Contra Costa Herald

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

Richmond, Hayward men charged for cutting 911 service in parts of West Contra Costa

By Leave a Comment

Arraignment scheduled for Thursday afternoon

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

The Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office filed charges on June 25th against two men who cut a utility line that severed 911 service for residents in Pinole, Hercules, and San Pablo.

31-year-old Jesus Francisco Arias-Ayala of Hayward and 49-year-old Daniel Antonio Mena-Diaz of Richmond were arrested by Pinole Police on June 22nd. On that evening, around 7:15 pm, officers responded to reports of a 911 system outage. They traced the issue to a bridge near the Pinole-Hercules city line on San Pablo Avenue. Upon arrival, officers found Arias-Ayala and Mena-Diaz under the bridge.

After a brief chase, both suspects were apprehended, arrested, and booked into the Martinez Detention Facility.

After reviewing the case, the Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office charged Arias-Ayala with a felony for cutting utility line [PC 591], felony vandalism [PC 594(a)], a misdemeanor for resisting, obstructing, or delaying a peace officer [PC 148(a)(1)], and a misdemeanor for possession of burglar’s tools [PC 466].

Mena-Diaz’s two felony charges are the same as Arias-Ayala, as is one misdemeanor charge of resisting, obstructing, or delaying a peace officer.

Both men are scheduled to be arraigned at 1:30 pm on Thursday, June 27th in Martinez.

Case No. 02-24-00829 | The People of the State of California v. Arias-Ayala, Jesus Francisco

Case No. 02-24-00830 | The People of the State of California v. Mena Diaz, Daniel Antonio

Olivehurst woman, accountant for Richmond business, pleads guilty to embezzling over $900K

By Leave a Comment

Agrees to pay restitution, 10-year prison sentence reduced to 3 years

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

The Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office reached a negotiated plea with Angela Fae Brown for offenses related to identity theft, money laundering, grand theft, tax evasion and false impersonation.

Brown, a 53-year-old (born 9/22/1970) resident of Olivehurst, CA in Yuba County, was charged in April 2024 on a six-count felony complaint with a special allegation of aggravated white-collar crime. While working as an accountant, Brown embezzled over $900,000 from her employer, a paver company in Richmond. The illegal financial scheme occurred between September 2017 and November 2022, wherein Brown used her accounting skills to exploit financial vulnerabilities in the company to enrich herself. (See related article)

On June 14th, Ms. Brown accepted a negotiated disposition where she pled guilty to an amended 12-count complaint. To fulfill the terms of the plea, the court will suspend her 10-year prison term for three years and place her on formal probation so she can seek and maintain employment to pay restitution. Moreover, assets Brown accumulated during the period she was embezzling and stealing from her employer will be liquidated. The funds from the sale of those assets will be applied to restitution payments. $907,087.00 will go to the victim, and $61,860.10 to the Franchise Tax Board of California. Any violations of the terms of the plea agreement mean that Ms. Brown could be subject to the state prison system to serve the remainder of her sentence.

District Attorney Diana Becton said, “When seeking justice for victims of white-collar crimes, it’s important to find effective ways to make a victim’s financial loss whole again. This agreement holds the defendant accountable for the offenses and is structured for repayment of stolen funds.”

Case No. 02-24-00513 | The People of the State of California v. Brown, Angela Fae

According to the Contra Costa Sheriff’s Office, the five-foot, 10-inch tall, 190-pound Brown is Black, was arrested by Richmond PD, is being held on no bail at a Custody Alternative Facility and scheduled to be released on Oct. 15, 2024.

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.

Vallejo man charged in injury hit and run DUI in Walnut Creek

By Leave a Comment

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

Martinez, California – A Vallejo man faces multiple charges stemming from a collision that injured two people at the Walnut Creek Farmers Market.

The incident occurred around 5:17 am on Sunday, June 2nd, on Locust Street in Walnut Creek, between Cole and Lacassie Avenues. This section of the street is typically closed on Sundays for a Farmers Market. While vendors were setting up, 33-year-old Jose Manuel Chavez (born 8/31/90) struck two female victims with his vehicle, causing serious injuries to both women. After the collision, Chavez fled the scene.

Walnut Creek Police responded quickly to emergency calls and located Chavez’s damaged vehicle entering I-680 at Lawrence Way. Officers pulled him over on Buskirk Avenue, near the Pleasant Hill/Contra Costa Centre BART station, by 5:20 am and arrested him shortly after. (See related article)

On June 5th, the Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office filed charges against Chavez in Superior Court. He faces three felony charges, some with enhancements, and one misdemeanor. The complaint includes two felony counts of driving under the influence (DUI) causing injury to both victims [VC 23153(a)]. These charges include enhancements related to injuries sustained by both victims. Chavez is also charged with felony hit and run resulting in serious injury [VC 20001(b)(2)] and a misdemeanor for driving without a valid license after a DUI offense [VC 14601.5(a)].

