Contra Costa Herald

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

Former Richmond pastor sentenced for sexually assaulting child parishioner

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Emilio Alberto Esperanza-Pacheco receives 120 years to life, plus life without possibility of parole

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

Martinez, California – A Contra Costa County judge has sentenced a former Richmond pastor — convicted on multiple counts of child sexual assault — to 120 years to life, plus an additional term of life without the possibility of parole.

As previously reported, on February 4, 2026, a Contra Costa County jury convicted former Richmond pastor Emilio Alberto Esperanza-Pacheco on five counts of aggravated sexual assault of a child under the age of 14 and 10 counts of forcible lewd acts upon a child. The jury also found that Esperanza-Pacheco committed a forcible lewd act upon a child during the commission of a first-degree residential burglary. The offenses occurred between June 1, 2023, and October 14, 2023.

At the time of the crimes, Esperanza-Pacheco was employed as a pastor at God’s Lighthouse of Truth Church in Richmond, where the victim and her family were members and had developed a friendship with him. Evidence presented at trial showed that Esperanza-Pacheco exploited his position within the church and his relationship with the family to prevent the victim from disclosing the abuse. The victim ultimately found the courage to tell her parents, leading to Esperanza-Pacheco’s arrest by Richmond Police on October 14, 2023. He remained in custody throughout the duration of the criminal proceedings.

Judge Danielle Douglas’s sentence on Friday, April 24, 2026, was driven by two sets of aggravating circumstances. The first was when Esperanza-Pacheco broke into the victim’s home with the intent to commit sexual assault. Under California law, a forcible sex crime committed against a child under 14 during a first-degree burglary carries a penalty of life without the possibility of parole. The second set involved three additional factors. First, the victim was particularly vulnerable. Second, Esperanza-Pacheco took advantage of his position of trust as a pastor and trusted family friend to gain access to the victim and carry out the abuse. Third, the defendant engaged in violent conduct indicating a serious danger to society.

District Attorney Diana Becton said, “It is our hope that the victim and her family find some measure of peace and closure. The bravery the young victim showed by speaking up has led to an outcome where an abuser who exploited his position of trust will not have the opportunity to harm another child again.”

According to faithstreet.com, “God’s Lighthouse of Truth Church is a Nondenominational church in Richmond, CA featuring contemporary and traditional hymns worship and with children’s ministry and community service.” It is located at 3725 Macdonald Avenue in Richmond. No website or social media account could be found for the church from an internet search.

Case No. 02-23-01604 | The People of the State of California v. Emilio Alberto Esperanza-Pacheco

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.

One dead, one injured following shootout in Richmond

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Homicide under investigation

By Richmond Police Department

Richmond Police Department Detectives are investigating a homicide that occurred on Thursday, April 16, 2026, at approximately 10:59 a.m. in the 2400 block of Aberdeen Way.

Officers responded to reports of shots being fired and located one person deceased at the scene. A second involved subject self-transported to a local trauma center.

The preliminary investigation indicates the two involved parties exchanged gunfire with each other. At this time, investigators do not believe there are any outstanding suspects, and there is no known ongoing threat to public safety.

Detectives are actively investigating the circumstances surrounding the shooting.

Anyone with information is encouraged to contact Richmond Police Department Investigations at (510) 620-6616.

Contra Costa DA secures county’s first felony conviction under new sex buyer law

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37-year-old Cedric Demarcus Kelly of Richmond has history of arrests

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

Martinez, California — A new California law targeting sex buyers has resulted in Contra Costa County’s first felony conviction under the statute.

37-year-old Cedric Demarcus Kelly of Richmond (born Feb. 17, 1989) pleaded guilty on Wednesday, April 22, 2026, to one count of engaging or agreeing to engage in prostitution with a minor. The case is notable in that it was prosecuted under an amendment to Penal Code 647(b), which became effective on January 1, 2026. The amendment now allows prosecutors to charge the buyer with a felony when the minor was induced to engage in commercial sex through trafficking, or when the buyer is more than three years older than the minor.

