Crime | Contra Costa Herald

Alleged Mexico-based meth trafficker from Bay Point transported back to U.S. to face federal charges

August 12, 2026 By Publisher Leave a Comment

Faces lifetime of imprisonment, $10,000,000 fine

Multi-agency effort by DEA, Homeland Security Investigations, U.S. Marshals, Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office, Secretaría de Seguridad Pública Jalisco and the Instituto Nacional de Migración

Part of Homeland Security Task Force’s “Protecting the American People Against Invasion” initiative

By U.S. Attorney Northern District of California

OAKLAND – The government of Mexico recently deported Julio Cesar Palafox, a United States citizen, to the United States where he was arrested by the United States Marshals on a warrant to appear on charges stemming from his alleged involvement in the distribution of methamphetamine in the Bay Area. U.S. Marshals Foreign Field Office (FFO) – Guadalajara coordinated the arrest with the Secretaría de Seguridad Pública (SSP) Jalisco and the Instituto Nacional de Migración (INM). Palafox appeared in court today in Oakland before U.S. Magistrate Judge Ajay S. Krishnan.

On July 11, 2024, a federal grand jury indicted Palafox, 34 (bon 9/27/1991), of Bay Point, CA, in connection with a methamphetamine distribution conspiracy. The indictment charges Palafox with multiple counts of distribution of 500 grams or more of methamphetamine, conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine, and possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 846, 841(a)(1), (b)(1)(A)(viii). According to court documents, Palafox is a Mexico-based methamphetamine trafficker that during the period of the conspiracy was responsible for hundreds of pounds of methamphetamine entering the Northern District of California.

Palafox has been living in the town of Yahualica in the state of Jalisco, Mexico. Palafox was transported back to the United States on July 24, 2026. He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Anna Y. Park on July 28, 2026, in the Central District of California for an initial appearance and arraignment on the indictment and was ordered detained pending trial. Palafox appeared today before Judge Krishnan for further proceedings in this district and will next appear before the Honorable Araceli Martinez-Olguin on August 17, 2026.

“Julio Palafox’s return to the United States from Mexico sends a clear message to drug traffickers everywhere that they can run, but they cannot hide. This was a complex operation, and we are grateful to the agencies whose hard work led to his capture. We remain firmly committed to protecting our communities from the scourge of illegal drugs and will pursue drug traffickers wherever they may be found,” said U.S. Attorney Craig Missakian.

“The trafficking of methamphetamine in the United States is an ever-present threat to public safety,” said HSI San Francisco Special Agent in Charge Jeff Brannigan. “Homeland Security Investigations, as part of the Homeland Security Task Force, will pursue smugglers and traffickers worldwide to protect our communities in the Bay Area and across the country.”

“This investigation is a testament to great teamwork. This coordinated action was a combination of increased focus on enforcement, intelligence, and domestic and international collaboration,” said Bob P. Beris, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA San Francisco Field Division. “DEA is relentless in dismantling criminal operations responsible for trafficking poison in our communities with deadly synthetic drugs like methamphetamine. This is another example of a successful operation resulting in arrests and removal of significant amounts of meth. Every arrest we make represents lives saved and communities defended.”

An indictment merely alleges that crimes have been committed, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. If convicted, Defendant faces a maximum sentence of a lifetime of imprisonment, a fine of $10,000,000, a lifetime of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment. However, any sentence following a conviction would be imposed by a court only after considerations of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal statute governing the imposition of a sentence, 18 U.S.C. § 3553.

This prosecution is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF San Francisco comprises agents and officers from DEA and HSI, with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of California

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Maya Karwande and Kevin Yeh are prosecuting the case with the assistance of Sara Slattery and Andy Ding. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by DEA and HSI, with assistance from the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office and the Salinas Police Department.

According to the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office, the five-foot, five-inch tall, 160-pound Palafox is Hispanic and is being held in the West County Detention Facility on no bail.

According to localcrimenews.com, he was previously arrested in 2016 by the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff Substation Deputies in Los Angeles County for transporting a controlled substance.

