Meet Deputy DA Eric Tran

In honor of Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, which is observed throughout the month of May, we are featuring stories of DA employees, what inspired them to pursue a career in public service and their contributions at the DA’s Office.

Meet Deputy District Attorney Eric Tran, who began his career at the San Diego County District Attorney’s Office in 2014. He is currently a Deputy DA in the Appellate and Training Division where he provides support to our office in the areas of motion practice, appellate practice, legal research, policy, ethics, legislation, training, and public records. Read more about what inspired Eric to pursue career in law enforcement at the DA’s Office, below.

What inspired you to choose a career in law enforcement/at the DA’s Office?

“Our mission to pursue equal and fair justice for all and to build safe neighborhoods in partnership with the communities we serve by ethically prosecuting those who commit crime, protecting victims, and preventing future harm.  As an agency, we are fortunately tasked with a fairly straightforward duty to follow the law and do what’s right, ethical, and fair. For me personally, our mission and values provide a fulfilling career that is hard to replicate elsewhere.”

What is your favorite part of the job?

“The primary reason I enjoy being a prosecutor in our office is the feeling that I am doing something important and doing it with the best team. With each member of our office, I have the privilege of pursuing justice in a manner that has an impact on the people and communities we serve. Walking out the door every morning, it is easy to step into a role where I can feel rewarded in the service of others and accomplish something that will affect people in a positive way.”

What does Asian American and Pacific Islander Month mean to you/why is it important to you?

“To me, AAPI Heritage Month is a celebration of American diversity and an opportunity to appreciate cultures and experiences other than one’s own. AAPI Heritage Month is in May for two reasons:

1) to commemorate the arrival of the first known Japanese immigrant to the U.S. on May 7, 1843; and

2) to honor the completion of the transcontinental railroad on May 10, 1869, which upwards of 20,000 Chinese workers helped to construct. Each May, our nation recognizes the contributions of the generations of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders who have enriched United States history, and those who continue to contribute to our nation’s social fabric.”

Meet Deputy DA Melissa Ocampo

In honor of Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, which is observed throughout the month of May, we are featuring stories of DA employees, what inspired them to pursue a career in public service and their contributions at the DA’s Office.

Meet Deputy District Attorney Melissa Ocampo, who began her career at the San Diego County District Attorney’s Office in 2010 as a certified legal intern in the Gang Unit and then became a graduate law clerk in 2011.  She officially became a Deputy District Attorney in November 2012. Melissa is currently a Deputy DA in the North County Branch where she prosecutes vertical hate crimes and general felonies. Read more about what inspired Melissa to pursue career in law enforcement at the DA’s Office, below.

What inspired you to choose a career in law enforcement/at the DA’s Office?
“I am a proud San Diego native and have always wanted to dedicate myself to a career serving others in our community. When someone becomes a victim of crime it can be very traumatizing and violating of one’s sense of safety. For some, it can become the darkest hour of their lives. Crime also causes a rippling effect, not only affecting the individual victim but the community as a whole. I chose a career in law enforcement/at the DA’s Office because it allows me to represent the People of a community I love and to be the light for victims in their hour of darkness. San Diego is also a very diverse county with a large Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) presence.  As a Filipina American, I strive to be someone the People can trust to be their voice, especially those of AAPI decent who might otherwise be unfamiliar or hesitant to be involved in the criminal prosecution process.”

What is your favorite part of the job? 
“As a Deputy District Attorney, I get to make a difference in the lives of others daily. From being a staunch advocate for crime victims, to being a fair and ethical prosecutor handling a defendant’s case, I get to do the right thing each and every day and to proudly answer up on behalf of the People.”

What does Asian American and Pacific Islander Month mean to you/why is it important to you? 

