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  • DA, Downtown Partnership Join Forces to Deter Retail Theft, Support Businesses

  • DA Launches Elder Scam Prevention Campaign

  • District Attorney Opens New One Safe Place in South County, Supporting Victims of Crime

  • DA Summer Stephan Testifies Before U.S. Senate on Cracking Down Organized Retail Crime

    DA Summer Stephan Senate Testimony on Organized Retail Crime. July 15, 2025, Washington, D.C.
  • Innovative Shelter Ready App Expanding Countywide

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Latest News

Beware of COVID-19 Economic Impact Payment Scams

Beware of COVID-19 Economic Impact Payment Scams

April 1, 2020

[LEER EN ESPAÑOL] The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) will begin to distribute COVID-19 Economic Impact Payments in a matter of weeks. For most Americans, this will be a direct deposit into your bank account. For the unbanked, elderly or other groups that have traditionally received tax refunds via paper check, they will receive their economic […]

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Domestic Violence Resources Available During COVID-19 Closure

Domestic Violence Resources Available During COVID-19 Closures

March 27, 2020

[LEER EN ESPAÑOL] In the unprecedented circumstances of the COVID-19 pandemic, we’re all affected by the crisis. This is especially true for couples and families who may be at risk of domestic violence and who are now in close quarters amid Governor Gavin Newsom’s stay at home order. In response, District Attorney Summer Stephan is […]

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Prosecutors Join Forces to Protect County Residents During COVID-19

Prosecutors Join Forces to Protect County Residents During COVID-19

March 23, 2020

Local law enforcement agencies are working together to protect San Diego County residents and to remind the public of consumer laws in place during the COVID-19 state of emergency and Governor Gavin Newsom’s order for Californians to stay at home. During this time of uncertainty, San Diego City Attorney Mara W. Elliott, San Diego County […]

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Page 131 of 159«‹129130131132133›»

Video

East County Drug Court Graduation | How Drug Court & S.C.O.P.E. Change Lives

https://danewscenter.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/East-County-Drug-Court-Graduation-2026.jpg 720 1280 Barbara Medina https://danewscenter.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/danews_logo-summer-e1751410255309.webp Barbara Medina2026-01-29 17:00:192026-01-30 10:08:45East County Drug Court Graduation | How Drug Court & S.C.O.P.E. Change Lives

Join us for the San Ysidro Education Collaborative Community Forum on Feb. 10

https://danewscenter.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/San-Ysidro-Community-Forum-2-10-26.jpg 720 1280 Barbara Medina https://danewscenter.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/danews_logo-summer-e1751410255309.webp Barbara Medina2026-01-29 14:58:542026-01-29 14:58:54Join us for the San Ysidro Education Collaborative Community Forum on Feb. 10

DA Weekly News with DA Summer Stephan 01-16-26: Grand Jury Indicts 21 in Illegal Street Racing Case

https://danewscenter.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/1-16-26-DA-news.jpg 716 1271 Barbara Medina https://danewscenter.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/danews_logo-summer-e1751410255309.webp Barbara Medina2026-01-16 14:52:552026-01-29 14:54:06DA Weekly News with DA Summer Stephan 01-16-26: Grand Jury Indicts 21 in Illegal Street Racing Case

DA Summer Stephan Highlights Shelter Ready App at Homelessness Conference | DA Weekly News 12-11-25

https://danewscenter.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/12-11-25-DA-news.jpg 707 1267 Barbara Medina https://danewscenter.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/danews_logo-summer-e1751410255309.webp Barbara Medina2025-12-11 14:51:072026-01-29 14:52:30DA Summer Stephan Highlights Shelter Ready App at Homelessness Conference | DA Weekly News 12-11-25

Shop with a Cop 2025 | DA Investigators & Ibarra Elementary Students Holiday Adventure

https://danewscenter.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Shop-with-a-Cop-2025-DAI.jpg 717 1271 Barbara Medina https://danewscenter.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/danews_logo-summer-e1751410255309.webp Barbara Medina2025-12-08 14:46:562026-01-29 14:50:37Shop with a Cop 2025 | DA Investigators & Ibarra Elementary Students Holiday Adventure

