Judge To Dismiss BLM's Civil Rights Suits Against Jackie Lacey's Husband; Norwalk 19th City to Vote No Confidence in Gascon; LA County Wants to Allow Illegal Aliens as County Workers and Other Stories: Monday Morning Memo

Courts & Rulings

Judge asked to boot Gascón's special assistant from case

Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Brian C. Yep will be asked this morning to recuse a prosecutor who, according to a motion on behalf of the family of a murdered man, is a former deputy public defender who, after becoming a special assistant to District Attorney George Gascón, continues to fight for the interests of criminal defendants. The recusal is sought in a case where, at stake, is whether a man who committed a gang-related slaying two months shy of his 18th birthday will remain in prison, potentially for life, or be freed in less than a year - with the prosecutor favoring his release.

Metropolitan News-Enterprise

Supreme Court restricts police powers to enter a home without a warrant

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled Wednesday that police cannot always enter a home without a warrant when pursuing someone for a minor crime. The court sent the case back to the lower court to decide if the police violated the rights of a California man by pursuing him into his garage for allegedly playing loud music while driving down a deserted two-lane highway late at night.

NPR

Judge says drug discovery by deputy admissible but may be challenged, at Ed Buck trial

A federal judge in Los Angeles said Tuesday that the discovery of illegal drugs and drug paraphernalia inside a tool chest would be likely be admissible as evidence against noted political activist Ed Buck, who is facing trial on charges he supplied methamphetamine to two men who overdosed and died. After listening to testimony and personally questioning one of the homicide detectives assigned to the Buck case, U.S. District Court Judge Christina A. Snyder said she was not inclined to reconsider her decision from March that a Los Angeles County Sheriff's Dept. deputy had observed the narcotics items in, "plain view," while assisting in the investigation of the death of 26-year-old Gemmel Moore, who died inside Buck's apartment on July 27, 2017.

NBC4

CA Supreme Court allows mayhem prosecution to proceed against Mexican Mafia associates in Pelican Bay prison riot

The California Supreme Court declined a petition to examine and possibly throw out an appeals court's decision to allow mayhem and assault charges against inmates in connection with a 2017 riot at the state's most secure prison. The Supreme Court's decision last week essentially upholds a March ruling by the First District Appellate Court, which found that mere participation in the May 2017 riot at the state's most secure prison - not necessarily evidence of attacking and injuring guards - was enough to charge defendants with mayhem and assault on the corrections officers.

Bay Area News Group

In a narrow ruling, Supreme Court hands farmworkers union a loss

The Supreme Court on Wednesday tightened the leash on union representatives and their ability to organize farmworkers in California and elsewhere. At issue in the case was a California law that allows union organizers to enter farms to speak to workers during nonworking hours - before and after work, as well as during lunch - for a set a number of days each year.

NPR

Cheerleader suspended over expletive-laden snap prevails at high court

School officials violated the First Amendment in punishing a cheerleader who wrote defamatory remarks against her coaches, school and teammates on her own time, the Supreme Court ruled Wednesday. Brandi Levy of Pennsylvania was only 14 when she wrote "fuck school fuck softball fuck cheer fuck everything," on the social media website Snapchat - a platform that erases messages between users after a certain period of time.

Courthouse News Service

Presiding Judge Eric C. Taylor announces Town Hall webinar on Resolve Law LA Virtual Mandatory Settlement Conference Program in partnership with LA County Bar Association

Presiding Judge Eric C. Taylor announced today a virtual Town Hall to highlight the recent launch of the Resolve Law LA Virtual Mandatory Settlement Conference (MSC) Program, which partners with experienced plaintiff and defense litigation attorneys to act as volunteer settlement officers to resolve cases pending in the Court's Personal Injury (PI) Hub. The Town Hall webinar will be held at 12 p.m. on Monday, June 28, and is cosponsored by the Los Angeles County Bar Association (LACBA).

Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles News Release

State high court decision upholds jury award for man who fell in Vista jail

The California Supreme Court has denied a request by lawyers for San Diego County to review an appeals court decision upholding a multimillion-dollar jury award for a man who suffered permanent brain damage after falling in the Vista jail. The decision by the state's highest court effectively ends the county's efforts to overturn a case that could have been settled for much less than the jury verdict.