Further Information:

Case No. 24-CR-00394-AMO

Electronic court filings and further procedural and docket information are available at https://ecf.cand.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/login.pl. Judges’ calendars with schedules for upcoming court hearings can be viewed on the court’s website at www.cand.uscourts.gov.

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.

Oakland man charged in Concord burglaries, theft ring

August 7, 2026 By Publisher Leave a Comment

The Contra Costa DA charged Wuillian Heriberto Cordova-Cubias with five felonies following his arrest in Oakland by Concord Police on Aug. 5, 2026. Video screenshots source: Concord PD

Has history of arrests; released from custody Thursday back in custody Friday

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

Martinez, California – An Oakland resident faces five felony charges for his role in an organized theft ring connected to a series of burglaries in Concord.

The charges stem from a series of burglaries that occurred in Concord between April and July 2026 located in the Ygnacio and Clayton Valley region. Concord Police found that an organized group of juveniles carried out around 37 burglaries in that area. Richmond Police arrested the juvenile suspects for vehicle theft in May, and a subsequent investigation revealed they were part of a fencing operation led by 37-year-old Wuillian Heriberto Cordova-Cubias. Fencing operations are a hallmark of organized theft rings, which buy stolen goods from thieves and resell them to the public.

On August 5th law enforcement officers from the Concord Police Department, Oakland Police Department, and U.S. Marshals Service executed a search warrant at Cordova-Cubias’s Oakland residence. When officers entered the home, they located numerous items of suspected stolen property, including at least 500 power tools. (See related article)

After law enforcement referred the case for review, the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office today filed a complaint in Superior Court against Cordova-Cubias. He faces the following charges:

Receiving stolen property, including power tools, survey equipment, motor vehicles, and pipe inspection equipment
Two counts of receiving stolen motor vehicles (a utility ATV and a forklift)
Unlawful firearm activity
Conspiracy to commit a crime with juvenile conspirators

All charges include enhancements that increase the potential penalties.

District Attorney Diana Becton said, “As organized theft offenses have increased, my office has responded by building an effective Organized Theft Unit that works closely with law enforcement to file strong cases we believe we can prove beyond a reasonable doubt in court. Concord Police Department’s thorough investigation into these burglaries and the fencing operation reflects the kind of collaboration that holds individuals accountable.”

Cordova-Cubias was in custody at the Martinez Detention Facility and will appear for arraignment in Contra Costa Superior Court in Martinez on August 10th at 1:30 pm. According to the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Department, as of Thursday, Aug. 6, 2026, at 09:28 AM he had bonded out of custody. UPDATE: However, according to Asregadoo, he’s “not out of custody anymore. He was brought back in earlier today.”

According to localcrimenews.com, the five-foot, eight-inch tall, 240-pound Cordova-Cubias is Hispanic and has been arrested at least five other times for guns, drugs and violent crimes including battery and threats of violence, and receiving or concealing stolen property.

According to the Oakland Police, he was arrested in February 2020 “after a month-long investigation…charged…with possession of a firearm, possession of controlled substance, and possession of roughly 250 stolen power tools, worth an estimated $300,000. The suspect sold some of the items at flea markets in Oakland and San Jose.” (See video)

Case No. 01-26-04086 | The People of the State of California v. Wuillian Cordova-Cubias

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.

Oakland man, 3 juveniles arrested for 37 Concord vehicle and residential burglaries

August 7, 2026 By Publisher 1 Comment

Concord burglary suspects in action and the arrest of one. Video screenshots source: Concord PD

4th juvenile already in jail

Also responsible for approximately 40 more burglaries in other cities; property valued at over $250,000

Multi-agency effort

By Concord Police Department

In May of 2026, the Concord Police Department’s Major Case Unit initiated an investigation into a vehicle and residential burglary series that occurred between late April and June. The suspects in these cases broke into vehicles, typically during the early morning hours, and would often use garage door openers located inside the vehicles to enter the associated garages in search of additional power tools.

