Jan 17, 2023 | Alert, In the News, Misdemeanor Verdicts, Press Release, Uncategorized, Verdicts
On November 15, 2022, a jury found defendant Dana Rivers guilty of three counts of first-degree murder during the 2016 triple-murder of a family, Charlotte Reed, Patricia Wright, and their 19-year-old son Benny Toto Diambu-Wright. The jury also found Dana Rivers guilty of arson of an inhabited dwelling and of special circumstance of more than one offense of murder. On January 6, 2023, a judge found Dana Rivers was legally sane at the time she committed these crimes.
On November 11, 2016, just after midnight, Oakland Police arrived on Dunbar Drive in Oakland after reports of gunshots. Once officers arrived on scene, they found a male victim lying in front of a home, suffering from gunshot wounds. While canvassing the scene for suspects, an officer heard a loud bang coming from the garage of the home. Moments later, the defendant walked out of the home, covered in blood and smelling of gasoline. After searching her, they found ammunition and knives in her pockets.
The garage had been set on fire by Rivers in an attempt to cover up the crimes inside. Inside the home, officers located another two victims in a bedroom, Reed and Wright, who had been both stabbed and shot in their bedroom. Reed had two gunshot wounds and over 40 stab wounds to her body. Wright had two gunshot wounds and two stab wounds to her body.
It is believed that defendant Rivers was motivated by her allegiance to an all-female motor club, the Deviants. The Deviants motor club was associated with the Hells Angels motor gang. Reed, one of the victims, had briefly joined the motor club earlier in 2016, but left soon thereafter. The president of the Deviants and Reed ended on bad terms. Rivers was the “enforcer” of the club. Following the murders, the president of the Deviants promoted Rivers to the position of Sergeant of Arms.
A sentencing date has not yet been set.
DDA Abigail Mulvihill prosecuted the case, with aide from Inspector Jason Turner and Victim-Witness Advocate Liliana Bueno.
Jan 11, 2023 | Alert, In the News, Misdemeanor Verdicts, Press Release, Uncategorized, Verdicts
Billboard Campaign with Clear Channel Outdoor revealed
OAKLAND, CA — Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Y. Price and Robert Schmitt, Regional President of Northern California at Clear Channel Outdoor, today unveiled the 2023 billboard campaign to bring awareness to all forms of human trafficking and encourage victims to reach out to get help.
The campaign features Clear Channel billboards and bus shelters throughout Alameda County, bringing awareness to the insidious crimes of human trafficking. The campaign focuses on crimes of sex and labor trafficking. These types of crimes are a serious threat to public safety. Alameda County is the third-highest “hot spot” for human trafficking in the U.S.
The bus shelter campaign posters feature messages of hope from real-life examples of survivors, showing other potential victims that seeking help is available.
“Human trafficking is a serious crime that affects teens, children, and residents of Alameda County every single day,” said DA Price. “When you think of human trafficking, you may think of crimes that occur in far off places. But that is not the reality. These crimes are happening right here in our own backyard. My office hopes that public awareness on these crimes will increase the likelihood that they will be reported, and perpetrators will be brought to justice.”
“We all can play a role to combat modern-day slavery. By educating the community on the various forms of human trafficking occurring in our own neighborhoods, we can help prevent the next person from falling victim to this crime,” said Bob Schmitt. “Our hope is that victims will also see these life-saving message on our billboards as a sign that they are not alone and that there is support available.”
During the month of January, the Rene C. Davidson Courthouse in Oakland will be lit blue at night, the color representing human trafficking awareness. The lighting of the courthouse reminds us of the work we still have left to do in combating human trafficking, as we remain the third-highest hotspot for trafficking.
Later this month, the DA’s office will release information on recent cases that tackle labor and sex trafficking in the county.
The Alameda County District Attorney’s Office and Clear Channel Outdoor have collaborated for 10 years to deliver education and awareness to communities throughout Alameda County and the greater Bay Area in recognition of National Human Trafficking Awareness Month.