San Diego Union Tribune

Court says California must more quickly move mentally incompetent defendants out of jails

California can't lock up people for months in jails after they have been found mentally incompetent to stand trial, a state appeals court said. In a 3-0 ruling Tuesday, a panel of the First District Court of Appeal upheld a 2019 lower court order that gave the state a 28-day deadline for placing defendants in state mental hospitals or other treatment facilities after they were found incompetent to stand trial because of psychological or intellectual disabilities.

AP

Judge pauses FBI forfeiture of Beverly Hills safe deposit box contents

A federal judge on Tuesday temporarily barred federal agents from seizing property from people who claim the government's civil forfeiture of their safe deposit boxes violates their constitutional rights. In March, FBI agents armed with warrants crowded a Beverly Hills strip mall and seized the contents of hundreds of safe deposit boxes inside U.S. Private Vaults. The commercial facility houses over 800 safe deposit boxes and allows customers to rent them anonymously.

Courthouse News Service

Supreme Court decides California v. Texas

On June 17, 2021, the U.S. Supreme Court decided California v. Texas, holding that States and individuals challenging the Affordable Care Act lack standing to claim that the "individual mandate" is unconstitutional after Congress repealed the penalty associated with it. The original Affordable Care Act, enacted in 2010, "required most Americans to obtain minimum essential health insurance coverage," and "imposed a monetary penalty" on those who did not.

Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP/JD Supra

Ninth Circuit says ALJ evidenced bias in denying woman Social Security benefits

The Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has reversed a District Court affirmance of a decision of the commissioner of Social Security denying disability benefits to a woman who claims she can't work based on bipolar disorder, depression, anxiety, and other medical problems, proclaiming that the administrative law judge provided indications of bias including making note that the applicant is fat.

Metropolitan News-Enterprise

Newspaper reports pay-out to alleged victim of ex-justice

The San Diego Union-Tribune has reported that newly released records show pay-outs by the Judicial Council of $1.9 million since 2018 in settlement of sexual harassment claims, including a previously undisclosed payment in 2018 of $250,000 payment to an alleged victim of then-Court of Appeal Justice Jeffrey Johnson. Johnson, who sat on this district's Div. One, was ordered removed from office by the Commission on Judicial Performance on June 2, 2020.

Metropolitan News-Enterprise

Lawyer who brought meritless suits wasn't extortionist

The filing of a meritless lawsuit followed by an effort to exact a settlement does not constitute extortion or attempted extortion, Div. Two of the Fourth District Court of Appeal held Friday, reversing the conviction of a Riverside immigration attorney on most of the 62 counts on which he was convicted and overturning the conviction of his wife on all 40 counts.

Metropolitan News-Enterprise

En Banc Ninth Circuit to hear first case in avalanche of Golden State gun reform challenges

California's ban on large capacity gun magazines which hold 10 or more rounds of ammunition - weapons used in virtually all mass shootings - hangs in the balance as an 11-judge en banc Ninth Circuit panel is poised to consider Tuesday whether the ban is constitutional or if it violates the Second Amendment. The law at issue - Proposition 63 - was approved in 2016 by an overwhelming two-thirds majority of California voters who saw the large capacity magazine, or LCM, ban as the silver bullet to prevent casualties in mass shooting events.

Courthouse News Service

Supreme Court shreds compensation cap for student-athletes

Removing the limit on how much cash colleges can pay student-athletes to play, the Supreme Court ruled Monday that the National Collegiate Athletic Association imposed rules that ran afoul of federal antitrust law. The NCAA did not see the unanimous court defeat as a total loss, however, emphasizing that the justices still upheld its "authority to adopt reasonable rules ... [and] to articulate what are and are not truly educational benefits."

Courthouse News Service

Judge poised to dismiss parts of lawsuit against ex-LA DA Lacey, husband

A judge indicated on Tuesday, June 22, she is poised to dismiss civil rights violation claims that are part of a lawsuit brought by several Black Lives Matter members against former Los Angeles County District Attorney Jackie Lacey and her husband. David Lacey pointed a gun out his front door when members of the group showed up at the couple's Granada Hills home early on the morning of March, 2, 2020.

