Contra Costa Herald

News Of By and For The People of Contra Costa County, California

Richmond child predator arrested while caught in the act

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22-year-old arrested on four charges including continuous sexual abuse of a child under 14
Charged by Contra Cost DA with 16 felony counts
Held on $7 million bail

By Lt. Donald Patchin, PIO, Richmond Police Department

On Tuesday, January 28, 2025, at around 3:00 PM, a Richmond PD sergeant was flagged down by someone who wanted to report a possible sexual assault. The person provided information about a juvenile who was possibly the victim of a sexual assault. Officers immediately launched an investigation. They determined the possible victim was currently with the alleged suspect. They also determined the suspect and victim were alone and unsupervised.

Officers immediately responded to the victim’s location. Upon knocking on the residence door, a male subject clad in only a bath towel answered. Officers quickly located the victim inside the residence and found out that the suspect was the male who answered the door. Officers learned through the subsequent investigation that the suspect had been in the act of sexually assaulting the juvenile when officers arrived on the scene. Officers knocking on the door forced the suspect to end the sexual assault.

Although we wish we would have arrived in time to prevent the sexual assault, we are glad we arrived in time to prevent the assault from continuing and to rescue this juvenile victim from their assailant.

Special Victims Unit Detectives immediately responded to assume the investigation. Detectives worked with the Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office to ensure the suspect remained in police custody and that charges were filed.

On January 30, 2025, the Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office filed a 16-count felony complaint against the suspect, Marlon Alexander Maravilla Martinez, a 22-year-old resident of Richmond (born May 22, 2002). He remains in custody with a $7,000,000.00 bail. All sixteen counts relate to lewd and sexual acts on a child who is ten years old or younger.

The victim is now safe with her family and receiving the help and resources she needs.

According to localcrimenews.com, Martinez was arrested for 261(A)(1) – rape of a victim incapable of consent, 288.5(A) – continuous sexual abuse of a child under 14, 288(B)(1) – forcible lewd acts upon a child, and 288.7(A) – engaging in sexual intercourse or sodomy with child 10 or more years of age.

According to the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office, the five-foot, six-inch, 215-pound Martinez is being held in the West County Detention Facility. His next court appearance is scheduled for Feb. 19, 2025, in Superior Court in Martinez at 1:30 PM.

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.

 

Richmond man wanted for felony domestic violence killed in officer involved shooting

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Brandished what appeared to be a knife but determined later to be a sheath

CA Attorney General investigating

By Lt. Donald Patchin, PIO, Richmond Police Department

On Tuesday, February 4, 2025, at 8:13 p.m., officers from the Richmond Police Department responded to the 2700 block of Maine Avenue in an attempt to locate a wanted subject. The subject was wanted on a probation violation warrant related to domestic violence charges.

Officers located the wanted subject on the Union Pacific Railroad right of way just west of the 300 block of Carlson Blvd. The subject refused to cooperate with officers, and a standoff ensued. During the standoff, the suspect wielded an object that appeared to be a knife. The subject ignored multiple commands to drop the object. Officers spent approximately 32 minutes attempting to de-escalate the situation and reach a peaceful resolution.

Despite our officers’ efforts to defuse the situation and end the standoff peacefully, the suspect charged the officers with the object in his hand while raising it in a threatening manner. At approximately 8:53 p.m., an officer-involved shooting occurred, and the wanted subject sustained fatal injuries.

Suspect’s knife sheath discovered later. Photo by Richmond PD

We later determined the object was not a knife. The black knife sheath in the photo is the object the subject wielded, which investigators recovered at the scene.

The Contra Costa Law Enforcement Involved Fatal Protocol, a set of guidelines and procedures followed in cases of officer-involved fatalities, was invoked, and the Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office responded to investigate.

We are committed to a thorough, transparent investigation.

Under the requirements of AB 1506, we recognized the California Department of Justice (DOJ) treats this as an “unarmed” officer-involved fatal incident, and we immediately notified them. The DOJ dispatched investigators to the scene to investigate.

