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Citizens of Courage 2026 - Group Photo-2

DA Honors Four Local Heroes at 36th Annual ‘Citizens of Courage’ Awards

San Diego County District Attorney Summer Stephan honored four brave individuals today during the DA’s 36th annual Citizens of Courage Awards, held as part of National Crime Victims’ Rights Week. This year, National Crime Victim’s Rights Week was observed April 19-25. As part of this annual event, the DA not only highlights the courageous individuals who survived or witnessed a crime, but also the important services that are offered through the largest provider of victim services in the county, the DA’s Victim Assistance program and One Safe Place: The San Diego County Family Justice Centers, which are a project of the DA’s Office.

“Every year, the Citizens of Courage Awards remind us that courage lives within each of us,” DA Stephan said. “The individuals we honor today demonstrate extraordinary strength and resilience in the face of crime, danger and adversity, inspiring us all to stand up for one another and for what is right. This event also shines a light on the many victims our office serves every day in the pursuit of justice and underscores the importance of protecting victims’ rights — core to our mission. I am deeply grateful for the unwavering dedication of our Victim Advocates, whose compassion and commitment make a meaningful difference in the lives of those we serve.”

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, while Victim Advocates are focused on providing assistance to victims of violent crimes. In 2025, they assisted 8,523 new crime victims. This assistance included 506 crisis interventions and 10,169 referrals to community resources.

Additionally, our office serves victims even before a police report is made, at One Safe Place: The San Diego County Family Justice Centers, which have two locations; One Safe Place: The North County Family Justice Center, which opened in San Marcos in July 2022 and One Safe Place: The South County Family Justice Center in National City, which opened in October 2025. Combined, the DA’s two family justice centers have served over 12,587 victims and survivors by providing comprehensive support services under one roof. These visits include services such as case management, restraining orders, trauma therapy, forensic exams, connections to shelter and more.

This year, the Citizens of Courage Awards ceremony was held at the Liberty Station Conference Center in front of more than 300 invited dignitaries, elected officials, community leaders and guests. Below are the 2026 Citizens of Courage recipients and links to videos telling their stories:

  • Marcus Long – When violence erupted, Marcus bravely stepped in to stop a brutal attack and through his quick thinking helped locate the suspect.
  • Alyssa – After surviving sexual assault by a trusted church leader and attempts to cover up by the church she trusted, Alyssa chose resilience over silence, rebuilding her life with courage and refusing to let the trauma define her.
  • Linda Marshall – Targeted in a contractor scam, Linda has remained steadfast and determined throughout the ongoing prosecution, demonstrating unwavering courage in her pursuit of justice.
  • Harmeena Omoto – When confronted with a serious school threat, Principal Omoto responded with calm authority and decisive leadership to protect her students and staff in her school and in court proceedings.

In a special moment, the DA marked seven years since Lori Gilbert-Kaye was viciously murdered while praying at the Chabad of Poway Synagogue by presenting her courageous daughter Hannah with a Citizens of Courage award in memory of her mother.

Citizens of Courage 2025: Group of Good Samaritans

A group of individuals who each stopped on the freeway to help a CHP officer who had been shot. Without this selfless group effort and the role each person played, the officer likely would not have survived.

Citizens of Courage 2025: Robert Moore

An off-duty security guard who witnessed a late-night shooting and came to the aid of the badly injured victim and her crying child.

Citizens of Courage 2025: Erin Wilkerson

A resilient human trafficking survivor who was arrested, testified against her trafficker and now overcomes her trauma while speaking to law enforcement, sex buyers and women in correctional facilities.

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

San Diego County District Attorney Summer Stephan honored seven brave individuals today during the DA’s 35th annual Citizens of Courage Awards, held as part of National Crime Victims’ Rights Week. This year, National Crime Victim’s Rights Week was observed April 6-12. As part of this annual event, the DA not only highlights the courageous individuals who survived or witnessed a crime, but also the important services that are offered through the DA’s Victim Assistance program. The DA’s Office is the largest provider of victim services in the county.

“I hope this event inspires everyone to make us better as a community because we all have the potential of being Citizens of Courage,” DA Stephan said. “The seven individuals we are honoring today are an example of the courage that exists within us when placed in dangerous or trying circumstances. This special event helps us shine a light on the many courageous crime victims our office serves in the pursuit of justice every day, and the importance of supporting victims’ rights, which is at the heart of our mission at the District Attorney’s Office. I am very proud and grateful for the tireless service performed by our Victim Advocates on behalf of crime victims.” 

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, while Victim Advocates are focused on providing assistance to victims of violent crimes. In 2024, they assisted 10,667 new crime victims. This assistance included 556 crisis interventions and 10,152 referrals to community resources. Additionally, 3,758 victims have completed 11,904 total visits to One Safe Place: The North County Family Justice Center since opening in 2022. These visits include comprehensive services such as case management, restraining orders, trauma therapy, forensic exams, connections to shelter and more.

