Sunday Commentary: One Year Since ‘the Other Davis’… What’s Changed?
It was a year ago, that I wrote “The Other Davis” from, ironically enough, a hotel room…
My View: Reforming System to More Expeditiously Free the Wrongfully Accused
This week, I have been catching up on my rest and finally got to watch “West of…
Commentary: Obama’s Pardons Only Illustrate Poor Record on Reform
When President Barack Obama was elected to office, those advocating for sentencing reform were hopeful that the…
Twists in Attempted Murder Trial Closing Arguments
By Antoinnette Borbon As we heard, in the last week of the trial in the state’s case…
Restorative Justice & Reforming the Judicial System
2013 Vanguard Court Watch Dinner and Awards Ceremony – The 2013 Dinner and Awards Ceremony’s theme was restorative…
Eye on the Courts: Arrest Story Leads Us to Ask Why is this News?
On Saturday morning I was perusing the local news when I saw a story in the Sacramento…
2012 Vanguard Court Watch Dinner and Awards Ceremony (Video)
We are a little late, but we finally have the video from the 2012 Vanguard Court Watch…
Eye on the Courts: Judge Recusal from Murder Case Wise Move by Defense
Yolo County Judge Tim Fall was removed from presiding over the Daniel Marsh case. Mr. Marsh, 16,…
Former Prosecutor Tests the System, Gets More Than He Bargained For
Former Prosecutor Bobby Constantino’s piece published in the Atlantic amazingly illustrates two separate problems in the justice…
Yolo Public Officials Speak Out Against the Bay Delta Plan
On Monday, state and federal officials announced the availability of a public draft Bay Delta Conservation Plan…
Wrongful Conviction: Letter from Ajay Dev in Prison
Dear Family, Friends, Supporters and Well-Wishers, This letter comes to you with greetings of the Holiday season,…
Testimony in Attempted Murder Case Remains Inconsistent
by Antoinnette Borbon In the state’s case against defendants David Bristow and Danny Stearman, who are being…
My View: The Blue Code of Silence Strikes Again
Earlier this year, many in the community were stunned to learn that a West Sacramento police officer…
Former West Sac Officer Faces Civil Suit Alleging Sexual Assault
Suit Alleges Victim Sodomized, and Complaints Ignored by Multiple West Sac PD Officers: Early this year, West…
Manhunt leads authorities to Las Vegas For Winters Murder Suspect
By David Greenwald and Antoinnette Borbon On Tuesday morning, at 12:45, the Winters Police Department was notified…
Victim Testifies in Attempted Murder Trial
by Antoinnette Borbon The state’s case against co-defendants, David Bristow and Danny Stearman, continued Monday with another…
Court Watch Coverage: Ellis May Face Trial Again, Marsh Granted Access to Family
By Kaiti Curry Kevin Ellis, a man recently convicted of molesting two preadolescent boys, may be facing…
Jury Acquits in Assault Case
by Antoinnette Borbon
A Madison man was found not guilty on all counts, along with enhancements, in what would be one of the shortest deliberations I have seen yet. He was a Vallejo man who had moved to Madison at the beginning of this year. The defendant stated he had just returned from a trip with his fiancé on the night of July 8.
Cornell, the defendant, stated he had been staying with the elderly couple, parents of his housemate, who he referred to as Mom and Pops. Cornell said his PG&E had been turned off and the couple was kind enough to allow him to stay at their nearby house for a few days; they were also the parents of Steven Bertram, the alleged victim.
Eye on the Courts: The System Failed Leslie Pinkston
Last week tragedy struck the small town of Winters when William Gardner allegedly gunned down his ex-grilfriend in downtown Winters, in broad daylight, just days after being released from custody at the Yolo County jail, where he had been held on charges that he stalked and threatened the victim in this case, Leslie Pinkston.
Her friend, Katie Winkler, wrote this week that Ms. Pinkston was “terrorized by an abusive ex-boyfriend. Harassed, stalked and threatened via social media, through email, phone and in person, Leslie tried to prevent and stop this behavior on her own and with the help of family and friends. She changed her number, she moved, she stayed under the radar, all in an effort to keep herself and her daughter safe.”
Commentary: Jurors Tainted With Fear And Intimidation By DDA And Gang Task Force, Mistrial Declared
by Antoinnette Borbon
After nearly three days of deliberation in the multi-defendant case, jurors told Judge David Rosenberg they could not reach a decision. The jury foreman was asked by Rosenberg whether, if they had more time to deliberate, they could reach a decision, but only one of twelve said yes.
But what we would learn from what they struggled with signaled a pause. Defense Attorney Jeff Raven explained to the family of one of the defendants, Jose Jimenez, that the jurors felt intimidated by the groups of family present during trial.