to appoint the new Director at either the Board meeting of June 1 or June 15.
The Division 1 Director’s seat will be placed on the ballot for the November 8, 2022 general election. The newly appointed Director will hold the office until the general election results are certified.
To be eligible, applicants must live within the boundaries of Division 1 and be registered to vote. A map of Division 1 is available on the website at www.ccwater.com or applicants may contact the District Secretary at 925-688-8024 to confirm residency within the Division.
Applications must be received by the District Secretary, either through the website at www.ccwater.com/907 or at the District Center Building located at 1331 Concord Avenue, Concord, CA 94520 by 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, May 19, 2022.
Defrocked Oakland priest charged in fatal crash that killed Rossmoor man
Also injured man’s wife
By Ted Asregadoo, Public Information Officer, Contra Costa County District Attorney
Martinez, Calif. – A defrocked Catholic priest who has been residing in Rossmoor since 2010 has been charged by the Contra Costa District Attorney on counts of gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated, driving under the influence of alcohol, and special allegations for prior felonies.
Walnut Creek Police say 75-year-old Stephen Miller Kiesle [KEEZ-lee] was driving in Rossmoor on the night of April 16, 2022, when he struck 64-year-old Curtis Gunn and his wife Laurelyn on a sidewalk. The couple was walking near their home on Tice Creek Drive near Fairlawn Court around 9:15 pm when Mrs. Gunn said a vehicle veered onto the sidewalk, striking her husband while sideswiping her. Mr. Gunn was later pronounced dead later at John Muir Medical Center in Walnut Creek. Mrs. Gunn suffered minor injuries.
Kiesle, who has a lengthy criminal history, is being held in the Martinez Detention Facility on a $600,000 bail. He was at the center of sexual abuse allegations when he was an Oakland Diocese priest in the 1970s and ‘80s and was removed as a member of the clergy in 1987 by Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger — who later became Pope Benedict XVI.
In 2002, the Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office charged Kiesle with 13 counts of child molestation from the ‘70s. In 2004, he was sentenced to six years for molestation charges involving a girl in Truckee, CA. He registered as a sex offender after serving prison time and moved to Rossmoor in 2010.
Kiesle was arraigned on April 21, 2022, at 1:35 pm in Martinez.
Court Docket Number: 202204200007
Full list of charges: PC191.5(a) – Gross Vehicular Manslaughter While Intoxicated; VC23153(a) – Driving Under The Influence Of An Alcoholic Beverage Causing Injury PC12022.7(a) – Special Allegation-Great Bodily Injury; VC23153(b) – Driving With A .08% Blood Alcohol Content Causing Injury PC12022.7(a) – Special Allegation-Great Bodily Injury; PC1170.12 – Special Allegation – Serious or Violent Felony Prior (STRIKE Prior) – ONE PRIOR PER ALLEGATION PC667(a)(1) – Special Allegation-Cal Prior-Serious Felony (Form 2) ONE ALLEGATION PER SEPARATE PRIOR
CCWD Board President Lisa Borba announces resignation from Board of Directors effective April 22
Lisa Borba. Source: LinkedIn
Concord – During the Board meeting on April 6, Contra Costa Water District’s Board President, Lisa M. Borba, announced that she will resign from the Board effective April 22, 2022, after 12 years representing the community on water issues.
Lisa M. Borba, AICP, was first appointed to the Contra Costa Water District’s Board of Directors in April 2010 and has successfully been elected to the office since. She represents Division 1, which includes the cities and communities of Concord, Pacheco, Clyde, Bay Point, and Pittsburg. She has served as Board President since 2016.
Borba’s professional experience put her in close contact with public agencies, and she has used that experience to set policies that prioritize customer interests, basing decisions on the present needs of community now and for the future. Borba worked as a Land Planner for Blackhawk Services in Danville for 13 years and for Brookfield Homes or the past two years.
In her tenure on the Board, her highest priorities have been the responsible management of public money and providing quality customer service.
As Board President, Borba facilitated robust and thoughtful discussions on future infrastructure investments to improve the Contra Costa Canal and complete the next phase of expanding Los Vaqueros Reservoir. She noted that “transparency in how public dollars are being spent is paramount when looking at investing millions in infrastructure for safe and reliable water service for the future.”
“Over the past 12 years, this Board has worked together cooperatively and productively to make tough decisions in the interest of our customers,” said Borba. “It has been my honor to represent the customers of Contra Costa Water District.”
When asked about the timing of her retirement, Borba responded, “This was a tough decision, but the District is in good hands with this Board and this staff. I am excited about the initiatives underway to advance the good work serving the needs of our customers.”