“Historically, AAPI’s have been lumped together into a singular group – ‘Asians.’ However, AAPI’s are comprised of a diverse group of people across roughly 50 ethnic groups (with connections to Chinese, Indian, Japanese, Filipino, Vietnamese, Korean, Hawaiian, and other Asian and Pacific Islander ancestries) with rich histories, cultures, and traditions. AAPI’s deserve to be celebrated, recognized, and promoted for their contributions to this country, then and now. Growing up as a Filipina American of immigrant parents, I have experienced firsthand and been witness to overt and implicit instances of discrimination and bias. AAPI month is important to me because it is a time for all of us to come together to honor AAPI contributions to society, celebrate our diversity, and teach about our histories and culture. In light of the recent rise in anti-AAPI hate crimes and incidents, there is now more than ever a collective need to uplift the AAPI community.”

One Safe Place Volunteer of the Year Recognized

Today, the San Diego County Board of Supervisors recognized One Safe Place volunteer Brenda Wright as Volunteer of the Year 2023 for outstanding service to the San Diego County District Attorney’s Office and the citizens of San Diego County. Brenda loyally and consistently volunteers her time and talents to One Safe Place, the North County Family Justice Center, a project of the San Diego County District Attorney.

One Safe Place is a one-stop-shop for victims and survivors of abuse and trauma.  Brenda started her service the first week the center opened in July, 2022, and has continued to volunteer multiple times a week since then, making the guests and members of One Safe Place feel seen, heard and supported.

Brenda is an “all hands on deck” kind of volunteer. Some days, Brenda spends time simply sitting next to victims in the welcome lobby on their most broken day, offering them a smile, comfort, and reassurance. She’s become so good at this, that the model is now referred to as the “Brenda friend in the lobby” program named after Brenda Wright.

On other days, Brenda helps kids participate in social emotional learning curriculum in the child waiting room, to the point that kids don’t’ want to leave her care. Sometimes, Brenda accompanies victims to the “Dress to Thrive” boutique to help them select donated clothing to wear for an upcoming court hearing or simply to take on a new independence in their lives. In the hours Brenda spends with these guests, she makes them feel dignified and worthy at a time when they need it most.

Brenda is an army of one – willing to restock and organize snacks for those that come in hungry, assemble care kits that include stress balls and Kleenex for victims to provide comfort as they escape an abusive relationship, or run logistics for large One Safe Place community events such as elder abuse awareness events or animal abuse and pet wellness events. Brenda has a passion for art, and brings her talents to One Safe Place, by creating centerpieces and facilitating arts and crafts projects for partner agencies and for our guests and members.

In September 2022, at One Safe Place’s “Celebrating Diversity Event,” Brenda facilitated an art project where she helped guests and members create beautiful paintings using resin art.

Brenda has quickly become part of the fabric of a center that exists to provide hope, healing, and justice to those that walk in the doors. Victims are immediately comforted by Brenda’s smile and her quality of care and service. Brenda Wright is a shining example of what volunteerism across San Diego County should be.

Meet Supervising Investigator Chris Raagas

In honor of Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month (AAPI Month), which is observed throughout the month of May, we are featuring DA employees, what inspired them to pursue a career in public service and their contributions at the DA’s Office.

Meet District Attorney Supervising Investigator Chris Raagas, who began his career at the San Diego County District Attorney’s Office in 2013. Chris is currently the Supervising Investigator for the Superior Court Division, he is also part of the DA’s Bureau of Investigation’s training cadre and has several collateral duties as a defensive tactics instructor, range safety office and Special Services Team Coordinator. Read more about what inspired Chris to pursue career in law enforcement at the DA’s Office, below.

What inspired you to choose a career in law enforcement/at the DA’s Office?
“I majored in Criminal Justice in college and always wanted to give back to the community and help those in need. After working in law enforcement for several years, coming over to the DA’s Office provided me the opportunity to continue working criminal investigations, but still be able to spend quality time with my family.”

What is your favorite part of the job? 
“Knowing that you had some part of making a case successful when the Deputy District Attorney is able to obtain a guilty verdict. Bringing justice to a victim and closure to a family who is grieving, is a very rewarding experience.”

