Police cars with lights on.

Defendant Who Shot Police Officer Sentenced

San Diego County District Attorney Summer Stephan said today that a defendant who led police on a high-speed chase and then shot and wounded a San Diego Police Officer has been sentenced to 47 years-to-life in state prison. Andrew Joseph Garcia, 22, was sentenced today by Judge Aaron Katz. On August 12, Garcia pleaded guilty to premeditated and deliberate attempted murder on a peace officer, assault with a semi-automatic firearm on a peace officer, shooting at an inhabited dwelling, unlawful driving of a stolen vehicle, felony reckless evading and felon in possession of a firearm.

“Peace officers have an incredibly difficult job, and this case demonstrates how in an instant their lives can be in danger—in this instance from a suspect wielding a ghost gun,” said DA Stephan. “Our office is dedicated to prosecuting these types of crimes with the focus they deserve and to holding defendants accountable who would seek to harm officers.”

In December of 2022, Garcia was pursued by police for driving a stolen car and led officers on a chase that lasted more than an hour, on and off freeways at speeds of 90 miles per hour. Garcia eventually fled the car and ran into an apartment complex in Mountain View. Officers followed Garcia into the complex and when they rounded a corner, he opened fire with a ghost gun, firing multiple rounds and hitting one of the officers in the chest and arm. The officer crawled to safety and a standoff in a vacant building ensued, during which time Garcia overdosed on drugs. Officers were able to revive him using Narcan and placed him under arrest.

“Police work is extremely dangerous, yet such a necessary function in our society. Being severely or mortally wounded is a constant threat looming in the hearts and minds of all law enforcement.” Said SDPD Chief Scott Wahl. “Every day, San Diego Police Officers take on the challenge of keeping San Diego safe through much adversity and with pride, honor and integrity. The San Diego Police Department thanks the District Attorney’s office for their hard work in prosecuting this suspect and getting justice for the officer involved. This type of violence against law enforcement or any of our community members will not be tolerated in San Diego.”

Garcia’s sentence includes guilty pleas on a separate gang-related case that occurred in April of 2022, in which he got out of a vehicle in broad daylight and shot at two individuals who were eating burritos on the sidewalk because he mistakenly perceived them to be rival gang members. Garcia fled the scene and remained at large. This incident occurred prior to the attempted murder of a police officer. It remained unsolved until District Attorney Investigator Jonah Conley reviewed social media records and discovered additional evidence related to the crime.

According to the National Fraternal Order of Police (FOP), 378 peace officers were shot in the line of duty last year, the highest number the FOP has ever recorded.

“While some may look at that data and just see numbers, we must remember that they represent fathers, mothers, sons, and daughters who are committed to protecting our neighborhoods every day,” DA Stephan said.

The cases against Garcia were prosecuted by Deputy District Attorneys Clay Biddle and Mary Naoom.

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

Man Who Killed His 87-Year-Old Mother Sentenced to Prison

San Diego County District Attorney Summer Stephan said today that a 57-year-old East County man has been sentenced to 76 years-to-life in prison for the 2022 shooting death of his elderly mother while she was standing by the kitchen table. 

Chase Folkes, who was found guilty of second-degree murder and of being a felon in possession of a firearm, shot 87-year-old Carolyn Folkes in the forehead on May 17, 2022 after his mother hid her debit card from him, preventing him from buying alcohol. A jury delivered the guilty verdict on July 9 after one day of deliberation.

“This is a heartbreaking example of elder abuse in its most extreme form,” DA Stephan said. “Taking the life of an innocent person is always horrific but when it is in the context of a son against an elderly mother, the complexity and harm committed is very deep.”  

Folkes used a homemade shotgun to commit the murder.

“I am proud of the dedication of our prosecution team which delivered a conviction and a measure of justice for the family of Ms. Folkes,” DA Stephan said. “We’re also proud of the work of law enforcement in conducting this investigation.”

