Contra Costa Herald

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

East County police departments, CHP to conduct joint traffic enforcement May 27 to 29

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Source: APD

Will focus on reckless driving and sideshows, plus conduct emissions inspections for illegal equipment

By Sergeant Rob Green #3639, Antioch Police Traffic Unit

The Antioch Police Department in partnership with the Brentwood Police Department, Pittsburg Police Department, Oakley Police Department, and California Highway Patrol will conduct a joint traffic enforcement detail May 27 to 29, 2022. The joint operation will focus on reckless driving and sideshow activity in the East County and conduct vehicle emissions inspections. Any vehicles found with illegal emissions equipment will be referred to a California Smog Referee. This is in response to information provided by citizens regarding a planned sideshow event to take place in the East County area.

Antioch PD would like to thank our law enforcement partners and the citizens who help aid in our investigations.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Antioch Police Department non-emergency line at (925) 778-2441. You may also text-a-tip to 274637 (CRIMES) using the key word ANTIOCH.

Reward fund for missing Oakley woman Alexis Gabe increased to $60,000

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By Oakley Police Department

In April, the City of Oakley announced a $10,000 reward for information leading to the location of Alexis Gabe, who was last seen on January 26, 2022, in Antioch. (See related articles here and here)

An anonymous donor has contributed $50,000 to the reward fund to help bring the 24-year-old Oakley resident home. A total of $60,000 will be awarded to anyone with information leading to Ms. Gabe’s whereabouts.

“The Oakley Police Department and partner agencies are relentlessly working on this case and investigating the circumstances surrounding her disappearance. Our hope is that these reward funds will bring us closer to finding Alexis and bringing resolution to the Gabe family,” said Oakley Police Chief Paul Beard. “We are grateful for the donor’s generous contribution and to the community for their continued support.”

Detective Tyler Horn urges those with information to come forward, “we continue to comb through all the tips received and are working on this case around the clock. We ask that anyone with information please contact us.”

Those with information as to the whereabouts of Alexis Gabe are asked to call 925-625-7009 or Alexistips@ci.oakley.ca.us.

Investigators claim missing Oakley woman’s cell phone case located in Antioch is “key piece of evidence”

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Alexis Gabe’s cell phone case. Photo: Oakley PD

Alexis Gabe, last seen in Antioch, has been missing since Jan. 26

By Oakley Police Department

Investigators have located a key piece of evidence in the search for Alexis Gabe – her cell phone case. Alexis uniquely designed the cell phone case, and her family members and friends have confirmed the case belonged to Alexis.

The cell phone case (pictured in this post) was discovered in Antioch and has been submitted to the crime lab for further analysis.

Security camera video of suspect walking near Alexis Gabe’s car on Jan. 26, 2022. Source: Oakley PD

Investigators suspect the male captured on video walking away from Alexis’ vehicle on Trenton Street in Oakley discarded Alexis’ cell phone case on January 26th. (See related article)

The cell phone case (pictured in this post) was discovered in Antioch and has been submitted to the crime lab for further analysis.If anyone recognizes the male in the video, please call the Alexis Gabe tip line at (925) 625-7009 or email Alexistips@ci.oakley.ca.us. A $10,000 reward will be issued to anyone with information leading to Alexis Gabe’s location.

Police search Antioch home of missing Oakley woman Alexis Gabe’s ex-boyfriend

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Source: Oakley P.D.

Oakley Police Detectives served a search warrant at a home on Benttree Way in Antioch with the assistance of the Antioch Police Department in a continuing effort to locate evidence related to the disappearance of Alexis Gabe. The home in question is where she was reportedly last seen, and investigators are looking into whether this location is where she met with foul play.

“We are aware of numerous reports of recently recovered deceased bodies around the Bay Area and beyond. The community can be assured that the Oakley and Antioch Police Departments are actively looking into all reports and cases,” stated Chief of Police Paul Beard.

Those with information as to the whereabouts of Alexis Gabe are asked to call 925-625-7009 or email alexistips@ci.oakley.ca.us.

Oakley Police Chief, parents of missing Alexis Gabe announce $10,000 reward fund

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Alexis Gabe’s father Gwyn speaks as his wife, Rowena, Oakley Chief Paul Beard and Detective Tyler Horn look on during the press conference on Thurs., April 28, 2022. (Video screenshot by Allen D. Payton) New poster showing reward.