Chavez was arraigned today, Thursday, June 6, at 1:35 pm in Contra Costa Superior Court in Martinez. He remains in custody at the West County Detention Facility in Richmond.

Case No. 01-24-02263 | The People of the State of California v. Chavez, Jose Manuel

According to the Contra Costa Sheriff’s Office, six-foot, 230-pound Chavez is being held on no bail and his next court appearance is scheduled for June 17, 2024, at 1:30 p.m. in Superior Court.

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.

Backed by the badge: Ledo announces endorsements of law enforcement in Assembly race

By Leave a Comment

Source: Ledo for Assembly campaign

Sonia Ledo proudly announced today she is the only State Assembly candidate in District 15 who is dorsed by four local police associations and the Deputy District Attorneys Association in Contra Costa County.

Ledo secured endorsements from the Walnut Creek Police Association, Concord Police Association, Martinez Police Officers Association and BART Police Officers’ Association. The Contra Costa County Deputy District Attorneys Association also endorsed the Assembly candidate for her commitment to address low-level crime and keep dangerous criminals off the streets.

“As representatives of the Martinez Police Officers Association, we wholeheartedly endorse Sonia Ledo for the California State Assembly seat in District 15,” said Martinez POA Board President Sean Angoco. “Sonia Ledo’s unwavering support for law enforcement is unparalleled. Sonia’s commitment to addressing urgent issues such as public safety is deeply rooted in her understanding of the critical role law enforcement plays in safeguarding our communities.

We believe Sonia Ledo’s unwavering support for law enforcement, coupled with her fairness, transparency, and strong work ethic, make her the ideal candidate to represent us in the State Assembly. We urge you to join us in supporting Sonia Ledo on November 5th for a safer and brighter future for California.”

Concord Police Association Board President Paul Van Diver referred to Ledo as “a true champion for public safety and community well-being”. He believes Ledo is “an obvious and compelling choice for endorsement because her consistent dedication to upholding important values only solidifies her as an exceptional candidate.”

Shane Reiss, President of BART Police Officers’ Association said, “BART POA endorses Sonia Ledo because she’s the only candidate in this race that opposes Prop. 47 and she believes in enforcing laws and keeping dangerous criminals off the streets.”

“I am honored to have earned the endorsements of so many local law enforcement organizations within Assembly District 15”, Ledo said. “It says they believe in me to go to work on day one in Sacramento and address the failed policies of the last decade. Such failed state policies have made us less safe in our communities while shopping, enjoying public spaces, and even in our own homes. We need new direction in Sacramento and that’s what I will bring”, Ledo said.

Her plan for improving public safety is a comprehensive four-part approach that includes a focus on police, prosecutors, judges and rehabilitation.

Ledo will work for:

  • Better recruitment, training and technology programs for our police departments;
  • Tougher mandates for prosecution of criminals by our district attorneys;
  • Stricter sentencing guidelines for our judges; and
  • Mandated rehabilitation and transition services for first-time offenders and those who have served their time.

For more information, contact Sonia Ledo at info@SoniaLedo.com call 925-567-9988 or visit SoniaLedo.com.

DA: 2023 police use of force death of Richmond man “lawful and justified”

By Leave a Comment

A screenshot from video of a body-worn camera shows a Richmond Police officer shooting Kevin James McDonald on June 28, 2023. Herald file photo

66-year-old Kevin James McDonald was in home with suspect arrested on multiple firearms charges.

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

Martinez, CA – The Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office’s report on the use of force death of 66-year-old Kevin James McDonald in Richmond is now publicly available.

The Law Enforcement Involved Fatality Incidents (LEIFI) report summarizes the results of the District Attorney’s Office’s independent criminal investigation, including a summary of an autopsy, the outcome of a coroner’s inquest, a legal analysis of the facts, and a determination of criminal liability.

District Attorney Diana Becton emphasized: “Six years ago, my office made a commitment to transparency by releasing Law Enforcement Involved Fatality Incidents reports publicly. Since then, we’ve continued this practice. I firmly believe this policy has helped build public trust and improve public safety in Contra Costa County.”

In June 2023, the Richmond Police Department investigated a firearm offense by a Richmond resident. On June 28th, they arrested that suspect and secured a warrant to search his home for evidence. Prior to searching the residence, officers were made aware that another individual, Kevin McDonald, who wasn’t a suspect, also lived at the home.