What does Asian American and Pacific Islander Month mean to you/why is it important to you? 
“It is important because it recognizes the challenges Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders overcame when migrating to this country. As a child of a Filipino immigrant, my father came to this country after enlisting in the Navy. His hard work and perseverance showed me that you should never limit yourself and to keep moving forward, no matter how challenging things get.”

 

DA Honors Local Heroes at Inspiring ‘Citizens of Courage’ Awards

San Diego County District Attorney Summer Stephan honored five brave individuals on Monday, April 24, 2023 with the DA’s Citizens of Courage Award during the 33rd annual event, which is held as part of National Crime Victims’ Rights Week.

“These individuals all displayed courage in the face of dangerous and trying circumstances,” DA Stephan said. “By honoring them, we’re also shining a light on the many courageous crime victims our office serves in the pursuit of justice every year, and the importance of supporting victims’ rights – a big part of our mission at the District Attorney’s Office.”

This year, the Citizens of Courage Awards ceremony was held in person, after a three-year hiatus when the awards were held virtually. The five individuals were honored in front of 300 invited dignitaries, elected officials, community leaders and guests. Below are the 2023 Citizens of Courage recipients and links to videos telling their stories:

LINDA MARTINEZ

She came to the aid of a man who was shot outside her home, providing life-saving medical attention, and calling police.

CARLOS AND ELIZABETH MUNOZ

After their innocent son became the victim of deadly gang violence, they started an organization where people affected by violence can get support.

TERRI MILLER

Working as a bus driver in North County, she stopped a man who was harassing a teenage girl on the bus, leading to his arrest, conviction and requirement that he register as a sex offender.

JUAN FIERRO

After witnessing a DUI that ultimately left the victim in a wheelchair, he followed the hit-and-run driver and then alerted police to his location, leading to his arrest and conviction.

The DA’s Victim Services Division strives to reduce the trauma, fear and pain experienced by victims, witnesses, and family members affected by crime. The Victim Assistance Program provides comprehensive services to all crime victims. Victim Advocates are focused on providing assistance to victims of violent crimes. In 2022, they assisted 10,699 new crime victims. This assistance included 600 crisis interventions and 13,202 resources and referrals.

 

Man who Killed Twin Daughters of Ex-Girlfriend Sentenced to Life Without Parole + 72 Years

San Diego County District Attorney Summer Stephan announced today that defendant Dwayne E. Groves Jr., 41, was sentenced to life without the possibility of parole plus 72 years for murdering 15-year-old twin sisters, Caira and Leah Christopher, in April 2020. Groves pleaded guilty on March 10 to two counts of first-degree murder, a special circumstance allegation of committing multiple murders, and an assault with a firearm count.

On the day of the fatal shootings, Groves arrived at his ex-girlfriend’s home and used a semi-automatic handgun to shoot his way into the residence. Once inside, he shot and killed his ex-girlfriend’s twin 15-year-old daughters, Caira and Leah. He then beat her 22-year-old son, Gary, with the gun, causing multiple lacerations to his head and breaking his arm. Groves’ ex-girlfriend, Joann Hoyt, was able to escape the residence with her younger daughters. Groves fled the scene and tried to avoid arrest but was ultimately located and taken into custody that same day. Law enforcement located the gun on scene with its serial numbers scratched off.

“Anytime that a human being is murdered, there is a sense of deep loss and pain; however, when the lives of innocent children are stolen, we are left with a gaping wound,” DA Stephan said. “This was an unspeakable crime that took the lives of two innocent twin girls who were just beginning their lives. Nothing can make up for the devastation the defendant caused to the family of the victims, but I hope this sentence provides a measure of justice and healing.”

At the preliminary hearing, Joann Hoyt testified that Groves called her just before the incident, told her he had a plan and to trust him. Shortly after hanging up, the sliding glass door to her bedroom shattered and Groves came in holding a gun. He immediately went after Caira then proceeded through the house on his murderous rampage, killing Leah and attacking Gary. Before running out of the house Hoyt overheard Groves say, “You always wanted a story to write and now you have a book.”