“Tell us where our daughter is. Help us bring her back home. We need our daughter back.” – Gwyn Gabe, Alexis’ father

Last seen in Antioch on January 26, 2022

By Allen D. Payton

The City of Oakley is offering a $10,000 reward for information leading to the whereabouts of Alexis Gabe, the 22-year-old Oakley woman missing since January 26 and last seen in Antioch on Benttree Way by her ex-boyfriend, who remains a person of interest in the case. The Oakley Police Department received a call of a missing person, under suspicious circumstances, on January 27, 2022. Police found Gabe’s car on Trenton Street, a cul-de-sac off Oakley Road. The car was unlocked with the keys inside, according to Oakley police Sgt. Robert Roberts. (See related article)

During a press conference on Thursday, April 28, her parents, Gwyn and Rowena Gabe, Oakley Police Chief Paul Beard and Detective Tyler Horn announced the reward and asked for the public to assist in the efforts to locate her. (See video)

A brief, security camera video of a possible suspect was shared showing a man wearing a head covering and COVID-style mask walking in an area four-to-five minutes from where her car was found in Oakley on Jan. 26, 2022. (See video here and here).

Alexis’ Father Says “We Need Our Daughter Back”

During the press conference, Alexis’ father Gwyn spoke of his daughter and pleaded with whomever has information to please come forward.

“It’s been three, long excruciating months since Alexis’ disappearance,” Mr. Gabe said as Mrs. Gabe stood next to him choking back tears. “Since the day our daughter went missing, we’ve questioned our faith, have been completely overwhelmed and filled with doubt and despair. But with the love and support of those around us, we continue to find renewed strength and hope, every day.”

“We know this ordeal has impacted not only our family’s lives, and those who knew her and loved Alexis, but also the lives of the people within the community,” he continued. “Alexis is an amazing woman, daughter, sister and friend. She is genuine, loving, kind, smart and loyal. She is full of wit and humor. She still has so much life, laughter and joy to share.”

“We are pleading to whomever has information regarding Alexis’ disappearance to please come forward,” Mr. Gabe stated. “Please give Alexis the chance to be the person she is meant to be in this world. Tell us where our daughter is. Help us bring her back home. We need our daughter back. Thank you.”

Chief Beard Thanks Antioch PD for Help on His Department’s Biggest Case

Beard spoke next saying, “this is the biggest case my department has had in our relatively short history. We realize this case was bigger than us at a very early stage and we cannot effectively investigate this case had it not been for the assistance of other agencies, such as Antioch PD.” (See video of Chief Beard’s remarks)

“Together Antioch and Oakley PD have worked together, diligently every day of the week since she has been gone, sometimes around the clock,” the chief continued.

“I wish to reiterate that we are still seeking the help of the public, that is the main theme of today’s conference,” Beard stated. “My message to you is we need assistance from the public to help us solve this case and bring Alexis back and bring peace to her family.”

‘The Oakley Police Department, the Antioch Police Department, the City of Oakley all stand in support of the Gabe family,” he concluded.

In response to questions from the media, Beard said “I have dedicated six to seven people on the case.” (See video of Q&A)

Screenshot of security camera video of suspect walking near Alexis’ car on Jan. 26, 2022. Source: Oakley P.D.

Detective Horn Offers Description of Suspect in Video

Horn then had the video of the suspect walking from Alexis’ car shown several times and described him. www.ci.oakley.ca.us/alexisgabeapril28pressconference

“That is the individual we believe that dropped off Alexis’ car,” he said. “He’s about 5’11” to six-foot, skinny build, dark-skinned male with a large overcoat, either a beany or a cap on, sort of an N-95-style mask on with a beard protruding from underneath that mask.”

Anyone with information is asked to call the tip line at 925-625-7009 or email alexistips@ci.antioch.ca.us. 

Defrocked Oakland priest charged in fatal crash that killed Rossmoor man

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Also injured man’s wife

By Ted Asregadoo, Public Information Officer, Contra Costa County District Attorney

Martinez, Calif. – A defrocked Catholic priest who has been residing in Rossmoor since 2010 has been charged by the Contra Costa District Attorney on counts of gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated, driving under the influence of alcohol, and special allegations for prior felonies.

