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'Did You Know...?'
Issue 10, 2016
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Welcome to the tenth edition of our 'Did You Know...?' newsletter for 2016.
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In this issue:
- Tipline launched for information regarding the Oakland Fire
- DA's Office donates almost 1500 pounds of food to the Food Bank
- New DDAs sworn in
- DA launches hate crime hotline
- Check presented to DV shelter
- Felony verdicts
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Tipline Launched for Info re Oakland Fire
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On Monday, Alameda County District Attorney Nancy O'Malley
released a statement offering our deepest condolences to the families and friends whose loved ones perished in Friday night's fire on 31st Avenue in Oakland.
Soon after the incident occurred, DA O'Malley activated our criminal investigation team and the county's Fire Investigation Task Force, which is led by this office. We are currently working together with the local law enforcement effort conducting the criminal investigation into this tragedy.
We will post updates to our
website
as we move forward in the investigation.
The DA's Office has launched a tipline and is seeking to hear from anyone who may have information about the fire, or have any other information about the victims and the structure, please call our hotline on
1-877-288-2882
.
We are committed to serving the survivors of the fire as well as those who lost their loved ones. We urge the families of the victims to reach out and contact the dedicated advocates of our Victim-Witness Assistance Division at
(510) 272-6180. We are here to help you.
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DA's Office Wins Most Innovative Award in Stone Soup Competition
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As part of Alameda County's committment to working together and helping our fellow community members, the county departments competed in the 4th Annual Stone Soup Competition. The competition is a fundraising drive for the Alameda County Community Food Bank and comes at a time of year when many may be going without. It is also an opoortunity to raise awareness of food scarcity in Alameda County: one in 5 people in our county rely upon the Food Bank.
The entry submitted by the DA's Office was called
'Stop Human Trafficking'. We constructed a wall of canned goods -- 1422 cans, to be exact -- and affixed stickers to them to display our anti-human trafficking message. We decorated the display with handmade flags featuring our logo and drew attention using decorative lighting.
In addition to the cans used in the display, the DA's office was proud to donate almost 1500 pounds of food to the ACCFB. As part of the competition, our display won the Most Innovative Award from the panel of judges.
Find out more about the great work the ACCFB does in our community and how you can help, at their website.
Below: Some of the DA team that assembled the display receives the Most Innovative Award from the Alameda County Board of Supervisors.
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On December 1, 2016, three new hires were officially sworn in as Deputy District Attorneys at the Alameda County DA's Office. The ceremony, held in Department 115, was presided over by Alameda County Superior Court Judge Yolanda Northridge who administered the oath of office.
DA Nancy O'Malley personally welcomed the newest practicing prosecutors to the Office and imparted some sound words of advice to the young prosecutors. The event was attended by family, friends, and colleagues.
We wish them all well in their new roles.
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DA Presents Check to DV Shelter
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As part of a recent consumer protection settlement with My Pillow, Alameda County DA's Office received $10,000 to be used as a direct contribution for non-profits providing sleeping accommodations to the homeless or those who are victims of domestic violence. Recently, DA Nancy O'Malley surprised the Executive Director of SAVE (Safe Alternatives to Violent Environments) shelter, Dr Yasi Safinya-Davies, with the check.
"The DA's Office is always pleased to help the most needy in our community, and SAVE plays a pivotal role in the lives of women and families who are escaping domestic violence," said DA O'Malley.
Dr Safinya-Davies said of the donation, "We at SAVE are honored and grateful to receive this financial gift from the DA's Office".
Pictured L-R: DDA Ben Beltramo, Dr Yasi Safinya-Davies, and DA Nancy O'Malley
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DA Launches Hate Crime Hotline
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In response to the recent increase in
hate-related criminal activity and hate rhetoric reported in communities around the county, DA Nancy O'Malley launched a new resource: a hate crime hotline.
