Contra Costa Herald

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

Dublin teen and swim instructor arrested for possession of child pornography

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James Happ

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

The Contra Costa County Office of the Sheriff and the Contra Costa D.A.’s Office recently received information about a person who was allegedly possessing and sharing child pornography. Detectives launched an investigation and on July 3, 2019, executed search warrants at residences in Danville and Dublin.

Detectives subsequently found child pornography on electronic devices belonging to 18-year-old James Happ of Dublin. He was booked at the Martinez Detention Facility for possession of child pornography. Happ was being held in lieu of $100,000 bail and has since bailed out.

Additionally, as Happ is a swim instructor at The Wave in Dublin, the Dublin Police Department is conducting a separate investigation. Any inquiries regarding The Wave can be directed to the Dublin Police Department.

Anyone with any information on this case is asked to contact the Office of the Sheriff 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.

Contra Costa DA charges Suisun City man, former basketball coach and school district employee with sexual abuse of a child under 14

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Paul Fielder

Result of Walnut Creek Police Department investigation, arrest

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

On Monday July 15, 2019, Paul Fielder, a 60-year-old resident of Suisun City, California was charged with 32 counts of sexual abuse of a child under 14 years old.

The charges are a result of an investigation by the Walnut Creek Police Department, in conjunction with the Silicon Valley Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force and Homeland Security Investigations. On July 11, 2019, Fielder was arrested by Walnut Creek Police Detectives and Federal Agents when he arrived at a location to meet a minor to engage in sex acts. The investigation revealed Fielder had been sexually abusing a minor for several years.

Investigators learned Fielder previously coached youth sports in Solano County and was employed by at least one high school as a campus supervisor.

Fielder was booked at the Martinez Detention Facility and his bail was set at $3.2 million. He remains in the custody of the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office. Fielder will make his next appearance for his arraignment in Contra Costa County Superior Court on July 23 at 9:00 a.m. in Department 6 before the Honorable David Goldstein.

Anyone with information can contact Walnut Creek Police Detective Amber Martin at 925-943-5870 or Senior Inspector Darryl Holcombe at 925-957-8757.

The Silicon Valley Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force is managed by the San Jose Police Department. In Contra Costa County, detectives and investigators from the Walnut Creek, Concord and Moraga Police Departments, the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office, Contra Costa County Probation Department and Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office participate in the task force along with Special Agents from the United States Department of Homeland Security and the United States Secret Service.

Parents are encouraged to discuss online safety with their children and can visit the website www.kidsmartz.org for further information.

Case information: People v. Paul Fielder, Docket Number 01-190620-5

 

Pittsburg woman arrested in Hercules in getaway car from Antioch armed robbery

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Shaneta Brown. Photo by Hercules Police.

By Hercules Police Department

On July 10, 2019, at 5:12 A.M., the Hercules Police Traffic Officer was conducting traffic enforcement in the area of John Muir Parkway. He noticed a Honda Civic that was described as a felony vehicle and trailed it to westbound I-80 at the Appian Way off ramp. Dispatch confirmed the felony vehicle and he initiated a felony stop. The Honda was used as a getaway vehicle in an armed robbery that occurred in Antioch on July 9, 2019. The driver, 26-year-old Shaneta Brown, of Pittsburg was detained.

She had an unrelated warrant for theft out of Antioch. Antioch P.D. arrived to take custody of the Honda and Brown was transported to Martinez Detention Facility.

During the felony stop, a traffic break was initiated and lasted approximately five minutes.

Vallejo woman arrested in Hercules for seven outstanding warrants for theft

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Lynette Williams. Photo by Hercules Police.

By Hercules Police Department

On July 10, 2019 at 10:09 a.m. An Officer did a traffic enforcement stop on a Silver ’97 Honda Civic on Sycamore Ave. at Taco Bell for a traffic violation. The driver was contacted and gave the Officer a California Driver’s License (CDL) falsely identifying herself as another person. The Officer looked at the photo on the CDL and saw the photo did not match the drivers characteristics. The driver insisted she was the person photographed but, was detained. The driver then falsely identified herself as another female. The driver eventually admitted her true identity and was identified as (A) Lynette Williams (DOB 07/24/67) of Vallejo.

Williams was found to have a total of 7 outstanding Misdemeanor Warrants for theft related crimes out of both Solano and Napa Counties. Williams was arrested and during a search of the vehicle, several credit cards, California driver’s licenses and social security cards were located, none of which belonged to Williams.

Several victims got their property back thanks to you.