This year, the Citizens of Courage Awards ceremony was held at the Liberty Station Conference Center in front of more than 350 invited dignitaries, elected officials, community leaders and guests. Below are the 2025 Citizens of Courage recipients and links to videos telling their stories:

JENNA BRIANS

Her maternal instinct and sixth sense led her to contact police in the middle of the night, who located her estranged husband as he was driving his truck off a cliff, allowing officers to rescue her twin daughters.

ERIN WILKERSON

A resilient human trafficking survivor who was arrested, testified against her trafficker and now overcomes her trauma while speaking to law enforcement, sex buyers and women in correctional facilities.

ROBERT MOORE

An off-duty security guard who witnessed a late-night shooting and came to the aid of the badly injured victim and her crying child.

A GROUP OF GOOD SAMARITANS

A group of individuals who each stopped on the freeway to help a CHP officer who had been shot. Without this selfless group effort and the role each person played, the officer likely would not have survived.

 

Citizens of Courage Natalie Ortiz and her two daughters Rachel and Sophie Martinez pose for a family photo with the two younger siblings outside Rady Children's Hospital.

Citizens of Courage 2024: Natalie, Rachel and Sophie

Our final 2024 Citizens of Courage are a mother and her two young daughters who survived an attempted murder by someone they trusted to look out for them. When everyone in the household was asleep, Natalie Ortiz’s boyfriend and the father-figure to her two daughters, Rachel and Sophie, attempted to kill all three of them. But he did not count on their survival instincts and their will to live. Deputy District Attorney Alexandra Lorens prosecuted this case.

Citizen of Courage 2024: Antonio Jasso

This 2024 Citizen of Courage witnessed a fatal hit-and-run incident that took the life of a 19-month-old toddler. If you’ve ever witnessed a hit and run, you know that sometimes it can leave bystanders in shock and paralyzed. Not Antonio Jasso. He had the courage to act fast and at his own peril, he carefully followed the driver and even got him on camera to make sure the driver was held accountable. It’s very possible that police may never have located the driver, whose criminal and reckless actions were so devastating to the victim’s family and the community. But Antonio’s decision allowed police to quickly identify and arrest the DUI driver who caused so much pain. Deputy District Attorney Hailey Williams prosecuted this case. Watch his story in the video.

DA Honors 6 ‘Citizens of Courage’

San Diego County District Attorney Summer Stephan honored six brave individuals today during the DA’s 34th annual Citizens of Courage Awards, held as part of National Crime Victims’ Rights Week. This year, National Crime Victim’s Rights Week was observed the week of April 21-27 and the theme is “How would you help? Options, services, and hope for crime survivors.” As part of this annual event, the DA not only highlights the courageous individuals who survived or witnessed a crime, but also the important services that are offered through the DA’s Victim Assistance program. The DA’s Office is the largest provider of victim services in the county.

 “The six individuals we are honoring today were placed in dangerous or trying circumstances and responded with courage,” DA Stephan said. “By recognizing 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, which is an integral part of our mission at the District Attorney’s Office. I am very proud and grateful for the tireless service performed by our Victim Advocates on behalf of crime victims.”

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, while Victim Advocates are focused on providing assistance to victims of violent crimes. In 2023, they assisted 9,942 new crime victims. This assistance included 814 crisis interventions and 11,865 resources and referrals. Thousands of additional victims and survivors are also served by our North County Family Justice Center: One Safe Place.

This year, the Citizens of Courage Awards ceremony was held at the Liberty Station Conference Center in front of more than 300 invited dignitaries, elected officials, community leaders and guests. Below are the 2024 Citizens of Courage recipients and links to videos telling their stories, just click on their names to watch their video:

MELISSA SPINELLI

She witnessed a neighbor being attacked, called police, and stayed with the victim to help, passing along his dying words to his family. Deputy District Attorney Helen Kim prosecuted this case.

ANTONIO JASSO

A witness to a deadly hit and run incident who followed the driver at his own peril, leading police to arrest him. Deputy District Attorney Hailey Williams prosecuted this case.

TIFFANY MURPHY

A security guard who endangered her life by putting herself in between a stabber and his victim. Deputy District Attorney Yoni Fraenkel prosecuted this case.

NATALIE ORTIZ, RACHEL and SOPHIE MARTINEZ

A mother and her two daughters who were shot by her boyfriend, called 911, ran for help, and testified against the shooter at trial. Deputy District Attorney Alexandra Lorens prosecuted this case.

Citizens of Courage 2023: 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. Meet 2023 Citizen of Courage Juan Fierro, in this video.

Citizens of Courage 2023: 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. Meet 2023 Citizen of Courage Terri Miller, in this video.