Contra Costa Herald

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

Vallejo man charged by Contra Costa DA for stealing $25,000 of LEGOs

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Photos: Target.com and Waymarking.com

From Walnut Creek, San Ramon Target stores

Has history of arrests dating to 2014

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

A Vallejo man has been charged by the Contra Costa County District Attorney with multiple counts of second-degree commercial burglary and grand theft for stealing nearly $25,000 worth of merchandise from Target.

32-year-old Michael Ivory Fletcher (born 7/10/92) is currently in custody at the Martinez Detention Facility, awaiting a preliminary hearing on a 12-count felony complaint filed in court on February 20th.

His bail has been set at $467,500.

Fletcher’s offenses go beyond Contra Costa County. He is suspected of thefts in Solano, Alameda, San Joaquin, Sonoma, and Santa Clara Counties.

The thefts at Target stores in Walnut Creek and San Ramon occurred between August 15th, 2024, and February 15th, 2025. Fletcher’s actions followed a similar method of entering a store alone, filling up a shopping cart of LEGO products, and exiting with the stolen merchandise in a matter of minutes. Before fleeing from a store, he would load the stolen items in a vehicle parked in a disabled parking space.

District Attorney Diana Becton said, “The effective investigative efforts of the Walnut Creek and San Ramon police departments were crucial in bringing this case forward. We are committed to holding this individual accountable. Moreover, these brazen retail thefts demonstrate the necessity of reporting these crimes to law enforcement. Collaborative efforts are essential to ensuring the safety of our communities and businesses.”

Case No. 01-25-00704 | The People of the State of California v. Fletcher, Michael Ivory

According to the Contra Costa Sheriff’s Office, the five-feet, 10-inch, 165 lb. Fletcher is Black, and as of March 5, he is being held in the West County Detention Facility. His next court appearance is scheduled for Tuesday, March 11 at 8:30 AM in Superior Court in Martinez.

According to localcrimenews.com, he was arrested on Feb. 15, 2025, by Walnut Creek Police for felony committed while released on bail or own recognizance, revocation of probation, conspiracy to commit a crime, burglary, grand theft and organized retail theft. 01-25-00704 – MIFletcher Charging Document

In addition, Fletcher has a history of arrests dating back to 2014 by multiple agencies including Oakland, Emeryville, Albany and Vallejo PD’s, Contra Costa, Alameda, Santa Clara, Solano and San Joaquin counties Sheriff’s Departments and Castro Valley CHP for multiple gun-related and drug-related crimes, grand theft, burglary, organized retail theft, battery on a spouse, ex-spouse or co-habitant, and resisting arrest.

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.

Contra Costa judge orders changes to deceptive Acalanes high school district tax measure ballot materials

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Said Measure T would raise district parcel taxes from $112 to $130, but will actually increase from $301 to $431, plus annual inflation increases

By Contra Costa Taxpayers Association

The Honorable Edward G. Weil of Contra Costa County Superior Court ordered Acalanes Union High School District (AUHSD) and the Contra Costa County Registrar of Voters to alter the ballot question, ballot measure title, and impartial analysis of Measure T, a new parcel tax for the Acalanes Union High School District (AUHD) being placed before voters in a May 6th special election. Judge Weil issued the order in response to a complaint filed by attorney Jason Bezis whose lead plaintiff was Marc Joffe, President of the Contra Costa Taxpayers Association (CoCoTax).

“As written, the ballot materials were highly deceptive,” said Joffe. “The impartial analysis gave the false impression that Measure T would raise district parcel taxes from $112 to $130, when, in fact, they will increase from a current total of $301 to $431, followed by annual inflation increases. The ballot question tried to confuse voters by calling these inflationary increases ‘adjustments’.”

CoCoTax has taken a “NO” position on the measure, and Joffe has written opposition ballot arguments which voters will see next month. CoCoTax is especially concerned with AUHSD’s decision to call a costly special election to decide the tax measure.