In May of 2026, surveillance video captured the same suspects, armed with firearms, pointing a firearm at the interior door leading from the garage into a residence, in apparent anticipation of a homeowner exiting the residence. The suspects stole various power tools and, during one burglary, stole 14 firearms from a residential garage.

Also in May, a Concord Police officer located a possible suspect vehicle and attempted a traffic stop. The vehicle fled at a high rate of speed, and a pursuit was initiated but later terminated due to public safety concerns.

During a subsequent burglary series in June, Concord PD officers located a different suspect vehicle, which fled from pursuing officers and eluded capture.

Items recovered of those stolen valued at over $250,000. Video screenshots source: Concord PD

In an additional, separate burglary series in June, the juveniles fled the scene of a burglary, became involved in a vehicle collision and fled on foot. The juveniles again eluded capture; however, another firearm was recovered.

In late June of 2026, working in conjunction with the Richmond Police Department, Concord PD detectives identified four juveniles believed to be involved in the burglaries. One of the juveniles was already in custody at Juvenile Hall for an unrelated incident that did not occur in the City of Concord. Arrest and search warrants were granted for the three remaining juveniles.

In July of 2026, simultaneous arrest and search warrants were executed by the Concord Police Department SWAT Team, with assistance from the Antioch Police Department, Pittsburg Police Department, Central County SWAT and the U.S. Marshals Service. All three outstanding suspects were arrested during the operation. During searches of their residences, two firearms stolen during a Concord burglary were recovered. A third stolen firearm was previously recovered by the Richmond Police Department during its investigation.

Ultimately, the suspects were identified as being responsible for 37 vehicle and residential burglaries in the City of Concord, as well as approximately 40 additional burglaries in various other cities throughout Contra Costa and Solano counties. The crimes also included multiple vehicle thefts, with the suspects using stolen vehicles to commit additional crimes.

The Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office filed complaints against the three juveniles. Their names are not being released, consistent with state law.

Further investigation by Concord PD detectives showed the suspects communicated with 37-year-old Wuillian Cordova-Cubias of Oakland. Cordova-Cubias was identified as purchasing tools from the suspects on multiple occasions, often immediately following the burglaries.

Stolen firearms recovered. Video screenshots source: Concord PD

An arrest warrant for Cordova-Cubias and a search warrant for his residence were sought and granted. With assistance from the U.S. Marshals Service and the Oakland Police Department, Concord PD detectives arrested Cordova-Cubias at his residence in Oakland. During a search of the residence, detectives located an extremely large quantity of power tools, a stolen ATV, a stolen forklift, an unregistered firearm, and numerous other high-value items. The property was valued at approximately $250,000.

On Friday, August 7, 2026, the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office Organized Retail Theft Unit filed criminal charges against Cordova-Cubias for the following:

Penal Code § 496(a) – Receiving Stolen Property

Penal Code § 496d(a) – Receiving a Stolen Motor Vehicle

Penal Code § 182(a) – Conspiracy to Commit a Crime

Penal Code § 29805(c) – Prohibited Person in Possession of a Firearm

Cordova-Cubias was booked into the Concord Police Department Jail and transferred to the Martinez Detention Facility. According to the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Department, as of Thursday, Aug. 6, 2026, at 09:28 AM he had bonded out of custody. UPDATE: However, according to Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office PIO Ted Asregadoo, Cordova-Cubias “not out of custody anymore. He was brought back in earlier today,” Friday, Aug. 7.

The Concord Police Department remains committed to working with our law enforcement partners to combat crime throughout our region. Multiple agencies assisted with this investigation, including:

Richmond, Antioch, Pittsburg and Oakland Police Departments, Central County SWAT, U.S. Marshals Service, Contra Costa County Office of the Sheriff and the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office.

For additional information, please visit the Concord Police Department’s social media platforms for a video overview of the investigation. (Instagram: @ConcordPD).

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.