We are fully cooperating with the DOJ’s independent investigation. We believe it is important to release information in a transparent manner. We intend to release additional information as soon as the investigation allows.

According to a press release issued on Wednesday, Feb. 5, “California Attorney General Rob Bonta announced that the California Department of Justice (DOJ), pursuant to Assembly Bill 1506 (AB 1506), is investigating and will independently review an officer-involved shooting (OIS) that occurred in Richmond, California on Tuesday, February 4, 2025.

Following notification by local authorities, DOJ’s California Police Shooting Investigation Team initiated an investigation in accordance with AB 1506 mandates. Upon completion of the investigation, it will be turned over to DOJ’s Special Prosecutions Section within the Criminal Law Division for independent review.

More information on the California Department of Justice’s role and responsibilities under AB 1506 is available here: https://oag.ca.gov/ois-incidents.”

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.

CHP’s Organized Retail Crime Task Force achieves record-breaking success in 2024

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Source: CHP

After a record-setting 2023 combatting organized retail crime, the California Highway Patrol (CHP) continues to aggressively disrupt and dismantle illegal operations throughout California. Thanks to the state’s continued investment in combating organized retail crime, the CHP is proud to announce its most successful year yet for the Organized Retail Crime Task Force (ORCTF). In 2024, the task force set new records for investigations, arrests, and recovered stolen goods since its launch in 2019—surpassing all expectations and demonstrating its unparalleled effectiveness.

In the 12 months of 2024, ORCTF efforts have resulted in:

✔ 879 investigations
✔ 1,707 arrests
✔ 676,227 stolen goods recovered
✔ $13.5 million in recovered goods value

With increased funding since 2022, CHP has expanded its efforts statewide, adding more investigators and enhancing proactive crime prevention strategies. This past holiday season, ORCTF teams partnered with local law enforcement and more than 50 retailers to safeguard shoppers, merchants, and retail districts across California. Their heightened presence deterred crime and led to in-the-moment arrests of retail criminals.

CHP’s unwavering commitment to stopping organized retail crime underscores its dedication to public safety. Recent legislation signed by Governor Gavin Newsom has further strengthened law enforcement tools to hold offenders accountable, reinforcing the ORCTF’s mission to ensure the safety and security of California communities.

For more information about CHP’s Organized Retail Theft Program, visit our website at https://www.chp.ca.gov/notify-chp/organized-retail-theft-program

The mission of the CHP is to provide the highest level of Safety, Service and Security.

American Canyon man arrested in Brentwood on felony robbery, weapons charges

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Loaded firearm confiscated from the suspect by Brentwood Police. Photo source: Brentwood PD

In possession of loaded firearm; has history of arrests dating to 2014

By Brentwood Police Department

This past weekend, a Brentwood officer, while en route to a call, spotted 33-year-old Armondo Joseph Gomez (born 1/27/1991) of American Canyon near the 6700 block of Lone Tree Way, who was known to have a felony warrant for robbery and weapons charges.

When the officer attempted to detain Gomez, he fled on foot. However, the officer was able to safely take him into custody. Upon searching Gomez, the officer discovered a loaded firearm in his possession.

Gomez, a convicted felon, was arrested for the outstanding warrants, possession of a loaded firearm, and other related charges.

According to the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office, the six-foot, one-inch tall, 185-pound suspect is being held in the West County Detention Center on no bail and his next court date is scheduled in Delta Superior Court, Dept. 4 in Pittsburg on Feb. 3, 2025.

According to localcrimenews.com, Gomez has a history of arrests dating to 2014 by a variety of agencies in four different counties for crimes including a variety of weapons charges, battery and inflicting corporal injury on a spouse or co-habitant grand theft, stolen vehicles and shoplifting.

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.

