| . |
Google searches
Transcript sheds light on Castaneda case
The San Diego Union-Tribune
SignOnSanDiego.com
Prosecutor Patrick O'Toole spent a
year investigating....
com/uniontrib/20070721/news_6m21casta.html -
Castaneda says DA's probes are ploy | The San Diego Union-
TribuneSignOnSanDiego.com, San Diego's city guide to arts
and entertainment activities, ... In a statement e-mailed to the
media, Castaneda said Patrick O'Toole, ...
www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20070512/news_1m12casta.
html
Connecticut Hacker Indicted for Attacks on San Diego Auto Site
...DOJ Seal. December 18, 2001. U.S. Department of Justice
United States Attorney Patrick K. O'Toole Southern District of
California San Diego, CA ...
www.usdoj.gov/criminal/cybercrime/suplitaIndict.htm
[PDF] US v. Sean Patrick O'Toole, et. al.File Format:
PDF/Adobe Acrobat - View as HTML
Diego, California, was formerly employed at an university in a
technical area, .... Defendant SEAN PATRICK O’TOOLE
typically led these meetings and set ...
www.usdoj.gov/usao/iln/indict/2006/us_v_o_toole_et_al.pdf
[PDF] On The Record - March 2007
DA Dumanis, Deputy DAs Patrick O’Toole and Leon Schorr. ...
The Office of The San Diego District Attorney offers training...
www.sdcda.org/newsroom/ontherecord_mar07.pdf - Similar
pages - Note this
Press Release
San Diego Doctor Pleads Guilty to Tax Fraud Conspiracy.
NEWS RELEASE SUMMARY. Patrick K. O'Toole, United States
Attorney for the Southern District of ...
0225.0145.01.040/tax/usaopress/2002/txdv02cas20625.1.htm
Press Release
March 22, 2002. OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES ATTORNEY
SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA
San Diego, California. United States Attorney Patrick K. O'Toole
0225.0145.01.040/tax/usaopress/2002/txdv02cas20322.2.htm
Transcript sheds light on Castaneda case
The San Diego Union-Tribune
SignOnSanDiego.com
Prosecutor Patrick O'Toole spent a
year investigating....
com/uniontrib/20070721/news_6m21casta.html -
Castaneda says DA's probes are ploy | The San Diego Union-
TribuneSignOnSanDiego.com, San Diego's city guide to arts
and entertainment activities, ... In a statement e-mailed to the
media, Castaneda said Patrick O'Toole, ...
www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20070512/news_1m12casta.
html
Connecticut Hacker Indicted for Attacks on San Diego Auto Site
...DOJ Seal. December 18, 2001. U.S. Department of Justice
United States Attorney Patrick K. O'Toole Southern District of
California San Diego, CA ...
www.usdoj.gov/criminal/cybercrime/suplitaIndict.htm
[PDF] US v. Sean Patrick O'Toole, et. al.File Format:
PDF/Adobe Acrobat - View as HTML
Diego, California, was formerly employed at an university in a
technical area, .... Defendant SEAN PATRICK O’TOOLE
typically led these meetings and set ...
www.usdoj.gov/usao/iln/indict/2006/us_v_o_toole_et_al.pdf
[PDF] On The Record - March 2007
DA Dumanis, Deputy DAs Patrick O’Toole and Leon Schorr. ...
The Office of The San Diego District Attorney offers training...
www.sdcda.org/newsroom/ontherecord_mar07.pdf - Similar
pages - Note this
Press Release
San Diego Doctor Pleads Guilty to Tax Fraud Conspiracy.
NEWS RELEASE SUMMARY. Patrick K. O'Toole, United States
Attorney for the Southern District of ...
0225.0145.01.040/tax/usaopress/2002/txdv02cas20625.1.htm
Press Release
March 22, 2002. OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES ATTORNEY
SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA
San Diego, California. United States Attorney Patrick K. O'Toole
0225.0145.01.040/tax/usaopress/2002/txdv02cas20322.2.htm
| California Bar Association Feb. 12, 2008 Patrick Kevin O'Toole - #82592 Current Status: Active . Bar Number 82592 Address San Diego County District Attorney's Ofc 330 W Broadway Ste 1020 San Diego, CA 92101 Phone Number (619) 531-3637 Fax Number (619) 685-6689 patrick.otoole@sdcda.org Undergraduate School Univ of Southern Calif; Los Angeles CA Law School UCLA SOL; Los Angeles CA Present Active 11/29/1978 Admitted to The State Bar of California |
Patrick O'Toole, San Diego District
Attorney's Public Integrity Unit
Attorney's Public Integrity Unit
"...How cases come in to Public Integrity
Unit..."
