"Second Chances", Episode 2 of the Justice For All podcast, has been released and is now streaming on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Google Play Music. To learn more and listen to all episodes, visit
https://justiceforall.alcoda.org/
or click your preferred streaming service below:
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DA NANCY O'MALLEY INSTALLED AS
CDAA PRESIDENT FOR 2019-2020 TERM
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The Honorable Nancy O’Malley, Alameda County District Attorney, was installed as the President of the California District Attorneys Association (CDAA) on July 11, 2019 at the CDAA Summer Conference in Carlsbad. As president, Ms. O’Malley is the official spokesperson for the association, and among her duties is appointing the co-chairs of CDAA’s 32 committees, as well as presiding over the Board of Directors meetings. CDAA is a statewide association representing California prosecutors that was incorporated as a nonprofit public benefit corporation in 1974.
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CDAA has more than 3,000 members, including elected and appointed district attorneys, the Attorney General of California, city attorneys principally engaged in the prosecution of criminal cases, and attorneys employed by these officials. CDAA is the source of training and legislative advocacy for California’s prosecutors
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ASSISTANT DISTRICT ATTORNEY FORD RECEIVES
PROSECUTOR OF THE YEAR AWARD AT CDAA
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Alameda County Assistant District Attorney Amilcar "Butch" Ford was the recipient of the 2019 CDAA Prosecutor of the Year Award. The award is given in recognition of outstanding ability, professional dedication, and personal sacrifice. Over his career, Butch has tried 20 misdemeanor cases and 62 felony cases to verdict, convicting 73 defendants responsible for some of the most horrific crimes in Alameda County. Thirty of these cases involved murder charges. The cases he has handled were complicated and required a skilled prosecutor to overcome such challenges as victims and witnesses reluctant to participate or cooperate. Butch has a credible, straight-talking, smart, respectful manner about him. He is revered by victims, their family members, and witnesses as honest, hardworking, and kind. Beyond the courtroom, Butch is a mentor to younger lawyers in his office and an integral part of his office’s continuing education team.
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DA JUSTICE ACADEMY
GRADUATION CEREMONIES
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The Alameda County District Attorney's Office is extremely proud of the District Attorney Justice Academy (DAJA) Eden, Tri-Valley, and North County cohorts. At the program's closing ceremonies in July, students delivered compelling speeches at the in front of audiences filled with parents, city and county leaders and summer internship employers.
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The District Attorney’s Justice Academy is a six month learning and working experience for high school students, ages 16 and up, who are interested in pursuing the study of law, justice, social justice, and the courts. This Academy teaches teens about the many facets of the justice system while encouraging critical thought and civic engagement. The Justice Academy is open to juniors and seniors who are residents of and attend public high school in Alameda County.
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Click
here
for more information on the DA Justice Academy
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ADA LOUIS RECEIVES
MENTAL HEALTH PROVIDER OF THE YEAR AWARD
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The Alameda County District Attorney’s Office would like to congratulate Assistant District Attorney L.D. Louis on receiving the Barbara Majak Mental Health Provider of the Year Award from The Pool of Consumer Champions on June 27. "The Mission of the POCC is to improve the quality of life for Alameda County residents who have mental health or mental health and substance use issues, in whatever settings they find themselves, and to provide the consumer perspective in Transforming Alameda County Behavioral Health Care Services to a recovery vision that is consumer-driven, culturally responsive, and holistic in its services and supports. The POCC provides an empowered and informed voice: of, by, and for consumers in the behavioral health care system, related systems, and in the community."
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CASTRO VALLEY PRIDE PARADE
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The Alameda County District Attorney's Office would like to thank the volunteers and community members who came out and showed their support at the 9th annual Castro Valley Pride Parade, including Congressman Eric Swalwell.
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4th OF JULY ALAMEDA PARADE
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The Alameda County District Attorney's Office took part in the annual 4th of July parade in the city of Alameda. The parade spanned over 3 miles through city streets as members of the community spectated from porches, front yards, and curbside seats.
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ST. ANNE'S CHURCH FESTIVAL
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PEOPLE V. ALPHONZO MCINNIS
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On July 23, 2019 a jury convicted Alphonzo McInnis of kidnapping for the purposes of sexual assault, 3 counts of forcible rape of a minor, as well as enhancements for aggravated kidnapping of a minor during the course of a sexual assault. The jury hung 11-1 for guilt on the charge that he kidnapped a second victim for the purposes of sexual assault.
On the morning of April 19, 2018 Jane Doe 1, a fifteen year old Berkeley High School freshman, was walking to school when the defendant grabbed her from behind, covered her eyes, and told her not to look at his face or scream because he had a gun and would shoot her. The defendant forced her into a secluded side yard of a home where Jane Doe 1 saw what appeared to be a gun in the defendant’s hand. The defendant then sexually assaulted her in multiple ways causing significant injuries. Jane Doe 1 was able to convince the defendant to let her go and once she made it to school she reported the assault to her teacher immediately. Berkeley Police investigators responded and took the victim to Highland Hospital for a forensic sexual assault examination.
