Contra Costa Herald

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

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

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Enrique Pina. Photo by Walnut Creek PD.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Contra Costa Hazardous Materials responding to fire at NuStar Energy near Crockett

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 I-80 closure near Crocket as of 4:30 p.m. By CHP-Contra Costa.

Residents of Crockett and Rodeo are advised to stay inside and shelter in place.

By Karl Fischer

Contra Costa Hazardous Materials advises anyone living near the NuStar Energy facility in Crockett to stay inside and keep windows and doors closed because of a fire.

Hazardous Materials received reports of the incident shortly before 2 p.m. Two large tanks are burning at the facility, which is at 90 San Pablo Avenue.

Hazardous Materials staff and firefighters are on scene. Hazardous Materials staff are conducting air monitoring on site. Contra Costa County’s Community Warning System has been activated, including sirens in the area.

Residents of Crockett and Rodeo are advised to stay inside and shelter in place. Turn off all heaters, air conditioners, and fans. Unless you are using your fireplace, close your fireplace dampers and vents. Cover any cracks around doors or windows with tape or damp towels. Stay off the phone unless you need to report a life-threatening emergency at your location.

Remain sheltered indoors until you receive further official instructions. Stay off the phones and do not call 911 unless you have a life-threatening emergency.

At this time there is no known offsite impact, and no injuries have been reported.

One of tanks are believed to contain ethanol. The other is believed empty.

According to the CHP, as of 4:30 p.m., “I-80 is shut down in both directions, eastbound and westbound, from Hwy-4 in Hercules to I-780 in Vallejo. Please seek alternate routes. (Hwy-4 e/b to 680/Benicia Bridge, Hwy-4 e/b to SR-160 in Antioch, or I-580 into Tracy.) Plan ahead, avoid the area.”

Follow us on Twitter (@CoCoHealth)  for updates.

See video of the fire in a Fox40 News report.

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

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

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

By Allen Payton

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Coroner’s inquest jury finds 2018 death of El Sobrante man was an accident following police pursuit

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Screenshot of an ABC7 News report shows the suspect’s vehicle following the collision which resulted in his death in San Pablo, Tuesday, Nov. 27, 2018.

Narayan Sanwal from the website for the foundation named in his honor.

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

Sheriff-Coroner David O. Livingston announces that a Coroner’s Jury has reached a finding in the November 27, 2018 death of 29-year-old Narayan Raymond Sanwal of El Sobrante. The finding of the jury is that the death is an accident.

The Coroner’s Jury reached a 12-0 verdict after hearing the testimony of witnesses called by the hearing officer, Matthew Guichard.

Sanwal fled from police and crashed his car in San Pablo following a pursuit. (See related article)

A Coroner’s Inquest, which Sheriff-Coroner Livingston convenes in all fatal incidents involving police officers, is a public hearing, during which a jury rules on the manner of a person’s death. Jury members can choose from the following four options when making their finding: accident, suicide, natural causes or at the hands of another person, other than by accident.

The month following his death, Sanwal’s family formed “The Narayan R. Sanwal Charitable Giving Fund which will be making charitable contributions to organizations who help young people in under-served communities in the areas of sports, fitness and educational programs in the Bay Area and beyond.”

Allen Payton contributed to this report.

Murder case from 1996 in Crockett still unsolved

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Priscilla Lewis

Candle lighting service and prayer to be held Saturday night

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

Priscilla Ann Lewis was murdered on September 24, 1996, in Crockett. The 21-year-old, who lived in Vallejo, worked as a waitress at Four Corners Pizza located at 628 2nd Avenue in Crockett. The cook at the restaurant called 9-1-1 shortly before 10:30 pm after finding Priscilla’s body in the basement bathroom. The cause of death was asphyxia due to strangulation.

The men’s and women’s bathrooms were located in the basement of the Valona Square Mall that consisted of four businesses at that time.

Detectives interviewed dozens of people during this investigation and examined numerous pieces of evidence. The case remains unsolved.

A candle-lighting service and prayer in her memory will be held Saturday, September 21, 2019, 5 PM—9 PM, at 628 2nd Avenue in Crockett.

