Contra Costa Herald

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

Brentwood Police investigate drive-by shooting at In-N-Out Burger Friday night

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By Brentwood Police Department

On Friday night/Saturday morning, October 19, 2019, at around 12:04 a.m., Brentwood officers responded to the In-N-Out Burger parking lot located at 5581 Lone Tree Way to investigate a shooting. When officers arrived on scene, they quickly learned two victims (19- and 16-year-old males) were struck by gunfire in a drive-by shooting. When the shooting occurred, both victims were standing amongst a group people in the parking lot on the west side of the restaurant. Both victims were taken to area hospitals and are expected to survive their gunshot wounds.

The suspect vehicle was described as a silver, 2017 or newer, Honda Accord sedan with rear tinted windows. The suspect vehicle was last seen traveling eastbound on Lone Tree Way towards Canada Valley Road. The shooting happened so quickly nobody could provide a suspect(s) description.

The restaurant was struck by two bullets, but thankfully no customers or employees were hit.

Preliminary information suggests this was not a random act, but the motive is still unclear.

This investigation is still ongoing and no additional details are being released at this time.

Anyone with information regarding this shooting is encouraged to call Detective Joe Nunemaker at 925-809-7761. Callers can remain anonymous.

Child molestation suspect from Walnut Creek dies in custody at West County Detention Facility Wednesday

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Enrique Pina. Photo by Walnut Creek PD.

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

At approximately 1:40 PM today, Wednesday, October 16, 2019, a Deputy Sheriff was conducting room checks at the West County Detention Facility (WCDF) in Richmond. While approaching a room, he noticed an inmate hanging from his bunk by a bedsheet. The Deputy Sheriff, as well as medical staff at the jail, immediately began lifesaving measures. The inmate was later pronounced deceased.

The inmate is identified as 72-year-old Enrique Pina of Walnut Creek. He was arrested on September 24, 2018 and has been in custody since then. He was arrested by the Office of the Sheriff and booked on nine felony charges that include sodomy with a child who is 10 years of age or younger, oral copulation of a child who is 10 years of age or younger, and using force to commit lewd and lascivious acts against a child under the age of 14. Pina was being held in lieu of $4.8 million bail.

Pina, who was also suffering from a terminal illness, was evaluated last month by a Mental Health Clinician from Contra Costa Mental Health (CCMH). Pina was cleared to remain on the module at WCDF and was being monitored by CCMH.

The in-custody death protocol was invoked. The investigation is ongoing by the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office and the Contra Costa County Office of the Sheriff.

Any inquiries regarding Pina’s medical and mental health should be directed to Contra Costa Health Services. The Health Services’ Public Information Officer can be reached at (925) 957-2681.

Sheriff’s Deputies make arrest for pointing laser at rescue helicopter Friday

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Contra Costa County Sheriff STARR Air Unit 1 2015. Photo by CCCSheriff

By Office of the Contra Costa County Sheriff

While assisting a law enforcement agency with a pursuit on Friday, Sheriff’s Office STARR 3 helicopter was hit continuously with a green laser that came from an uninvolved vehicle. This is dangerous as it can temporarily blind the pilot.

Once STARR 3 cleared the pursuit, it was able to direct ground units to the location of the suspect vehicle where the laser was discharged. Deputies arrested and booked the suspect for discharging a laser at an aircraft and probation violation. A green laser was recovered.

Pittsburg parolee arrested after crashing into car following multi-city pursuit by Sheriff’s Deputies

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

On Sunday, October 6, 2019, at about 8:10 PM, a vehicle heading southbound on Highway 680 near North Main Street passed a Deputy Sheriff at a high rate of speed. The Deputy attempted a traffic enforcement stop on the vehicle. The car did not yield leading Deputies on a pursuit.

The suspect vehicle went into Pleasant Hill, Concord, and Pittsburg before heading into Bay Point. While fleeing eastbound on the 2100 block of Willow Pass Road, the suspect struck a vehicle pulling out of a business. The three occupants in the vehicle that was hit were injured and taken to the hospital for treatment.