Walnut Creek Police say 75-year-old Stephen Miller Kiesle [KEEZ-lee] was driving in Rossmoor on the night of April 16, 2022, when he struck 64-year-old Curtis Gunn and his wife Laurelyn on a sidewalk. The couple was walking near their home on Tice Creek Drive near Fairlawn Court around 9:15 pm when Mrs. Gunn said a vehicle veered onto the sidewalk, striking her husband while sideswiping her. Mr. Gunn was later pronounced dead later at John Muir Medical Center in Walnut Creek. Mrs. Gunn suffered minor injuries.

Kiesle, who has a lengthy criminal history, is being held in the Martinez Detention Facility on a $600,000 bail. He was at the center of sexual abuse allegations when he was an Oakland Diocese priest in the 1970s and ‘80s and was removed as a member of the clergy in 1987 by Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger — who later became Pope Benedict XVI.

In 2002, the Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office charged Kiesle with 13 counts of child molestation from the ‘70s. In 2004, he was sentenced to six years for molestation charges involving a girl in Truckee, CA. He registered as a sex offender after serving prison time and moved to Rossmoor in 2010.

Kiesle was arraigned on April 21, 2022, at 1:35 pm in Martinez.

Court Docket Number: 202204200007

Full list of charges: PC191.5(a) – Gross Vehicular Manslaughter While Intoxicated; VC23153(a) – Driving Under The Influence Of An Alcoholic Beverage Causing Injury PC12022.7(a) – Special Allegation-Great Bodily Injury; VC23153(b) – Driving With A .08% Blood Alcohol Content Causing Injury PC12022.7(a) – Special Allegation-Great Bodily Injury; PC1170.12 – Special Allegation – Serious or Violent Felony Prior (STRIKE Prior) – ONE PRIOR PER ALLEGATION PC667(a)(1) – Special Allegation-Cal Prior-Serious Felony (Form 2) ONE ALLEGATION PER SEPARATE PRIOR

San Pablo dental assistant arrested, charged with sexual acts on a child under 10

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By Ted Asregadoo, PIO, Office of the District Attorney, Contra Costa County

Martinez, Calif. – San Pablo Police have arrested, and the Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office charged, a dental assistant with four counts of sexual acts with a child under 10-years-old.

The suspect is 22-year-old Bonerge Maldonado-Zaldana from Richmond. He worked at the San Pablo Towne Centre Dental Office where the action with a minor allegedly took place on April 5, 2022. Investigators collected evidence and took statements from the victim’s mother, dental office staff, and the suspect on April 6th and determined there was probable cause to arrest Maldonado-Zaldana on April 8th.

The Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office filed charged against the suspect April 8th, who is currently in the Martinez Detention Facility. His arraignment is Monday, April 11, 2022, at 1:30 pm in Martinez.

In addition to working at the San Pablo Towne Centre Dental Office Maldonado-Zaldana was formerly employed with Western Dental in El Cerrito. If anyone has further information relating to this investigation, please call Detective Ricky Vasquez at San Pablo Police Department (510) 215-3286.

Court Docket Number: 02-22-00057

Female Richmond biology teacher charged with molesting 7 boys

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By Ted Asregadoo, PIO, Office of the District Attorney, Contra Costa County

Anessa Paige Gower. Photo: Richmond PD

Martinez, Calif. – A former Richmond school teacher is facing multiple charges of child molestation. The Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office filed 29 counts against Anessa Paige Gower on April 8, 2022, in Contra Costa County Superior Court. Gower was a biology teacher at Making Waves Academy in Richmond and allegedly engaged in numerous acts of a sexual nature with minors between 2021-2022.

Richmond Police, with assistance from the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office, arrested Gower at Sacramento International Airport on April 6, 2022, as she was returning to California from Hawaii. She is currently in custody in Richmond.

The case involves seven minors, so their identities are being withheld.

Investigators took statements from the victims and witnesses about a number of incidents involving sex acts with minors, inappropriate touching, and sharing sexually graphic photos over online platforms.

The Richmond Police Department posted the following message on their Facebook page Friday evening:

“Today, the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office formally charged a Richmond teacher with 29 counts of sex crimes against minors. This was an excellent collaborative effort by multiple agencies, including extensive follow-up by Richmond PD officers and detectives, our allied agencies, and our prosecutors’ office.

We are grateful for our ongoing partnership, working together to prevent further victimization of our community’s most vulnerable population – our children.”

Court Docket Number: 202204080002

Antioch Mayor Thorpe admits to private meeting with DA Becton, interim city manager

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Antioch Mayor Thorpe and Contra Costa County District Attorney Diana Becton.