Deputy District Attorney Meredith Pro prosecuted this case.

DA Files Criminal Charge in 101 Ash St. Case

San Diego County District Attorney Summer Stephan announced today that former City of San Diego volunteer real estate advisor, Jason Hughes, 55, has been criminally charged with conflict of interest for his role in receiving millions of dollars in connection with two lease-to-own deals commonly known as Civic Center Plaza and 101 Ash Street. During a hearing on Thursday, Hughes pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor violation of conflict-of-interest law, Government Code section 1090, and agree to pay $9.4 million in restitution to the City of San Diego, the amount he was secretly paid for the two transactions.

WATCH NEWS CONFERENCE, HERE

The plea agreement comes after Superior Court Judge, Kenneth So, who was presiding over the criminal investigation aspects of this case, in the last few days made the decision to move the case forward through mediation with all parties, including the City Attorney’s Office, aimed at a global resolution that would serve the interests of justice. Judge So’s expertise and knowledge of the case, stemming back to his authorization of the DA’s search warrants in October of 2021, allowed the case to move rapidly towards this decisive conclusion. Today’s San Diego City Council action clears the way for the criminal case to proceed under the judge’s direction, civil suits to be vacated and full criminal restitution to be paid.

“In many cases, conflict of interest cases result in only civil or administrative remedies,” DA Stephan said. “But in this egregious case, it was important to attain a measure of criminal liability and make certain that restitution be required via a criminal case and not left to chance in civil court. The message we are sending is clear: whether you are in an elected position, a public employee, a contractor, or an appointed volunteer, if you personally profit from contracts related to a government position, you will be held accountable for violating this public integrity law.”

The plea concludes an extensive criminal investigation by the District Attorney’s Office which included 1.6 terabytes of information and millions of pages of evidence. The intense scrutiny this case received will hopefully strengthen systems of checks and balances within the City of San Diego and other government entities and reinforce the importance of strict adherence to conflict-of-interest laws. The extensive work done by City Attorney Mara Elliott’s office in the civil litigation involving the same primary violation of conflict-of-interest laws as the criminal case— especially the content of the thorough depositions— provided significant support for the DA’s criminal investigation and prosecution.

“I want to thank the District Attorney team, led by our lead public integrity prosecutor, Leon Schorr, who invested so much time and expertise in this complicated case,” DA Stephan said. “In addition, members of local media outlets deserve recognition for their reporting, which helped reveal aspects of the case that otherwise might have gone unnoticed.”

In addition to Deputy District Attorney Schorr, the District Attorney team includes, Deputy District Attorneys Hector Jimenez, Martin Doyle, Fredrick Washington, and the many District Attorney Investigators who served search warrants and participated in the investigation. The DA team acknowledges the Regional Computer Forensics Laboratory whose extensive work on this complex investigation was critical, and the multitude of witnesses who sat for interviews, provided documentation and explained their involvement.

WATCH NEWS CONFERENCE, HERE

Photo of a judge's gavel and handcuffs on top of books.

Doctor who Sexually Assaulted Patients Sentenced to Prison

San Diego County District Attorney Summer Stephan announced that defendant Leng Ky, 43, a doctor who sexually assaulted four patients while they were under anesthesia, was sentenced to 17 years in prison. Ky pleaded guilty to three counts of sexually assaulting an unconscious victim and one count of sexually battery by restraint on January 26, the day his trial was set to begin.

“This Defendant used his position of trust as a doctor to sedate and sexually assault his victims, betraying his medical oath and traumatizing his patients,” DA Stephan said. “Thanks to the thorough investigation by law enforcement and the work of our prosecution team, this predator disguised in a white coat was brought to justice and will serve a lengthy prison sentence.”