The suspect was arrested. He is identified as 27-year-old Conrad Mariscal of Pittsburg. He was booked into the Martinez Detention Facility on numerous charges including felony evading, reckless driving, possession of a controlled substance and transporting a controlled substance. Mariscal, who was also on parole, is being held without bail.

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

Man bound and beaten, another injured while trying to steal marijuana from illegal grow operation in Knightsen

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

On Saturday, October 5, 2019, at about 7:33 PM, Deputy Sheriffs responded to a report of a possible shooting in the area of 7000 Holland Tract Road in Knightsen. Deputies searched the area but were not able to find any evidence of a shooting or any gunshot victims.

Approximately 30 minutes later, a person called to say he was hiding in the bushes in a field. He stated his friend was also in the area and may have been shot. Sheriff’s Office STARR helicopter later located the two who were apparently trying to steal marijuana when they were confronted by several unknown men.

An armored SWAT vehicle was used to rescue the two men. One of the them had been bound and severely beaten by the unknown suspect(s), while the second man suffered minor injuries. Both were taken to a local hospital for treatment. Neither of them suffered from a gunshot wound.

Deputies searched for the suspects but were not able to locate them. The marijuana grow operation was illegal and has been eradicated.

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

San Pablo woman indicted by Grand Jury for 42 criminal counts in widespread real estate fraud case

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Mercedes Gonzales. Photo by CCDA.

By Scott Alonso, Public Information Officer, Contra Costa District Attorney

Martinez, Calif. – Today, a grand jury indictment was unsealed against Mercedes Gonzales, a 25-year-old resident of San Pablo. The allegations in the indictment detail repeated criminal conduct committed by Gonzales against unsuspecting victims desiring to rent a house or room in West Contra Costa County, Sonoma County and Solano County.

In total there are 23 victims associated with the indictment. Gonzales was also charged in a criminal complaint filed earlier this week about a recent allegation of grant theft and receiving stolen property involving two victims. Overall, the prosecution was aided as a result of a joint investigation by the Richmond Police Department and the District Attorney’s Special Operations Division, Real Estate Fraud Unit. The Vallejo Police Department also assisted during the investigation and arrested the defendant last weekend.

In the spring of 2019, the Richmond Police Department received numerous complaints from victims about a real estate scam. An investigation was underway and ultimately the defendant was arrested and charged. During the summer additional information came to light about more allegations of fraud against more victims.

During late 2018 and throughout 2019, the defendant showed houses available for rent and posted about the listings on social media in Spanish. She would use an alias to post the listing on social media, including Facebook, and claimed she worked at Kaiser in Richmond. However, the defendant did not own or have the authority to rent the unit. The victims in turn paid the defendant in cash, money orders and cashier’s checks. Gonzales created fictitious rental agreements with the victims and collected deposits.

Gonzales appeared in-custody for an arraignment in Department 3 of the Contra Costa County Superior Court before the Honorable Patricia Scanlon. She pleaded not guilty to the charges alleged in the indictment. She is in custody and her bail is $540,000.

The investigations related to the alleged fraudulent activities committed by Gonzales is active and going. Members of the public with any information related to the defendant should call Richmond Police Department Sergeant Tong at 510-620-6668.

Deputy District Attorney Kristina McCosker is the prosecutor assigned to the case on behalf of the People. DDA McCosker is with our Special Operations Division, Real Estate Fraud Unit.

“The District Attorney’s Office Real Estate Fraud Unit cautions any member of the public when viewing a rental property. Please ensure that you see the entire property inside and outside as well as checking rental and sales websites to confirm no one else is listing the unit,” stated DDA McCosker. “Any suspicious activity can be reported to our Fraud Unit at 866-223-7283 in English or Spanish.”

Case information: People v. Mercedes Alexis Gonzales, Docket Number 05-191863-0 and People v. Mercedes Alexis Gonzales, Docket Number 01-191503-2.