In the case of Kelly, the minor, who was 16 years old at the time, engaged in an act of prostitution with Kelly. On February 21, 2026, Richmond Police Department responded to a 911 call from the minor after she reported a conflict with her trafficker. She noted to officers that she had sex for money with Kelly, which led to his arrest. The case was referred to the Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office on February 25th. After a review of the evidence, the case was filed with the court that same day. Before the case reached the preliminary hearing stage of the legal process, Kelly entered a plea agreement on April 22nd.

Kelly was sentenced by Judge Michael Nieto to 180 days in county jail, two years of formal probation, which includes a search and seizure condition — at any time, without needing a warrant — for evidence of solicitation. The court also issued a nighttime stay away order from the 23rd Street corridor in Richmond, and Kelly must complete an educational course on human trafficking and the exploitation of minors.

“Contra Costa County’s first felony conviction under the amended Penal Code 647(b) statute marks a turning point in how we prosecute those who buy sex from minors,” District Attorney Diana Becton said. “This law recognizes that buyers are not bystanders — they are participants in the exploitation of minors. We are grateful to the Richmond Police Department and the Contra Costa Human Trafficking Task Force for their swift response and thorough work on this case.”

According to the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office, the five-foot, 11-inch tall, 175-pound Kelly is Black and is being held in the West County Detention Center.

According to localcrimenews.com, Kelly has been arrested beginning in 2023, three times by Richmond PD and once by El Cerrito PD for crimes including sodomy with a person under 18 years, unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor, oral copulation with a person under 18 years, inflicting corporal injury on a spouse or cohabitant, drug possession including for sale, vandalism: paint and driving without a license.

About the Contra Costa Human Trafficking Task Force

The Task Force is a collaborative and multidisciplinary body that brings together diverse organizations from the local, state and federal levels to combat human trafficking throughout the county. The Richmond Police Department is a founding member of the Task Force and sits on its Core Leadership Team.

If you have information to share about potential sex or labor trafficking taking place in Contra Costa County, please call the District Attorney’s Human Trafficking & Workplace Justice Tip Line at (925) 957-8658 (non-emergency tips only).

Possible murder-suicide in Richmond under investigation

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By Richmond Police Department

On April 17, 2026, at approximately 9:57 a.m., officers with the Richmond Police Department responded to the 5600 block of Clinton Avenue for a welfare check. The resident of the home sent an email to a family member indicating they planned to self-harm, and the family member contacted RPD.

Officers made entry into the residence and located two deceased individuals inside.

At this time, the incident is being investigated as a murder and suicide. Investigators believe this was an isolated incident, and there is no threat to public safety.

The investigation remains in its early stages, and detectives are continuing to gather evidence. Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the Richmond Police Department at (510) 620-6616.

Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office issues 2025 Annual Report

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Source: Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office

Showcases “justice reform progress”

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

Martinez, California – Contra Costa County District Attorney Diana Becton issued the office’s 2025 Annual Report, showcasing the justice reform progress made for the county’s residents.

“We are making meaningful progress with a sharp focus on public safety, pragmatic solutions and alternatives to a one-size-fits-all criminal justice system,” said District Attorney Becton. “By modernizing our infrastructure and focusing on victim-centered practices, we are ensuring that accountability and support go hand-in-hand to keep our communities safe”

Becton wrote in her introductory message of the report, “We have strengthened partnerships with law enforcement agencies, public officials and community organizations to ensure public safety efforts are both effective and equitable. The professionalism and tireless commitment of our Deputy District Attorneys, Investigators, Victim Advocates, and Support Staff make this great work possible.

“In this annual report, you’ll see the results of that work in some of the following areas:

  • Prosecuting serious and violent felonies and misdemeanors
  • Implementing restorative justice programs for young people and adults
  • Resolving cold cases – including unsolved homicides
  • Creating prosecutorial units focused on community violence, retail crime, hate crimes, human trafficking, and public integrity
  • Establishing an analytics team to identify crime trends, improve case outcomes, and allocate resources for more efficient crime prevention

“The path to improving public safety is challenging, filled with setbacks, resistance, and obstacles. But despite these challenges, we’ve made real progress building a smarter, more effective justice system with solutions that work.”

“This is the kind of progress that moves beyond the status quo, toward a more just and safe community for all. Thank you for your continued trust,” she concluded.