The defendant in this case, an anesthesiologist with ties to numerous local medical care facilities was also operating a pain management clinic in Escondido in 2020. The four victims, women ranging from 19 to 32 years old, sought treatment from the defendant from 2015 through 2020 for a variety of serious medical conditions. In each case, the defendant would suggest treatments that required the victims to be placed under heavy anesthesia. He would then administer drugs such as Ketamine and Propofol, making the victims unconscious.

The victims would sometimes wake up during the treatments to find the defendant sexually assaulting them. The defendant would continue to administer drugs putting them under again. When the victims would raise concerns about their memories, the defendant assured them it was just a result of hallucinations from the drugs. One victim remembers the defendant whispering in her ear “I know you like this” while sexually assaulting her. Due to the effects of the drugs, the victims were unable to move or even talk when they would wake up and find the defendant violating them. The victims’ mothers and husbands would be sitting in the waiting room while the defendant sexually assaulted their loved ones in his treatment room.

The defendant was arrested by the Escondido Police Department and United States Marshals in March 2020, bringing an end to his medical practice and his ability to victimize others.

Deputy District Attorney Ben Barlow prosecuted this case.

DA Developing New Homeless Shelter Bed App

San Diego County District Attorney Summer Stephan announced today that her office is addressing the intersection of homelessness and crime by leading the effort to develop technology that can quickly locate suitable shelter beds for individuals experiencing homelessness, improving on the process that’s currently in place.

The proposed technology would mobilize a more efficient county response, providing access to comprehensive and centralized information about the capacity, quantity, and availability of shelter beds and services across the county. The San Diego County Board of Supervisors voted today to clear the way for the DA’s Office to work with Tech Soup and its subsidiary, Caravan Studios, to move forward with the technology development phase of the application that would implement the community design vision already developed.

“We believe this investment in technology to support communication and coordination of homeless services will be the first-of-its kind in the nation, and will be grounded in transparency, equity and data,” said DA Stephan. “Previously it could take up to 10 days to connect someone with a homeless shelter bed and by the time service providers reach back out to someone on the street, they’re often gone. With this app that connection can happen in minutes.”

The DA’s Office currently supports a similar effort to address the needs of victims of crime needing shelter through the Safe Shelter Collaborative. Sheltering agencies that provide resources to survivors of human trafficking, domestic violence, and sexual assault can use an app to find shelter beds quickly for those attempting to escape violence.

Leveraging the positive outcomes of the Safe Shelter Collaborative and expanding this model to include all homeless populations will allow the county to maintain real time and accurate data regarding shelter use and availability and help to inform policy decisions regarding future needs and investments to better address homelessness. The app will also allow service providers, healthcare providers such as emergency room personnel, outreach teams and law enforcement to filter requests for shelter beds, allowing a better shelter match for someone who may have a pet, a child, is LGBTQ+, is elderly, or has physical disabilities, for example.

“Homelessness is a regional issue requiring innovative and collaborative solutions. Thank you to District Attorney Summer Stephan for bringing forward this proposal, which would result in another tool in our arsenal, connecting people with the resources they need and providing informative data to help us assess the root cause of housing insecurity,” said San Diego County Supervisor Nathan Fletcher. “The County must continue to search for and create long-term solutions to prevent, and ultimately, help San Diegans end their homelessness.”

“Our county has taken a bold approach to address the homelessness crisis currently impacting our communities by implementing innovative and creative ways of providing shelter and support,” said Nora Vargas, Chairwoman, San Diego County Board of Supervisors. “Today, with equity and confidentiality as our top priorities, we are adding one more means of ensuring we connect residents experiencing homelessness to shelter and a bed faster than ever before.”

In November 2022, the DA brought together dozens of stakeholders from the homeless outreach and support space to solicit input on opportunities for technology to address issues and problems associated with access to shelter for people experiencing homelessness in San Diego County. The resulting recommendations produced a community design that will serve as the basis for development of the shelter bed finder app.