Borba’s last day will be April 22, and the Board will need to decide to fill the vacancy for Division 1 by appointment or election.
Allen D. Payton contributed to this report
Mental health treatment module opens at Martinez Detention Facility
Photos: CCCSheriff
By Jimmy Lee, Director of Public Affairs, Contra Costa County Office of the Sheriff
A new module for inmates who have mental illnesses has opened at the Martinez Detention Facility. This follows an 18-month remodel of a module which previously held 52 inmates. Now, it will house only 24 inmates who have mental illnesses. They will be supervised 24/7 by county health staff in addition to deputy sheriffs. The cells are all single-occupancy and include 5 cells for acute cases. There are also two private medical evaluation suites in the module.
“I am proud of this new module which is part of the jail modernization we planned many years ago,” said Contra Costa County Sheriff David Livingston. “Now, inmates who have mental illnesses will have a dedicated housing unit where they will receive mental health treatment, programming, and services, in addition to healthcare.
Photos: CCCSheriff
The new module has incorporated the latest technology and best practices for detention facilities. This includes state of the art software for managing the module, furnishings that will help prevent suicides and a design that allows for greater observation of the inmates. The new module also uses a biophilic design to create a calm environment, reduce stress, and is more conducive to therapy.
“This new module sets the standard for these types of detention facilities,” said Livingston. “This reflects the commitment of the Contra Costa Sheriff’s Office and Contra Costa County in serving the needs of inmates who are living with mental health issues.”
Nonpartisan Candidates Forum for Contra Costa DA, Sheriff, County Clerk April 6
Co-sponsored by Republican Club of Rossmoor and League of Women Voters Diablo Valley
The Republican Club of Rossmoor has announced a Nonpartisan Candidates Forum for Contra Costa County candidates for District Attorney, Sheriff, and County Clerk/Recorder co-sponsored by the League of Women Voters Diablo Valley. The event will take place on Wednesday, April 6, from 4 to 7 pm in the Tahoe Room of the Event Center at Rossmoor. The Event Center is located at 1021 Stanley Dollar Drive in Walnut Creek.
Participants include Diana Becton and Mary Knox, for Contra Costa County District Attorney; David Livingston and Benjamin Therriault, for Contra Costa County Sheriff; and Vicki Gordon, Devin Murphy, and Nick Spinner, for Contra Costa County Clerk/Recorder. Kristen Connelly, who is also a candidate for Clerk/Recorder, is unable to attend.
The Leagues of Women Voters of Berkeley/Albany/Emeryville, Oakland, and Diablo Valley will provide moderators for the forum. The League’s purpose is to inform voters with a nonpartisan format, which neither supports nor opposes candidates; and to provide a venue for all candidates to promote issues that they feel are important to their constituents. Attendees will be furnished question cards for all the candidates. Questions will be asked in a format that any candidate for that office will be able to answer. The League never shares questions with candidates in advance. Usually, there are more questions than can be asked in the time available.
Concord man charged with sexual abuse of child under 13, possession of child porn
Previously the subject of a 2015 Antioch investigation, also arrested by Antioch Police in 2017 for lewd acts upon a child and sexual exploitation of a child, history of arrests in Concord, Martinez, Pleasant Hill
By Ted Asregadoo, Public Information Officer, Contra Costa County Distict Attorney
50-year-old Concord resident Patrick Steven Yelton was charged with three counts of forcible sexual abuse of a child under 13 which he allegedly committed in 2015. The charges were filed on March 28, 2022, in Contra Costa County Superior Court in Martinez. Yelton was previously charged on April 15, 2021, with one count of possession of child pornography, and is currently in custody at the Martinez Detention Facility.
In March 2020, the Internet Crimes Against Children Taskforce received information that Yelton was storing images of child pornography in his Google account. Concord Police officers contacted Yelton about the alleged images. Pursuant to a search warrant, Officers seized Yelton’s smartphone and additional photos of child pornography were located on the device. A year later, in February 2021, the ICAC Task Force received another tip that Yelton had pornographic images of children on his Yahoo account which yielded further evidence of unlawful activity.
Yelton was previously the subject of a 2015 Antioch investigation concerning sexual abuse of a child under 13. While reviewing the material in Yelton’s accounts relating to child pornography, evidence was discovered relating to the 2015 investigation. As a result, Yelton has now been charged with the 2015 forcible sexual abuse offenses, in addition to the original child pornography charge.
The investigation was conducted by a multi-agency, Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, which is managed by the San Jose Police Department. In Contra Costa County, detectives and investigators from the Walnut Creek, Pleasant Hill, Martinez, San Ramon, Concord and Moraga Police Departments, the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office, United States Secret Service, Homeland Security Investigations, the Contra Costa County Probation Department, and Inspectors from the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office participated in the task force.