DA Summer Stephan Shares Top Tips to Stop Porch Pirates | DA Weekly News 12-04-25

https://danewscenter.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/da-summer-stephan-shares-top-tips-to-stop-porch-pirates-da-weekly-news-12-04-25.jpg 720 1280 Barbara Medina https://danewscenter.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/danews_logo-summer-e1751410255309.webp Barbara Medina2025-12-04 11:56:532025-12-04 12:03:11DA Summer Stephan Shares Top Tips to Stop Porch Pirates | DA Weekly News 12-04-25

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San Diego County District Attorney

Fri February 13th

San Diego County District Attorney
In honor of #BlackHistoryMonth, which is celebrated throughout the month of February, the DA’s Office is featuring stories of employees and what inspired them to pursue a career in public service.Meet Deputy District Attorney Deborah La Touche, who has been working at the San Diego County District Attorney’s Office since 2004. She was born in the Bahamas and raised in Toronto, Canada. Prior to joining the DA’s Office, she was a Public Defender at the San Diego Public Defender’s Office. She is currently assigned to the Major Narcotics Unit but has worked in all the branches of the DA’s Office, including Family Protection and Insurance Fraud divisions. Currently, the bulk of her cases in the Major Narcotics Unit include drug trafficking and drug sales involving hard drugs such as cocaine, methamphetamines, fentanyl, and heroin.What inspired you to choose a career in law enforcement/at the DA’s Office? “There were several wonderful Judges who mentored me and urged me to consider the DA’s Office. When the opportunity to apply at the DA’s Office became open, I applied and was thrilled to be considered for a position. It was a great career move on many levels as I was able to expand my legal skills, work closely with victims, and pivot into various specialized areas of criminal law. Moreover, I was impressed with the community service work that the office does, and I had the privilege of heading up the Project LEAD program and spearheading the Success Agents program at the Juvenile Branch.”What is your favorite part of the job? “Every day is different and the job itself entails so much, that I don’t think there’s one favorite aspect of the job—maybe that’s what I enjoy so much—the variety.”What does Black History Month mean to you, why is it important to you? “I am impressed by the rich history that African Americans have made here in the USA—from building the White House to inventing peanut butter that is a staple in almost every household. As an attorney I appreciate the legacy that was built by Martin Luther King, Jr., Justice Thurgood Marshall, and Charles Hamilton Houston before him. They, along with countless others helped to lay the groundwork for me to witness history being made when the first African American man, Barack Obama, was elected as the 44th President of the United States. And later when the first woman of color, Kamala Harris, was elected as Vice President of the United States. We have a rich history in this country, and it is important that we celebrate it not only during Black History Month, but throughout the year.” ... See MoreSee Less

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‪🏛 Pursuing equal & fair justice for all.
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In honor of #BlackHistoryMonth, which is celebrate In honor of #BlackHistoryMonth, which is celebrated throughout the month of February, the DA’s Office is featuring stories of employees and what inspired them to pursue a career in public service.

Meet Deputy District Attorney Deborah La Touche, who has been working at the San Diego County District Attorney’s Office since 2004. She was born in the Bahamas and raised in Toronto, Canada. Prior to joining the DA’s Office, she was a Public Defender at the San Diego Public Defender’s Office. She is currently assigned to the Major Narcotics Unit but has worked in all the branches of the DA’s Office, including Family Protection and Insurance Fraud divisions. Currently, the bulk of her cases in the Major Narcotics Unit include drug trafficking and drug sales involving hard drugs such as cocaine, methamphetamines, fentanyl, and heroin.

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

“There were several wonderful Judges who mentored me and urged me to consider the DA’s Office. When the opportunity to apply at the DA’s Office became open, I applied and was thrilled to be considered for a position. It was a great career move on many levels as I was able to expand my legal skills, work closely with victims, and pivot into various specialized areas of criminal law. Moreover, I was impressed with the community service work that the office does, and I had the privilege of heading up the Project LEAD program and spearheading the Success Agents program at the Juvenile Branch.”

What is your favorite part of the job? 

“Every day is different and the job itself entails so much, that I don’t think there’s one favorite aspect of the job—maybe that’s what I enjoy so much—the variety.”