Following pursuit, collision Brentwood man arrested in Oakley for stolen vehicle

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Source: Oakley PD

Driver of truck struck by suspect injured, hospitalized

By Oakley Police Department

On January 26, 2025, at 9:16AM Oakley Police Officer G. Ganz located a stolen vehicle driving in the area of Gamay Drive and Empire Avenue. Officer Ganz followed the vehicle as it turned north on Teakwood Drive. As Officer Ganz was following the vehicle, it was learned the person who was suspected of stealing the vehicle was named as Joseph McDonald (44, Brentwood) who was a parolee at large — he has violated the terms of his parole and is wanted back in custody.

Officer Ganz attempted to stop the stolen vehicle, and the driver fled and attempted to make a righthand turn onto eastbound Main Street at a high rate of speed. The driver of the stolen vehicle collided into a Ram 1500 truck, which was travelling westbound on Main Street; both vehicles were immediately disabled. Officers took the driver of the stolen vehicle into custody and determined it was indeed McDonald who had been driving it. The driver of the Ram truck was transported to a local hospital for injuries sustained in the collision. McDonald was also transported to a local hospital and as of this writing, remains hospitalized and in the custody of the Oakley Police Department. Oakley Police staff will be working on getting McDonald formally booked and transferred into the custody of the Sheriff’s Office.

Chief Paul Beard notes, “By mere virtue of Mr. McDonald being a parolee at large, this incident is not the first time he has crossed the threshold of right and wrong. Should McDonald have been out on parole? NO. McDonald was clearly demonstrating a continued pattern of a criminal lifestyle and people were at risk of harm because he was allowed the freedom of prison. I appreciate the efforts of officers like Officer Ganz to hold wrongdoers accountable, and I hope to see charges filed against McDonald that are commensurate to his actions. Collectively, the members of the Oakley Police Department wish for the quick healing of the innocent person who was injured in this incident.
Stay safe Oakley.”

Alexis Gabe’s family responds to DA’s decision not to charge alleged murderer’s mother

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Alexis Gabe from her missing poster photo in 2022 and her ex-boyfriend Marshall Jones seen unloading a black plastic bag at his mother’s house on Jan. 28, 2022. Source: Video screenshot from Justice for Alexis Gabe Facebook page.

“We are extremely disappointed” – Gwyn Gabe, Alexis’ father

Holds vigil on 3rd anniversary of day she went missing

Share videos showing Marshall Jones unloading black garbage bags at mother’s home, her discovering them in the garage, the two speaking, laughing and hugging

By Allen D. Payton

In a post on the Justice for Alexis Gabe Facebook page on Thursday, Jan. 23, 2025, her father Gwyn Gabe provided a response to the decision by the Contra Costa District Attorney to not pursue charges against Alicia Coleman-Clark, the mother of Alexis’ alleged murderer, her now-deceased ex-boyfriend Marshall Curtis Jones, III. Gwyn wrote, “It’s not over.” (See related article) Part of Alexis’ remains were found in Amador County. Jones was later killed when police attempted to arrest him in Washington state. (See related articles here and here)

Post on Justice for Alexis Gabe Facebook page on Jan. 24, 2025.

Gwyn Gabe went on to write, “We are extremely disappointed. We just concluded a conversation with DA Diana Becton and Deputy DA Simon O’Connell. Despite having a substantial amount of evidence, they still declined to pursue charges.”

Another post on the Facebook page from July 2, 2022, was shared, showing Coleman-Clark’s mugshot which reads, “This is a picture of Marshall’s mother. She was arrested on May 19, 2022 and charged with Penal Code 32 (aiding & abetting) by OPD, but the DA declined to file charges.”

Alicia Coleman-Clark and her son Marshall Jones in front of her house in screenshots of undated security surveillance videos. Source: Justice for Alexis Gabe Facebook page.