The County Registrar of Voters will charge the district between $11 and $14 per registered voter to conduct the election, and with 95,000 registered voters in AUHSD, the total cost will exceed $1 million. This is close to a quarter of the amount the parcel tax is expected to raise in its first year, if enacted.

“The District could’ve saved hundreds of thousands of dollars by combining this with a regular election,” Joffe said.

Aside from ordering the insertion of the word inflation into the ballot question and removing deceptive information about the current level of parcel taxes, Judge Weil’s ruling will also require AUHSD to change the name of the measure from the “Sustaining Educational Excellence Act” to the “Sustaining Educational Funding Act.” Joffe said: “That is an improvement because the new title at least gives some idea of what the measure will do. Ideally, the District would call this measure what it is: a parcel tax increase.”

Judge Weil denied several of the plaintiffs’ requests, including a move to strike the descriptor “independent” from the oversight board that would report on spending of parcel tax revenue. Because the school board-appointed committee is not required to include a taxpayer advocate and because the district superintendent will serve as an ex officio member, plaintiffs did not see it as truly independent.

A more technical change the judge ordered required a significant change to the ballot question. State law requires ballot summaries to follow the template: “Shall the measure (stating the nature thereof) be adopted?” AUHSD’s language neither began with the phrase “Shall the measure” nor did it end with “be adopted”.

“The purpose of a ballot question is to quickly inform busy voters of what a ballot measure would do if adopted,” Joffe said. “Instead, AUHSD, other Contra Costa agencies, and their counterparts across California treat the ballot question as free advertising for new taxes and bonds. In fact, like many other agencies, AUHSD paid consultants and pollsters to fashion the most marketable ballot question, with little regard for actually informing voters.”

See copies of Judge Weil’s order and the plaintiffs’ amended petition: N25-0353 – Order After Hearing & Amended Petition

Interested parties can see all documents related to this matter by going to the Superior Court’s case management system at https://odyportal.cc-courts.org/Portal/Home/Dashboard/29 and entering case number N25-0353.

Pittsburg native serves aboard U.S. Navy guided-missile destroyer

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U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Hannah Fry.

As USS Ralph Johnson departs Sasebo, Japan

U.S. Navy sailors serve and protect from around the globe, and every sailor got their start somewhere.

By Ashley Craig Public Affairs Specialist Media Outreach Dept. Navy Office of Community Outreach

SASEBO, Japan (February 18, 2025) – Electronics Technician 3rd Class Gabriel Alas from Pittsburg, California, right, and Electronics Technician 3rd Class Zane Cunningham from Rusk, Texas, middle, stand along port side on the flight deck of the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Ralph Johnson (DDG 114) while getting underway from Commander, Fleet Activities Sasebo, Feb. 18. Ralph Johnson is forward deployed and assigned to Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 15, the Navy’s largest DESRON and the U.S. 7th fleet’s principal surface force.

USS Ralph Johnson (DDG 114) pulls into Commander, Fleet Activities Sasebo

U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Jamaal Liddell

SASEBO, Japan (July 22, 2023) The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Ralph Johnson (DDG 114) pulls into Commander, Fleet Activities Sasebo, July 22. Ralph Johnson is assigned to Commander, Task Force 71/Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 15, the Navy’s largest forward-deployed DESRON and the U.S. 7th Fleet’s principal surface force.

West Contra Costa Unified board compromises on staff cuts, but may have to cut student services instead

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United Teachers of Richmond gather at West Contra Costa school board meeting Wednesday to protest staff cuts approved a week earlier. Credit: Monica Velez / EdSource

177 positions; on split board vote; deadline to give layoff notices is March 15

Only 1 in 4 students are performing at grade level in math

By Monica Velez, EdSource.org, republished with permission

In a move consistent with dozens of California school districts, West Contra Costa Unified School District board members have had to choose between eliminating staff and services for students or exploding its budget deficit.

At the start of the debate at Wednesday night’s school board meeting, the district had proposed cutting about 177 staffing positions and, after nearly three hours of debate, the board voted 3-1 to cut all but eight. But saving those eight positions jeopardizes funding for services for at-risk students.