A team of officers responded to the home and announced their presence and purpose upon arrival. After receiving no answer, they entered the home to secure the scene, continuing to announce themselves as they searched.

During the search, officers approached a closed bedroom door and announced themselves again before opening it. Inside, they found Kevin McDonald seated nearby, armed with a loaded assault rifle. He raised the weapon toward the officers. Faced with an immediate threat of deadly force, Detective Robert Branch and Sergeant Alex Caine fired at McDonald in self-defense and to protect others. Struck by gunfire, McDonald was pronounced dead at the scene. (See related article)

The Contra Costa District Attorney’s office reviewed the officer-involved shooting that occurred on June 28th, 2023. The legal analysis considered all the available evidence (totality of the circumstances). Based on this review, the District Attorney has concluded that the officer’s use of deadly force was lawful and justified. No charges will be filed in this case.

For more details about the incident, read the full LEIFI report for Kevin James McDonald. Video footage from one of the officer’s body worn cameras can be viewed here. WARNING: Graphic, violent content.

Concord YouTuber found guilty of reckless driving, speeding, fleeing police

By Leave a Comment

Posted videos of his 2022 actions exceeding 120 mph on 680, other Bay Area freeways

By Ted Asregadoo, PIO, Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office & Officer Andrew Barclay, PIO, California Highway Patrol

On April 3, the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office convicted a Concord man for multiple incidents of extreme speeding and reckless driving on Contra Costa freeways, which culminated in a police pursuit through a residential area in Concord.

In late spring of 2022, the California Highway Patrol (CHP) received public complaints about a gray BMW speeding and driving recklessly on Interstate 680 between Contra Costa and Solano counties. The CHP opened an investigation, which led officers to a YouTube channel belonging to 33-year-old Scott Andrews Kitfield (born Jan. 17, 1991). The channel contained numerous dashcam videos posted by Kitfield. These videos documented his dangerous driving behavior, including speeding well over 100 mph on Bay Area freeways, racing other cars, and weaving through traffic at high speeds while endangering nearby commuters. Kitfield’s comments on the channel further confirmed his disregard for safety by boasting about his reckless actions.

CHP investigators identified Kitfield as the reckless driver in the BMW and YouTube videos.

The investigation also confirmed Kitfield frequently sped on I-680 and other Bay Area freeways, exceeding 120 mph.

Photo: CHP Golden Gate Air Operations

On July 14, 2023, investigators from CHP’s Golden Gate Investigative Service Unit (ISU) planned an operation to arrest Kitfield and stop his reckless driving. A CHP aircraft tracked his car as he drove home from Solano County to Concord in the afternoon. CHP officers saw Kitfield speeding over 110 mph on Interstate 680 as he crossed the Benicia-Martinez bridge. He even went faster than 120 mph while racing another car through Martinez.

Just after passing a CHP patrol vehicle, Kitfield swerved abruptly across the freeway and exited at Willow Pass Road and drove into a residential area. A CHP officer in a marked patrol car followed him and tried to pull him over as he turned around at a dead end. Instead of stopping,

Kitfield led the CHP officers on a chase before finally stopping his car and surrendering. Officers from the Solano County Sheriff’s Office also helped with the arrest.

According to the Contra Costa Sheriff’s Office, as of May 12, 2024, Kitfield was being held under Supervised Custody in “Another Facility”.

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.

Four suspects in 2021 Antioch murder, attempted murder convicted

By Leave a Comment

Terryonn Deshawn Pugh, Trent Allen, Eric James Windom and Keyshawn Malik McGee were among 48 gang members and associates arrested and/or contacted by Antioch and Oakland Police Departments during Operation Windstar in 2021. Source: APD

Case at the center of Racial Justice Act Violations from police text messages

Defendants receive 13 years and 8 months to 20 years in prison

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

Martinez, California – On May 6th, the Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office reached a resolution in the 2021 murder of Arnold Marcel Hawkins and the attempted murder of Aaron Patterson. This murder was a seminal case in Contra Costa County regarding the California Racial Justice Act.

The defendants, 23-year-old Terryonn Deshawn Pugh, 25-year-old Eric James Windom, 25-year-old Keyshawn Malik McGee, and 23-year-old Trent Allen, were charged by the Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office on a six-count felony complaint with enhancements in November 2021 (People v. Pugh, Windom, McGee, and Allen).

On March 9th, 2021, the four defendants engaged in a shooting in the City of Antioch wherein they discharged firearms at a vehicle in a residential neighborhood. The barrage of bullets killed Arnold Hawkins and injured another person. (See related article)

As previously reported, on March 31, 2021, Windom was arrested in Merced, and McGee was arrested in Los Angeles, for the attempted murder and drive-by shooting perpetrated on Aspen Way in Antioch.