On the morning of April 28, 2019 Jane Doe 2, a 19 year old UC Berkeley freshman, was walking back to her dormitory room when the defendant tried to grab her from behind. Jane Doe 2 tried to run but the defendant chased her and caught her, putting his arm around her neck and pressing what he said was a gun to her body. He forced her about 15 feet down a secluded walkway where she was able to struggle free and run to her dormitory building.
Berkeley Police were able to expedite the analysis of Jane Doe 1’s sexual assault kit and it was matched to the defendant within days of the assault on Jane Doe 2. Jane Doe 2 identified the defendant as the man who attacked her and the defendant was arrested. Berkeley police were able to locate the defendant’s apartment in Oakland where they found a realistic looking replica firearm and clothes that matched the description of both victims as well as surveillance footage showing portions of the attack on Jane Doe 2.
The case was prosecuted by DDA Nick Homer with the assistance of Inspectors Veronica Ibarra and Shan Johnson, victim advocate Stephanie Lynch, and Berkeley Police Detectives Darren Kacalek and Eddie Diaz.
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PEOPLE V. ANTONIO VANEGAS
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On July 19, 2019 a jury convicted Antonio Vanegas of 9 counts of aggravated sexual assault of a child under 14 and one count of a forcible lewd acts on a child under 14. The defendant sexually assaulted the young victim on a regular basis when she was between 10 and 13 years old. When the victim was in 8th grade, she shared details of the abuse with another 8th grade student. That student encouraged the victim to tell her mother, but she remained paralyzed fear. She ultimately disclosed the abuse to her mother and aunt in the summer of 2017 when she was 15 years old. Her mother immediately reported the abuse to the authorities. A subsequent police investigation was undertaken by the SVU Unit of the Alameda County Sheriff's Department. Sentencing will take on September 19, 2019. The defendant faces 145 years to life in prison.
The case was prosecuted by DDA Amanda Chavez, Inspector Nicole Elder and Victim Witness Advocate Michelle Joya.
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On July 3, 2019, a jury convicted defendant Anthony Burton of two counts of attempted murder, domestic battery, two counts of assault with a firearm, shooting into an occupied vehicle, and being a felon in possession of a firearm.
On March 16, 2016 at about 1:05 am, 911 calls came into Berkeley Police regarding gunfire and that a person was on the front porch of a residence on Prince St. moaning and asking for help. The male victim was bleeding from multiple gunshot wounds, he had been shot in the face, three times in the torso, and several more times throughout the rest of his body. Down the street, officers located a Ford Fusion that had its windows shattered with blood inside and six .40 caliber casings in the middle of the street. At about 1:20 am, Alta Bates Hospital notified police that someone had dropped off an unconscious female victim at the ER emergency bay. The victim had suffered a single gunshot wound to her left temple. Both victims survived the shooting. Defendant Burton, the female victim’s then-boyfriend, had installed a GPS tracking device on her vehicle. This enabled defendant Burton to stalk the victim to Berkeley. Defendant Burton, the female victim’s then-boyfriend, had installed a GPS tracking device on her vehicle. This enabled the defendant Burton to stalk the victim to Berkeley. Defendant Burton, the female victim’s then-boyfriend, had installed a GPS tracking device on her vehicle. This enabled defendant Burton to stalk the victim to Berkeley. While hanging out with victim 1, victim 2 suddenly saw defendant Burton pull up in his car, facing the opposite direction as her car. She was very upset to unexpectedly see defendant Burton, she lowered her driver side window and the next thing she recalled was waking up in the hospital. Defendant Burton testified and admitted shooting into the vehicle because he was attempting to protect the victim.
Defendant Anthony Burton is scheduled to be sentenced on July 31, 2019.
The case was prosecuted by DDA Glenn Kim, with assistance by Inspector Malary Hathcox and Victim-Witness Advocate Kelli Sage.
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PEOPLE V. DAMARIE JONES & JOHN BLACKNELL
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On July 3, 2019, a jury convicted co-defendants Damarie Jones and John Blacknell of first degree murder. The jury found defendant Blacknell personally discharged a firearm causing death and that he possessed an unregistered, loaded firearm. On April 3, 2016, the defendants robbed victim Jaccare Vanpelt. The incident occurred in the 6000 block of Idaho Street in Oakland. While both defendants struggled with the victim, a Good Samaritan attempted to intervene. When the Good Samaritan threatened to call the police, defendant Blacknell pulled out a gun and shot Mr. Vanpelt six times in the back. The defendants fled the scene together. The Oakland Police Department Criminalistics Laboratory discovered defendant Jones DNA on the victim’s fingernail clippings. Oakland Police Department Investigators collected evidence from cell phones to corroborate witness identifications and the scientific evidence.
DDA Timothy Wagstaffe prosecuted the case along with the assistance of Inspector Tom Milner and Victim-Witness Advocate Stephanie Lynch.
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To view more felony verdicts:
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Questions for the DA's Office?
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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: 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.
DA Speakers Bureau: 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.
Point of View: The well-known legal educational tool written and published by the DA's Office.
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