“Ultimately, with these decisions, our students will suffer the most without the staff that is needed to provide them with an excellent education that they deserve and which is necessary to decrease the longstanding education gaps for the district’s Black and brown students,” said Sheryl Lane, executive director of Fierce Advocates, a Richmond organization focused on working with parents of color.

Out of the positions that are being eliminated, 122 are already vacant, according to district officials. And so far, the district has also received 27 resignations and 47 retirement notices.

It’s unclear if there will be layoffs, but on Feb. 6, interim Superintendent Kim Moses said that because of vacancy levels, the district administrators “expect that there will be a certificated job available for all current WCCUSD (West Contra Costa Unified School District) educators for the 2025-26 school year.”

Throughout this month, educators, parents, students and community members showed up in large numbers to speak, as they have in all board meetings since the budget talks started, urging the board to reconsider cutting staff positions.

“We saw today the dysfunction,” United Teachers of Richmond President Francisco Ortiz said during the meeting. “We need collaboration. Every single cabinet member has my direct phone number. Every board member has my phone number. We have been excluded from the decision-making process and in the collaboration since the new administration took over. This situation has been imposed on us, but we’re ready to fight.”

A Split Board

It took nine amended resolutions for a vote to pass on Wednesday night. Trustee Demetrio Gonzalez-Hoy attempted to save high school teachers, school counselors, social workers, psychologists, speech therapists, and career technical education educators.

But the board was split.

Board President Leslie Reckler and trustee Guadalupe Enllana voted down the motions while Gonzalez-Hoy and trustee Cinthia Hernandez were determined to save some staffing positions.

The successful resolution saved one part-time psychologist position, one part-time and seven full-time high school teachers. Reckler voted down the resolution and trustee Jamela Smith-Folds was absent.

In an email to EdSource, Reckler argued the board had already approved the fiscal solvency plan and if the cuts weren’t passed, “it shows the board to be an unreliable steward of public funds, and I will not be lumped into that category.”

“My prime responsibility is to ensure the long-term fiscal solvency of the school district and ensure continued local control in decision-making,” Reckler said. “Last night’s vote will make it more difficult for the school district.”

The top priority for Gonzalez-Hoy was to save the high school teacher positions because cutting them would have caused some schools to go from a seven-period day to six, he said. English learners, students with disabilities and students who need more academic support would be most affected because they often need to take on extra courses and benefit from having more class periods.

“I could not in good conscience make those reductions, knowing the unintended impact they would have,” he said. “Even though it was a very difficult conversation and decision, I did vote to cut the majority of the positions, in part due to our ability to possibly retain some of those positions through grants, but also due to our financial situation.”

In an emailed statement, Enllana said the board and district can no longer continue to be “driven by individual interests but must prioritize the needs of all students.”

“There is a clear distinction between needs and wants. Our first responsibility is to secure what our students need, and then work towards fulfilling the wants under our current budget.”

California Schools Are in a Budget Crisis

This week, other Bay Area school boards also made the difficult decision to lay off employees for the coming school year. Oakland’s school board voted to cut 100 positions, the San Francisco Chronicle reported. According to KQED, San Francisco Unified will also send pink slips to more than 500 employees.

West Contra Costa Unified has to balance between the need for fiscal solvency and keeping the schools adequately staffed with teachers, social workers, psychologists and other support staff.

“These decisions by the school board are tough ones and speak to the structural changes needed at the state level to change the revenue it receives that can go towards funding local school districts, like WCCUSD,” Lane said.

The district has been under financial stress since last year and could risk insolvency if its fiscal plan isn’t followed.

When districts can’t get out of deficits, they risk being taken over by the state and losing local control over budget decisions. Twenty-six years ago, West Contra Costa became the first district in the state to go insolvent and received a $29 million bailout loan, which took 21 years to pay off.

To stay out of a deficit, West Contra Costa has to cut $32.7 million in costs between 2024 and 2027. District officials have said about 84% of the budget is used to pay salaries and benefits — the reason staffing cuts would be unavoidable.