Source: Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office

Key highlights from the 2025 Annual Report include:

  • Prosecution Results: The office’s Direct Court Unit achieved a 96% felony conviction rate for jury trials in 2025 — 15 percentage points above California’s statewide average of 81% — securing guilty verdicts in 25 of 26 felony cases tried. The Homicide Unit conducted 15 homicide trials, resulting in a total of 14 convictions, 12 of which were murder convictions – a 93% conviction rate. The Interpersonal Violence Unit conducted 20 trials involving domestic partner crimes, sexual assault, and elder abuse achieving at 85% conviction rate in the cases which reached verdicts.
  • Victim Support: The Victim Witness Assistance Program served over 10,600 victims, provided close to 48,000 forms of services, and secured $9.8 million in restitution. The office also welcomed a second facility dog, Fenner, who joined Bear in providing comfort to crime victims — particularly children — throughout the criminal justice process.

The report also adds, “Our work extends beyond prosecution. We’ve led in statewide efforts on ethical AI and launched the Underserved and Unserved Survivor Program. The office expanded trauma-informed support for victims—particularly those impacted by gun violence and unsolved crimes. Our superpower is protection with purpose, combining innovation, data, and human care to seek justice for victims while preventing future harm.”

  • Restorative Justice and Alternatives to Incarceration: The office’s Neighborhood Restorative Partnership Program (NRP) continued to demonstrate remarkable outcomes since its 2022 launch. Of 119 participants who have completed the program, only one — a recidivism rate of 1% — went on to reoffend, compared to California’s statewide misdemeanor recidivism rate of 21.1%. A total of 288 cases have been referred to the program since its inception, with 59 participants currently enrolled.
  • Cold Case Breakthroughs: The Cold Case Unit secured multiple convictions in crimes dating back to the 1990s and early 2000s using advanced DNA technology and genetic genealogy. Notable resolutions included the conviction of James Grimsley for the nearly three-decade-old murder of Terrie Ladwig, a transgender woman in Concord, and guilty pleas in a 2007 Pittsburg homicide after touch DNA linked the suspect to the crime.
  • Public Accountability: The office secured guilty pleas in all six cases stemming from its joint FBI investigation into public corruption and bribery among Antioch and Pittsburg police officers — reinforcing the principle of equal justice under law. Launched in March 2022, the investigation uncovered a scheme in which officers illegally canceled traffic tickets in exchange for personal benefits, resulting in some officers losing their law enforcement certifications.

According to the report, “The bribery and conspiracy charges were serious, but the investigation uncovered other troubling behavior as well. When investigators reviewed the officers’ messages, they found a large number of racist, sexist, and homophobic texts shared among more than a dozen officers.

“These messages raised concerns about fairness in hundreds of criminal cases that those officers had worked on. As a result, our office reviewed hundreds of cases to determine whether the officers’ bias affected the outcome.”

  • Expanding Access to Justice: District Attorney Becton cut the ribbon on December 15, 2025, at the grand opening of a new branch office at 3890 Railroad Avenue in Pittsburg, housing approximately 30 staff members and bringing justice services directly to East County residents. “East County matters, and the people who live and work here deserve accessible and responsive justice,” Becton said at the ceremony. (See related article)

The full 2025 Annual Report is available for public viewing at Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office 2025 Annual Report Final.

About the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office

Established in 1850, the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office serves a diverse population of 1.15 million residents across four office locations in Martinez, Pittsburg and Richmond. Over 175 years, the office has grown to employ approximately 250 staff members, including attorneys, inspectors, victim-witness advocates, legal assistants, case preparation analysts and administrative staff, operating under the principles of equal justice, transparency, and public safety. For more information visit District Attorney | Contra Costa County, CA Official Website.

Allen D. Payton contributed to this article.

