Tag Archive for: Mothers Against Drunk Driving

Deputy District Attorneys Recognized with MADD “Prosecutor of the Year” Awards

San Diego County District Attorney Summer Stephan announced today that Deputy District Attorneys Mary Loeb and Natalie Garcia were each recognized as Prosecutor of the Year for their work in the DA’s DUI Homicide Unit. The honors were announced by Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) at the annual MADD San Diego Law Enforcement and Prosecutor Recognition Awards held June 5th at the Town and Country Resort.

“This recognition from MADD highlights the outstanding work of our prosecution team, specifically Mary Loeb and Natalie Garcia, whose expertise and commitment in serious and fatal DUI-related cases repeatedly delivers justice to victims and their families,” said DA Stephan. While the fatal consequences of alcohol-impaired driving are well known, we’re increasingly seeing drivers under the influence of drugs or a dangerous mix of both alcohol and drugs, with often tragic outcomes. These two prosecutors skillfully handle complex drug-DUI cases, helping jurors understand the often-hidden signs of drug impairment. I’m incredibly proud of them, and this award is a testament to their hard work and dedication.”

In 2024, 26 people were killed in 21 DUI-related crashes in San Diego County. So far in 2025, the DA’s DUI Homicide Unit has filed 11 new DUI homicide cases.

Recipients of MADD’s awards are chosen through a call for nominations process. The organization reaches out to community partners, law enforcement agencies, local officials and their internal victim advocates asking them to nominate individuals who stand out in the community with regards to DUI-related work.

Every year, MADD honors law enforcement officials for their continuous efforts in DUI-related enforcement. This year, the event recognized law enforcement with awards for the number of DUI arrests made annually. According to MADD, each arrest is a life saved and MADD awards law enforcement’s service as they dedicate their lives to keeping our roads safe.

Deputy DAs Mary Loeb and Natalie Garcia were nominated by Deputy DA Hailey Williams, the Director of the DA’s DUI Homicide Unit. In 2024, Loeb and Garcia successfully prosecuted Tayishe Baltys for killing 15-year-old Jessica Talamante and her 39-year-old stepfather Brian McKee. In 2022, Baltys drove drunk and fatally struck Jessica and Brian as they walked across East Plaza Boulevard in National City toward their home. Prior to the collision, Baltys spent three hours drinking alcohol with co-workers at a Dave & Buster’s restaurant in Mission Valley. Despite two separate bartenders asking Baltys if she planned to take an Uber or Lyft home, Baltys instead got behind the wheel of her car so intoxicated that she drove to National City, even though she resides in Mission Valley.

Although Baltys repeatedly denied drinking to the responding officers, her blood-alcohol content was approximately 0.16%, which is twice the legal driving limit. Just 19 days before the fatal collision, Baltys had completed DUI probation following a DUI arrest and conviction one year earlier. Deput DAs Mary Loeb and Natalie Garcia’s skilled presentation of the facts of their case and cross-examination of defense witnesses secured justice for the deaths of Jessica and Brian. In December 2024, a Chula Vista jury returned guilty verdicts against Baltys for their murders.

Photo of DUI Homicide Unit with Deputy DA Edith Flores receiving "Prosecutor of the Year" Award by MADD.

Deputy DA Recognized as Prosecutor of the Year

San Diego County District Attorney Summer Stephan announced today that Deputy District Attorney Edith Flores was recognized as Prosecutor of the Year for her work in the DA’s DUI Homicide Unit by Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) at the annual MADD San Diego Law Enforcement and Prosecutor Recognition Awards held June 6 at Tom Ham’s Lighthouse.

“We often focus on driving under the influence of alcohol, but we are seeing many cases involving driving under the influence of drugs or a combination of alcohol and drugs and the results are often deadly,” said DA Stephan. “This recognition by MADD speaks to Deputy District Attorney Edith Flores’ dedication to delivering justice for victims and their families. Edith successfully prosecutes difficult drug-DUI cases and overcomes challenging defenses by educating jurors on the signs and symptoms of drug use. I am very proud to have Edith on our team and I know this award is very well-deserved.”