Concord man sentenced to 18 years in prison for violent extortion scheme, shooting at federal officers

August 7, 2026 By Publisher Leave a Comment

Suspect mailed and made other threats, also conspired with co-defendant to distribute controlled substances, maintain drug lab in Richmond

By U.S. Attorney’s Office, Northern District of California

OAKLAND – Joel Rowland Dowen was sentenced today, Friday, August 7, 2026, to eighteen years in federal prison, for engaging in a violent extortion scheme, shooting at a federal officer, drug dealing and bank fraud. Co-defendant Micah-Luc Almeida was sentenced to three years in federal prison for conspiring to deal drugs with Dowen. United States District Judge Jon S. Tigar handed down the sentence. He faced a maximum statutory sentence of 20 years in prison on each of the three charges against him.

Dowen, 46, of Concord, California, and Almeida, 47, of San Francisco, California were indicted in a superseding indictment by a federal grand jury on March 26, 2024. As previously reported, Dowen was charged with mailing threatening communications with intent to extort, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 376(b) and assault on a federal officer with a deadly weapon, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 111(b); both Dowen and Almeida were charged with conspiracy to manufacture and distribute Methylenedioxyamphetamine (MDA); and Almeida was additionally charged with possession with intent to distribute MDA, in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 846, 841(a)(1). Dowen was separately charged in 2025 with bank fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1344. The defendants pleaded guilty to all counts.

In their plea agreements, Dowen and Almeida admitted that from 2020 to 2024 they conspired to manufacture and distribute large quantities of federally controlled substances, including MDA and psilocin. Dowen and Almeida maintained a drug manufacturing laboratory in Richmond, California, from where law enforcement seized hundreds of kilograms of waste material from attempted drug manufacturing.

Dowen also admitted to engaging in a pattern of threats and violence against a victim and their family to extort the victim for millions of dollars and a drug-manufacturing recipe. Dowen arranged for three individuals to violently assault the victim’s elderly father (then 80 years old) in his home, causing life-threatening injuries. After the assault, Dowen continued to threaten the victim and other members of the victim’s family and set the victim’s home on fire. When law enforcement came to arrest Dowen in 2024, he shot at them with a handgun through the front door as they were breaching the entrance, hitting one DEA agent’s protective shield.

United States Attorney Craig H. Missakian and DEA Special Agent in Charge Bob P. Beris made the announcement.

In addition to the prison term, Judge Tigar sentenced both Dowen and Almeida to a 3-year period of supervised release.

The case is being prosecuted by the Office’s Organized Crime Section. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lina Peng and former Assistant U.S. Attorney Dan Karmel handled the case, with assistance from Legal Administrative Specialist Sara Slattery and Legal Assistant Freya Picciotto. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by the DEA, IRS-CI (Criminal Investigations), ATF, FBI, HIS (Homeland Security Investigations) and U.S. Postal Inspectors, with the assistance of the Concord Police Department.

According to localcrimenews.com, Dowen is white, five-foot, seven-inches tall and weighs 280-pounds.

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.

Over $900K scammed from City of Pittsburg in phishing attack

August 7, 2026 By Publisher Leave a Comment

Investigation, recovery effort results in return of almost $700K

Suspect based in Nigeria

By Toni Baldazo, City of Pittsburg Community Engagement Officer

The City of Pittsburg is reporting a February 2026 phishing incident that resulted in a single unauthorized ACH payment totaling $913,839.81 being sent to a fraudulent account spoofing as a known City vendor. The incident occurred on February 12, 2026, and was identified by City staff on February 17, 2026, prompting immediate action. The City informed the Pittsburg Police Department who expanded the response team to include the County of Contra Costa and Federal Bureau of Investigations.

According to the Federal Trade Commission, phishing is when scammers use email or text messages to try to trick people into giving them personal and financial information to steal passwords, account numbers or Social Security numbers. They are then able access to email, bank and other accounts.

“The instant this incident was identified as fraudulent by City staff, the City’s Police Department acted quickly and immediately froze the account to which the funds were electronically wired,” said Pittsburg Police Chief Phil Galer. “Given the nature of this cybercrime, we contacted related agencies and the FBI to tap all available resources.”