Security Surveillance Videos at Suspect’s Mother’s Home

A security surveillance video from his mother’s house posted on that same Facebook page on Friday, Jan. 24, 2025, shows Marshall Jones unloading black garbage bags from a truck at his mother’s house in Antioch. The post reads:

“THE BLACK GARBAGE BAGS.
Our case has concluded, and as I promised, here is the video of Marshall Jones unloading black garbage bags at his mother’s house on January 28, 2022. This video gave us nightmares and is quite disturbing and difficult to view. Please be careful with your comments. The ADT camera captures footage every 30 seconds, so you might see some gaps. I will share more videos soon.”

Another, undated video posted earlier that day shows his mother, Coleman-Clark, speaking on the phone with someone. The comment with the video reads, “Discovering the bags in her garage. ‘They’re ice cold….like they just came out of the refrigerator.’”

A third, undated video from what appears to be the same day also posted on the group’s Facebook page on Saturday, Jan. 25, 2025, shows Jones speaking with his mother wearing the same dress as in the undated video above, with the truck in the same location as it was shown in the previous video in which he unloaded the black bags. The comment with that post reads, “Garbage bags back in the SUV and on his way to his sister’s house. ‘I didn’t want to do it, but I did it’ ‘Come back thereafter, so people can see you’ ‘You can have people do it’ ‘Don’t talk to anybody.’ What else did you hear?”

More videos are posted on the Facebook page, including one on Saturday, Jan. 25, which includes the comment, “Just got back from Amador County. The karaoke party is still happening. Someone seemed a bit upset, though.”

A vigil for Alexis was held on Sunday night, Jan. 26, the third anniversary of the date she went missing. KTVU FOX 2, KPIX 5 News, NBC News Bay Area and ABC 7 News covered the event.

“It still really hurts everyday that you wake up without my daughter,” said Alexis’ mother, Rowena Gabe.

Canadian man sentenced for “sextortion” of Contra Costa County minor

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Arrested in 2021 in St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador for multiple online child exploitation offences

Multi-agency effort

Sentenced to 2 years in prison, 3 years of supervised release, must register as a sex offender for 10 years

By Ted Asregadoo, PIO, Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office

A 25-year-old man from Gulf Island, Canada, has been sentenced to prison for sexually extorting a minor in Contra Costa County in 2020, in what is commonly referred to as a “Sextortion” attack.

In the fall of 2019, Nicholas Fahey used a social media application to contact a minor in Contra Costa County and solicited sexually explicit images from the victim. After the victim complied, Fahey sent the victim a series of threats, indicating he would release the images of the victim unless the victim complied with his demands for more photographs.

The investigation was referred to the Contra Costa County Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force (ICAC) and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). Fahey was identified as the suspect through an investigation of his social media accounts. Ultimately, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police arrested Fahey at his home in Bay Bulls, Canada, located in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador. Fahey was charged on May 21, 2021, in Canada’s version of Superior Court.

On January 23, 2025, Fahey was sentenced to two years in prison and ordered to register as a sex offender for 10 years. Fahey will also serve a term of three years of supervised release.

“This investigation highlights the shared commitment of the ICAC Task Force and HSI to pursue criminals, even those operating beyond U.S. borders,” said District Attorney Diana Becton. “Parents need to understand that individuals who prey on minors online are not restricted by national or state boundaries. Those who use the internet to harm our youth should know that my office will collaborate with law enforcement agencies like the Royal Canadian Mounted Police to seek justice for the victims in our county.”

Sextortion is the most common crime targeting children on social media. According to the FBI, between 2021 and 2023, 12,600 children in the United States were victims of sextortion, resulting in at least 20 suicides.

To report sextortion, contact your local law enforcement agency or file a report with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children at www.missingkids.org.

Parents are encouraged to talk to their children about the risks associated with smartphone use and social media. If parents, educators, or organizations are interested in presentations on topics like smartphones, social media, or our Vigilant Parents initiative, please contact the District Attorney’s Office at DAOffice@contracostada.org.