City News Service

Los Angeles District Attorney

Gascón's plan to cut decades-long prison term for juvenile tried as an adult met with opposition

Bertha Cachu could barely contain her joy on the morning of May 10 as she spoke with her son by phone. Both had just attended his hearing at the Michael Antonovich Antelope Valley Courthouse, and Andrew Cachu was calling her from the courthouse lockup. His mother quickly relayed some exciting news to Cachu, a gang member who was just two months shy of his 18th birthday in March 2015 when he shot 41-year-old Louis Amela twice in the back outside a Palmdale restaurant, killing him. Because of the gravity of the crime, Cachu was tried in adult court and, in 2017, sentenced to 50 years to life in prison.

Read more from Orange County Register

Critics assail purpose, makeup of DA George Gascón's use-of-force panel

Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascon has ignited both the composition and mission of his newly formed panel to re-examine the use of deadly force by police. The most important of his critics was former Los Angeles County District Attorney Steve Cooley, who said, "I'm trying to cover myself what he's already planning, and it's against law enforcement officers ( I have filed a criminal accusation). "

Riverside Press-Enterprise

Torrance City Council passes Resolution of No Confidence in LA County District Attorney George Gascon

And they said that it could not be done. But it has been done! In the wee hours of June 23, 2021, as their council meeting from June 22, 2021 went into overtime, the Torrance City Council voted for the Resolution of No Confidence in corrupt, lawless, pro-criminal Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascon! The final vote tally was 5 to 1, with former police officer, child abuse prosecutor and unpopular mayor Pat Furey voting No.

The State of the Union

Norwalk becomes 19th city to cast no confidence vote in DA Gascón

With little comment, Norwalk City Council members on Tuesday, June 23 cast a vote of no confidence in Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón. Norwalk now is the 19th city - La Habra Heights is expected to become the 20th on July 12 - to vote it has no confidence in Gascón. "I feel the sentiment of all of those for and against," Councilman Rick Ramirez said.

Whittier Daily News

Los Angeles just elected a liberal DA he's already facing a recall effort.

From inside the walls of Folsom State Prison, the two inmates, one a convicted murderer, clinked their cups of prison moonshine in a toast to the new district attorney of Los Angeles, George Gascón. A video of the celebration was released earlier this year by Mr. Gascón's opponents - and there are many - who used it to attack what is perhaps the most far-reaching plank of his progressive agenda: the review of nearly 20,000 old prison sentences, many for violent crimes like murder, for possible early releases.

New York Times

Facing a recall campaign, DA Gascón rallies supporters

L.A. County District Attorney George Gascón said Friday that the people backing the effort to unseat him, less than six months after he took office, are supporters of former President Donald Trump. The DA spoke to about 50 supporters outside the Hall of Justice, in his first public rally against the recall. "You must follow the money," Gascón said. One campaign finance report showed an early big supporter was Geoffrey Palmer, a major real estate developer in Los Angeles who hosted a re-election fundraiser for Trump at his Beverly Hills home in 2019.

LAist

LA District Attorney Gascón defends criminals' rights - enables sex crimes, animal cruelty

Animal cruelty is a "gateway" or "indicator" crime, often first committed as a juvenile and leading to other serious offenses, including sexual predation and assault on humans. If not addressed and corrected by serious sentencing, the perpetrator can rapidly progress to greater violence. Some of the most notorious serial killers have admitted that their first crimes were practiced on dogs and cats which often were family pets.

CityWatch

Nearly 90 percent of criminal cases - even for murder - result in probation under Los Angeles District Attorney Gascon's directives

Since the Special Directives of the District Attorney were announced in his first moment in office, they have been the topic of discussion in the public and in the press. But some significant sections of these directives have been overlooked simply because their effect is not apparent to anyone without a detailed knowledge of criminal law. Without commenting on the merits of these policies we will commence a series of articles examining the intricacies of some of the directives.

Santa Monica Observed

Prosecutors

Authorities ask public for information on couple charged in Aiden Leos freeway shooting death

Authorities are asking the public to come forward with information about possible additional incidents involving firearms and the two suspects charged in the murder of a 6-year-old boy who was fatally shot during a road rage incident on the Costa Mesa (55) freeway. The man accused of firing the shot that killed Aiden Leos, 24-year-old Marcus Anthony Eriz, was ordered Friday to remain jailed without bail.