The swift action of the Pittsburg Police Department resulted in the initial recovery of $696,241.00 dollars. The City is pursuing insurance coverage payment for the remaining $217,598.00, through its cyber and crime insurance policies. The investigation involved several sensitive and intricate components, requiring a number of complex investigative steps over a period of time, to maximize the recovery of funds and to seek identification of the perpetrators. It included 18 search warrants involving 116 accounts across major technology companies, financial institutions and telecommunications providers. Evidence identified the primary overseas suspect responsible for compromising the City’s email system is based in Nigeria with at least two criminally affiliated U.S.-based suspects. The investigation remains active as the FBI and the U.S. Attorney’s Office have accepted the case for continued investigation domestically and overseas.

“The Pittsburg Police Department remains committed to pursuing every available lead and ensuring the highest level of protection for our city operations,” Chief Galer added.

While the investigation is ongoing with the FBI and related agency partners, it has now reached a point where public disclosure will not compromise the investigation.

In response to the incident, the City immediately implemented new processes to further strengthen internal controls related to financial processes. This includes improvements to digital and human procedures including ACH payment verification processes, and controls within financial workflows, as well as modifications to IT staffing. These enhanced measures reflect significant internal analysis and reinforce the City’s commitment to strong cybersecurity practices that protect public resources.

“Sadly, Pittsburg has joined a long list of public agencies successfully targeted by international crime rings with cyber-based financial crimes. This crime is both upsetting and a hard lesson for how we can improve our security. I share the community’s disappointment that criminals were able to exploit our systems,” said Mayor Dionne Adams. “While this was a difficult moment, the City acted immediately to recover as much of the stolen funds as possible and tightened cybersecurity measures and procedures. I thank Pittsburg PD for their swift action and the law enforcement agency partners that helped us throughout this process.”

The city encourages residents and partners to remain vigilant about cybersecurity threats. City leadership will continue to evolve its internal systems in response to the expanding threats of cybercrime attacks to safeguard public funds and operations.

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.

Five arrested, 66 citations issued during Brentwood disabled parking operation

August 7, 2026 By Publisher 2 Comments

A Brentwood Police Officer issues a ticket to a vehicle illegally parked in a disabled space on July 21, 2026. Video screenshot source: Brentwood PD

By Brentwood Police Department

On July 21, 2026, Brentwood Police Department Motor Officers, Community Service Officers (CSOs), and School Resource Officers (SROs) conducted a focused enforcement operation targeting the unlawful use of disabled parking spaces throughout our community.

During the operation, officers and staff issued 66 citations and made 5 arrests.

Accessible parking spaces are reserved for individuals who rely on them due to their limited mobility. Misusing a disabled parking space or placard isn’t just against the law—it takes away access from those who truly need it.

Thank you to everyone who follows the law and helps keep these spaces available for our community members with disabilities. We will continue conducting enforcement efforts to ensure these designated parking spaces remain accessible to those they are intended to serve.

See video.

Alameda man charged with murder in 20-year-old Orinda resident’s fentanyl death

August 7, 2026 By Publisher Leave a Comment

By Jimmy Lee, Director of Public Affairs, Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office

In September 2024, the Orinda Police Department investigated a death case involving a 20-year-old Orinda resident. The cause of death was later determined to be ‘acute fentanyl and para-flurofentanyl intoxication.’

During the course of the investigation, detectives from the Contra Costa Sheriff’s Office determined where the drugs were purchased and later identified the suspect who sold them to the victim.

Detectives secured a Ramey arrest warrant for the suspect who was arrested on Tuesday, August 4, 2026. He is identified as 26-year-old Ulzii Orshikh Batsukh (born 9/6/1999) of the city of Alameda. He was booked into the Martinez Detention Facility on a murder charge.

Thursday afternoon, detectives filed the case with the Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office which formally charged Batsukh with murder for selling narcotics laced with fentanyl that led to the death of the Orinda resident. He is being held without bail although it’s been set at $1 million.