The district needs to put forth a fiscal solvency plan approved by the Contra Costa County Office of Education to avoid going insolvent and risking a takeover, Moses said. The staffing cuts are tied to the plan and must happen for the district to stay on track. The board approved the plan earlier this month.

“It would be multiple millions of dollars of impact to the general fund if we don’t take action,” Moses said during the meeting. “The response to the county, if that is the case, I think we would be sending a strong message that we are not addressing our fiscal stability, and that would not be advisable as they are oversight agents.”

The Price of Compromise

Saving the high school teacher and psychologist positions will add $1.5 million to $1.75 million to the deficit, Moses said. The district doesn’t have a choice but to use funds that are meant for student services and will likely have to dip into the $4 million set aside for math curriculum.

“We value all staff and their dedication to our community; however, the fiscal health of our district has to be prioritized as the foundation for our ability to continue normal district operations,” Moses said in a news release Thursday. “I am concerned about the added fiscal uncertainty we face after last night’s board meeting.”

Cutting the money for teacher and math support is a step backward for the district, which makes it more difficult for educators to help students improve, said Natalie Walchuk, vice president of local impact at GO Public Schools, an organization advocating for equitable public education. In West Contra Costa, only 1 in 4 students are performing at grade level in math and just 6.1% of seniors are ready for college-level math.

“Teachers need the right tools and resources to support their students, yet the district has lagged for years in adopting a new math curriculum,” Walchuk said. “While we recognize the difficult financial decisions the board had to make, it is critical that the district prioritizes student learning.”

The positions on the chopping block came from two pots of money — the general fund, which accounts for 40 positions, and grants, which cover 137 positions. Money for grant-funded positions is either expiring or has been used faster than projected, said Camille Johnson, associate superintendent of human resources.

Trying to save the grant-funded positions would add to the deficit, Moses said. Although the district staff is working to secure more grants, the funds districts receive from the federal government are uncertain.

“We were not in a position to consult the (teachers) union because we do not have money to pay for these positions,” Moses said during the meeting. “Negotiations in terms of what stays and what goes was not possible in this scenario because it’s strictly driven by money that is expiring or money we aren’t responsible for assigning.”

The district doesn’t have a choice but to eliminate some positions because they are dependent on school sites approving the positions in their budgets, Moses said. If approved, about 78 positions could be reinstated.

The deadline to give layoff notices is March 15.

Related Reading
West Contra Costa Unified struggles to stay solvent, avoid state takeover | EdSource
West Contra Costa school board slashes staffing to avoid deficit | EdSource

New poll indicates majority support for Bay Area transit revenue and reform measure

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Source: MTC

Contra Costa voters polled support two of three options; want potholes fixed on local streets, improved traffic flow and safety