Suspect in 2023 Pleasant Hill homicide found guilty of first-degree murder of Concord man

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Andre Aaron Barocio, Jr. was arrested in Mexico in May 2023. Photo source: Pleasant Hill PD

37-year-old Hercules man fled to Mexico, has history of arrests

By Pleasant Hill Police Department

On April 3, 2023, around 1:15 am, Pleasant Hill Police officers responded to the parking lot in front of Farrington’s Bar at 1938 Contra Costa Blvd. for the report of a shooting. Officers found a 37-year-old Oscar Laredo-Arellano, deceased in the parking lot from a gunshot wound to his head and determined he had been shot following an argument. 37-year-old Andre Aaron Barocio, Jr. (born 4/21/1988) of Hercules was identified as the suspect in the shooting.  (See related article)

In May of 2023, PHPD detectives, with the help of federal law enforcement and Mexican state police, located Barocio, Jr. in Mexico. Barocio Jr. was arrested and returned to the United States for trial.

In March 2026, Barocio, Jr.’s murder trial began in Contra Costa County Superior Court. On April 8, 2026, Barocio, Jr. was found guilty of first-degree murder and will be sentenced in June 2026.

In addition, then-32-year-old Angelo Martinez Delacruz of Antioch (born 5/31/90) was identified as a suspect in the shooting. In April 2023 he was arrested in Douglas County, Nevada. Upon extradition, police booked him into the Martinez Detention Facility for assault with a firearm. (See related article)

According to the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office, the five-foot, eight-inch tall, 260-pound Barocio, Jr. is being held in the Martinez Detention Facility and his next court appearance is scheduled for June 25, 2026, at 8:30 a.m. in Martinez Superior Court.

According to localcrimenews.com, he has a history of arrests dating back to 2014 by a variety of agencies in Contra Costa and Alameda counties on multiple violence, gun and drug charges and driving violations.

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.

Separate Walnut Creek traffic stops lead to arrests of Concord, Richmond men with weapons

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Gun, magazine and bullet confiscated from Bryant Payne and the billy club and brass knuckles confiscated from Juan Cortez-Lopez on March 5, 2026. Photos: Walnut Creek PD

29-year-old convicted felon Bryant Payne, 36-year-old Juan Cortez-Lopez each has history of arrests

By Walnut Creek Police Department

Proactive patrolling leads to several illegal weapons being recovered and removed from our streets!

On March 5, 2026, Officer Young was patrolling near a retail store when he noticed a suspicious vehicle in the parking lot. While approaching the vehicle, he observed a firearm magazine in plain view and detained the occupants. After performing a search, he found an unregistered loaded handgun with a high-capacity magazine. The driver, 29-year-old Bryant Justin Payne, of Richmond, was found to be a convicted felon with prior weapons violations, which led to him and the passenger being taken into custody.

While conducting a separate traffic stop, Officer Young also found 36-year-old Juan Cortez-Lopez, of Concord, in possession of brass knuckles and a billy club, which led to his arrest.

According to localcrimenews.com, the 147-pound Payne is Black and has nine previous arrests by a variety of agencies for crimes including gun charges, embezzlement multiple times and resisting, obstructing or delaying a peace officer.

Also, according to localcrimenews.com, Cortez-Lopez has his own history of arrests for gun and drug charges.

Thank you, Officer Young, for removing dangerous weapons from our streets and enhancing community safety. This is a prime example of proactive policing at its finest!!

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.

Brentwood man arrested on felony weapons charges

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34-year-old Briscoe Treshan Tyee Allen already out of custody with no charges filed

By Allen D. Payton

According to the Brentwood Police Department’s CitizenRIMS, 34-year-old Briscoe Treshan Tyee Allen of Brentwood was arrested on Tuesday, March 24, 2026, at 10:10 AM on multiple weapons charges.

The six-foot, two-inch tall, 200-pound suspect is Black and was arrested in the 5900 Block of Lone Tree Way.

He was charged with 30605(a) Pc: Illegally possessing an assault weapon (F), 25400(a)(1) Pc: Carrying a concealed weapon in a vehicle (F), 25850(a) Pc: Carrying a loaded firearm in public under specific circumstances (F), 23920(a) Pc: Possession, etc. of a firearm without identifying markings (M), and 14601.2(a) Vc: Driving with a license suspended for DUI. The Case Number is 2601239.