Three days after Thorpe’s DUI arrest and while under investigation by DA’s office

Says Becton asked them to cooperate with investigation of APD, won’t say how he’s helping

By Allen D. Payton

During a press conference, Wednesday morning, April 4, 2022 on Antioch Police Department staffing, hiring incentives and the investigation of officers by the FBI and Contra Costa D.A.’s office, Mayor Lamar Thorpe confirmed what had been previously reported, of a private meeting that he had with Contra Costa District Attorney Diana Becton on Tuesday, March 22, the day before the investigation occurred. He said Interim Antioch City Manager Con Johnson was also in attendance. The meeting was held just three days following Thorpe’s arrest for DUI and while he was under investigation by her department. (See related article)

Thorpe said the meeting was held by Becton to request his and Johnson’s cooperation in the investigation and they were to “keep confidentiality as this was an ongoing investigation”. Asked if the information he had received as one of the five council members was shared with all of the other four, Thorpe replied, “no, because the district attorney said to keep this confidential between myself and the city manager, because they were soliciting our help in the investigation.” (See related article)

Asked how he as a civilian was helping the investigation, Thorpe replied, “I’m not going to get into that.” He later said, “Let me just clarify something. I was asked to be down there as the mayor of Antioch. So, beyond that I’m not going to answer how or what.”

Contra Costa Public Defender wants names of Pittsburg, Antioch officers under investigation by DA

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McDonnell issues statement about investigation, wants to conduct own review of cases; Becton hasn’t responded

By Allen D. Payton

In a letter to Contra Costa District Attorney Diana Becton on Monday, Contra Costa Public Defender Ellen McDonnell asked for the names of the Antioch and Pittsburg Police officers who are the subjects of an investigation into possible crimes of moral turpitude. The DA’s office announced last Friday the investigation which began last Wednesday and “a review of both active and closed cases involving these officers…to evaluate whether those cases are now compromised.” (See related article)

McDonnell is also asking for all the current, pending cases the involving the officers so her office can conduct a separate review. As of 5:00 p.m. Tuesday, McDonnell said she had not received a response from Becton.

“To date, I have not been provided with any information about what this investigation of the officers is about,” McDonnell later shared.

Following is the letter:

“March 28, 2022

Diana Becton

Office of the District Attorney

900 Ward Street

Martinez, CA 94553

Dear Diana,

In light of the recent media disclosures regarding conduct involving moral turpitude on the part of officers from Pittsburg and Antioch Police Departments, I am requesting that you identify all officers from those departments currently under investigation by your office. We believe that such a disclosure is mandated by the United States Constitution, XIVth Amendment, Brady v. Maryland (1963) 373 U.S. 83 & progeny, and California case law.

I am also asking that you identify all cases currently pending that include any of the involved officers, as well as all previous cases involving those officers. Please provide us with a list of such cases in which the client is or was represented by the Office of the Public Defender or the Office of the Alternate Defender.

While we understand from your press release that you intend to conduct an internal review of affected cases, we respectfully request that you identify those officers so that we can conduct our own review according to our own practices.

Thank you in advance for your assistance and cooperation with this matter. If you have any questions about this request, please let me know.

Sincerely,

Ellen McDonnell

Public Defender Contra Costa County”

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According to supreme.justia.com, in the case McDonnell cited, the court found, “The government’s withholding of evidence that is material to the determination of either guilt or punishment of a criminal defendant violates the defendant’s constitutional right to due process.”

McDonnell Issues Statement About Investigation

The Public Defender issued the following statement Tuesday evening:

“I am deeply concerned about these revelations.  Our office first heard about this investigation when the District Attorney’s Office issued a press release on March 25th.  We immediately requested that the names of any involved officers be released to our office so that we could begin the process of reviewing impacted cases and determining what role these officers played in any arrests or convictions.  Timely transparency is necessary to ensure due process of law and the fair administration of justice for our community and for those impacted by our criminal legal system, some of whom may be currently incarcerated based on the word of these officers.

This investigation into the conduct of officers from both the Pittsburg and Antioch Police Departments will potentially impact many hundreds of cases.  This includes not only current cases where these officers are witnesses, but also previous arrests and convictions involving these officers.  It is important to determine whether these officers were under investigation and suspected of committing crimes of moral turpitude while they continued to remain on the force and continued to arrest individuals, to author police reports, and to testify as witnesses in criminal court.”