Deputy District Attorney Briana Wilford prosecuted this case.

 

Home Depot to Pay Nearly $2 Million

San Diego County District Attorney Summer Stephan announced today that Home Depot U.S.A. Inc., entered into a stipulated judgment and will pay $1,977,251 to settle a civil law enforcement complaint that alleged Home Depot engaged in false advertising and unfair competition.

The action was filed in San Diego Superior Court by the DA’s Consumer Protection Unit along with the District Attorneys of Alameda, Los Angeles, Orange, San Bernardino, and Sonoma counties.

The civil complaint filed by prosecutors alleged that Home Depot charged customers prices higher than Home Depot’s lowest advertised or posted price. The problem is often called a “scanner violation,” which is when the price on the item, or on the item’s shelf tag, is not the same once the UPC code is scanned at the point-of-sale device or register.

“Our Consumer Protection Unit is committed to ensuring businesses charge consumers their lowest advertised or posted price,” said DA Stephan. “In addition to county agencies monitoring companies’ actions, the public can also help ensure that scanner prices and shelf tag prices are the same by checking receipts and reporting overcharges.”

The judgment includes an injunction that prohibits Home Depot from engaging in false or misleading advertising and charging an amount greater than the lowest price posted for an item. The judgment requires Home Depot to implement a Price Accuracy Program which adds additional audits and training and eliminates price increases on weekend days.  The new price accuracy procedures will assist Home Depot with compliance with California’s pricing accuracy requirements.

The judgment requires Home Depot to pay $1,700,000 in civil penalties and $277,251 in costs and restitution to cover investigation costs and support future enforcement of consumer protection laws. Home Depot has not admitted any liability or wrongdoing but has cooperated with the weights and measures inspectors throughout the state and with the prosecutors.

The San Diego County Department of Agriculture, Weights and Measures, is the agency that inspected Home Depot throughout San Diego County and is instrumental in monitoring retailers to make sure that consumers are being charged the correct price. Consumers may report overcharges to Weights and Measures online by using the General Consumer Complaint Form or by calling 1-888-TRUE-SCAN (878-3722) (toll free) or e-mail wm.awm@sdcounty.ca.gov.

Deputy District Attorney Kathryn Turner was the prosecutor for the San Diego County District Attorney.

Public Events Scheduled to Educate About Prop. 36

San Diego County District Attorney Summer Stephan said today she will be joining the business community at several community events over the next two months to educate business owners and the public about Proposition 36: The Homelessness, Drug Addiction and Theft Reduction Act, an initiative on the November ballot that would address the issue of repeat retail crime and fentanyl dealers, along with other related changes to the law.  Knowledge is power and these events will provide an opportunity to learn about this initiative that Californians and San Diegans placed on the ballot through signature gathering.

 

In the first event on September 18, the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce is partnering with DA Stephan, Mayor Todd Gloria, the San Diego Downtown Partnership, and the Gaslamp Quarter Association to host the Prop 36 educational workshop. Organizers say participants will hear why Prop 36 is an important measure to consider for not just California, but also for San Diego’s binational region.

 

Other forums are being co-organized by the Asian Business Association, Black Chamber of Commerce, Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Young Black & N’ Business, Oceanside Chamber of Commerce, Vista Chamber of Commerce, Fallbrook Chamber of Commerce, Encinitas Chamber of Commerce, San Marcos Chamber of Commerce, Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce, Chula Vista Chamber of Commerce, Otay Mesa Chamber of Commerce, National City Chamber of Commerce, East County Chamber of Commerce, La Mesa Chamber of Commerce, Lakeside Chamber of Commerce, Spring Valley Chamber of Commerce, Santee Chamber of Commerce and East County Economic Development Corporation.

 

The dates of the business-sponsored events are:

 

September 18:  Downtown

12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Gaslamp Marriott Hotel

Registration (suggested) and more information can be found here.

 

September 26: North County

5:30 p.m. to 7:30 a.m.

