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Office of San Francisco
District Attorney  
George Gasc�n


July 2012

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Bayview YMCA
Bike Theft Tips
SFDA Cases of Note
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A Message From San Francisco  

District Attorney George Gasc�n

   

 

We are now nine months into California's Criminal Justice Realignment and San Francisco is on its way to becoming a model for the state. The realignment of California's criminal justice system took effect on October 1, 2011 and non-violent, non-serious, and non-sex offenders are now sentenced to local county custody and Adult Probation has assumed local supervision responsibility for individuals previously supervised by the state.

 

Since the law took effect, San Francisco has embraced the opportunity by identifying community based solutions for low-level offenders and trying to address their needs with the goal of reducing recidivism. The San Francisco District Attorney's Office approach to this monumental reform has allowed us the space in our system to properly deal with the violent and serious offenders.  

We hired an Alternative Sentencing Planner to help guide our attorneys' sentencing decisions and have formed the first county level Sentencing Commission in the country to evaluate our sentencing practices. The Sentencing Commission's first meeting is on August 8th at 10am and will be held in City Hall, Rm 305.

 

Making California's criminal justice realignment a success could have the greatest impact on justice reform in decades. We will be sure to keep you informed on our progress. 


 

Sincerely,


George Gasc�n

San Francisco District Attorney

Congratulations Back on Track Graduates!

  

Last month, a remarkable group of young people graduated from the Back on Track Program. A graduate ceremony was held to celebrate their achievements and their ability to demonstrate the efficacy of a rigorous re-entry approach. The District Attorney Office is proud to partner with Goodwill Industries of San Francisco, San Mateo and Marin and the Family Service Agency of San Francisco on the Back on Track Program. The program was started in 2004 with the goal of creating solutions to crime problems in SBack on Track June 2012an Francisco. It is known that with good jobs, literacy, education and other support systems, young offenders can take a very different path. Recognizing that this work requires active participation from many sectors of our community, Back on Track was designed as a unique public/private initiative. The Back on Track graduation is proof that this innovative approach to criminal justice works.  

Bayview YMCA

   

DA Gasc�n had a great visit at the Bayview YMCA where he talked to youth about careers and staying in school. The District Attorney's Office is proud to have a strong partnership with the YMCA. Our work together is making a solid impact in reducing truancy. The DA's office funds the Bayview YMCA's CARE program, a truancy program that helps teens get back on track to finish their education.  

DA with YMCA kids

 

Through the Urban Services YMCA, the DA's office works with the Truancy Assessment and Referral Center, a one-stop location for truant students to be dropped off for re-engagement back in school and a critical piece of the DA's Truancy Court model. Also through the Urban Services YMCA, the DA's Office launched a pilot program at Burton High School last August. The program, funded by criminal justice funds from the District Attorney's Office, helps approximately twenty formerly truant students successfully transition in the ninth grade.

 

  Bike Theft Tips

Over the last five years, there has been a 71% increase in bicycle riding in San Francisco. The increase in riders comes with an increase in bike theft. Thanks to the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition for providing us with some general tips:

  • Always lock your bike with a U-lock, and secure the frame to the bike rack or pole. A cable lock is not enough.
  • Protect your investment by parking your bike in a visible, populated area. 
  • Consider securing your wheels and seat with skewers, or an additional cable, along with your U-lock.
  • Never lock your bike to a handrail, or a loose object.
  • Keep documentation in a safe place such as photos of your bike, serial numbers and other important documents in case your bike does get stolen.
  • For more detailed suggestions on deterring bike theft, go to sfbike.org/theft   
  Bike Theft Tips

 

 

SFDA Cases of Note

 

 

Significant Break in Vigilante Murder Case

On July 6th, DA Gasc�n announced that there has been a significant break in the June 4 murder of Calvin Sneed. New evidence shows there was a conspiracy to murder carried out by the defendants. SFPD obtained surveillance video from a law enforcement camera that shows three of the four defendants together at the 1400 block of Grove Street shortly before and after the murder. Phone records also show the three defendants together at the time of the murder in the Bayview. The parents of the juvenile daughter, did not turn to SFPD when they learned Sneed was in San Francisco. Instead they turned to other people to conspire to murder Sneed in a drive by shooting in the early morning hours of June 4. The four Defendants' cases have been consolidated. The next court date is July 27 to set a preliminary hearing. Attorney Harry Dorfman is handling the case. Sergeant W. Braconi is the Inspector assigned to the case. Here is our press release   

 

Bicyclist Charged with Felony Vehicular Manslaughter

On June 20th, a felony vehicular manslaughter charge was filed against Chris Bucchere, age 36, a bicyclist who struck Sutchi Hui, a 71 year old man who was crossing the street with his wife on Market and Castro. On the morning of March 29, Hui was crossing the street with his wife on Market and Castro when he was struck by Bucchere, who was riding his bicycle through the intersection of Market and Castro. Hui sustained blunt force trauma injuries from the collision that led to the cause of his death on Monday. April 2. San Francisco Police Department Inspector Lori Cadigan is assigned to this case. Assistant District Attorney Omid Talai is the prosecutor on this case.  SF Chronicle Story 

 

Two Men Convicted of 1st Degree Murder
On June 29, Sammy D. Frazier, age 39, and Timothy Walker, age 27, were convicted of first degree murder, carjacking and conspiracy to commit carjacking for the senseless death and carjacking of Winston Coleman. The jury returned the verdict after six days of deliberation. In the early morning hours of May 31, 2009, Mr. Coleman was exiting "Sam Jordan's Bar" on Third St when he was shot in the back and his SUV was carjacked. Police obtained a description from bystanders and pulled over the defendants shortly after the shooting. Inspectors Walsh and Spillane were the San Francisco Police Department Inspectors on the case. Assistant District Attorney Heather Trevisan prosecuted the case. Jean Hassett was the victim witness advocate on the case.
  KTVU story  

 

  

Thank you for taking the time to read this issue of the San Francisco District Attorney's Office monthly newsletter. For more information, please contact our Communications Director Stephanie Ong Stillman at [email protected].