What does Black History Month mean to you, why is it important to you? 
(CONTINUED IN THE COMMENTS)
Thank you to everyone who joined San Diego County Thank you to everyone who joined San Diego County District Attorney Summer Stephan and the San Ysidro Education Collaborative for a powerful and informative Community Forum in San Ysidro this past Wednesday.  Community members came together to learn about critical public safety issues impacting families, including fentanyl dangers and overdose awareness, consumer fraud prevention, human trafficking awareness, and social media safety to help protect children online.
A special thank you to Chief of the DA’s Narcotics Division James Fontaine for delivering an impactful presentation on the dangers of illegal fentanyl, and Assistant Chief of the Economic Crimes Division Ryan Karkenny for sharing important guidance on how families can keep children safe online.
This event reflects the DA’s Office commitment to prevention by partnering with communities and participating in educational forums that empower families with knowledge and resources to help stop crime before it happens. We appreciate the engagement, thoughtful questions, and dedication from families, educators, and community partners who attended.
#PublicSafety #CrimePrevention #SafeCommunities
Justice has no expiration date. More than 50 year Justice has no expiration date.

More than 50 years after the brutal 1975 murder of Edmund Lafave in North Park, a suspect has been extradited to San Diego and arraigned on a murder charge. This case is a powerful reminder that cold cases are never forgotten and that advancements in forensic genetic genealogy continue to help investigators identify suspects and seek justice for victims and their families.

71-year-old Johnnie Salisbury was arraigned in San Diego Superior Court after being arrested in Indiana last month and extradited to San Diego to be held accountable for his crime.

In 1975, Salisbury brutally beat and stabbed 34-year-old Edmund LaFave in his own home on Suncrest avenue. LaFave’s lifeless body was found in a pool of blood in his bedroom at his residence in the 2900 block of Suncrest Drive on February 25, 1975.

“Sometimes we have to wait decades to deliver justice on behalf of a murder victim, but the key is to never give up on justice,” said District Attorney @SummerStephan. “This defendant got away with murder for more than half a century, but thanks to the dedication of law enforcement is now being held to account for his brutal crime. This is an outstanding example of how modern science, combined with a commitment to solving cold case murders, can lead to a just result. I want to thank the entire team who worked on this case and never gave up searching for this killer.”

Thank you to our Cold Case Unit, CHARGE program team, SDPD, and forensic experts whose dedication and innovation helped bring this case forward.

DETAILS: https://danewscenter.com/?p=9740 
EN ESPAÑOL: https://danewscenter.com/?p=9747 

#ColdCase #SanDiegoDA #ForensicGenealogy #JusticeForVictims
In honor of #BlackHistoryMonth, which is celebrate In honor of #BlackHistoryMonth, which is celebrated throughout the month of February, the DA’s Office is featuring stories of employees and what inspired them to pursue a career in public service.

Meet Deputy District Attorney Jayda Davis, who has been working at the San Diego County District Attorney’s Office since 2023. She was born and raised in San Diego. Before joining the DA’s Office and before law school, she worked at Starbucks all throughout college at SDSU. After graduating from California Western School of Law, she worked at an estate planning law firm before law school. She is currently assigned to the Felony Trial Team in the Superior Court Division of the DA’s Office.

What inspired you to choose a career in law enforcement/at the DA’s Office? 
“Ever since I was a little girl, I wanted to be a lawyer. It was the first and only thing I wanted to be when I grew up! I had no idea why or what a lawyer did, but my grandma planted the idea in my head, and I truly ran with it. Once I got to college I knew I wanted to do criminal law, I just wasn’t sure what that looked like. I then did an internship with the DA’s office and a judge in South Bay granted the expungement of a rape conviction over our objection. It was my last day at my internship, and although I was outraged at the court's ruling and had just ‘lost’ that motion, I knew I needed to come back to continue to work on cases and make sure victims voices were being heard.” 

What is your favorite part of the job? 
“It is so hard to pick one thing, but I would have to say my favorite part of the job is working with victims. A lot of the time, we are the first person a victim hears from after reporting the crime to the police. Being able to introduce myself and provide them with information or connections with our victim advocate services is one of the most rewarding parts of this job.”

What does Black History Month mean to you, why is it important to you? (CONTINUED IN COMMENTS)
🚨 Operation Street Sweeper 🚨 San Diego County Dis 🚨 Operation Street Sweeper 🚨

San Diego County District Attorney @summerstephan  joined law enforcement partners to announce the results of a major undercover investigation targeting open-air drug markets in East Village. A grand jury indicted 34 drug dealers connected to fentanyl, methamphetamine and crack cocaine sales.

This coordinated effort aims to reduce crime, combat deadly overdoses and improve safety for families and residents in downtown San Diego.