Mira Costa College

Registration (suggested) and more information can be found here.

 

October 3: South County

12 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Chula Vista Civic Center Library Auditorium

You can register here.

 

October 10:  East County Event

12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m.

Virtual on Zoom – Details to be posted here.

 

Parole Denied for 2001 Santana High School Shooter

San Diego County District Attorney Summer Stephan said today that the Santana High School shooting defendant who opened fire at the school in Santee, California in March 2001 with a
revolver, killing two students and wounding 13 others was denied parole after an eight-hour hearing this morning in which 22 victims testified. After the hearing to weigh suitability for release, parole officials denied 38-year-old Charles “Andy” Williams’ request and said he should not be up for consideration again for another three years.

“I’m grateful to the Parole Board for listening to the victims in this case whose lives were forever changed by the defendant’s premeditated and cruel acts that terrorized an innocent school campus,” DA Stephan said. “Neither the 13 wounded victims nor the families of the two murdered students can regain what the defendant took from them.”

Williams was sentenced to 50 years-to-life in prison in June 2002. His parole hearing comes exactly 23 years since the mass shooting. His chance at parole is due to a change in state law that altered sentencing guidelines for juveniles who were tried as adults. In Williams’ case, the Youthful Parole law requires that any juvenile who was charged as an adult and received a life sentence has a chance at parole no later than 25 years into their sentence. Williams was 15 when he committed the crime.

In today’s hearing, the District Attorney’s Office argued that Williams remains an unreasonable risk and danger to society. Twenty-two victims who suffered as a result of the school shooting attended the video hearing and provided victim impact statements regarding the effects of the shooting.

The DA’s Lifer Hearing Unit has two main goals: to ensure that dangerous prisoners with life sentences are not released carelessly or improvidently, and to ensure that crime victims and their families are given an opportunity to participate in the parole hearing process and have their voices heard.

When a defendant is given a life sentence, the Lifer Hearing Unit processes the case to ensure that it is ready for future parole suitability hearings. This involves preserving victims’ statements and documenting the gravity of the crimes to ensure the offenders serve sentences proportional to their crimes.

Last year, there were 664 lifer parole hearings scheduled in San Diego County. Of those, 96 inmates received parole grants from the California Board of Parole Hearings. The remainder of the hearings –568– resulted in denials, postponements, or stipulations to a denial of parole.

The Lifer Hearing Unit is the state-wide leader in lifer matters and San Diego County serves as the training office for other prosecutors who seek to understand the complex laws governing parole hearings.

“Our DA Lifer Unit handles these complex and often gut-wrenching hearings, led by Deputy DA John Cross who is a statewide leader in lifer law,” DA Stephan said. “The Unit does an excellent job of representing victims and working to protect the safety of our communities when violent criminals are being considered for release.”

Photo of a Judge's gavel and a gun.

TikToker Sentenced to LWOP Plus 50 Years for Murdering Wife and Her Friend

San Diego County District Attorney Summer Stephan announced today that Ali Abulaban, the TikTok personality who killed his wife and her friend in October 2021, has been sentenced to two terms of life in prison without parole plus 50 years to life in state prison.

The sentence was handed down today by San Diego Superior Court Judge Jeffrey Fraser. A jury found Abulaban guilty of two counts of first-degree murder with special circumstances on May 29 after a 16-day trial.

“This defendant mercilessly took the lives of two young people and the pain he left their families with is unimaginable. We hope the guilty jury verdicts and today’s sentence will bring some semblance of justice and peace for the families left behind in the wake of this terrible violence,” DA Summer Stephan said. “Every year, domestic violence kills an average of 13 people in San Diego County. This is a statistic we must confront and continue to fight. One death at the hands of an intimate partner is one too many.”

The evidence in this case proved that defendant Abulaban drove to their apartment with a loaded gun, used a key card to enter the apartment, and immediately killed both his estranged wife Ana Abulaban and her friend Rayburn Barron by shooting them in the head.