Mujer de San Pablo acusada por un gran jurado por 42 cargos criminales y caso generalizado de fraude de bienes raíces

Martinez, Calif. – Hoy, se desveló una acusación del gran jurado contra Mercedes Gonzales, una mujer de 25 años, residente de San Pablo.  Las alegaciones en la acusación detallan la conducta criminal cometida por Gonzales contra víctimas desprevenidas que deseaban alquilar una casa o habitación en los Condados de Contra Costa, Sonoma, e Solano.

En total existen 23 víctimas asociadas en la acusación. Gonzales, también fue acusado en una denuncia penal presentada a principios de esta semana sobre una denuncia reciente de robo de subvención y la recepción de propiedad robada que involucra a dos víctimas. En general, la fiscalía recibió ayuda como resultado de una investigación conjunta del Departamento de Policía de Richmond y la unidad de Fraude de Bienes Raíces de la División de Operaciones Especiales del fiscal de distrito. El Departamento de Policía de Vallejo también ayudó durante la investigación y arrestó la acusada el fin de semana pasado.

En la primavera de 2019, el Departamento de Policía de Richmond recibió numerosas quejas de las víctimas sobre una estafa de bienes raíces. Una investigación tomo acabo y finalmente la acusada fue arrestada y acusada.  Durante el verano salió a la luz información adicional sobre mas denuncias de fraude contra más víctimas.

A finales de 2018 y a lo largo de 2019, la acusada mostró casas disponibles para alquilar y publicó sobre los listados en las redes sociales en español. Ella usaría un alias para publicar anuncios en las redes sociales, incluyendo Facebook, y afirmó que trabajaba en Kaiser de Richmond. Sin embargo, la acusada no era propietaria ni tenía la autoridad para alquilar la unidad. Las víctimas a su vez le pagaron a la acusada en efectivo, giros postales y cheques de caja. Gonzales creó acuerdos de alquiler ficticios con las víctimas y cobro depósitos.

Gonzales apareció bajo custodia por un juicio en el Departamento 3 de la Corte Superior del Condado de Contra Costa ante la Honorable Patricia Scanlon. Ella se declaró inocente de los cargos alegados en la acusación. Ella está bajo custodia y su fianza es de $540,000.

Las investigaciones relacionadas con las presuntas actividades fraudulentas cometidas por Gonzales están activas y continúan a tomarse acabo. Los miembros del público con cualquier información relacionada con la acusada deben llamar al sargento Tong del departamento de Policía de Richmond al 510-620-6668.

La fiscal del distrito Kristina McCosker es la fiscal asignada al caso en nombre del condado. Kristina McCosker está asignada a la División de Operaciones Especiales, en la unidad de Fraude de Bienes Raíces.

“La Unidad de Fraude de Bienes Raíces de la Oficina del Fiscal del Distrito advierte a cualquier miembro del público cuando ve una propiedad en alquiler. Asegúrese de ver toda la propiedad por dentro y por fuera, así como consultar los sitios web de alquiler y ventas para confirmar que nadie más este listando la unidad,” dijo Kristina McCosker. “Cualquier actividad sospechosa se puede reportar a la unidad de Fraude al 866-223-7283 en inglés o español”.

Información de caso: People v. Mercedes Alexis Gonzales, Numero de caso: 05-191863-0 e People v. Mercedes Alexis Gonzales, Numero de caso 01-191503-2.

 

Martinez woman gets three years in prison for embezzling over $200,000 from her employer

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Second employer she admitted to embezzling from

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

SAN FRANCISCO – Karen Posey was sentenced today to 36 months in prison, and ordered to pay restitution for stealing more than $200,000 from her former employer, announced United States Attorney David L. Anderson and FBI Special Agent in Charge John F. Bennett.

Posey pleaded guilty on December 11, 2018 to four counts of wire fraud, one count of bank fraud, and one count of access device fraud.  According to the plea agreement, Posey worked from July 2016-December 2017 as the business manager at a San Francisco-based architecture firm that designs schools and other public spaces nationwide with a focus on making them accessible to the disabled.  While employed there, Posey stole approximately $235,000 from the company.  She did so using various methods, including by writing unauthorized company checks to herself and then depositing them into her personal bank account, by using a corporate credit card to pay for personal expenses, and by using a corporate ATM card to withdraw large sums of cash.  In addition, as part of her plea agreement Posey admitted that, prior to working at the architecture firm, she worked at another San Francisco-based conservation company, where she embezzled more than $48,000 using similar means.