There is no place in Alameda County for hate-motivated conduct or hate-driven words based on race, gender, religion, nationality, sexual orientation, or gender identity. Everyone, irrespective of status, has the right to be safe and protected. The Alameda County DA’s Office asks that any person who is victimized report the conduct. Witnesses to such actions are also asked to make a report.
“The DA’s Office will treat every individual in this county with the care, respect and dignity that each of us deserves and expects,” says DA O’Malley.
The hotline to report hate-related crimes is 510-208-4824 (with outgoing messages in six languages: English, Spanish, Farsi, Mandarin, Cantonese and Tagalog) or 1-844-488-1044 (toll free).
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Settement with O'Reilly Auto Parts
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O December 1, 2016, DA O'Malley announced, along with 50 other California District Attorneys, that Alameda County Superior Court Judge Brad Seligman has ordered the Missouri-based O’Reilly Auto Parts to pay $9.86 million as part of a settlement of a civil environmental prosecution alleging the company mishandled hazardous waste. Read about the case here...
The lawsuit claimed that more than 525 O’Reilly stores throughout the state unlawfully handled, transported and disposed of used oil, used oil filters, and various hazardous wastes and materials over a 5-year period. Those hazardous wastes and materials included automotive fluids, alkaline batteries, electronic waste, aerosol cans and other toxic, ignitable and corrosive wastes.
Under the settlement, O’Reilly must pay $6 million in civil penalties and $500,000 to reimburse the costs of the investigation. An additional $1.51 million will fund supplemental environmental projects furthering consumer protection and environmental enforcement in California, and O’Reilly will fund hazardous waste minimization and enhanced compliance projects valued at $1.85 million. The retailer will be bound under the terms of a permanent injunction prohibiting similar future violations of law.
"The Alameda County District Attorney's Office is dedicated to ensuring that California's environmental protection laws are followed by all companies doing business in our county and our state," says DA O'Malley.
"We will be vigilant and steadfast in our investigation and prosecution of those who improperly manage and dispose of hazardous wastes. The health and well-being of our communities and our environment demand nothing less."
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People v Curtis Yee
On November 17, 2016, an Alameda County jury convicted Defendant Curtis Yee of first degree murder for the killing of Mr Jian Jin in 2013. Defendant Yee was found to have personally discharged a firearm causing death or great bodily injury, and was also found to have committed a robbery and a burglary as a special circumstance in the commission of that murder. Read the summary of the case...
Defendant Yee is scheduled to be sentenced on January 20, 2017.
The case was prosecuted by DDA Christopher Chin with assistance from DA Inspector Thomas Cleary and Victim-Witness Advocates Yuen Chiang and Louise Song.
People v Fesuiai Soli Fuimaono
On November 3, 2016, a jury found defendant Fesuiai Soli Fuimaono guilty of seven felony counts of molesting a child and sexual assault. Read the summary of the case...
Janet Doe bravely came forward and disclosed everything that had been happening whilst she was living with her biological mother and Defendant Fuimaono. The case was investigated by San Leandro PD, and they interviewed Defendant Fuimaono out of custody during the course of their investigation. Defendant Fuimaono then fled back to Samoa where he was extradited as a fugitive from justice by the Alameda County District Attorney’s office in April 2015. Defendant Fuimaono is scheduled to sentenced on December 6, 2016.
The case was prosecuted by Senior DDA Angela Backers with assistance from DA Inspector Gus Galindo and Victim-Witness Advocate Nadia Bueno.
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Do you have a question for the District Attorney?
If you would like to see a particular question answered in our next newsletter, please email us at
[email protected].
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HEAT Watch is the anti-human trafficking program run by the DA's Office. It coordinates the response to help fight trafficking in the Bay Area and beyond.
Point of View
The well-known legal educational tool written and published by the DA's Office.
Find out when the next court date is for a particular case. Available 24/7.
Find out the custody status of a person of interest. Available 24/7.
We provide speakers for your next school or community meeting who come to you with decades of expertise about the law, the criminal justice system and how we at the DA's Office can help you if you have been the victim of a crime.
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