Search for suspect in Six Flags Hurricane Harbor shooting Saturday evening

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By Concord Police Department

Investigators are searching for the suspect who shot a man in the parking lot of Six Flags Hurricane Harbor Saturday evening. Just before 5:00 P.M., officers responded to the parking lot of Six Flags where they found a man suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. At this time, the shooting appears to be an isolated incident that stemmed from an argument between the suspect and the victim. There is no threat to the public. The victim was taken to an area hospital and is expected to survive.

The search continues for the suspect. He is described as a black man, approximately 220 pounds with tattoos all over his back. The suspect vehicle is an older model, silver Honda four-door sedan with front bumper damage. We ask that anyone with information that can help us make an arrest to call our confidential tip line: (925) 603-5836.

See the KPIX5 CBS report of this incident, here.

Men from Brentwood, Bay Point wanted for Friday night murder at Concord Motel 6

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Suspects in Concord murder Friday night, Adam Renfroe of Brentwood and Robert Brown  of Bay Point are sought by police. Photos by Concord PD.

By Concord Police Department

On Saturday, July 13, Concord Police investigators are searching for a suspect in a deadly shooting. Friday night around 11:15, officers were called to the Motel 6 on Clayton Road for reports of shots fired. When they arrived, they found one man suffering from gunshot wounds. He was taken to John Muir Medical Center in Walnut Creek where he died. Our investigators were looking into all leads.

Adam Renfroe, a 32-year-old Brentwood resident and Robert Brown, a 40-year-old Bay Point resident have been identified as suspects in this case. Both have arrest warrants for murder. Brown was tracked to a home in Bay Point and Concord SWAT members served a search warrant at the home this afternoon. Neither suspect was located.

Both Renfroe and Brown are considered armed and dangerous. If you see these suspects or know of their location, please do not approach them and immediately contact your local police department or call 911. This case is still in the preliminary stages and no additional information will be released at this time. Anyone with information about this case is asked to contact Detective Kevin Giacoletto at (925) 671-3040 or the Tip-line at (925) 603-5836.

We’ll continue to post updates.

Five-hour standoff with shooter in Pittsburg ends in arrest Friday afternoon

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By Pittsburg Police Department

Just before 11:00 A.M. Friday morning, July 12, Pittsburg officers were called to a residence in the 600 block of School Street in regards to a man armed with a gun. Prior to officers arriving on scene, dispatch advised that the man had two handguns and had fired several rounds.

When they arrived, they contacted family members who said there was an argument and when they approached the man’s home, he came out armed with two handguns. There was a brief struggle for the handguns before he fired several rounds towards a victim. Fortunately, no was one was shot. Everyone involved left the area of the home. The victim called 911. The suspect was seen driving away in his car.

Within minutes, officers located the man’s car parked back in front of his residence on School Street. Officers learned of his identity and called his cell phone. He refused to exit the home and denied being involved in the incident. For the next several hours, officers continued to attempt to speak with the man and have him come out peacefully. Detectives with the Investigations Division authored a Search and Arrest Warrant for the man and the residence. Shortly after 4:00 P.M., the Pittsburg Police Department Tactical Team responded to the scene to serve the warrant. But, within moments of the tactical team’s arrival, the man exited the home and was taken into custody without further incident.

Graffiti suspect arrested Thursday for hate crime, vandalism in San Ramon last weekend

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Jacob Leigh in surveillance camera photos. Courtesy of San Ramon Police.

By Captain Denton Carlson, San Ramon Police Department

During the morning of Sunday, July 7, 2019, members of the San Ramon Police Department responded to several reports of racially insensitive graffiti in the area surrounding Camino Ramon and Crow Canyon Road. The graffiti was spray-painted on several exterior walls of commercial buildings, as well as on an ATM in the area. Members of our agency and employees from local businesses took immediate steps to remove the graffiti in an attempt to limit the public’s exposure. Based on the initial investigation by our officers, it was apparent the graffiti was spray-painted during the early morning hours on Sunday, July 7, 2019.

On Monday, July 8, 2019, members of the San Ramon Police Department received several high-quality images of the involved suspect, which were taken by the video surveillance camera inside the vandalized ATM located at 2190 Camino Ramon. These images were immediately distributed to local law enforcement agencies in an attempt to identify the suspect. After a few days without any successful identification, we posted the photographs on our social media platforms to try and determine who was responsible for these crimes.

The response from the San Ramon Community was overwhelming. After receiving numerous investigative tips, San Ramon Police Detectives positively identified the suspect as Jacob Leigh, an 18-year-old from San Ramon. Detectives served a search warrant at Leigh’s home during the morning of Thursday, July 11, 2019. Numerous items of evidentiary value associated with the crimes committed were recovered during the search, but Leigh was not at the residence.