In 2023, 28 people were killed in 26 DUI-related crashes in San Diego County. So far in 2024, there have been nine people killed. In 2023, the DA’s Office filed 4,805 DUI cases, including 234 DUI drug cases and 153 combined alcohol and drug impairment cases. Between January and March 2024, the DA’s Office filed 1,459 new DUI cases, including 76 DUI drug cases and 24 combined alcohol and drug impairment cases.

Recipients of MADD’s awards are chosen through a call for nominations process. The organization reaches out to community partners, law enforcement agencies, local officials and their internal victim advocates asking them to nominate individuals who stand out in the community with regards to DUI-related work. Every year, MADD honors law enforcement officials for their continuous efforts in driving under the influence enforcement. This year, in person, the event recognized law enforcement with awards for the number of DUI arrests made annually.

Photo of DUI Homicide Unit with Deputy DA Edith Flores receiving "Prosecutor of the Year" Award by MADD.Deputy DA Flores was nominated by Deputy DA Hailey Williams, the Director of the DA’s DUI Homicide Unit. Edith is one of the original members of the DA’s specialized misdemeanor drug DUI prosecution team since 2023, when she volunteered to join the drug DUI team in El Cajon and handled a caseload of almost entirely drug DUI cases. As the sole member of the El Cajon drug DUI prosecution team that year, Edith handled almost all misdemeanor drug DUI cases in her jurisdiction – everything from issuing charges through jury trial.

Although jurors are familiar with alcohol intoxication, it can be difficult for them to grasp the sometimes more subtle signs and symptoms of someone impaired by drugs and to understand how those drugs impact the ability to be safe behind the wheel of a car. Edith took it upon herself to become as educated as possible on all things drug DUIs so she could best present her cases to a jury. She attended trainings alongside officers, she went on ride-alongs and observed DUI checkpoints to learn how to make the sometimes-nuanced information gathered by officers in the field relevant to a jury’s decision.

Edith’s dedication to successful prosecution of these cases has removed dangerous drugged drivers from San Diego’s roadways. With each DUI drug case filed, Edith worked to hold these drivers fully accountable for their actions. In 2023, Edith secured guilty verdicts on each drug DUI case she tried before a jury, including defendants impaired by alprazolam, cocaine, methamphetamine, and inhalants. She also paved the way for this year’s expanded specialized misdemeanor drug DUI team which has grown to include six attorneys who continue to build upon her work from last year.

Other award recipients included Deputy City Attorney Anthony Esquibel of the San Diego City Attorney’s Office, who was also awarded Prosecutor of the Year; Victor Grewal was awarded Outstanding Volunteer; California Highway Patrol Officer Anthony Alvarez, San Diego Sheriff Deputy Alfredo Lozano, California Highway Patrol Officer Drew Knowles, and La Mesa Police Officer Marcus Williams were all awarded the Outstanding Rookie Award; California Highway Patrol Officer Joshua Ketcher and California Highway Patrol Officer Malik Lanius were both awarded the Outstanding Officer Award; the MADD Century Award went to California Highway Patrol Officer Steven Rutledge, who made 100 DUI arrests, Carlsbad Police Officer Matt Taira, who made 106 DUI arrests, San Diego Sheriff Corporal Jason Malson, who made 108 DUI arrests, and San Diego Sheriff Corporal Eric Rader, who made 116 DUI arrests; and finally the MADD Top Cop awardee was Escondido Police Officer Timothy Hamilton who made 144 DUI arrests.

DA Prosecutor and Victim Advocate Recognized for DUI Homicide Work

San Diego County District Attorney Summer Stephan announced today that two members of the DA’s Office were recognized by Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) at the annual MADD San Diego Law Enforcement and Prosecutor Recognition Awards held Thursday, June 8 at the Balboa Park Recital Hall. Deputy District Attorney Hailey Williams was named Prosecutor of the Year for her work in the DA’s DUI Homicide Unit. Victim Advocate Shanda Torres was recognized with the MADD Outstanding Advocate Award for her work with victims of DUI cases.