City News Service

Nude intruder charged with breaking into Bel Air home and killing two pet birds

Four felony counts, including animal cruelty, were filed on Monday against a transient who allegedly broke into a Bel Air residence and killed the homeowner's two pet parakeets. Paul Kiyan, described as being from the Los Angeles area, pleaded not guilty to one count each of first-degree residential burglary with a person present and vandalism, along with two counts of cruelty to an animal, according to the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office.

City News Service

Progressive district attorneys decline to pursue certain offenses, usurping the legislative role

Baltimore is not prosecuting shoplifting or drug-possession crimes. Despite recent violent protests and occupations, St. Louis is not pursuing cases for looting and rioting, while Portland isn't pursuing charges for trespassing. Philadelphia won't allow prostitution charges. San Francisco is not prosecuting indecent exposure offenses. Chicago declines arrests for thefts of less than $1,000. Did a sudden decision from the Supreme Court invalidate these crimes?

City Journal

Two ex-O.C. sheriff's deputies plead guilty to charges, admit to fraudulently obtaining military leave paid for by county taxpayers

Twin brothers - both former Orange County sheriff's deputies - pleaded guilty today to federal charges and admitted that they defrauded Orange County taxpayers by submitting approximately two dozen fraudulent military orders to obtain military leave from the Sheriff's Department so they would not be docked vacation days.

Department of Justice Press Release

Feuer targets companies selling fireworks

Los Angeles City Attorney Mike Feuer announced on June 24 that his office has taken action to curb online sales of illegal fireworks in advance of the Fourth of July. Feuer's Consumer Protection Unit has sent cease and desist letters to major online platforms who then agreed to remove posts advertising fireworks for sale in the city of Los Angeles. "It's illegal to sell or possess fireworks in L.A. for good reason," Feuer said.

Beverly Press

Policy/Legal

CHP to consider tracking road rage incidents (Video)

The CHP said it may begin collecting or tracking information about road rage after it was revealed that the agency kept no easily-accessible data on when, where, or how often road rage incidents were being reported. Eric Leonard reports for NBC4 News at 11 p.m. on June 21, 2021.

NBC4

LA County Supervisors vote 4-1 to close Men's Central Jail

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors voted 4-1 on Tuesday, June 22, to set up a team to implement the long-promised closure of Men's Central Jail. Supervisor Hilda Solis said it was time to stop studying the issue and take action, co-authoring a motion finding that the decrepit downtown lockup must be demolished and that no replacement jail is needed.

City News Service

Few police agencies have given L.A. prosecutors the names of dishonest cops

Four months after Dist. Atty. George Gascón sent a request to law enforcement agencies across Los Angeles County, more than 40 departments have yet to provide his office with names of officers who have histories of dishonesty and other misconduct that could affect their credibility in court. Only a half-dozen agencies have submitted names of officers who have been disciplined for wrongdoing, which prosecutors are obligated to disclose to the defense in criminal cases.

Los Angeles Times

Many LA cops and firefighters aren't vaccinated against COVID-19. Is this a public safety threat?

When COVID-19 vaccines became available in California, police officers, firefighters and other first responders got priority access, and potentially more. There were Airbnb gift cards, bicycles and cameras. Cash prizes in raffles ranged from $20 to $1,000. Some prison health care workers were made eligible for cash prizes just for sitting through a 30-minute "Vaccination Education" training session.

Los Angeles Times

California gun-control battles sparked by one judge's decisions

Second Amendment advocates and California Democrats are squaring off in a series of fights that began in the courtroom of a single San Diego judge and could ultimately alter the national debate over gun control. Opponents of firearms regulations have steered a string of cases to U.S. District Judge Roger Benitez and he has struck down three major California gun laws, including the state's assault-weapons ban earlier this month.

Wall Street Journal

Los Angeles County/City

LA City Attorney staffer announces bid for Controller in '22; Vows to deal with homelessness

As Rob Wilcox watched candidates campaign for the role of Los Angeles Controller for the past 18 months, he realized he had a vision for the city and decided to step up and run in the 2022 election. "With the encouragement of the best city controller that LA has ever had, Laura Chick, as my co-chair, I jumped into the race two weeks ago," Wilcox told the Southern California Record. While Chick served as controller from 2001 to 2009, Wilcox was deputy city controller and chief deputy inspector general.