According to Corporal Jolene Garland, Media Relations Officer of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police in Newfoundland and Labrador, on April 29, 2021, then-twenty-two-year-old Nicholas Fahey of Gull Island was arrested, following an investigation by the RCMP/RNC Integrated Internet Child Exploitation (IICE) team. He is charged with multiple online child exploitation offences.

The investigation began in early 2020, after police received reports from the US Department of Homeland Security that two American youth had been exploited online by a resident of this province. A local investigation by IICE led to a search warrant that was executed on a Gull Island residence in July of 2020.

Fahey is now charged with the following criminal offences:
• Possession of Child Pornography
• Transmission of Child Pornography
• Making Sexually Explicit Material Available to a Child
• Luring a Child (x2)
• Indecent Act (exposure)
• Extortion (x2)
• Invitation to Sexual Touching

Fahey was released from custody on conditions designed to protect the general public and was scheduled to appear in court on June 16, 2021.

Parents and guardians are encouraged to exercise proper supervision of children while online and to foster regular discussions with their children about online safety.

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.

 

Contra Costa DA files additional charges against infamous convicted kidnapper

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Matthew Muller mugshot, Dublin, California, June 9, 2015. Source: Wikipedia

For a previously unreported 2015 kidnapping for ransom at residence near San Ramon

Arizona kidnapping became focus of 2024 season of Netflix true crime series “American Nightmare”

By Ted Asregadoo, Public Information Officer, Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office

The Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office has filed a three-count felony complaint against a convicted kidnapper and rapist whose crimes include a high-profile case featured in a documentary series.

Matthew Daniel Muller, 47, is currently serving a 40-year federal prison sentence in Tucson, Arizona, for the 2015 kidnapping and rape of Denise Huskins — a case that drew widespread media attention and became the focus of the 2024 season of American Nightmare, a Netflix true crime series.

According to his Wikipedia page, Muller is a former immigration attorney, and Marine veteran. He is known for carrying out the kidnapping in Vallejo, California, referred to in the media as the ”Gone Girl” kidnapping.

The new charges filed on Jan. 6, 2025, by the Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office stem from a previously unreported 2015 kidnapping for ransom at a residence in an unincorporated area of San Ramon. The crime came to light over the course of 2024 through correspondence between law enforcement and Muller, during which he confessed to multiple crimes in Northern California, including the 2015 incident in Contra Costa County.

After learning of Muller’s confession, detectives from the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office initiated an investigation, despite the lack of a reported crime in 2015. The Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office joined the investigation on December 13th, 2024, which included a meeting with Muller.

In the spring of 2015, Muller unlawfully held two John Does and one Jane Doe for ransom, demanding that one of the captives withdraw tens of thousands of dollars from their bank account to secure the release of the others. After obtaining the money, Muller fled the residence.

Fearing retribution, the victims never reported the crime. To this day, they have chosen to remain anonymous.

The Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office collaborated with the El Dorado and Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Offices to coordinate investigative efforts. These efforts resulted in three felony charges of kidnapping for ransom [PC 209(a)] filed in Contra Costa Superior Court.

“The trauma of crime can have lasting effects that some people endure for their entire lives – whether the crime is reported or not,” said Contra Costa District Attorney Diana Becton. “Muller committed serious offenses throughout Northern California, and my office will be resolute in seeking justice on behalf of the victims in Contra Costa County.”
Muller is scheduled to be arraigned on the charges at a future date in Contra Costa Superior Court.

The case is “The People of the State of California v. Muller, Matthew Daniel.”

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.

Contra Costa DA reaches filing decision in 2022 Oakley woman Alexis Gabe’s murder

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Alexis Gabe from her missing poster in 2022.

Insufficient evidence to prove suspect’s mother acted as accessory after the fact

No gunshot residue on Gabe’s clothing

Oakley, Antioch Police Departments investigated

By Ted Asregadoo, Public Information Officer to the Contra Costa County District Attorney

The Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office reached a filing decision on an accessory after the fact charge in the case of the Alexis Gabe murder in 2022. Below is a press release and the complaint that was filed in 2022 against the suspect, Marshall Curtis Jones, III.

The Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office has concluded its investigation into whether the mother of Marshall Curtis Jones, III acted as an accessory after the fact in connection with the death of Alexis Gabe in January 2022. (See related article)

Since the May 26, 2022, charging of Marshall Curtis Jones with the first-degree murder of Alexis Gabe, and Jones’ subsequent death while law enforcement was serving him a warrant in Washington State on June 1st of the same year, the District Attorney’s Office remained committed to investigating all possible avenues of criminal liability. This commitment included evaluating whether any individual, including Jones’s mother, Alicia Coleman-Clark could bear criminal liability for actions taken after the crime.

Following a detailed meeting with Alexis Gabe’s family in December 2024, the District Attorney’s Office, along with the Oakley and Antioch Police Departments, pursued additional investigative leads. These efforts included:

1. Forensic Examination of Recovered Clothing: Additional forensic analysis of a shirt recovered with Alexis Gabe’s remains was conducted to determine the presence of gunshot residue (GSR). The results found no evidence of gunshot residue or any indication that the shirt had been penetrated by gunfire – which is consistent with prior forensic findings.

2. Investigation of a Second Plastic Bag: While a second plastic bag with Alexis’s remains was recovered by search and rescue personnel in Amador County, that second bag was not with the remains sent to California State University, Chico for forensic testing. While no identifiable DNA was found on the first recovered bag, law enforcement pursued the whereabouts of the second plastic bag. After an exhaustive effort by Antioch and Oakley Police to determine its whereabouts, law enforcement confirmed to the District Attorney’s Office the bag was never provided to any local law enforcement agency. As such, there is no second bag to test for the presence of a contributor’s DNA.

3. Re-interview of Alicia Coleman-Clark’s Former Boyfriend: Investigators conducted a follow-up interview with Ms. Coleman-Clark’s former boyfriend to clarify prior statements he made to law enforcement in 2022. He reiterated that a reference made by Coleman-Clark to something “cold” related to a soda can and not to Alexis Gabe’s remains. His account is consistent with his prior statements, and no evidence has been found to contradict his explanation regarding a cold soda can.

4. Search of Flight Purchase Records: Investigators obtained a warrant to search airline ticket purchase records for Marshall Jones’ flight to Seattle, Washington in February 2022 to determine whether Ms. Coleman-Clark had facilitated the purchase. The records obtained did not indicate any purchase activity involving Coleman-Clark. It appears the flight was arranged through a third-party vendor — and no further purchase details have been identified by law enforcement.

Legal Determination

The District Attorney’s Office determined that while some information raised suspicion about Alicia Coleman-Clark’s potential culpability as an accessory after the fact under Penal Code Section 32, there are plausible alternative explanations that point against her guilt under the same statute.

Therefore, after a thorough review of the totality of the evidence, the District Attorney’s Office has concluded there is insufficient evidence to prove beyond a reasonable doubt the elements required to charge that Alicia Coleman-Clark acted as an accessory after the fact under Penal Code Section 32.

“We extend our deepest condolences to the Gabe family for the unimaginable loss of Alexis. Our office has worked tirelessly over the past three years to pursue every lead,” said District Attorney Diana Becton. “While we have concluded our investigation into this matter, we remain committed to supporting the Gabe family.”

 

Brentwood Police to hold Town Hall Meeting on Prop. 36 and organized retail theft Jan. 30

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If you’re interested in learning more about Proposition 36 and efforts to address organized retail theft, we invite you to join us at our next Town Hall Meeting:

Date: Thursday, January 30th, Location: Brentwood Community Center, 35 Oak Street, Time: 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM.

This is a great opportunity to engage with the Brentwood Police Department, learn about these critical topics, and ask questions.