Deputy District Attorney Taren Brast worked tirelessly to bring justice and successfully prosecuted this case.

If you or someone you know is being abused by a current or former partner, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline (1-800-799-7233) for confidential support and assistance planning for safety.

During a news conference,DA Summer Stephan holds up the Tax Form used by gang members accused of COVID Tax Fraud.

17 Defendants Indicted for Committing $1.7 Million in COVID Tax Fraud

San Diego County District Attorney Summer Stephan today announced a grand jury indictment of 17 defendants who filed illegal tax returns claiming credits for COVID relief totaling more than $2.2 million. The case involves four separate San Diego-based criminal street gangs, including one rival gang, which participated in the tax fraud scheme for an ultimate loss to the IRS of $1,752,788.

[WATCH THE LIVE STREAM OF THE NEWS CONFERENCE, HERE.]

Photo of the Tax Refund confirmation and the jewelry bought by the defendants.

Photo of the tax refund confirmation and the jewelry bought by the defendant.

Defendant Stephen Pittman, Jr., 31, recruited individuals and assisted them in filing their fraudulent tax claims and then took a large percentage of the refund. Between April 2022 and October 2022, multiple known, violent, gang members conspired with one another to commit this scam for personal profit, and to benefit their criminal street gangs. Pittman used some of the money to purchase diamond encrusted Cartier and Rolex watches, three diamond chains, and a diamond encrusted necklace of his gang moniker.

“This case demonstrates the lengths to which streets gangs will go to seek novel ways to fund their violent criminal enterprises and line their pockets, in this case successfully bilking the taxpayers out of nearly two million dollars,” said DA Stephan. “The dedicated investigators and prosecutors handling this case followed the paper trail for months in order to allow us to file charges and hold these individuals responsible for this large-scale scam.”

The scam was simple. 2021 Tax Form 7202 included a line item intended for COVID Relief, entitled “Credits for Sick Leave and Family Leave for Certain Self-Employed Individuals.” The IRS system stated, “Don’t enter more than 60 days” in this field. However, the number was manipulated to increase the fraudulent tax refund. In each of the co-defendants’ cases, more than 60 days were fraudulently inputted: ranging from 790 days to 15,678 days. As a result of the fraudulent entries, the returns garnered payments from the IRS ranging from $97,645 to $229,153 directly into their bank accounts.

The various defendants are charged with 81 felony counts including conspiracy to commit a crime, filing a fraudulent tax return, assisting in the filing of a fraudulent tax, receiving stolen property, and money laundering. Law enforcement arrested 14 of the defendants on Tuesday, two defendants were already in custody and one defendant remains at large. Arraignments for most of the defendants took place today in San Diego Superior Court. If convicted of the charges, the defendants face sentencing ranging from 16 months in jail, to life in state prison.

The fraud was discovered during the course of a homicide investigation when law enforcement found notice of an IRS refund on one of the suspect’s phones. That separate homicide investigation has led to four defendants being charged for the revenge murder of a rival gang member. That case is pending with one of the defendants having been convicted and sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

The San Diego Police Department’s Financial Crimes Division was the lead investigative agency on the case and prosecutors worked closely with the East County Gangs Task Force.

“This case is a testament to the thoroughness of our investigators, whose diligence not only helped solve a homicide but helped uncover a significant criminal scheme involving a network of street gangs,” said SDPD Chief Scott Wahl. “The funds these suspects siphoned away were meant for the community most deeply touched by the pandemic, and that’s fraud our department won’t stand for.”

The defendants named in the grand jury indictment are Dajon Johnson, 23, Deonte Sherman, 29; Cora Wulff, 25; Roshan McKinney, 29; Shamira Clark, 21; Ashley Davis, 34; Shamar Garcia, 37; Haben Haile, 26; Stephen Pittman, Jr., 31; Jenelle Poutoa, 27; Brandon Scales, 53; Donte Sheffield, 35; Dominik Wells, 47; Gregory Baul, 23; Michael Brooks, 41; Tahamon Brooks, 53; and Michael Bullock, 55.

