Jul 12, 2024 | Press Release
Statement from District Attorney Pamela Price Regarding Offer of Cal Guard Attorney Being Rescinded
July 12, 2024
OAKLAND, CA— I would like to share with the public my office’s efforts to partner with Governor Newsom and the Attorney General’s office. While I wish the memorandum for temporarily onboarding a single Cal Guard attorney for 60 days to prosecute drug cases had been resolved sooner, assigning a lawyer to a case for 60 days is not particularly significant because our drug cases last longer than that. Unfortunately, while trying to resolve these issues, the governor decided to rescind the offer.
Regarding the timeline, it is important for the public to know that the contingent of three Cal Guard attorneys was on assignment in San Francisco when my office received and accepted the governor’s offer of assistance back in February. Although we agreed to the partnership in February, we were not given any timeline for when the Cal Guard attorney’s assignment in SF would end and their new assignment in Alameda County could begin, nor did we receive any specific offer of assistance from the California Attorney General’s office.
The conversation with the JAG and the AG’s office picked up in April and continued in May. We received a draft MOU in April. Our team met with the JAG commander in April and May and interviewed the proposed candidate. It is my understanding that the single CAL Guard attorney was only available to work in our office from June 1st to August 12th at the latest. I welcome the opportunity to speak personally with the governor to resolve any misunderstandings and move forward with any assistance from his office.
In the meantime, Assistant District Attorney Michael Nieto continues to perform his assigned duties in an admirable and professional manner and continues to have my confidence in his role as an assistant district attorney. We have identified his successor should the Governor choose to proceed with his nomination to the bench, and Mr. Nieto is collaborating with the other members of our team to ensure a smooth transition. We appreciate his service, professionalism, and commitment to the residents of Alameda County as we do for the numerous deputy district attorneys prosecuting felony drug cases in this county.
Contact: damedia@acgov.org
The Alameda County District Attorney’s Office (DAO) is one of California’s largest prosecutors’ offices and is led by Alameda County’s first Black woman District Attorney Pamela Y. Price. Price brings her vision to this office to fairly administer justice in the pursuit of thriving, healthy, and safe communities for every person who steps foot in Alameda County, no matter their race, gender, religion, sexual orientation, income, or zip code. Price has been recognized as one of the most progressive prosecutors through her forward-thinking, innovative strategies to interrupt cycles of violence and crime and bring change to a criminal justice system rooted in systemic racism. Follow Madam DA on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook, and @AlamedaCountyda on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.
Jul 12, 2024 | Press Release
July 12, 2024
OAKLAND, CA— Today, Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price updated the potential sentence exposure for Mr. Clarence Esteen (31), who is charged with five counts of second-degree robbery for allegedly robbing 5 victims at 3 different fast-food restaurants in Oakland.
If convicted and sentenced of all charges, Mr. Esteen faces up to 5 years for each of the 3 robberies for a potential sentence exposure of up to 15 years in state prison. As currently charged, based on his prior criminal history, that sentence could be doubled to raise the sentence to 30 years.
The criminal complaint alleges that on or about July 5, 2024, Mr. Esteen entered a McDonald’s on the 6600 block of San Pablo Avenue and demanded money from an employee. The complaint further alleges that about 30 minutes later, Mr. Esteen entered a Papa John’s restaurant on the 5400 block of San Pablo Avenue and demanded money from the employees working at the cash register at that location. According to the complaint, five minutes later, Mr. Esteen entered Cassave Restaurant & Taqueria, located at the same address as the Papa John’s restaurant, and demanded money from the workers there.
Regarding Mr. Esteen’s prior criminal history, in 2009, at the age of 16, he was convicted at trial of shooting and wounding a victim during a robbery in Oakland. Mr. Esteen was sentenced to 5 years for the robbery conviction, an additional 3 years for the injury to the victim, and 25 years to life for the firearm enhancement. California State Law regarding mandatory gun enhancement has changed, allowing the court to use its discretion. Also, under the new Penal Code 1385, the court could consider additional facts before sentencing the defendant, which the court could not consider when Mr. Esteen was sentenced at the age of 16. In May, the District Attorney’s office filed a motion to reduce the 25-year gun enhancement to 10 years, and the Court reduced his sentence to 18 years. Mr. Esteen served 15 years of the original 30-year sentence and received 3 years credit for good behavior.