Members of the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC)’s and the Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG)’s Joint Legislation Committee heard, on Friday, Feb. 14, the results of a January 2025 poll of Bay Area voters conducted by Oakland-based EMC Research on options for a potential transportation tax measure that could avert deep service cuts by BART, San Francisco Muni, Caltrain and other transit agencies; and could spur implementation of the Bay Area Transit Transformation Action Plan to improve the customer experience for transit riders. State senators Scott Wiener of San Francisco and Jesse Arreguín of Berkeley last month introduced Senate Bill 63 to authorize placement of such a measure on the November 2026 ballot. EMC Research, Inc. conducted the poll of 3,050 Bay Area voters to test support and overall attitudes regarding a potential transportation revenue measure, including a three-way split sample to test three different funding frameworks. They included the following:
  • Scenario 1A: A 10-year 1/2-cent sales tax focused on averting major transit service cuts and providing funding for Transit Transformation, generating at least $560 million annually and
  • Hybrid: A 30-year 1/2-cent sales tax plus $0.09 per building sq.ft. parcel tax including at least five counties and up to nine, providing a higher level of funding for transit operations in early years, funding for Transit Transformation, plus flexibility for local infrastructure priorities.
  • Variable Rate: ½-cent to 7/8-cent (0.875) sales tax for transit for 11 years, as proposed by San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency, generating at least $640 million annually focused on transit operations with the goal of more fully addressing transit agencies’ operating funding needs. Note that this framework was included to maximize efficiencies and ensure “apples to apples” comparison of polling results. SFMTA is funding this portion of the poll.
The poll found that a majority (54%) of voters in the four counties of Alameda, Contra Costa, San Francisco and San Mateo would vote yes on a half-cent sales tax to avoid major transit cuts to BART, Caltrain, Muni and AC Transit. It also found majority support (55%) in these four counties for a variable tax option that included a half-cent sales tax in Contra Costa, Alameda and San Mateo and a higher (0.875 cent) sales tax in San Francisco. In Contra Costa County the results of 600 total voters polled, with 200 for each option, initially showed 53% support for Scenario 1A: 10-year 1/2-cent sales tax, 51% support for the Hybrid option and 54% support for the Variable Rate. But after hearing more information and opposition, 56% of Contra Costa voters opposed the Hybrid option, 53% supported the Variable Rate and just 51% supported the 1/2-cent sales tax. “While it’s good to see most voters would support a measure of these types, support is well below the two-thirds threshold that would be required if MTC were to place the measure on the ballot,” noted MTC Commissioner and Pleasant Hill City Councilmember Sue Noack. “This means any near-term path would need to be via a citizen’s initiative, which would require a broad coalition to gather the needed signatures as well as strong campaign leadership.” The poll results show transportation ranks comparatively low on the list of voters’ concerns when respondents were asked an open-ended question (affordable housing, drugs/crime and homelessness top the list) but awareness of the post-pandemic challenges faced by transit agencies is high, with over two-thirds of the voters polled saying Bay Area public transit needs more funding. “Transit has an irreplaceable role in our region, being the only source of transportation for many essential workers, people of color, and working-class families,” added Senator Arreguín. “As we continue our recovery from the pandemic, securing funding to public transit is required to ensure a stronger, more resilient economy for all of us in the Bay Area.” A third tax framework for which EMC Research polled Bay Area voters involved a measure that would be funded by a combination of a half-cent sales tax and a 9-cents per square foot parcel tax over 30 years to funds pothole repairs and highway improvements in addition to transit improvements. Support for this framework started at 51 percent but dipped to 44 percent after respondents heard opposing arguments. MTC in December 2024 approved several policy provisions for inclusion in state legislation that would enable voters to consider a future ballot measure. These include requiring stronger oversight of transit agencies’ financial information and requiring transit agencies to adopt policies to help improve the transit customer experience as a condition for receiving new funds. About MTC MTC is the transportation planning, financing and coordinating agency for the nine-county San Francisco Bay Area. The full presentation delivered to the MTC-ABAG Joint Legislation Committee may be accessed on the MTC website. Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.

LMC to host 2nd Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration Feb. 26

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Three awards to be presented during luncheon including “Visionary Leadership” Award to Contra Costa DA Diana Becton