Patrick O'Toole said during his speech for the Oct. 11, 2007 Citizen's
Academy that he was going to tell how cases come in to the Public
Integrity Unit, but it turned out he never did address this topic.
I'd really would like to know how cases like the Jason Moore case come in
to the Public Integrity Unit. Obviously, some one has to initiate the idea.
If the person who does so is biased, then how does the unit decide whom
to go after?
It just so happens that I made a complaint about Chula Vista Elementary
School District officials in 2005. The complaint was disregarded. My
complaint was far more serious than the Jason Moore case, which
involved leaving work two hours early.
Patrick O'Toole talked about the case. He mentioned Cheryl Cox and
"...David Malcolm, a convicted ex-official..."
O'Toole said Jason Moore was "not supposed to be checking into
someone else's campaign..."
But checking into someone else's campaign is exactly what O'Toole did!
And he did it right before an election.
"We investigate it in good faith...I can care less if there are charges
made..."
When it was time for questions, O'Toole said, "Come on. Somebody has
to ask me about that charter with our city attorney. I get asked that all the
time."
O'Toole talked about Mike Aguirre getting contributions from staff, and
presented the case to the audience as if the city charter were the only
law on the issue, completely failing to mention the fact that the law says
that people can give contributions to whomever they want.
Here's the video.
Unit..."
Patrick O'Toole said during his speech for the Oct. 11, 2007 Citizen's
Academy that he was going to tell how cases come in to the Public
Integrity Unit, but it turned out he never did address this topic.
I'd really would like to know how cases like the Jason Moore case come in
to the Public Integrity Unit. Obviously, some one has to initiate the idea.
If the person who does so is biased, then how does the unit decide whom
to go after?
It just so happens that I made a complaint about Chula Vista Elementary
School District officials in 2005. The complaint was disregarded. My
complaint was far more serious than the Jason Moore case, which
involved leaving work two hours early.
Patrick O'Toole talked about the case. He mentioned Cheryl Cox and
"...David Malcolm, a convicted ex-official..."
O'Toole said Jason Moore was "not supposed to be checking into
someone else's campaign..."
But checking into someone else's campaign is exactly what O'Toole did!
And he did it right before an election.
"We investigate it in good faith...I can care less if there are charges
made..."
When it was time for questions, O'Toole said, "Come on. Somebody has
to ask me about that charter with our city attorney. I get asked that all the
time."
O'Toole talked about Mike Aguirre getting contributions from staff, and
presented the case to the audience as if the city charter were the only
law on the issue, completely failing to mention the fact that the law says
that people can give contributions to whomever they want.
Here's the video.
Bonnie Dumanis, on March
1, 2007:
Announcing Public
Integrity Unit
"If you break the law, we will
prosecute you no matter who
you are [unspoken exception:
unless you are Cheryl Cox,
the wife of my boss]...
"[We're] going after these
criminals [elected officials]...
"These two men [O'Toole and
Schorr] are the generals in
our fight against public
corruption...
"I will not endorse
candidates..."
1, 2007:
Announcing Public
Integrity Unit
"If you break the law, we will
prosecute you no matter who
you are [unspoken exception:
unless you are Cheryl Cox,
the wife of my boss]...
"[We're] going after these
criminals [elected officials]...
"These two men [O'Toole and
Schorr] are the generals in
our fight against public
corruption...
"I will not endorse
candidates..."
"The Public Integrity Unit
is part of the DA’s Special
Operations Division
which already oversees
public corruption cases.
Prosecutors Patrick O’Toole
and Leon Schorr are taking
the lead with these
investigations. Schorr is a
seasoned Deputy District
Attorney whose public
integrity expertise was
honed during 2006 when he
was sent to work with the
California Fair Political
Practices Commission in
Sacramento.
O’Toole was a federal
prosecutor for more than 20
years and served as the U.S.
Attorney in San Diego."
from Bonnie Dumanis' "On
the Record"
is part of the DA’s Special
Operations Division
which already oversees
public corruption cases.
Prosecutors Patrick O’Toole
and Leon Schorr are taking
the lead with these
investigations. Schorr is a
seasoned Deputy District
Attorney whose public
integrity expertise was
honed during 2006 when he
was sent to work with the
California Fair Political
Practices Commission in
Sacramento.