The District Attorney’s reentry recommendations were not mandated by the court. The key recommendations were that Mr. Esteen be required to stay in transitional housing for at least one year and engage in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for at least six months, enroll in adult education to complete his diploma or show evidence of completion, engage in a College Technical Education or Trade School Program during the transitional housing period, and submit to drug testing for at least one year.
Mr. Esteen was released from prison on June 24, 2024.
Contact: damedia@acgov.org
The Alameda County District Attorney’s Office (DAO) is one of California’s largest prosecutors’ offices and is led by Alameda County’s first Black woman District Attorney Pamela Y. Price. Price brings her vision to this office to fairly administer justice in the pursuit of thriving, healthy, and safe communities for every person who steps foot in Alameda County, no matter their race, gender, religion, sexual orientation, income, or zip code. Price has been recognized as one of the most progressive prosecutors through her forward-thinking, innovative strategies to interrupt cycles of violence and crime and bring change to a criminal justice system rooted in systemic racism. Follow Madam DA on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook, and @AlamedaCountyda on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.
Jul 11, 2024 | Press Release
Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price Charges Suspect in Connection with Three Oakland Robberies
July 11, 2024
OAKLAND, CA—Today, Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price announced that Clarence Esteen (31) has been charged with five counts of second-degree robbery for allegedly robbing three fast food restaurants in Oakland.
The criminal complaint alleges that on or about July 5, 2024, the defendant entered a McDonald’s on the 6600 block of San Pablo Avenue and demanded money from an employee. The complaint further alleges that about 30 minutes later, the defendant entered a Papa John’s restaurant on the 5400 block of San Pablo Avenue and demanded money from the employees working at the cash register at that location. According to the complaint, five minutes later, the defendant entered Cassave Restaurant & Taqueria, located at the same address as the Papa John’s restaurant, and demanded money from the workers there.
If convicted and sentenced of all charges, Clarence Esteen faces nine years in state prison. His next court appearance is scheduled for July 17, 2024, in Department 115 for a pretrial hearing at Wiley W. Manuel Courthouse in Oakland.
Contact: damedia@acgov.org
The Alameda County District Attorney’s Office (DAO) is one of California’s largest prosecutors’ offices and is led by Alameda County’s first Black woman District Attorney Pamela Y. Price. Price brings her vision to this office to fairly administer justice in the pursuit of thriving, healthy, and safe communities for every person who steps foot in Alameda County, no matter their race, gender, religion, sexual orientation, income, or zip code. Price has been recognized as one of the most progressive prosecutors through her forward-thinking, innovative strategies to interrupt cycles of violence and crime and bring change to a criminal justice system rooted in systemic racism. Follow Madam DA on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook, and @AlamedaCountyda on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.
Jul 3, 2024 | Press Release
Juneteenth Mass Shooting Suspect Charged with Multiple Counts of Felony Assault by Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price
July 3, 2024
OAKLAND, CA—Today, DA Pamela Price announced that an individual has been charged with shooting four of the fourteen people injured during the Juneteenth mass shooting at Lake Merritt in Oakland.
The prosecution charged JaJuan Kelly (23) with four counts of felony assault with a semiautomatic firearm for shooting four separate victims. In addition, defendant Kelly is also charged with possession of a firearm by a felon and possession of ammunition by a prohibited person due to having prior felony convictions for robbery, possession of an assault weapon, and grand theft.
The district attorney’s office alleges the evidence will show that on Wednesday, June 19, 2024, the defendant fired a semiautomatic weapon in a massive crowd gathered for a Juneteenth Holiday celebration in Oakland, injuring four victims.