Southern California Record

LA County sheriff investigating oversight commissioner's nonprofit, search warrants show

A previously undisclosed search warrant served at the headquarters of the L.A. Metro in March indicates sheriff's detectives are digging into a potential felony involving a contract between Metro and Peace Over Violence, a nonprofit run by a civilian oversight commissioner critical of Sheriff Alex Villanueva in the past.

Pasadena Star News

Lawyer in LA sexual harassment case seeks Garcetti aide's private Facebook posts

An attorney for the police officer who alleged he was sexually harassed by a former aide to Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti called Thursday on the city's lawyers to preserve messages from a private Facebook group involving the mayor's staff. After the Los Angeles Times reported that Garcetti chief of staff Ana Guerrero posted sexual innuendo and disparaging messages about city workers in a private Facebook group, attorney Gregory W. Smith sent a letter asking for people in the mayor's circle to retain messages, photographs, emojis and "likes" from that group.

Los Angeles Times

Sheriff Villanueva addresses the homeless crisis and provides statistics in Los Angeles County

On Wednesday, June 23, 2021, Sheriff Alex Villanueva and Lieutenant Geoffrey Deedrick from the Sheriff's Homeless Outreach Services Team (HOST), along with business owners from the Venice Beach Boardwalk, held a press conference to address the homeless crisis in Los Angeles County and the direct effect on businesses throughout Los Angeles County and the Venice Beach Boardwalk.

LASD

LA Supervisors want to waive citizenship requirement for county employees

Not a citizen? Not a problem for the LA County Board of Supervisors. The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors wants waive the requirement that county employees be U.S. citizens and has directed its staff on how they can do so without running afoul of state law. Officials say they have an estimated 880,000 non-citizens living in Los Angeles County, running small businesses and paying taxes.

CBS LA

Why do so many LAPD cops refuse COVID vaccines? Politics, conspiracy theories, distrust, chief says

Only around half of Los Angeles Police Department employees have received at least one vaccine dose protecting them against COVID-19, the chief of police said Tuesday. That rate lags far behind the general public - as of last week, 67% of L.A. County residents have had at least one dose, according to the most recent numbers from the Department of Public Health. At least 58% were fully vaccinated.

Los Angeles Daily News

LA County strikes down request for notification of sexual predators' release

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors Tuesday voted down a motion calling for the Sheriff's Department and district attorney to formally notify the board when sexually violent predators are set to be released and treated in the community. Supervisors Hilda Solis, Holly Mitchell and Sheila Kuehl voted no prior to any discussion or public comment, causing the proposal to immediately fail for a lack of a majority from the five-member board.

City News Service

Homeless Crisis: LA Sheriff Villanueva urging county board of supervisors to declare a state of emergency

The homeless crisis in Los Angeles County continues to worsen, especially in the hard hit area of Venice Beach. Homeless outreach teams with the sheriff's department have been going to Venice Beach often to help clean up and offer housing to homeless residents. Sheriff Alex Villanueva held a press conference Wednesday addressing the public about the ongoing issue and possible ways to address the crisis.

Fox11

LAPD Chief Moore: City making sure homeless encampments don't return to Echo Park Lake

The city is taking steps to prevent homeless camps from returning to Echo Park Lake after a major cleanup and cleanup project, says LAPD Chief Michel Moore. Earlier this year, the city wiped out hundreds of homeless people from parks around the lake and embarked on a $ 1.1 million cleanup and refurbishment project. City workers have removed nearly 40 tons of debris and hundreds of pounds of biological waste. The lake will be open to the public in May and the surroundings will close at night.

ABC7

Public Safety/Crime

LAPD Police Chief says city has lost a decade of progress beating back crime

Ahead of President Biden's speech unveiling a new plan to tackle a spike in crime nationwide, Los Angeles Police Chief Michel Moore joined Stephanie Ruhle to discuss how his force is grappling with a rise in gun violence and the impact of the surge on his officers. "We've got to roll our sleeves up."

NBC Universal

Homicides, violent crime, gun violence rise in Los Angeles in 2021 compared with 2020

Los Angeles Police Chief Michel Moore told the Police Commission Tuesday that the city has experienced a 50% increase in shooting victims this year compared to the same period last year. A total of 651 people have been shot in Los Angeles year-to-date, compared to 434 last year, and the city is averaging about 27 shooting victims per week, Moore said. Last week, 25 people were shot in the city per week.