Posey, 58 of Martinez, CA, was indicted by a federal grand jury on August 30, 2018.  The seven count Indictment charged her with four counts of Wire Fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1343 (Counts One through Four), one count of Aggravated Identity Theft, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1028A; one count of Bank Fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1344(2) (Count Six); and one count of Fraudulent Use of Unauthorized Access Devices, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1029(a)(2) (Count Seven).

The sentence was handed down by the Honorable Charles R. Breyer, U.S. District Court Judge.  Judge Breyer also sentenced the defendant to a three-year period of supervised release to begin at the completion of the prison term and ordered her to pay restitution to the two companies from which she stole money.  The defendant will begin serving the sentence on October 4, 2019.

Ross Weingarten is the Assistant U.S. Attorney who is prosecuting the case with the assistance of Marina Ponomarchuk.  The prosecution is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

 

Walnut Creek woman sentenced to 28 months in prison for mail theft conspiracy with boyfriend targeting S.F. apartment complex

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Tyler Goforth and Jesslyn Felix in a photo posted on his Facebook page Oct. 3, 2017.

Boyfriend, also of Walnut Creek, sentenced in August to 27 months in prison

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

SAN FRANCISCO/SAN JOSE/OAKLAND – Jesslyn Felix was sentenced today to 28 months in prison, and ordered to pay restitution for her role in a conspiracy to commit wire fraud stemming from a mail theft scheme, announced United States Attorney David L. Anderson and United States Postal Inspection Service Inspector in Charge Rafael Nuñez.  The Honorable Maxine M. Chesney, U.S. District Judge, handed down the sentence. (See related article).

Felix, 35, of Walnut Creek, Calif., pleaded guilty to the charge on May 29, 2019.  According to her plea agreement, Felix admitted that she and her co-defendant, Tyler Goforth, 35, also of Walnut Creek, traveled repeatedly to the Beacon Apartment Complex, a large apartment building in San Francisco, to steal mail from Beacon residents.  The defendants visited the Beacon more than a dozen times between August 2017 and February 2018.  Felix and Goforth would enter one of the mailrooms at the Beacon, force open mailboxes, and then steal mail.  They then used personal information and documents found in the stolen mail to steal money from Beacon residents, which they spent for personal gain.  Specifically, Felix and Goforth activated credit and debit cards in the victims’ names, stole checks and gift cards, accessed bank accounts belonging to Beacon residents, and stole photo identifications which they then used to carry out their scheme to steal money.  In total, Felix and Goforth stole mail from more than 80 residents of the Beacon and stole more than $40,000 from them.

Mr. Goforth was sentenced for his role in the conspiracy on August 14, 2019, to 27 months in prison, to be followed by a three-year period of supervised release, and ordered to pay restitution.

A federal grand jury indicted Felix and Goforth on January 15, 2019.  The 14-count indictment charged each defendant with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1349; five counts of wire fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §1343; six counts of theft of mail, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §1708; one count of aggravated identity theft, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §1028A; and one count of possession with intent to use or transfer five or more documents or authentication features, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §1028(a)(3).  Felix and Goforth both pleaded guilty to the conspiracy charge on May 29, 2019.

In addition to the prison term, Judge Chesney ordered Felix to serve a three-year period of supervised release to begin at the completion of the prison term.  Felix has been in custody since May 1, 2019.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Ross Weingarten is prosecuting the case with the assistance of Marina Ponomarchuk.  The prosecution is the result of an investigation by the United States Postal Inspection Service.