This case is being prosecuted by Deputy District Attorneys Vanessa Gerard and Ted Fiorito.

[WATCH THE LIVE STREAM OF THE NEWS CONFERENCE, HERE.]

District Attorney Summer Stephan stands at a podium for a press conference with the Consulate General of Mexico Alicia Kerber-Palma, Attorney General of Baja California Maria Elena Andrade, the Director of Baja California Justice Center for Women Magdalena Bautista, and the Director of One Safe Place: The North County Family Justice Center Claudia Grasso.

DA Announces Historic International Partnership with Baja California Attorney General and Family Justice Center

San Diego County District Attorney Summer Stephan announced today the start of a historic partnership with the Attorney General of the State Baja California, the State of Baja California Justice Center for Women and the DA’s One Safe Place: The North County Family Justice Center. There are close to 300 Family Justice Centers world-wide and this agreement makes One Safe Place the first Family Justice Center to have an international partnership. Baja California is the 12th-largest state by area in Mexico.

The DA also announced the renewal of a partnership between the Consul General of Mexico in San Diego and the San Diego County District Attorney’s Office for the Mexican Consulate to have presence at One Safe Place via community outreach, crime prevention and vital services for the victims we serve. The partnerships were solidified with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) today. [WATCH video of signing ceremony here.]

“Criminals who prey on victims for human trafficking, exploitation and violence know no borders,” said DA Summer Stephan, “Thousands cross the border every day between Tijuana and San Diego to go to work, school or visit family and friends and we know that there are many who are victims of crime on either side of the border. With this partnership, we will work together to cross-refer victims and provide vital services on both sides of the border to further regionalize help and ensure they can get to a safe and healing place no matter where they live or work.”

Since opening in July 2022, One Safe Place has served over 5,500 individuals, provided legal services to approximately 1,500 people, and received more than 16,000 calls and emails to their various helplines. One Safe Place provides support services all under one roof to anyone who has experienced child abuse, sexual assault, domestic violence, hate crime, elder abuse, human trafficking, violent loss, family violence, or other abuse or victimization. This is all in collaboration with over 100 community organizations and agencies like the Mexican Consulate and now the Attorney General of the State of Baja California and the State of Baja California Justice Center for Women, created to prevent violence against women and girls by providing legal, psychological and social services. Victims will no longer be forced to cross the border, sometimes waiting hours, to get to services. This partnership will ensure culturally-sensitive referrals for victims to access resources where they live, work or where they are most comfortable.

“Violence against women, children, and vulnerable people leaves a deep mark on their lives. It is necessary to develop and implement action protocols to guarantee comprehensive and sensitive care for victims of gender violence,” said the Attorney General of Baja California, Maria Elena Andrade Ramírez. “For this reason, I thank the San Diego County Attorney’s Office for providing a space where Mexican authorities can assist their fellow citizens who are victims of this crime. Baja California and California share a history of fighting against criminals who commit crimes on both sides of the border. We are convinced that working together is an opportunity to strengthen the bonds of friendship and cooperation to ensure that victims receive help to heal their physical and emotional wounds, as well as guarantee justice for them.”

 

“Considering the reality of gender violence in our state and our close relationship with the United States, strengthening binational cooperation is not only important, it is imperative,” said Magdalena Bautista, Director of the State of Baja California Justice Center for Women. “Violence against women does not recognize borders, so justice and protection should not have limits either. Through this memorandum of understanding, we are taking a significant step to expand our impact and effectiveness in providing care and access to justice for women, and we reaffirm more strongly than ever our commitment to building a future where no woman has to live in fear, and where justice knows no borders.”