By Jennifer Adams, Senior Executive Assistant, President’s Office, Los Medanos College Los Medanos College will host its 2nd Annual Celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. on Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2025. Three people will receive the 2025 Los Medanos College MLK Awards: • “Visionary Leadership” Award – Diana Becton | District Attorney for Contra Costa County • “Beloved Community” Award – Kolette Simonton | Director of Recreation for the City of Pittsburg • “Emerging Leadership” Award – Annisha Geran | LMC Alumna, School Site Council Chairperson at MLK, Jr. Junior High School & School Site Council Vice Chairperson at Pittsburg High School The awards will be presented during the luncheon that day. The “Visionary Leadership” Award recognizes a member of the eastern Contra Costa County community who embodies Dr. King’s strengths as a transformational, servant leader. Dr. King inspired others to shape the future articulated in his vision. He focused on the well-being, growth, and empowerment of others and the community he served. Dr. King said, “Human progress is neither automatic nor inevitable … Every step toward the goal of justice requires sacrifice, suffering, and struggle; the tireless exertions and passionate concern of dedicated individuals.” This award recognizes local leaders who have demonstrated the courage to speak up when needed, to step up when no one else would, and to lift others whose efforts would serve the greater good. The “Beloved Community” Award is inspired by the term popularized by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and is presented to a local resident who has demonstrated a long-standing commitment to service. As noted by The King Center, the “Beloved Community” is a global vision in which: all people can share in the wealth of the earth; poverty, hunger, and homelessness will not be tolerated; racism and all forms of discrimination, bigotry, and prejudice will be replaced by an all-inclusive spirit of sisterhood and brotherhood; and love and trust will triumph over fear and hatred.” Recipients of this award demonstrate agape love, which Dr. King described as “understanding, redeeming goodwill for all” – a love “seeking to preserve and create community.” The “Emerging Leadership” Award is given to an LMC student or alumna/us who exemplifies the principles of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and, within the last year, has made a significant impact on the LMC campus or in the local community in the areas of advocacy and social justice. Dr. King once said, “Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, ‘What are you doing for others?” – and these emerging leaders are already demonstrating that commitment to service. RSVPs for the luncheon are no longer being accepted. About LMC Los Medanos College is one of three colleges in the Contra Costa Community College District, serving the East Contra Costa County community. Established in 1974, LMC has earned federal designations as a Minority-Serving and Hispanic-Serving institution. It offers award-winning transfer and career-technical programs, support services, and diverse academic opportunities in an inclusive learning environment. With exceptional educators, innovative curriculum, growing degree and certificate offerings, and state-of-the-art facilities, the college prepares students to succeed in their educational pursuits, in the workforce, and beyond. • The Pittsburg Campus boasts 120 acres, a lake, advanced library, science, math and student union buildings. • The Brentwood Center, which opened May 2022, is nestled on 17.5 acres along the rolling hills of the City of Brentwood. • The college offers more than 90 transfer and career-technical programs of study to help students achieve a lifetime of higher earnings. • Established in 1974, LMC has earned federal designations as a Minority-Serving and Hispanic-Serving institution. LMC is located at 2700 E. Leland Road in Pittsburg. The Brentwood Center is located at 1351 Pioneer Square.

Contra Costa DA secures convictions in three murder cases

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

Martinez, CA – Separate juries in Contra Costa County returned guilty verdicts in three murder trials this week.

In The People v. Phuc Hong Vo, jurors convicted Vo of the first-degree murder of his 75-year-old mother-in-law, Que Thi Tran, and the second-degree murder of his wife, 40-year-old Tho Ngoc Ly. The verdict was reached on February 18th.

The victims were murdered by Vo on or about September 5th, 2023, in Contra Costa County.

While the body of Ms. Tran was recovered in the Oakland estuary on September 30th, police have been unable to locate Ms. Ly. Initially, Vo reported to San Pablo Police that his wife and mother-in-law had willingly left their home after he and Ly argued over family finances.

San Pablo Police became suspicious of Vo after receiving information that the disappearance was likely a double homicide. Moreover, actions by Vo like remodeling his home, hiding his wife’s car, lying to the police, and leaving the United States for Vietnam to meet a woman he had been seeing and wanted to marry, added to the circumstantial evidence that Vo was the only suspect in this case.

Vo will be sentenced at a future date by Judge Charles Burch in Martinez. He faces a sentence of life imprisonment without parole for the double murders.

Also on February 18th, a jury convicted Lonnie Ray Decker and Steven Robert Kelly of the murder of Roberto Gonzalez-Lamas and the attempted murder of Richard O’Mary. The shooting occurred on January 23, 2024, in Antioch. (See related article)

Police responded to multiple gunshots on Bryan Avenue, where both victims were shot several times. Gonzalez-Lamas later died at a hospital, while O’Mary sustained severe injuries but survived.

Both defendants will remain in custody without bail. They will be sentenced by Judge Christopher Bowen in Martinez on June 6th, 2025.

On February 19th, in The People v. Lawyer Dushan McBride, a jury found McBride guilty of murdering Rashanda Franklin in 2017.