El Dorado County man charged with sexually abusing three girls, one from Contra Costa

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By Scott Alonso, Public Information Officer, Contra Costa District Attorney

Earlier this month, the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office charged defendant Rodney Brown, a 62-year-old resident of Camino, California with eight felonies, including the alleged sexual abuse of three minors. The victims, listed as Jane Does 1-3 in the criminal complaint, were under 14 years old at the time of the alleged assaults.

Two of the alleged sexual assaults occurred against the victims in El Dorado County in 1995. One victim lives in Contra Costa County and that victim was allegedly assaulted in 2014. The case locally is under investigation by our Office and the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office.

Brown pleaded not guilty to each of the felonies alleged in the complaint. Brown is in custody at the Martinez Detention Facility and his bail is set at $8.8 million. His next court date in Pittsburg is on November 20 at 1:30 p.m.

Our Office does not release how a victim may know a defendant in a sexual assault case as well as the age or name of a victim to protect their confidentiality.

The investigation is ongoing and active. Brown is believed to have lived in Bethel Island, Brentwood, as well as El Dorado County. Members of the public with information about the case should call Sgt. Garrett Schiro with the Sheriff’s Office at 925-313-2620.

The case is assigned to Deputy District Attorney Jay Melaas with our Office’s Sexual Assault Unit.

Case information: People v. Rodney Leroy Brown, Docket Number 04-197692-7

Richmond man found guilty of 2012 kidnapping, rape and murder of elderly woman

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Jonathan Jackson and his victim, Sun Kwo. Photos by Richmond Police.

Faces life in prison without the possibility of parole; Richmond PD Detectives solve case

By Allen Payton

On September 26, a Contra Costa County jury found defendant Jonathan Jackson (37 years old) of Richmond, California guilty of four felonies, including the murder of Sun Kwo, an elderly woman. The jury also found Jackson guilty of kidnapping Kwo to commit rape, forcible rape and sexual penetration by foreign object.

On January 28, 2012 in the early morning hours, Kwo was found nearly lifeless at the Big O Tires along San Pablo Avenue in Richmond. Jackson committed the heinous attack against her at that business in an alcove. This alcove was recessed from the storefront and hid the victim from the view of any passerby. According to an ABC7 News report, “when officers arrived, they found 82-year-old Sun Kwon of Richmond barely conscious, bloodied and lying next to a pile of discarded tires. Kwon, a grandmother of six, was sexually assaulted, beaten and suffered major head injuries.”

Six months later she unfortunately succumbed to her injuries inflicted on her by the defendant. The Richmond Police Department investigated the case.

According to a post on the Richmond Police Department’s Facebook page, “This was strong collaborative work by the detectives at the Richmond Police Department and the team at Pittsburg Police Department, Pittsburg, CA. Huge shout out to our detectives and their ongoing effort to keep Richmond safe.”

Initially, no suspect was identified at the time of the brutal attack. In 2016, Jackson was arrested for a felony offense by the Pittsburg Police Department triggering the collection of a DNA sample from him. Jackson’s DNA profile was entered into CODIS, the Combined DNA Index System which is a database that has been pivotal in solving countless criminal cases. Jackson’s profile matched a profile submitted by the Richmond Police Department from evidence they collected at the time of the crime. Richmond Police detectives resumed their investigation and solved the case.

“This day has been a long time coming; justice was finally served in this case thanks to the hard work of the Richmond Police Department, the patience of the victim’s family and the thoughtfulness of the jury who listened to all of the evidence,” Deputy District Attorney Aron DeFerrari stated. “In the end, the justice system is about shining a light on the truth, today that happened, and that is a good thing.”

Jackson now faces a maximum sentence life without the possibility of parole in state prison. Sentencing will occur on December 13, 2019 in front of the Honorable Rebecca Hardie – Department 5 of the Contra Costa County Superior Court in Martinez.

The District Attorney’s office will not release how a victim may know a defendant in a sexual assault case. They don’t release the name of a victim to protect their confidentiality. However, previous news reports did release her name and photo.

Case information: People v. Jonathan Jackson, Docket Number 05-170598-7

Scott Alonso, Public Information Officer, Contra Costa District Attorney was the primary contributor to this report.