2023 Human Trafficking Statistics
Important phone numbers:
TO REPORT IMMEDIATE DANGER, CALL 911.
FOR ALL NON-EMERGENCY REPORTS, CALL THE HEAT WATCH TIP LINE:
(510) 208-4959
FOR 24 HOUR HELP, CALL THE NATIONAL HUMAN TRAFFICKING HOTLINE:
(888) 373-7888 OR TEXT BEFREE (233-733)
##
Contact: Public Information Officer Angela Ruggiero angela.ruggiero@acgov.org // (510) 919-0081
Jan 6, 2023 | Alert, In the News, Misdemeanor Verdicts, Press Release, Uncategorized, Verdicts
Otis Bruce Jr., Royl L. Roberts to serve as Chief Assistant DAs
OAKLAND, CA — Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Y. Price announced today her Executive Leadership Team, with a proven record of leading justice reforms, including Chief Assistant District Attorneys Otis Bruce Jr. and Royl L. Roberts.
Mr. Bruce, a career prosecutor, recently retired as Marin County’s Assistant District Attorney, the number two position in the Marin DA’s Office. Mr. Bruce was also the first African-American prosecutor more than 25 years ago when he started in the office. Mr. Roberts will be joining the office after a distinguished career at the Peralta Community College District, most recently as General Counsel and previously as the Director of Operations for the Martin Luther King Jr. Freedom Center.
“It was critical for my chief assistants be people with deep integrity and a record of moving the needle forward for justice reform in their work experience,” said DA Price. “Both Mr. Bruce and Mr. Roberts bring a wealth of understanding and talent that I know will be welcomed in the office.”
“Otis Bruce Jr is an exceptional lawyer and his experience leading a DA’s office includes community engagement, coordinating teams of attorneys and prosecuting high-profile cases,” said DA Price.
Mr. Bruce has specialized in prosecuting serious and violent offenses as well as domestic violence, elder financial abuse, and business fraud. He is also seasoned in managing staff, DA budgets, and grants, developing intern programs, mentoring young lawyers, leading research and investigations. He has also managed victim support programs, training development and worked as the liaison to county departments and criminal justice partners.
“I have worked with Mr. Roberts for years and he is an outstanding manager and brings a depth of knowledge in budget and organizational management to the team,” said DA Price.
Mr. Roberts has expertise in managing administrative and daily office operations. He is also seasoned in managing large-scale operational budgets, payroll, risk management and employer and employee relations.
Joining the DA’s Office as part of her executive cabinet will be Senior Assistant District Attorneys Kwixuan H. Maloof, Simona Farrise and Cynthia Chandler, retired Oakland Police Captain and Chief Inspector Eric Lewis and Director of Communications, Ryan LaLonde.
When creating a team, DA Price assembled experts in their individual fields who will tackle the issues which are key in making needed changes in the office – from training, accountability, community engagement, communications to winning critical cases.
“Each member of the executive cabinet has a track record of work which led to better outcomes for those most impacted by our justice system – from victims, to families, to underserved communities, said DA Price. “They are a fantastic team and I really look at my cabinet as avengers for real justice.”
For more on the executive leadership team:
Otis Bruce Jr., Chief Assistant District Attorney
Most recently, Otis Bruce Jr. retired in 2022 as Assistant District Attorney (No. 2) in the Marin County District Attorney’s Office where he worked to expand the Marin County Social Justice program and supervised the programs and staff who served victims in the community. Mr. Bruce has a law degree from New College of California School of Law and is a graduate of Merritt College in Oakland with a degree in Administration of Justice. He also earned a criminal justice administration degree with a minor in Spanish from San Jose State University. He is a current Board Director for the California District Attorney Association (CDAA) Institute for Education and Research, a former CDAA Board Director, and an advisor to the California Lawyer’s Association Criminal Law Executive Committee. He is also the past President of the Marin County Bar Association and co-founder of the Bay Area Black Prosecutors Association.