“I am deeply relieved to announce that one of the individuals we believe to be responsible for taking part in the Juneteenth mass shooting at the lake has been charged with a list of serious felonies,” said DA Pamela Price. “I thank the Oakland Police Department for their investigative work leading to this arrest and our prosecutors for their diligence in bringing charges forth in pursuit of justice on behalf of those injured and a community traumatized in the wake of such a senseless act of gun violence during the Juneteenth Holiday.”
Mr. Kelly is scheduled to be arraigned at Wiley Manuel Courthouse in Oakland on Wednesday, July 3, 2023. The Alameda County District Attorney’s Office is asking anyone with information about this incident to contact the Oakland Police Department at 510-238-3455 or 510-238-3744
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Contact: damedia@acgov.org
The Alameda County District Attorney’s Office (DAO) is one of California’s largest prosecutors’ offices and is led by Alameda County’s first Black woman District Attorney Pamela Y. Price. Price brings her vision to this office to fairly administer justice in the pursuit of thriving, healthy, and safe communities for every person who steps foot in Alameda County, no matter their race, gender, religion, sexual orientation, income, or zip code. Price has been recognized as one of the most progressive prosecutors through her forward-thinking, innovative strategies to interrupt cycles of violence and crime and bring change to a criminal justice system rooted in systemic racism. Follow Madam DA on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook, and @AlamedaCountyda on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.
Jul 3, 2024 | Press Release
Joseph Roberts Sentenced to 15 Years to Life for the Murder of Rachel Imani Buckner
July 2, 2024
OAKLAND, CA—Today, Joseph Roberts (43) was sentenced to 15 years to life for the murder of Rachel Elizabeth Imani Buckner (27). Hon. Judge Scott Patton also ordered Roberts to pay $19,818 in restitution.
On May 13, 2024, a jury found Joseph Roberts guilty of second-degree murder for the death of Ms. Buckner, whose dismembered body was found inside a black garbage bag along a waterfront trail on Bay Farm Island in the City of Alameda on August 29, 2023. The evidence in the case included the defendant’s DNA being found on a piece of duct tape used to seal the garbage bag. Mr. Roberts and Ms. Buckner shared an apartment in Pleasanton. Police records show officers responded to the apartment for several welfare checks and domestic violence calls. Although Ms. Buckner was living with Mr. Roberts at the time of her disappearance, the evidence showed that he never reported that she was missing. Before ordering the sentence, Judge Patton told Mr. Roberts that his crime was one of the most heinous he had ever seen. However, a second-degree murder conviction and 15 years to life sentence was the maximum penalty due to the evidence and circumstances of the case.
“Words are inadequate to describe what Rachel Imani Buckner’s family must be feeling in this moment after their loved one was tragically taken from them in such an unthinkable way,” said DA Pamela Price. “While we hope this sentence will provide a sense of closure, no punishment will ever undo what Joseph Roberts did to Rachel and the lasting impact it will have on her family. I want to thank our prosecution team, led by Deputy District Attorney Colleen Clark, for their hard work and professionalism during the pursuit of justice in this case. I also thank DAO Inspector Bruce Christiansen, Victim-Witness Advocate Erica Chavis, and our support staff for supporting Rachel’s family and friends throughout this trial.”
Joseph Roberts was credited 300 days of time served before being transferred to San Quentin State Prison.
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Contact: damedia@acgov.org
The Alameda County District Attorney’s Office (DAO) is one of California’s largest prosecutors’ offices and is led by Alameda County’s first Black woman District Attorney Pamela Y. Price. Price brings her vision to this office to fairly administer justice in the pursuit of thriving, healthy, and safe communities for every person who steps foot in Alameda County, no matter their race, gender, religion, sexual orientation, income, or zip code. Price has been recognized as one of the most progressive prosecutors through her forward-thinking, innovative strategies to interrupt cycles of violence and crime and bring change to a criminal justice system rooted in systemic racism. Follow Madam DA on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook, and @AlamedaCountyda on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.