Batsukh is listed as five-feet, seven-inches tall, 145-pounds and as Asian-Pacific Islander.

According to localcrimenews.com, he was previously arrested in October 2025 by Hayward Police for DUI.

Anyone with any information on this case is asked to contact the Investigation Division at (925) 313-2600. For any tips, email: tips@so.cccounty.us or call (866) 846-3592 to leave an anonymous voice message.

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.

Martinez man arrested in Pleasant Hill for residential burglary

August 7, 2026 By Publisher 2 Comments

Burglary suspect Vincent J Delgado was arrested on Aug. 5. 2026. Photos: Pleasant Hill PD

37-year-old Vincent Jeremy Delgado has a history of arrests

By Pleasant Hill Police Department

On Wednesday afternoon, August 5, 2026, Pleasant Hill Police Patrol officers responded to the report of a possible residential burglary in progress in the area of Gail Drive and Bridgewater Way. The homeowner advised they were seeing an unknown subject and animal inside their residence via a surveillance camera. Officers responded to the area and while setting up a perimeter, they contacted a male suspect and his dog fleeing the residence from the rear yard.

Vincent Jeremy Delgado, 37 years old of Martinez (born 10/26/1988) was quickly detained while officers conducted their investigation. With the help of our Patrol Drone Team as well as a Pittsburg PD K-9, the residence was cleared and officers confirmed Delgado had forced his way into the residence. Delgado was later booked into the Martinez Detention Facility on Burglary charges!

According to the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office, the five-foot, 11-inch tall, 185-pound Delgado is Hispanic and is being held in the West County Detention Facility with bail set at $50,000 but on a no bail Parole Hold.

According to localcrimenews.com, he has history of arrests dating back to 2015 for burglary, drug charges, receiving or concealing stolen property, vandalism of $5,000 or more, the manufacture, import or sale of Nunchucks and carrying a concealed dirk or dagger.

This investigation was a great example of collaboration between our residents, patrol teams, and outside agencies. Thanks for the assist, Pittsburg Police!

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.

Pinole man sentenced to 50 years to life for 2024 murder of ex-girlfriend, mother of their son

July 31, 2026 By Publisher Leave a Comment

Brittany Elizabeth Ligdis in a photo posted on her Facebook page May 23, 2023, and Jeffrey Kendall’s arrest photo in 2024. Source: Pinole PD

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

Martinez, California — Today, a Contra Costa Superior Court judge sentenced a Pinole man to 50 years to life in prison for murdering a woman just 10 days after she ended their relationship.

On May 7, 2026, a jury found 39-year-old Jeffery Kendall guilty of first-degree murder in the killing of 30-year-old Brittany Elizabeth Ligdis on February 16, 2024. Jurors also convicted him of child endangerment for placing the couple’s young son in a situation that threatened his safety. Before trial, the defense successfully petitioned the court to try a separate charge — possession of an assault weapon — before a judge rather than a jury.

The homicide

A 911 call captured the murder as it unfolded on the morning of February 16th. The victim, Brittany Ligdis, told dispatchers that Jeffery Kendall had broken into her home and that she was hiding in the laundry room with her son. About 90 seconds into the call, Kendall entered the room. Brittany pleaded, “Let go of me” and “You’re scaring him,” before screaming, “Stop it.” Kendall then shot Brittany in the head. The couple’s four-year-old son cried “Momma” and fled the room; Kendall fled the scene shortly after. Responding officers found the victim dead of a gunshot wound to the head.

The case for a harsher sentence

Deputy District Attorney Tylyn Wells described the killing as “an execution in front of a 4-year-old child,” arguing it was not the product of “a mental break” but a familiar pattern in domestic violence cases: a threat that escalates once a victim decides to leave. Citing these factors, Wells asked the court to impose a sentencing enhancement, raising Kendall’s exposure to 50 years to life.

During the bench trial on the weapons charge, Judge Glenn Kim found Kendall guilty of possessing an assault weapon — a 3D-printed pistol capable of semi-automatic fire — and ruled that six aggravating sentencing factors tied to that charge were true.