According to localcrimenews.com Yelton has a history of arrests including by Pleasant Hill Police in 2016 for driving with a license suspended for drunk driving; three times by Antioch Police in 2017 including one for false imprisonment by violence, forcible lewd acts upon a child and sexual exploitation of a child under 18 years, and again in 2017 for inflicting corporal injury on spouse/cohabitant, threats of violence and receiving or concealing stolen property; by the Martinez Police also in 2017 for possession of drug paraphernalia; and seven times by the Concord Police including twice in 2018, first for possession of a controlled substance and later for battery on a spouse / cohabitant / former spouse and threats of violence
Parents are encouraged to talk to their children about online safety and can visit the website www.kidsmartz.org or the District Attorney’s website for further information.
Case information: People v. Yelton, Dockett Number 01-195896-6
Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.
Save Mount Diablo opens its Mangini Ranch Educational Preserve to the public
Students gather around a giant oak at the Mangini Ranch Educational Preserve. Photo: Scott Hein.
First of its kind in Contra Costa County; 207.8-acre preserve available for free to local schools, groups
By Laura Kindsvater, Communications Manager, Save Mount Diablo
On March 30, 2022, Save Mount Diablo opened its Mangini Ranch Educational Preserve to the public, the first of its kind in Contra Costa County. People gathered at a special ceremony at the preserve during which Assemblymember Rebecca Bauer-Kahan and Save Mount Diablo Board President Jim Felton cut the ribbon to celebrate the opening.
The 207.8-acre preserve is situated between the Crystyl Ranch residential development in Concord and Lime Ridge Open Space in Walnut Creek.
Save Mount Diablo’s Mangini Ranch Educational Preserve is available for reservations free of charge to a variety of local schools and community groups, of all ages and backgrounds, pursuing educational purposes. Examples include, but are not limited to, the following:
- environmental science classes
- nature photography courses
- yoga classes
- plein-air artists gatherings
- addiction recovery groups
- acoustic music in nature ensembles
- meditation classes
- grief counseling support groups
- church groups
- homeowners association groups
- hiking, trail running, and mountain bike clubs
Interested groups can submit a request to reserve the property for a day up to six months in advance by utilizing the online form on Save Mount Diablo’s website. The size of a group must be at least three people to no larger than 100 people. The preserve is day-use only (no camping). Location and access will be provided upon reservation. A docent will be on-sight to provide access, an overview of the property and any assistance.
The preserve includes grassland, stream canyons, blue oak woodland, chaparral, and oak savannas.
It’s home to rare species such as the northernmost stand of desert olive, rare Hospital Canyon larkspur, and threatened Alameda whipsnake. Deer, coyote, burrowing owls, kestrels, and lots of other wildlife live here too.
The preserve’s high ridgeline provides views of most of central Contra Costa County and to Marin, Sonoma, and Solano counties.
As you move away from the staging area of the preserve and into the open space along Galindo Creek and up the ridgeline, the sounds of cars and radios fade. They become birdsong and gentle breezes rustling through trees.
Here you will find you are transported into another space where senses are heightened and connecting to nature is inevitable.
About Save Mount Diablo
Save Mount Diablo is a nationally accredited, nonprofit land trust founded in 1971 with a mission
to preserve Mount Diablo’s peaks, surrounding foothills, watersheds, and connection to the Diablo Range through land acquisition and preservation strategies designed to protect the mountain’s natural beauty, biological diversity, and historic and agricultural heritage; enhance our area’s quality of life; and provide educational and recreational opportunities consistent with protection of natural resources. To learn more, please visit www.savemountdiablo.org.
Driver arrested with ghost gun parts during multi-agency task force effort Thursday night
Ghost gun parts ammo and other items confiscated by police Thursday, Feb. 17, 2022. Photos: SPPD
Walnut Creek PD assisted by San Pablo, Oakley and Antioch PD’s
Axe, knife and more confiscated items.
By San Pablo Police Department
Thursday night, Feb. 17, 2022, SPPD assisted Walnut Creek PD in a vehicle task force assignment formed to suppress crime in participating agencies in the Contra Costa County. Officer Howes and Officer Agredano performed a proactive traffic stop on a suspicious car and through the course of their investigation they found a loaded firearm inside of the car along other gun parts to make more unserialized firearms aka Ghost guns.
The driver was arrested and taken to jail. SPPD would like to give a shout out to Oakley Police Departments and Antioch PD for their assistance.
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