McBride, then 43, was waiting for Franklin, 30, in the church’s parking lot where she took her children to school. He had been following her and harassing her for weeks after she ended their 2-year relationship. Concerned for her safety, she called 911 as she fled the parking lot with her children. As both vehicles approached 29th Street and Rheem Avenue, McBride blocked Franklin’s car, exited his vehicle, and confronted her. The 911 recording captured Franklin pleading, “I’ve got my kids in the car.” McBride responded, “I ain’t playing with you,” before fatally shooting her.

In addition to the murder conviction, the jury found McBride guilty of shooting into an occupied vehicle, stalking, personally using a firearm to cause death, and inflicting great bodily injury in circumstances involving domestic violence.

Judge Mary Ann O’Malley will sentence McBride in Martinez at a date and time determined by the court.

Two of these homicide trials involved family violence. For anyone experiencing domestic violence or elder abuse, help is available at Contra Costa’s Family Justice Centers www.cocofamilyjustice.org or 24-7 through the crisis line at STAND! for Families free from Violence 1-888-215-5555.

After withdrawing significant funds Antioch bank customer robbed at home in Brentwood

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Police seek three suspects

By Brentwood Police Department

On Thursday, February 13, 2025, at approximately 3:30 PM, our Dispatch received a report of an armed robbery that just occurred. It was reported that the victim had just withdrawn a significant amount of money from the Wells Fargo Bank on Lone Tree Way in Antioch.

Upon arriving at their residence, the victim was confronted by three suspects dressed in dark clothing, believed to be adults. One suspect threatened the victim with a gun while another physically assaulted the victim. The suspects then stole the victim’s cash and fled on foot.

Thankfully, the victim did not sustain serious injuries. This incident remains under investigation. If you have any information regarding this incident, please contact the Brentwood Police Department Dispatch at 925-809-7911 or 9-1-1 if it’s an emergency. Callers may remain anonymous.

We encourage everyone to stay vigilant when visiting banks or ATMs. Be aware of your surroundings, and if you suspect you are being followed, call 9-1-1 immediately.

Antioch convicted felon arrested for illegal possession of stolen gun

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Stolen gun recovered by a Brentwood Police Officer from suspect during traffic stop in Antioch on Feb. 12, 2025. Photo: Brentwood PD

Already out of custody; Officer’s 4th gun arrest in city this year

By Brentwood Police Department

Last Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2025, around midnight, a Brentwood officer conducted a traffic stop near Lone Tree Way and Williamson Ranch for expired registration.

The driver, 33-year-old Deontae Markell Alexander of Antioch, was found to be unlicensed. Further investigation revealed that Alexander, a convicted felon, was in possession of a loaded firearm, which he is legally prohibited from owning or carrying. Officers also determined the firearm had been reported stolen.

This marks the officer’s fourth gun-related arrest this year, reinforcing the department’s commitment to keeping illegal firearms out of the community.

According to localcrimenews.com, Alexander was charged with Receiving or Concealing Stolen Property, Addict in Possession of a Firearm, Possession of Ammunition, Carrying a Loaded Firearm on Person or in Vehicle while in a Public Place, and Carrying a Concealed Weapon in a Vehicle. He also has a history of arrests dating back to before 2014 by multiple agencies including Antioch PD and Oakland PD for crimes including vehicle theft, possession of marijuana over 28.5 grams, DUI alcohol with BAC over .08 and battery on a spouse, cohabitant or former spouse.

According to the Contra Costa Sheriff’s Office, as of Friday, Feb. 14, he is out of custody and on his own recognizance.

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.

Contra Costa Sheriff, DA assist in solving 1990 East Bay Parks murder

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Weidhofer Cold Case

By East Bay Regional Park District Police Department

The East Bay Regional Park District Police Department announced Wednesday, February 19, 2025, that DNA evidence has conclusively identified the murderer in a 35-year-old case that took place in Charles Lee Tilden Regional Park in Berkeley, CA.

Evidence collected from Jon Lipari, who died by suicide in Oregon in November 2024, was linked to the victim Maria Weidhofer, a Berkeley resident. She was an avid jogger and park user of Tilden Regional Park.