The case remains open. Anyone with information regarding Priscilla’s murder is encouraged to contact the Office of the Sheriff Homicide Unit at 925-313-2630. For any tips, please email: tips@so.cccounty.us or call 866-846-3592 to leave an anonymous voice message.

Detectives seek additional victims in case of alleged sexual abuse of a minor by Rodeo man

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Suspect Lonnie Wright

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

Allegations of molestation and sexual abuse were brought last week to the attention of the Stockton Police Department. Officers later arrested the suspect, 69-year-old Lonnie Wright. He was then booked into the Martinez Detention Facility (MDF).

As the alleged crimes occurred in the unincorporated town of Rodeo in Contra Costa County, Detectives from the Office of the Sheriff followed up on the investigation. On Tuesday, September 17, 2019, Detectives presented the case to the Contra Costa D.A.’s Office, which charged Wright for 10 felonies that include sexual intercourse and oral copulation with a child 10 years old or younger and forcible lewd acts upon a child.

Wright, a Rodeo resident, is currently being held at the MDF. His bail is set at $5,500,000.

Wright has reportedly cared for numerous children. Detectives believe there may be additional victims and would like to talk to anyone who was cared for by Wright.

Anyone with any information is asked to contact the Special Victim’s Unit of the Investigation Division at (925) 313-2625. For any tips, please email: tips@so.cccounty.us or call 866-846-3592 to leave an anonymous voice message.

San Pablo man charged with sexual abuse of 3-year-old girl

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Suspect Adalberto Guardado

By Captain Brian Bubar, San Pablo Police Department & Scott Alonso, Public Information Officer, Contra Costa County District Attorney

San Pablo Police received information of sexual abuse of a 3-year-old child after the victim reported the conduct to a family member. In turn, San Pablo Police Detectives were called and an investigation ensued. Subsequently Detectives arrested Adalberto Guardado, a 65-year-old resident of San Pablo, on Saturday, September 14th, at his home where the alleged attack occurred.

The Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office charged defendant Guardado with two felonies, including the alleged sexual abuse of a minor, Jane Doe. The enhancements allege the defendant assaulted a three-year-old minor girl and befriended her before the alleged assault.

Guardado is set to be arraigned this afternoon at 1:30 p.m. in the Contra Costa County Superior Court in Richmond. The defendant is in custody at the Martinez Detention Facility and is being held without bail.

We will not release how a victim may know a defendant in a sexual assault case as well as the name of a victim to protect their confidentiality.

The investigation is ongoing and active. We are hoping the public may have additional information about the case or defendant. Members of the public with information about the case should call the San Pablo Police Department at 510-215-3150.

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

Case information: People v. Adalberto Guardado, Docket Number 02-330741-0

Contra Costa Animal Services offering discounted adoptions in Back to School Special until Sept 30

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Contra Costa Animal Services (CCAS) is offering reduced cost adoptions for dogs and cats between now and September 30th to help find forever homes for the hundreds of animals at the County’s shelters. During this period, the adoption fee for dogs over 25lbs and black cats/kittens, or partially black cats/kittens, will be reduced to $20. Interested adopters can take advantage of this adoption promotion by visiting CCAS’ Martinez and Pinole adoption centers to meet animals and adopt their new family member.

“Typical adoption costs range from $86-$264 at CCAS, depending on the animal, which makes this promotion a huge incentive for potential adopters,” says CCAS spokesperson, Steve Burdo. “Our hope is that the community will take advantage of this great opportunity and help us find forever homes for the animals in our care.”

The reduced cost adoption fee includes the cost of adoption, spay/neuter surgery, microchip and vaccinations. The discounted adoption fee does not include licensing or any refundable deposits that may be required for spay/neuter surgery.

To view animals available for adoption, visit www.ccasd.org.

CCAS Adoption Locations

Martinez Adoption Center – 4800 Imhoff Pl., Martinez, CA 94553

Pinole Adoption Center – 910 San Pablo Ave., Pinole, CA 94564

For more information, contact Contra Costa County Animal Services’ Media and Community Relations Manager Steve Burdo at 925-393-6836, or by email at steve.burdo@asd.cccounty.us.