City News Service

An NFL player was arrested in Los Angeles for allegedly having a submachine gun in his car

Kansas City Chiefs defensive end Frank Clark was arrested in Los Angeles on Sunday after police said they saw a submachine gun in his vehicle, a Los Angeles Police Department spokesperson told CNN. "Yesterday at about 9:20 p.m., Mr. Clark was pulled over in the area of Grand and Adams for a vehicle code violation," the spokesperson said Monday. "At this time, officers observed a bag with an Uzi sticking out."

CNN

Drug dealers busted and "released"

As so much of cultural norms often comes full circle, Nancy Reagan's mantra "Just say no (to drugs)" has apparently morphed into a new narcotics enforcement paradigm preaching "Just say no to jail" for those violating state and federal laws prohibiting the possession, sale, or distribution of controlled substances. Supporting that contention is the June 10 th arrest of Ventura resident Elizabeth Pittman along with the man with whom she has been cohabiting, Anthony Woodworth.

Crime Voice

Sheriff's sergeant arrested for possession, distribution of child pornography

A San Bernardino County Sheriff's Sergeant has been arrested for possession and distribution of child pornography, police said. Marc Goodwin, 43, was arrested Thursday by members of the Fontana Police Department Internet Crimes Against Children. Investigators later learned that Goodwin was a sheriff's sergeant employed by the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department.

Fox11

Civil unrest 2020 City of Los Angeles

On June 30, 2020, the Los Angeles City Council adopted a motion which instructed the Los Angeles Police Department to complete an analysis addressing the department's crowd control tactics and compliance with existing departmental policies and legal mandates during the civil unrest resulting from the death of George Floyd. The civil unrest and protests started on May 27, 2020 and continued for several weeks.

CityWatch

Consumer

Bill would require doctors to disclose payments from drug, device manufacturers

New legislation inspired by a Studio City woman's failed breast reconstruction surgery would force doctors in California to tell their patients annually about any money or gifts they receive from drug and medical device companies. The federal Physician Payments Sunshine Act, a law signed in 2010, already requires the companies to report such payments to a public "Open Payments" database run by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

Los Angeles Daily News

$12.7M in fake designer gear and counterfeit Cialis pills seized at LA/Long Beach Seaport

U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers on Monday seized 57,607 counterfeit products that arrived at the Los Angeles/Long Beach seaport, in a containerized cargo shipment from China, CBP said in a statement. The products, had they been real, would have had an estimated manufacturer's suggested retail price of $12.7 million.

NBC4

California/National

San Francisco cops say viral Walgreens shoplifting incident is par for the course

San Francisco has become a shoplifter's paradise - with thieves like the one caught on video looting a Walgreens emboldened by relaxed punishment for the crime as businesses shutter, cops say. The Walgreens heist, which happened right in front of a security guard, renewed the debate over a controversial city law called Proposition 47."What happened in that Walgreens has been going on in that city for quite a while," San Francisco police Lt. Tracy McCray said on Fox News' "America's Newsroom" Wednesday.

New York Post

Portland police officers resign from Rapid Response Team after allegations of excessive force during protests

Officials with the police union in Portland are lending their support to the officers who quit their voluntary positions with the city's Rapid Response Team, arguing a lack of appreciation caused the mass resignation. Every officer, sergeant and detective involved in the unit on Wednesday announced they would no longer be members of the Rapid Response Team, deployed regularly over the last year due to ongoing protests across the city.

New York Daily News

Why police have been quitting in droves in the last year

As protests surged across the country last year over the death of George Floyd at the hands of the Minneapolis police, Officer Lindsay C. Rose in Asheville, N.C., found her world capsized. Various friends and relatives had stopped speaking to her because she was a cop. During a protest in June around Police Headquarters, a demonstrator lobbed an explosive charge that set her pants on fire and scorched her legs.

New York Times

'Defund the police' is dead

"Defund the police" is dead in the Democratic Party, at least for now. The party isn't going to let itself get beat on the crime issue. That much should be clear from events in recent days. President Biden on Wednesday announced that state and local governments will be allowed to use their billions of dollars in COVID relief money to bolster their police departments - hiring new officers, paying for overtime, and buying gunshot detection systems to quickly detect and respond to acts of violence - part of a broader effort to address a rising wave of violent crime in the nation's big cities.