The sentence

At today’s sentencing hearing, Judge Kim called the case “one of the most difficult” he has experienced. He imposed two consecutive terms of 25 years to life, totaling 50 years to life, and barred Kendall from contacting his son, with limited exceptions subject to court approval, until November 2035, when the boy turns 16.

Kendall remains in county jail awaiting transfer to the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation to begin serving his sentence.

Case No. 02-24-00229 | The People of the State of California v. Jeffrey Kendall

Contra Costa Supervisors to hold annual state TRUTH Act Community Forum August 25

July 28, 2026 By Publisher 1 Comment

To discuss Sheriff’s Office response to ICE civil immigration enforcement activities

By Kristi Jourdan, PIO, Contra Costa County & Jimmy Lee, PIO, Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office

(Martinez, CA) – The Contra Costa County TRUTH Act Community Forum to discuss civil immigration enforcement activities is scheduled for 10 a.m., Tuesday, Aug. 25, during the regular Board of Supervisors meeting.

The forum discussion will present Contra Costa Sheriff’s Office 2025 data on responses to ICE Requests for Notification for serious and/or violent offenders currently in custody, in compliance with state law. The annual forum has been held since 2017 in accordance with California’s Transparent Review of Unjust Transfers and Holds (TRUTH) Act, which requires local jurisdictions to hold a public forum and report on certain interactions with federal immigration authorities.

Jourdan and Lee were asked why they are referred to as, “civil immigration enforcement activities” when the forum will discuss “responses to ICE Requests for Notification for serious and/or violent offenders currently in custody” and shouldn’t they be considered criminal immigration enforcement activities.

Jourdan responded, “we use ‘civil immigration enforcement’ in alignment with the definition of ‘ICE access’ under section 7283(d).”

“The annual TRUTH Act forum reflects our commitment to strengthening trust through open dialogue,” said Board Chair Diane Burgis, District 3 Supervisor. “By creating a space for the public to ask questions, hear information directly from local law enforcement, and share their concerns, we ensure these conversations are grounded in transparency that keeps our community informed and engaged.”

According to the California Department of Justice Office of the Attorney General, “Effective January 1, 2017, California’s Transparent Review of Unjust Transfers and Holds (TRUTH) Act ensures that local law enforcement agencies provide individuals in their custody with basic due process and information about their rights should federal immigration authorities seek to make contact with them. Specifically, the law requires:

Before subjecting an individual in its custody to an interview by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) a local law enforcement entity shall provide the individual with a written consent form, in a language that is understandable to the individual, that explains all of the following:
- The purpose of the interview;
- That the interview is voluntary; and
- That he or she may decline the interview or may choose to be interviewed only with his or her attorney present.
Upon receiving any detainer, notification, or transfer request, the local law enforcement agency shall:
- Provide a copy of the request to the individual; and
- Inform the individual whether the law enforcement agency intends to comply with the request.
If a local law enforcement agency chooses to provide ICE with notification that an individual will be released from custody on a certain date, the local law enforcement agency must promptly provide the same notification in writing to the individual and to his or her attorney or other person designated by the individual being held.
All records relating to ICE access provided by local law enforcement agencies, including all communication with ICE, are public records for purposes of the California Public Records Act, but to protect the privacy of individuals, personal identifying information may be redacted prior to public disclosure.”

Ways to Participate:

Attend the forum in person on August 25 at 1025 Escobar St. in Martinez
Watch live at www.contracosta.ca.gov or on CCTV:
- AT&T U-verse Channel 99, Comcast Channel 27, or WAVE Channel 32.
Provide comments or questions in person, by phone, or Zoom during the meeting, or provide public comment in advance by emailing it to TRUTHAct@cob.cccounty.us or mailing it to the Clerk of the Board, 1025 Escobar St., 1st Floor, Martinez, CA 94553.
The meeting will include real-time closed captioning and live translation through Wordly.

Phone and Zoom participation details will be included in the Aug. 25 agenda, posted at least 96 hours before the meeting.

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.