Later that morning, in Antioch, a fugitive apprehension team consisting of the Antioch Problem Oriented Policing Team and undercover detectives, attempted to contact Trent Allen as a passenger in a vehicle. Allen fled on-foot through a business parking lot and was chased through a residential neighborhood. The fugitive apprehension team caught Allen and took him into custody for his role in the attempted murder and drive-by shooting on Aspen Way.

Later the same day, the Antioch fugitive apprehension team located Terryonn and Armonie Pugh, both parolees-at-large, hiding out in an apartment complex in American Canyon, between Vallejo and Napa. With the assistance of American Canyon PD, and the Napa County Sheriff’s Office, Terryonn Pugh was taken into custody as he tried to flee to a waiting vehicle. Armonie Pugh was taken into custody, without incident, pursuant to a search warrant for the location.  During the search, a firearm and a large amount of cash were seized.  Terryonn Pugh was additionally arrested for the attempted murder at the Lone Tree Way gas station, and for his part in the attempted murder and drive-by shooting on Aspen Way. (See related article)

Also, as previously reported, the four were part of the arrests of 48 gang members and associates during a complex, six-month investigation involving 24 agencies, for murder, attempted murder and illegal guns. The effort removed 40 firearms, including 15 “ghost guns” off the streets and over $100,000 in cash. (See related article)

Unrelated to the shooting that killed Arnold Hawkins, a joint District Attorney’s Office/FBI investigation was initiated into allegations of police misconduct by officers in the Antioch and Pittsburg Police Departments. During that separate investigation in early 2023, investigators found a trove of racist text messages exchanged by Antioch police officers. These messages revealed that while investigating the murder suspects that took the life of Arnold Hawkins, the officers were sending and receiving messages about the murder suspects that included racist slurs, images, and written descriptions. The text messages violated the California Racial Justice Act (RJA) — a law that prohibits bias, animus, and racially discriminatory language based on race, ethnicity, or national origin in charges, convictions, and sentences. (See related articles here and here)

In March 2023, the District Attorney’s Office notified the court and the defense bar of the potential RJA violations as it related to open and adjudicated cases. Moreover, as part of the discovery process, the District Attorney’s Office disclosed investigative reports detailing incidents of racial bias and animus in the text messages sent and received by some members of the Antioch Police Department. (See related article)

Having already filed a motion challenging disproportionate filings in murder cases under the RJA, the defendants filed a second challenge predicated upon the racial bias exhibited by the Antioch police officers investigating the murder case. After multiple hearings, the court dismissed the special circumstance allegations, as well as the gang and firearm enhancements on February 5th, 2024. The case was set for trial when a resolution was reached between the District Attorney’s Office and the defendants.

In resolving the case, the four defendants have entered pleas of no contest to the following:

Terryonn Pugh: No contest on two counts of attempted murder and voluntary manslaughter – with an additional punishment for the use of a firearm. He will be sentenced in Martinez on May 8th, 2024, to 20 years in state prison.

Eric Windom: No contest on one count of attempted murder and voluntary manslaughter — with an additional punishment for the use of a firearm. He will also serve a concurrent term for a robbery that is unrelated to this case. Windom will be sentenced in Martinez on May 8th, 2024, to 19 years in state prison.

Trent Allen: No contest on one count of attempted murder and voluntary manslaughter — with an additional punishment for the use of a firearm. He will also serve a concurrent term for an unrelated robbery. Allen will be sentenced in Martinez on May 10th, 2024, to 19 years in state prison.

Keyshawn McGee: No contest on one count of attempted murder and voluntary manslaughter — with an additional punishment for the use of a firearm in both the murder and voluntary manslaughter charges. McGee will be sentenced in Martinez on May 10th, 2024, to 13 years, 8 months in state prison.

“Seeking justice for these serious offenses was complicated by violations to the Racial Justice Act,” said District Attorney Diana Becton. These lengthy prison sentences ensure accountability and promote community safety. Hopefully, the outcome will help to heal the loss the victims and survivors experienced.”

Case No. 01001976380 | The People of the State of California v. Pugh, Windom, McGee, and Allen

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.

Former accountant for Richmond business charged with felonies for embezzlement, ID theft money laundering

By Leave a Comment

Bail set at $2 million

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

A former accountant for a paver company in Richmond has been charged with a six-count felony complaint related to embezzlement, money laundering, identity theft, and tax evasion.