The Week

Convictions/Sentences/Pleas

Man gets 35 years in prison for killing his estranged wife in Santa Clarita; parole possible because of Gascón directive

A Washington man who pleaded no contest to murdering his estranged wife in her Santa Clarita-area home while her children slept was sentenced Monday to 35 1/2 years to life in state prison, with a judge and the victim's family saying they believe he should remain behind bars for the rest of his life.

City News Service

Oath keeper pleads guilty in Capitol riot case, will cooperate with investigators

A Florida man admitted Wednesday that he joined with other members of the far-right Oath Keepers in storming the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, the second follower of the group to plead guilty to charges stemming from the riot. Graydon Young, 54, pleaded guilty to conspiring with roughly a dozen other Oath Keepers who came to Washington to protest the results of the presidential election.

NBC News

Corrections & Parole

Gov. Newsom denies parole for former Manson family follower

Gov. Gavin Newsom Friday rejected parole for Bruce Davis, a one-time Manson Family follower who was convicted of two killings in 1969. A state parole board panel had recommended parole for the 78-year-old inmate in January, but the governor found that Davis "currently poses an unreasonable danger to society if released from prison at this time." Davis was convicted in 1972 of first-degree murder and conspiracy for the July 25, 1969, stabbing death of musician Gary Hinman in his Topanga Canyon home and the killing of Donald "Shorty" Shea, who was last seen alive on Aug. 27, 1969.

City News Service

Articles of Interest

Can criminal justice reform survive a wave of violent crime?

Last year was a disturbingly violent one for New York City, which suffered nearly 150 more homicides and around 750 more shootings than in 2019. The killings have been heartbreaking: a man on a handball court struck by a stray bullet, a one-year-old shot at a cookout. Meanwhile, the New York Police Department was quick to blame the violence on reform efforts that it has opposed for years.

New Republic

The truth about Chesa Boudin and San Francisco crime

It's hard to find a local elected official more polarizing than San Francisco District Attorney Chesa Boudin. A progressive prosecutor, child of Weather Underground radicals and subject of a recall campaign, Boudin has become a lightning rod for criticism and the face of the general perception that San Francisco has devolved into lawlessness.

SF Gate

How tech mogul Peter Thiel turned a retirement account for the middle class into a $5 billion tax-free piggy bank

Billionaire Peter Thiel, a founder of PayPal, has publicly condemned "confiscatory taxes." He's been a major funder of one of the most prominent anti-tax political action committees in the country. And he's bankrolled a group that promotes building floating nations that would impose no compulsory income taxes. But Thiel doesn't need a man-made island to avoid paying taxes. He has something just as effective: a Roth individual retirement account.

ProPublica

Affidavit: FBI feared Pennsylvania would seize fabled gold

An FBI agent applied for a federal warrant in 2018 to seize a fabled cache of U.S. government gold he said was "stolen during the Civil War" and hidden in a Pennsylvania cave, saying the state might take the gold for itself if the feds asked for permission, according to court documents unsealed Thursday. The newly unsealed affidavit confirms previous reporting by The Associated Press that the government had been looking for a legendary cache of gold at the site, which federal authorities had long refused to confirm.

NBC4

Newsom misled the public about wildfire prevention efforts ahead of worst fire season on record

On Gavin Newsom's first full day in office, Jan. 8, 2019, the newly elected governor stood before the cameras, clad in jeans and sneakers and surrounded by emergency responders, and declared war on wildfires. "Everybody has had enough," the governor said, announcing he'd signed a sweeping executive order overhauling the state's approach to wildfire prevention. Climate change was sparking fires more frequent, ferocious, and far-reaching than ever before, Newsom said, and confronting them would have to become a year-round effort.

CapRadio

Pensions

How CalSTRS and CalPERS are working to change the face of Wall Street (Video)

If you ask the hiring manager of one of the companies, you'll be told that diversity and inclusion are two of the most discussed and sometimes discussed topics in the field. Financial experts say that diverse companies perform better and are more profitable. That is why. CalSTRS and CalPERS have partnered to host a diversity forum. Their goal is to change the face of Wall Street. See the video above for more details.

KCRA

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