On Nov. 16, 1990, Weidhofer was found deceased on a trail near Inspiration Point in Tilden Regional Park. Weidhofer was found with rope around her neck and with physical signs of a struggle after she had been reported missing the night before.

An autopsy, performed at the time of the crime, found that Weidhofer’s cause of death was asphyxia by ligature strangulation and found a multitude of minor abrasions and contusions upon her person. A lengthy investigation was conducted in 1990-1991 by the East Bay Regional Park District Police Department. A suspect was not identified from this initial investigation.

In 1997, biological evidence found on Weidhofer from the suspect was sent to the Contra Costa Crime Lab for analysis. That evidence was later submitted to the Combined DNA Index System (CODIS). Among the evidence collected, during the initial investigation, was semen from which a DNA profile was generated.

In 2020, the East Bay Regional Park District Police Investigations Unit began working with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) on this case. This collaboration included the use of advanced DNA techniques. Through this investigation, Lipari was determined to be a potential suspect and became the primary suspect in 2024.

Once Lipari was identified as a potential suspect, hundreds of hours of further investigation were conducted in collaboration with the FBI, Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office, and the Curry County Sheriff’s Office. The investigation also determined that Lipari was living in Gold Beach, OR.

In early November 2024, Lipari was found deceased in his residence by local law enforcement from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. DNA from the scene was retrieved by the Curry County Sheriff’s Office and a direct comparison was done by the Contra Costa County Crime Lab. The comparison determined the DNA profiles generated from the evidence collected at the original scene and the DNA from Lipari were a match.

There is no indication from the investigation, Weidhofer’s family, or Lipari’s family, that there was any previous contact between the victim and suspect.

“We hope that today’s development brings some measure of closure to the family, who have shown tremendous strength throughout this difficult time” said Roberto Filice, Chief of the East Bay Regional Park District Police Department. “This breakthrough comes after years of relentless investigation, and I want to personally thank our dedicated staff for their perseverance and firm commitment to seeking justice. Their determination to never give up ultimately led to solving this case, and we are proud to serve a community that stands together in the face of tragedy.”

Special thanks to the FBI, the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office, the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Forensic Services Division, and the Curry County Sheriff’s Office for their collaboration, expertise, and dogged determination in solving this 35-year-old case.

In posts on X (formerly Twitter) on Wednesday Contra Costa Sheriff David Livingston wrote, “Contra Costa Sheriff’s Crime Lab played key role in the case. In 1997, lab analyzed biological evidence, generated a DNA profile, and uploaded it to CODIS database. Recently, crime lab received a reference sample from Lipari and was able to confirm that he was the suspect.

“The Contra Costa Sheriff’s Office Forensic Services Division Crime Lab is proud to assist our law enforcement partners in their investigations and help bring answers and closure to victim’s families,” he added.

During Wednesday’s press conference Contra Costa Deputy DA Satish Jallepalli said, “Thank you, (EBRPD Police) Chief Filice for having us here, today to remember Maria Weidhofer and to be able to speak on her behalf. Pursuit of justice is a marathon not a sprint. We’re all standing here today because of our shared commitment to justice. It’s been 35 years since Maria was murdered on November 15, 1990. Since that day, her death and circumstances touched everyone, her family, the community and members of law enforcement. Everyone who worked on this case for 30-plus years was dedicated to solving this crime. They did so with shared determination that Maria’s death would not remain unsolved.”

“The partnership of this case between East Bay Regional Parks Police, the FBI, the District Attorney’s Cold Case Unit and the Contra Costa County Crime Lab was a reflection of that determination, using the latest technology and investigative techniques to obtain answers that could not have been obtained decades or even years ago,” he continued. “The pursuit of justice requires endurance, resilience and the willingness to go the distance even when the path ahead is long and uncertain,” Jallepalli stated. “While solving this case will never heal the wounds of Maria’s family caused by her murder we, from the District Attorney’s Office, are grateful to have been a part of that effort to bring these long-awaited answers to the community and more importantly, to her family.”

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.