DETAILS: https://danewscenter.com/?p=9708 
EN ESPAÑOL: https://danewscenter.com/?p=9701

#OperationStreetSweeper #SanDiegoDA #PublicSafety #DrugEnforcement #FentanylAwareness #CommunitySafety
⚖️ Welcome to the next generation of justice. On J ⚖️ Welcome to the next generation of justice.
On January 30, District Attorney @SummerStephan proudly swore in 15 new Deputy District Attorneys committed to serving the people of San Diego County.
In this special moment, our newest prosecutors share why they chose a career in public service — and why they chose the San Diego County District Attorney’s Office to make a difference.
Join us in congratulating these dedicated public servants as they begin their journey to uphold justice, protect our communities, and stand for what’s right. 👏
#SanDiegoDA #Prosecutors #SanDiegoCounty #PublicService #Justice
Stolen funds are being put back where they belong: Stolen funds are being put back where they belong: supporting students. 📚✨

After successfully prosecuting the landmark A3 Charter Schools fraud case, the San Diego County District Attorney’s Office recovered more than $280 million in stolen education funds. In sentencing, the judge ordered that the recovered money be distributed to benefit the public—directing portions to the County of San Diego, to K–12 student victims, and to the State of California—and made clear that funds designated for students must be used exclusively for programs that directly support K–12 education.

As a result, a Charter School Fraud Trust Fund was established, and the DA’s Office was authorized by the County Board of Supervisors to administer grants that return stolen dollars to students and families. The DA’s Office has now awarded $25 million from that trust fund to the San Diego County Office of Education (SDCOE) to implement HeartSpire, a seven-year, countywide initiative that brings together schools, county services, and community partners to expand mental health, safety, wellness, and educational supports for K–12 students across San Diego County—turning accountability into real, lasting impact.

“This funding will make a real difference in the lives of K-12 students and their families as they navigate wellness, safety, homelessness and mental health challenges,” said DA Summer Stephan. “I continue to be very proud of our public corruption/consumer protection expert prosecution team that delivered justice in the A3 Charter Schools criminal case and now, we’re seeing how the trust fund established as a result of the case is impacting the community in positive ways, funneling the money stolen by the defendants back to deserving young people in our schools.”

MORE DETAILS: https://danewscenter.com/?p=9697 

EN ESPAÑOL: 
Fondos Robados Regresan para Apoyar a Estudiantes https://danewscenter.com/?p=9693
Recovery. Hope. Second chances. 🙌 At the East Coun Recovery. Hope. Second chances. 🙌
At the East County Drug Court Graduation, San Diego County District Attorney @SummerStephan explained how Drug Court provides accountability, treatment, and hope for individuals struggling with substance use disorders—and celebrated a major milestone through the SCOPE program.

SCOPE (Severe Co-Occurring Pilot East) was created to serve individuals with serious mental illness and co-occurring substance use disorders—an underserved population that often faces significant barriers to treatment. Through strong collaboration with the East County Center for Change, Action Central, and the East County Drug Court team—including DDA Joseph Fusco— participants receive individualized, specialized treatment and support.

During this graduation ceremony, the court proudly honored its first SCOPE graduate, highlighting meaningful progress toward long-term recovery, housing and employment stability, and family reunification.

The results? Real progress toward long-term recovery, stable housing and employment, and family reunification. We were proud to honor these graduates and celebrate what’s possible when innovation, compassion, and accountability come together. 

This program demonstrates how collaborative justice improves lives while strengthening public safety.🌟⚖️
 
 
#DrugCourt #SanDiegoDA #CollaborativeJustice #JusticeWithCompassion #SecondChances SubstanceUseRecovery MentalHealthMatters
Community. Safety. Action. San Diego County Distri Community. Safety. Action.
San Diego County District Attorney @SummerStephan invites you to join us in San Ysidro for an important community forum with the San Ysidro Education Collaborative.
We’ll talk about the issues impacting our families right now—
⚠️ Fentanyl dangers & overdose awareness
🛑 Consumer fraud prevention
💙 Human trafficking prevention & awareness
📱 Social media safety to protect kids online
📍 Ocean View Hills Elementary School
🗓 Tuesday, Feb. 10
⏰ 5:30–7:30 p.m.
🎟  No Cost Event & open to the public
Your voice matters. Your safety matters. We hope to see you there. 💬🤝
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