“I appreciate the community coming together and rolling up their sleeves. Ultimately, this is being designed and informed by the people who are working on the front lines of homeless outreach and support, leveraging their experience,” DA Stephan said. “At the moment, some agencies are literally coordinating the search for a shelter bed using sticky notes. It’s our hope that participation in the app will be robust, making it a game changer in our community.”

Development of the app is anticipated to take about six months, with expanded participation among various stakeholders occurring within a year.

The DA’s Office recently released new data about the intersection of crime and the county’s population of persons experiencing homelessness. Multiple sources of credible data indicate that this vulnerable population is growing faster than the availability of housing and services. Two years of District Attorney data shows individuals who are experiencing homelessness become involved with the justice system as victims and offenders at higher rates than the rest of the population. The overdose rate for people experiencing homelessness is 118 times higher than the general population. We also know that being a victim of domestic violence, child abuse and human trafficking drives homelessness especially for women and children on our streets.

“Homelessness is a humanitarian and public safety crisis that many in our community are working on at every level. Addressing this crisis clearly requires multiple solutions and we believe this new app will be a game changer and support other ongoing positive efforts,” DA Stephan added. “We appreciate the support for this initiative from the Board of Supervisors, in particular Chair Nora Vargas and Past Chair Nathan Fletcher.”

In March 2022, the DA proposed a 3-prong approach to address the needs of individuals experiencing homelessness who intersect with law enforcement and the criminal justice system. This was a follow up to the DA’s 2019 Blueprint for Mental Health Reform: Addressing the Intersection of Mental Health, Homelessness and Criminal Justice in San Diego County. Development of this new app is the first ‘prong’ in the DA’s proposal.

Solana Beach Woman Sentenced for Killing Stepfather

San Diego County District Attorney Summer Stephan announced today that defendant Jade Janks, 39, who was convicted by a jury on December 21 of first-degree murder, has been sentenced to 25 years-to-life in prison.

Hours after she picked up the victim from a medical care facility, Janks drugged and strangled Tom Merriman, 64, to death on New Year’s Eve 2020 because she found nude photos of herself on his computer. Merriman was the co-founder of the education and research nonprofit Butterfly Farms, which had a half-acre vivarium in Encinitas.

“This was a complex case that our prosecution team along with law enforcement worked tirelessly on to prove the premeditated nature of this killing,” DA Stephan said. “Although today’s sentence will not bring back Mr. Merriman, it is a measure of justice for his family after a long ordeal.”

While Merriman was recovering on December 23, 2020 at a medical care facility in Encinitas, Janks went his home to tidy up when she accidentally bumped his computer mouse and discovered hundreds of nude photos of herself on his computer. She reached out to a friend who said he could help “fix” her problem. On December 31, Janks picked up her stepfather after he was discharged and gave him several pain pills and sleeping pills.

She texted her friend, the fixer, that she “just dosed the hell out of him” and was bringing Merriman home. But the fixer never showed up, causing Janks to panic and send a flurry of text messages, including:

  • “He’s waking up. I really don’t want to be the one to do this.”
  • “He is waking up and I really need help.”
  • “I am about to club him on the head as he is waking up.”
  • “It’s going to be Weekend at Bernie’s.”

Later that evening, a friend of Janks’ arrived, and Janks confessed that she drugged, suffocated, and strangled Merriman and needed help putting his body in his bed to make it look like an overdose. The friend said he couldn’t help, left and called police reporting what Janks said and letting them know they should look for Merriman.

The San Diego Sheriff’s Department contacted Janks and looked for Merriman but couldn’t find him anywhere in his home or her residence. As they were finishing their search of the premises, detectives looked under a pile of trash in Merriman’s driveway and found his body buried underneath it. The San Diego Sheriff’s Department conducted an extensive investigation—interviewing dozens of witnesses, examining terabytes of data, and testing numerous pieces of evidence for DNA—that ultimately solved the case and led to a first-degree murder conviction.

Deputy District Attorneys Jorge Del Portillo and Teresa Pham prosecuted this case.