“I want to thank Mothers Against Drunk Driving for their years of advocacy and education on the harm and loss that driving under the influence causes,” said DA Stephan. “This recognition by MADD of Deputy District Attorney Hailey Williams as Prosecutor of the Year and DA Victim Advocate Shanda Torres as Outstanding Advocate is very special to our entire DA team that fights for justice on behalf of crime victims and our community. Unfortunately, DUI homicides have increased in recent years, resulting in the tragic deaths of far too many in our community. Prosecutors like Hailey are helping to deliver a level of justice for the victims and their families, along with the compassionate assistance of Victim Advocates like Shanda. I am very proud to have them both on our team and I know that this award is very well-deserved. I also want to offer our thanks and congratulations to all the other awardees that are making a difference.”

In 2022, the DA’s DUI Homicide Unit prosecuted 27 cases and so far in 2023, there have been 8 cases. Recipients of these awards are chosen through MADD’s call for nominations process. The organization reaches out to community partners, law enforcement agencies, local officials and their internal victim advocates asking them to nominate individuals who stand out in the community with regards to DUI-related work. Every year, MADD honors law enforcement officials for their continuous efforts in driving under the influence enforcement. This year, in person, the event recognized law enforcement with awards for the number of DUI arrests made annually. According to MADD, each arrest is a life saved and MADD awards their service as they dedicate their lives to keeping our roads safe.

“We are honored to acknowledge prosecutors and advocates from the San Diego County District Attorney’s Office,” said Patricia Rillera, California State Executive Director for MADD. “MADD San Diego appreciates the meaningful opportunities to collaborate with the San Diego DA’s Office as we work towards a day of no more victims.”

Deputy DA Hailey Williams was nominated by Deputy DA Laura Evans of the DA’s DUI Homicide Unit. Williams started prosecuting DUI homicide cases in 2019, when she was assigned to assist the unit as the numbers of DUI-related deaths in San Diego were on the rise. Despite maintaining a general felony case load in addition to DUI cases, Hailey welcomed the role and excelled in it. She has handled 10 or more of these tragic, serious cases, sentencing many defendants to multiple years in state prison. For instance, in 2022, Hailey went to trial on a difficult gross vehicular manslaughter case in which the defendant was high on methamphetamine and killed his passenger. Hailey’s skills at presenting the facts of her case and cross-examining defense witnesses resulted in a guilty verdict on every charge within a day of deliberations.

Given Hailey’s success and passion for these cases, she has been assigned many of them, including Watson murder cases with significant and tragic facts. Not only does Hailey excel in the prosecution of these cases, but she is exemplary when it comes to her empathy with the family members that have lost loved ones because of a defendant’s decisions. Despite her hectic case load and the court time that these cases require, Hailey makes it a point to keep in consistent contact with all next-of-kin, informing them every step of the way and providing them direct access for any questions. Her caring nature allows families to trust her with bringing justice to their loved one. Hailey is also part of the training team for new Deputy DAs, specifically organizing and presenting a day-long training on DUIs to the new classes.

Victim Advocate Shanda Torres was nominated for the award by MADD San Diego Victim Service Specialist Nicole Jupiter for her ability to assist with Spanish speaking families and being a helpful resource for MADD, responding promptly any time the organization inquires about a case.

Other award recipients were Deputy City Attorney Ryan Harris of the San Diego City Attorney’s Office, who was also awarded Prosecutor of the Year; Chief Deputy City Attorney Kristen Foster of the San Diego City Attorney’s Office, who was also awarded MADD Outstanding Advocate Award; CHP San Diego’s Sergeant Brian Pennings, Officer Gilberto Jacobo, Officer Jake Sanchez and Officer Juan Escobar, who were all awarded for Outstanding Agency Dedication; San Diego Police Officer Anthony Carrasco and SDPD Officer Joseph Cabrales, El Centro Police Officer Daniel Valencia and La Mesa Police Officer Jesse Neumeister were all awarded the Outstanding Rookie Award; the MADD Century Award went to Carlsbad Police Officer Tyler Hubka, who made 101 DUI arrests, Carlsbad Police Officer Ricardo Huerta, who made 125 DUI arrests, and San Diego Sheriff’s Deputy Jason Malson, who made 115 DUI arrests; and finally the MADD Top Cop awardee was Escondido Police Officer Timothy Hamilton who made 212 DUI arrests.