53-year-old Angela Fae Brown from Olivehurst, CA in Yuba County was arraigned today on charges in Contra Costa Superior Court. Between September 2017 and November 2022, Brown engaged in an embezzlement scheme that bilked over 800-thousand dollars from her employer, Viking Pavers in Richmond. Brown used her accounting skills to exploit financial vulnerabilities in the company to illegally enrich herself for nearly five years. She did this by:

  1. Pretending to be the owner of Viking Pavers and creating a fake online account with a payment processing service linked to her personal bank account.
  2. Generating hundreds of phony invoices for services and sending them electronically to the fake account she controlled.
  3. Brown paid these fake invoices with the company’s funds through the online payment processing platform — which funneled the money into her own account.
  4. Brown’s trusted employee status — and access to various financial controls — allowed her to conceal her embezzlement scheme for a long time.

A manager eventually suspected Brown’s fraudulent actions and confronted her. Richmond Police who, along with financial forensics analysts from the Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office, investigated Brown’s actions. She was arrested on April 19th, 2024, and is currently in custody at the Martinez Detention Facility. Her bail is set at two-million-dollars. District Attorney Diana Becton said, “In white collar crimes, it’s of paramount importance for our Special

Operations Unit to use forensic tools to recover stolen funds; funds some have gone to great lengths to conceal.”

Case No. 02-24-00513 | The People of the State of California v. Brown, Angela Fae

  1. PC 530.5(a)-felony: Identity theft
  2. PC 186.10(a)-felony: Money laundering
  3. PC 487(a)-f: Grand theft of money, labor, or real or personal property exceeding $950
  4. PC 529(a)(3)-felony: False personation
  5. PC 186.10(a)-felony: Money laundering
  6. RT 19705(a)(4)-felony: Concealing property with intent to evade tax

— Special Allegation PC 186.11(a)(2) : aggravated white-collar crime – taking more than $500,000

Oregon man charged in last Sunday’s deadly hit-and-run in Concord

By Leave a Comment

Jesus Ivan Dorantes Guzman was arrested on Wed., April 10, 2024. Photo: CHP Contra Costa

22-year-old Jesus Ivan Dorantes Guzman held on $1,000,000 bail.

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

Martinez, California – A 22-year-old man from Oregon has been charged by the Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office with a two-count felony complaint centering on a deadly crash that occurred in Concord on April 7th. (See related articles here and here)

Jesus Ivan Dorantes Guzman faces charges of a felony hit-and-run that resulted in the death or serious injury of another. He is also charged with child abuse for putting a minor in a situation that caused her death. The child abuse charge comes with a special allegation of great bodily injury.

The circumstances of the incident occurred around 5:20 am on April 7th. Dorantes Guzman was driving a vehicle with multiple passengers when he crashed on Northbound Interstate 680 at California State Route 242 in Concord. The vehicle overturned in a dirt area near the freeway.

The crash injured five individuals – three of whom are minors – and killed a 9-year-old girl. Dorantes Guzman fled the scene on foot after the crash. Days later, he was found by police officers in the City of Williams – which is in Colusa County.

Dorantes Guzman is currently in the Martinez Detention Facility and will be arraigned on the charges in Contra Costa County Superior Court in Martinez on April 15 at 1:30 pm. His bail has been set at $1,000,000.

Case No: 01-24-01483 | The People of the State of California v. Dorantes-Guzman, Jesus Ivan

Berkeley man charged for rape, robbery of woman near North Concord BART station

By Leave a Comment

Larry Dean Ridge, Jr. also arrested March 20th for sexual battery

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

Martinez, California — 40-year-old Larry Dean Ridge, Jr. of Berkeley has been charged by the Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office with a three-count felony complaint for forcible rape, assault and second-degree robbery against a female victim in Concord.

The incident occurred on April 8, 2024, around 6:30 pm near the North Concord BART station. The victim was walking on a pedestrian/bike trail when Ridge allegedly pushed the victim to the ground and proceeded to rape her. The victim was able to strike Ridge, who grabbed the victim’s purse and stole her cell phone and wallet. He left the purse as he fled toward the BART station.

A witness biking on the trail was able to help the victim to the BART station, where a station agent called 911. Concord Police officers arrived at the station shortly after and were able to locate and detain Ridge, who was on a BART train. After both the victim and the witness identified him as the assailant, he was arrested by officers.

On Thursday, April 11, Ridge was arraigned in Martinez on the charges, including special allegations for prior serious or violent felonies in another county. He’s being held in the Martinez Detention Facility.

His bail has been set at $1,250,000.

Case No. 01-24-01348 | The People of the State of California v. Ridge, Larry Dean, Jr.

According to localcrimenews.com, Ridge was also arrested last month by the San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office for sexual battery in Milbrae.

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.