Royl L. Roberts, Chief Assistant District Attorney
Mr. Roberts is a graduate of The University of Texas at San Antonio with the University of Texas at San Antonio with Bachelor’s in Business Administration, Our Lady of the Lake University with a Master’s in Business Administration, and Golden Gate University School of Law with a Doctor of Jurisprudence and Specialization Certificate in Business Law (with distinction). Mr. Roberts will be joining the office in the coming weeks as he transitions from his position as General Counsel to the Peralta Community College District. He previously served as Chief of Staff to the Chancellor and Director of Employee Relations and Diversity Programs. Mr. Roberts has received both the Rose Elizabeth Bird Award – Professionalism and Integrity and the Paul S. Jordan Achievement Award- Service and Contribution. Mr. Roberts has also completed Doctoral work at Saint Mary’s College of California.
Kwixuan H. Maloof, Senior Assistant District Attorney
Mr. Maloof has a law degree from New College of California School of Law and is a graduate of San Jose State University where he received both his Bachelor’s Degree and Master’s Degree in Sociology/Criminology. Most recently, Mr. Maloof was in the San Francisco Public Defender’s Office serving as the Head Deputy Public Defender. He had been with the San Francisco Public Defender’s Office since 2001 and has had numerous leadership positions in the office, including Head Attorney in the Homicide Unit, Head Attorney in Complex Litigation Unit, Head Attorney in Career Criminal Unit, Felony Managing Attorney, and Misdemeanor Managing Attorney. He has tried some of the most complex cases to verdict including numerous sex cases, career criminal cases, complex cases and homicides. He has handled thousands of criminal matters throughout his career and consulted in over 500 jury trials. He is a past President of Charles Houston Bar Association, a Region IX Deputy Director and Board Member of the National Bar Association and former President of the California Association of Black Lawyers.
Simona Farrise Best, Senior Assistant District Attorney
Ms. Farrise Best has been an attorney for nearly 30 years since 1994. She holds a LL.M (Master of Laws) from Berkeley Law, a Juris Doctor from Golden Gate University, and a Bachelor’s of Science in Business from DePaul University. She is an accomplished Trial Lawyer who has handled complex multi-party injury and mass impact actions including Toxic exposures leading to cancer deaths, injurious pharmaceutical drugs, employee rights actions involving race & gender discrimination and harassment, medical and nursing home neglect and injury actions. She has been honored and recognized as among the top lawyers in California as a SuperLawyer™ in both Northern and Southern California for many years and nationwide. She has served as a Board member of many organizations including Equal Rights Advocates, The Impact Fund, Consumer Attorneys of California, and more locally, The Charles Houston Bar Association.
Cynthia Chandler, Senior Assistant District Attorney
Ms. Chandler is an attorney, change manager, and social entrepreneur with over 30 years of experience effecting significant criminal justice reform. Ms. Chandler received a JD from Harvard Law School, a Master’s in Philosophy in Criminology from the University of Cambridge, and a BA in Rhetoric from University of California, Berkeley. Ms. Chandler’s innovations include leading numerous successful bipartisan California state criminal justice reform efforts, including creation of the compassionate release process and statutory structure nationally, and creation of a historic reparations program for sterilization abuse in California women’s prisons, and co-founding Critical Resistance and Justice Now, seminal prison reform organizations. Most recently she founded and directed the Bay Area Legal Incubator, a project of the Alameda County Bar Association. She has served as faculty at Berkeley Law, Northeastern University School of Law, and Golden Gate University School of Law. She is the recipient of the prestigious Auburn Lives of Commitment Award Celebrating Women of Moral Courage, the ABA Pro Bono Publico Award, the California Women Lawyers Fay Stender Award, and the inaugural Ford Foundation Leadership for a Changing World Award.