According to localcrimenews.com, Allen was previously arrested, twice in 2018, first by Contra Costa Sheriff’s Deputies for DUI drugs and alcohol and  resisting, obstructing, delaying a Peace Officer and later that year by L.A. County Temple Sheriff’s Substation Deputies for possession of a controlled substance for sale.

Walnut Creek double murder defendant charged in 2024 LA County murder plot

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L.A. man with criminal history also charged

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

Martinez, California – A Walnut Creek man already facing double murder charges in the 2025 killings of his wife and mother-in-law now faces an additional homicide charge for a separate 2024 killing in Los Angeles County tied to the Walnut Creek case.

43-year-old Howard Chen Hao Wang and 33-year-old Demarques James Pearl of Los Angeles, (born 5/8/1992) have been charged in the murder of Chengli Li, who was 41 at the time. Li, prior to his shooting death in San Gabriel, CA on June 8th, 2024, was the romantic partner of Howard Wang’s girlfriend, 45-year-old Yan Wang. Yan is also a defendant in the Walnut Creek murders. (See related articles here, here, here and here)

Howard Wang and Demarques Pearl planned the murder of Li before travelling together from the Bay Area to Los Angeles County on June 7th. The following day, Li was shot and killed outside of his apartment in San Gabriel.

The Los Angeles County murder of Li will be joined with the Walnut Creek double murders to be prosecuted in Contra Costa County. Both Wang and Pearl were scheduled to be arraigned Monday, March 30, 2026, at the A.F. Bray Courthouse’s Annex in Martinez. However, defense attorneys asked the court to reschedule both arraignments on the charges. Pearl will be arraigned on April 1st and Wang on April 14th at 1:30 pm in Martinez.

According to localcrimenews.com, the five-foot, six-inch tall, Pearl is Black and has been arrested five other times since 2016 for crimes including inflicting corporal injury on a spouse or cohabitant, battery and gun charges.

According to the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office, he weighs 200 pounds and his being held in the Martinez Detention Facility.

Case No. 01-26-01851| The People of the State of California v. Howard Wang

Case No. 01-26-01850 | The People of the State of California v. Demarques James Pearl

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.

Expired tags lead to big consequences in Brentwood for young Stockton man

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The stolen Glock and magazine, and mushrooms, marijuana and hash oil gummies confiscated by police. Photos: Brentwood PD

Arrested with almost 1,000 grams of drugs, stolen gun; already out of custody with no charges filed

By Brentwood Police Department

What started as a simple traffic stop near Lone Tree Way and Highway 4 at 5:00 p.m. on Saturday, March 14, 2026, quickly turned into much more…

Officers spotted a vehicle with registration expired for over a year. A traffic stop was conducted, and officers contacted the driver, Elijah Emmanuel Santalucia, a 21-year-old male out of Stockton.

Due to the expired registration, the vehicle was towed—but that’s when things really took a turn.

During an inventory search, officers located a stolen Glock 9mm firearm hidden under the driver’s seat. The firearm had been reported stolen out of Richmond back in November 2022.

And that wasn’t all…

Officers also recovered:

  • Over 400 grams of mushrooms
  • 185 grams of marijuana
  • Over 400 grams of hash oil gummies

Needless to say, the driver was taken into custody for multiple firearm and narcotics-related offenses and later booked at the Martinez Detention Facility.

According to the Brentwood Police CitizenRIMS, the five-foot, 10-inch tall, 175-pound Santalucia is Black. The Case Number is 2601090 and the charges included 25850(a) Pc: Carry Loaded Firearm In Public Under Specific Circumstances (Felony), 25400(a)(1) Pc: Carry Concealed Weapon In Vehicle (F), 496(a) Pc: Receive/etc Known Stolen Property (F), 11378 Hs: Possess Controlled Substance For Sale (F), 11357(b) Hs: Possess Marijuana Over 1 Oz/28.5 Grams (Misdemeanor).

According to localcrimenews.com, he was previously arrested by San Mateo County Sheriff’s Deputies in 2023 for shoplifting of less than $950.

According to the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office, as of March 18th, Santalucia is out of custody with no charges filed.

Sometimes it’s the small violations that lead to big discoveries. Great work by our officers, staying proactive and keeping our community safe!