District Attorney Summer Stephan stands with the Consulate General of Mexico Alicia Kerber-Palma, Attorney General of Baja California Maria Elena Andrade, the Director of Baja California Justice Center for Women Magdalena Bautista, all holding up the signed MOUs.The renewal of the MOU with the Mexican Consulate further creates opportunities for collaboration with One Safe Place in outreach and prevention work, including the Consulate’s participation in the free informative community event “Cafecito Con La Comunidad” which takes place the second Friday of every month at One Safe Place. Together, the Mexican Consulate and One Safe Place have hosted events on wellness, have made college connections for first generation students and provided Consulate services at One Safe Place to meet the needs of the North County community and alleviate transportation barriers for those who are unable to travel to the Consulate’s main office in downtown San Diego.

“Addressing domestic violence requires a collective effort,” said Alicia Kerber-Palma, Consul General of Mexico in San Diego. “It is crucial that we work together – government agencies, community organizations, and local leaders – to provide support to victims and prevent future cases of abuse. Consular assistance and the protection of Mexican communities abroad through the Consulate General of Mexico in San Diego constitutes the highest priority of our foreign policy.”

 

The continued partnership with the Mexican Consulate has helped strengthen a bridge with the Latino community and helps enhance their trust in law enforcement when reporting crime and seeking help when victimized,” said DA Stephan. “Together we will continue to work to ensure that victims who seek services at One Safe Place, where the Mexican Consulate is an onsite partner, receive culturally sensitive help in their native language that focuses on safety, justice and healing.”  

One Safe Place: The North County Family Justice Center is located at 1050 Los Vallecitos Blvd., San Marcos, CA 92069. It is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and on Saturdays from 8 p.m. to 12 p.m. The State Baja California Justice Center for Women is located at Avenida Moctezuma #1, Colonia Residencial de Cortez, Camino Verde, 22190 Tijuana, Baja California, with hours of operation 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

[VIDEO of One Safe Place: The North County Family Justice Center.]

Photo of gavel, law books and scales of justice on a wooden table.

Former Chula Vista City Councilmember Andrea Cardenas Sentenced on Grand Theft Charges

San Diego County District Attorney Summer Stephan said today that defendant Andrea Cardenas, 32, a former Chula Vista City Councilmember, was sentenced on August 28 to two years of formal probation for committing two felony counts of grand theft. She was also ordered to complete 100 hours of volunteer work. The Probation Department and the District Attorney’s Office requested she serve 180 days in county jail, but she was ultimately sentenced to credit for time served of one day custody.

“Our dedicated prosecution team conducted a thorough investigation in which they served 27 search warrants to examine financial and email accounts,” DA Stephan said. “The investigation proved that Cardenas had engaged in multiple fraud schemes over several years. In these types of cases, we often rely on the public, the media, or people who suspect wrongdoing to report potential public integrity crimes to our office so we can investigate.”

Should Cardenas violate the terms of her probation, she could be ordered to serve up to two years and eight months in jail. Cardenas pleaded guilty to fraud, related to funds obtained from the federal Paycheck Protection Program and the state Employment Development Department. Cardenas cheated the U.S. government out of $176,000 in COVID-19 relief funds, which she laundered and used to pay for personal expenses such as her own campaign debt. She also unlawfully applied for over $28,000 in unemployment benefits. 

Superior Court Judge Rachel Cano ordered that Cardenas’ terms of probation also include that she submits to search and seizure, must operate any business legally and comply with all rules and regulations of such business including being licensed, paying taxes, and comply with any campaign finance laws. She must also pay back the full amount she stole including $176,227 to the Small Business Administration, $28,908 to the Employment Development Department, and an amount to be determined to the Franchise Tax Board.

Cardenas worked for a political consulting firm called Grassroots Resources, started in 2016 by her brother, Jesus Cardenas. She had the title of Director of Community Engagement, but really held a role as Chief Operating Officer. In 2019, Grassroots Resources began acting as a payroll service for one of their clients, Harbor Collective, a marijuana dispensary. In early 2021, Grassroots Resources was being pressured to pay off debts including money owed to TMC Direct, a political mailing company.