Eric D. Lewis, Chief Inspector
Mr. Lewis enters the Alameda County District Attorney’s Office with 30 years of professional law enforcements experience in in planning and managing complex investigation, training and instructions and tactical field operations. Most recently, Mr. Lewis served as Captain of Police for the Oakland Police Department for the Bureau of Field Operations Area 5. He also previously worked as Acting OPD Captain as Special Operations Division Commander and Criminal Investigations Division Commander as well as Bureau of Field Operations 1 Watch Commander, Internal Affairs Administrative Commander and Patrol Division Watch Commander. He is a graduate of Chabot College with an Associate of Arts in Education, a Bachelor of Arts in Public Administration from the University of San Francisco and a Master of Arts in Leadership from St. Mary’s College. Mr. Lewis also has credentialing from a P.O.S.T. Command College, Senior Management Institute for Police and Northwestern University Executive Management Program.
Ryan LaLonde, Director of Communications
Mr. LaLonde is a graduate of the University of Michigan with a Bachelor of Fine Arts with focus in design. As part of his concentration, LaLonde focused on culturally responsive design, branding and intergroup dialogue practices. Most recently, Mr. LaLonde ran a communications and design business focusing on culturally responsive design and digital/social content for non-profits, political campaigns and social justice organizations. Before starting his own business, he served as a creative director and brand leader for governmental affairs and public relations/communications focusing on designing and crafting brands and communications around children’s mental health, women’s reproductive health, HIV/AIDS prevention, LGBTQ+ rights, climate change and family farming. Mr. LaLonde has also served for the last seven years as a Court Appointed Special Advocate and an Educational Advocate for youth in the foster care. He has been a member of the National Association of Government Communicators and won numerous Blue Pencil & Gold Screen Awards.
##
Contact: Angela Ruggiero, Public Information Officer angela.ruggiero@acgov.org //(510) 919-0081.
##
Contact: Public Information Officer Angela Ruggiero angela.ruggiero@acgov.org// (510) 919-0081
Jan 4, 2023 | Alert, In the News, Misdemeanor Verdicts, Press Release, Uncategorized, Verdicts
DA Price is Alameda County’s first Black Female District Attorney
OAKLAND, CA —The Alameda County District Attorney’s Office announces Attorney Pamela Price was sworn in at the Rene C. Davidson Courthouse Tuesday as the 14th District Attorney of Alameda County.
Presiding Judge Charles Smiley of the Alameda County Superior Court presided over the oath and offered his courtroom for the historic moment. The official Oath of Office was given by retired Alameda County Superior Court Judge, the Honorable Brenda Fay Harbin. DA Price was surrounded by her family from across the U.S., more than 90 members of the DA’s Office, and elected officials including Alameda County Board of Supervisors President Keith Carson, Supervisor David Haubert, Supervisor Lena Tam and County Administrator Susan B. Muranishi.
“My vision is to serve you as a Minister of Justice,” said DA Price during her speech. “My job is to protect public safety by advancing justice. Our goals are to reduce crime and criminal activity, engage the entire community in eliminating exploitation and violence against vulnerable members of the community, and lead the conversation about justice in the diverse communities that we represent.”
DA Price enters the District Attorney’s Office as the first African-American/Black individual to hold the office in Alameda County’s history and only the second woman elected to the position.
“We will have a DA committed to transparency, equity and accountability to make the system work for all of us,” DA Price.
DA Price is a graduate of Yale College and UC Berkeley Law School and has been practicing law for more than 40 years. DA Price’s historic win ushers in a new era at the DA’s Office. As a survivor of juvenile justice and foster care systems, she brings to the helm of the office a knowledge and understanding of those systems.
DA Price also held a public inaugural celebration on Monday evening at the Oakstop California Ballroom. The event was attended by more than 450 people with speakers including Rev. Dr. Harold Orr, Rev. Wanda Johnson, former Oakland Mayor Jean Quan, California State Senator-elect Aisha Wahab, BART Director Lateefah Simon, activist and renown author, Angela Davis and Oakland Mayor-elect Sheng Thao. Mayor-elect Thao officiated the public Oath of Office.
## Contact: Public Information Officer Angela Ruggiero angela.ruggiero@acgov.org// (510) 919-0081