During the early afternoon on Thursday, July 11, 2019, Jacob Leigh arranged to turn himself in at the San Ramon Police Department. Detectives placed him under arrest, and he was booked at the Martinez Detention Facility for violations of Penal Code 422.6(b) (Hate crime) and multiple violations of Penal Code 594 (Vandalism). His bail was set at $40,000.

The members of the San Ramon Police Department would like to thank the San Ramon Community for their assistance in identifying this suspect. Their commitment to justice, inclusion, and equality shined through based on their obvious displeasure associated with crimes of this nature.

For media-related inquires, please contact Captain Denton Carlson via email at dcarlson@sanramon.ca.gov, or via direct message on Twitter (@srpdcarlson).

San Ramon man, former U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs fiduciary pleads guilty to embezzling from disabled veterans

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Raj Ditta. From his LinkedIn profile.

OAKLAND – Raj Kumar Ditta pleaded guilty today in federal court to misappropriating and embezzling funds he held as a fiduciary for incompetent and disabled veterans, announced United States Attorney David L. Anderson and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Office of Inspector General, Criminal Investigations Division, Special Agent in Charge James Wahleithner.  The plea was accepted by the Hon. Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers, U.S. District Judge.

In pleading guilty, Ditta, 51, of San Ramon, the owner of Ditta Fiduciary Services, admitted that from 2010 through 2012, he entered into fiduciary agreements with the VA.  Under the agreements, he agreed to act as a fiduciary for eight different veterans or beneficiaries that the VA had determined were not competent to handle their own financial affairs.  As a fiduciary, Ditta was required to establish bank accounts to receive each beneficiary’s VA income and to ensure the beneficiary’s debts were paid.  Ditta admitted that in each case, he set up a separate bank account for the beneficiary and, within months, began syphoning funds from the beneficiary’s account.  Ditta moved thousands of dollars to his own personal account and used those funds for his own benefit.  In sum, Ditta misappropriated and embezzled no less than $39,500 from the veterans and beneficiaries.

Ditta was charged by Information on May 24, 2019, with one count of misappropriation of funds held by a fiduciary, in violation of 38 U.S.C. § 6101(a), and 15 counts of theft of government money, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 641.  Under the plea agreement, Ditta pleaded guilty to the misappropriation of funds count and, if he complies with the plea agreement, the remaining counts will be dismissed at sentencing.

Judge Gonzalez Rogers scheduled Ditta’s sentencing hearing for November 14, 2019 at 3:00 p.m.  Ditta faces a maximum statutory penalty of five years’ imprisonment and a fine of $250,000 for the 38 U.S.C. § 6101(a) violation.  In addition, as part of sentencing the court may order an additional period of supervised release and restitution, if appropriate. However, any sentence will be imposed by the court only after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal statute governing the imposition of a sentence, 18 U.S.C. § 3553.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Jose Apolinar Olivera is prosecuting the case with the assistance of Jessica Rodriguez Gonzalez.  The prosecution is the result of an investigation by the VA Office of Inspector General, Criminal Investigations Division.

Allen Payton contributed to this report.

Suspect in Pacheco murder arrested, victim identifed

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

The suspect in Friday’s homicide on Pacheco Boulevard is in custody.  (See related article)

On Friday, July 5, 2019, at about 8:35 P.M. BART police contacted suspect Aaron Goode at the Concord BART station. He was detained without incident. Later Detectives and Deputies from the Office of the Sheriff took custody of Goode, a 41-year-old from Pacheco. Goode was then booked into the Martinez Detention Facility on a murder charge. He is being held in lieu of $1 million bail.

Homicide Detectives from the Investigation Division continue to investigate yesterday’s murder.

At about 12:12 PM, Sheriff’s Office dispatch was notified about a medical call with police needed on the 5900 block of Pacheco Boulevard in Pacheco. The caller stated that a man covered in blood was lying on the sidewalk.

A short while later, Pleasant Hill police officers arrived and performed CPR on the male victim. He was later pronounced deceased at the scene. The victim is identified as Erick Ousey, a 29-year-old Pacheco resident.

The Sheriff’s Office Crime Lab responded to the location. Detectives later identified Goode as the suspect. Detectives are still trying to establish the exact motive. They say suspect Goode and victim Ousey knew each other and that they appeared to have a dispute.

Anyone with any information on this case is asked to contact the Office of the Sheriff at  (925) 646-2441 or 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.