In February 2021, Jesus and Andrea Cardenas filed for a Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) Loan from the Small Business Administration via PayPal. They misrepresented multiple items on the application, including: that Grassroots had 34 employees, when in reality 30 of these individuals worked for Harbor Collective; that they were not engaged in activity illegal under federal law (marijuana dispensaries are not legal under federal law); that they were not a business engaged in political consulting; and that the loan funds would be used to cover payroll expenses. The loan was approved for $176,227. 

On May 3, 2021, $176,227 of PPP loan funds were deposited into a Grassroots’ business account. Over the course of the next two weeks, the money was transferred between two different Grassroots accounts. From there, the Cardenas siblings used the PPP funds to pay off multiple personal expenses including campaign debt.

In a separate fraud scheme in 2020, Cardenas unlawfully applied for unemployment benefits and received $28,908 from the Employment Development Department. She misrepresented on applications that she was not working and not receiving any income. However, Grassroots Resources, for which she was working, was fully operational during that election year handling the campaigns of multiple candidates and other entities.

This case was prosecuted by the San Diego County District Attorney’s Office Public Integrity Unit. Team members included Deputy District Attorneys Chandelle Boyce, Hector Jimenez, Leon Schorr, District Attorney Investigators James Hawksley, Justin Bostic, and Forensic Accountant Kevin Boyne. The investigation was also aided by the Department of Homeland Security Covid Fraud Unit. 

“Our office remains committed to prosecuting cases involving misuse of public funds, political corruption, and criminal misconduct of government officials,” DA Stephan said. “The goals of these prosecutions are not solely to obtain the maximum time in custody but often include other goals like making sure that individuals who engage in corruption are not in public office and can’t seek public office in the future, as an example.”

Blurry photo of prisoner behind bars.

DA Alerts Victims of Upcoming Parole Hearing

San Diego County District Attorney Summer Stephan said today that in line with her office’s duties to ensure transparency and inform victims under Marsy’s law, that victims of the Santana High School shooting are allowed to attend an upcoming parole hearing for the gunman, Charles “Andy” Williams. Williams opened fire at the school in Santee, California in March 2001 with a revolver, killing two students and wounding 13 others. The DA’s Office will be representing the People at the hearing.

“Having victim voices at hearings like this are an extremely important part of the process,” said DA Stephan. “This particular crime has hundreds of victims associated with it and it’s important to us that victims are aware of their rights under the law to participate in the parole hearing if they wish to do so.”

Williams was sentenced to 50 years-to-life in prison in June 2002. His parole hearing comes exactly 23 years since the mass shooting. His chance at parole is due to a change in state law that altered sentencing guidelines for juveniles who were tried as adults. In Williams’ case, the Youthful Parole law requires that any juvenile who was charged as an adult and received a life sentence has a chance at parole no later than 25 years into their sentence. Williams was 15 when he committed the crime.

Williams’ hearing before the Board of Parole Hearings is scheduled for September 10 at 8:30 a.m.and will be held via video conference. Victims who are interested in attending the hearing must contact the Parole Board by August 26.

Victims, victims’ next of kin, family members, support persons, or designated representatives may appear and participate in the hearing by videoconference or telephone. Participation includes an option to speak at the hearing. If you would like to attend the parole hearing, you may notify the Office of Victim & Survivor Rights & Services by e-mail at victimservices@cdcr.ca.gov or by telephone at 1-877-256-6877. When notifying them of your intent to attend a hearing, please provide them with the manner by which you will participate (by videoconference or by telephone).

For more information on how to be included at the hearing, victims may contact the District Attorney’s Lifer Hearing Unit at 619-531-4115 or at SanDiegoDA@sdcda.org.

More information about Youth Offender Parole Hearings can be found here.