O’Toole was a federal
prosecutor for more than 20
years and served as the U.S.
Attorney in San Diego."
from Bonnie Dumanis' "On
the Record"
OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES
ATTORNEY
SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA
San Diego, California
United States Attorney
Patrick K. O’Toole
For Immediate Release
NEWS RELEASE SUMMARY - June 1, 2001
The Department of Justice today announced that Attorney
General John Ashcroft has appointed veteran prosecutor
Patrick K. O’Toole to serve as the interim United States Attorney
for the Southern District of California. Mr. O’Toole succeeds
Gregory A. Vega who resigned effective May 31, 2001.
Mr. O’Toole has been with the United States Attorney’s office in
San Diego since 1982. For the past nineteen years, he has
served in several management and supervisory positions for the
last four United States Attorneys, including team leader, Chief of
the Trial Section, Deputy Chief of Narcotics, Organized Crime
Drug Enforcement Task Force Coordinator, Special Assistant to
the United States Attorney, Deputy Chief of Special Prosecutions,
Senior Trial Counsel and, most recently, First Assistant United
States Attorney.
http://www.ca9.uscourts.gov/web/OCELibra.
nsf/3cf90a23430db5a9852562840073ae37/899e95271562564288256a630067fb7c?OpenDocument
ATTORNEY
SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA
San Diego, California
United States Attorney
Patrick K. O’Toole
For Immediate Release
NEWS RELEASE SUMMARY - June 1, 2001
The Department of Justice today announced that Attorney
General John Ashcroft has appointed veteran prosecutor
Patrick K. O’Toole to serve as the interim United States Attorney
for the Southern District of California. Mr. O’Toole succeeds
Gregory A. Vega who resigned effective May 31, 2001.
Mr. O’Toole has been with the United States Attorney’s office in
San Diego since 1982. For the past nineteen years, he has
served in several management and supervisory positions for the
last four United States Attorneys, including team leader, Chief of
the Trial Section, Deputy Chief of Narcotics, Organized Crime
Drug Enforcement Task Force Coordinator, Special Assistant to
the United States Attorney, Deputy Chief of Special Prosecutions,
Senior Trial Counsel and, most recently, First Assistant United
States Attorney.
http://www.ca9.uscourts.gov/web/OCELibra.
nsf/3cf90a23430db5a9852562840073ae37/899e95271562564288256a630067fb7c?OpenDocument
July 25, 2002
OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES ATTORNEY
SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA
San Diego, California
United States Attorney
Patrick K. O'Toole
For Further Information, Contact: Assistant U.S. Attorney George
D. Hardy (619) 557-6787
For Immediate Release
NEWS RELEASE SUMMARY
Department of Defense, false statements and claims to the
Department of Department of Defense, false statements and
claims to the Department of Defense, wire fraud, and filing false tax
returns, in connection with their operation of a local company
called Supply Depot, Inc. The individuals charged are GERALD
DILLON, his wife ROSEMARIE CARLA DILLON, and their sons,
JEFFREY DILLON AND GERALD DILLON, JR.their sons, JEFFREY
DILLON AND GERALD DILLON, JR.
OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES ATTORNEY
SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA
San Diego, California
United States Attorney
Patrick K. O'Toole
For Further Information, Contact: Assistant U.S. Attorney George
D. Hardy (619) 557-6787
For Immediate Release
NEWS RELEASE SUMMARY
Department of Defense, false statements and claims to the
Department of Department of Defense, false statements and
claims to the Department of Defense, wire fraud, and filing false tax
returns, in connection with their operation of a local company
called Supply Depot, Inc. The individuals charged are GERALD
DILLON, his wife ROSEMARIE CARLA DILLON, and their sons,
JEFFREY DILLON AND GERALD DILLON, JR.their sons, JEFFREY
DILLON AND GERALD DILLON, JR.
| Chief Deputy D. A. Julie Korsmeyer |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
On April 9, 2008 I downloaded the
following.
My question: why isn't Patrick
O'Toole listed?
This page is called "The D.A.'s
Office":
Bonnie M. Dumanis
District Attorney
Elected November 2002. Took
office January 2003.
Meet the DA
Jesse Rodriguez
Assistant District Attorney
Second in command, responsible
for the day-to-day operations of the
District Attorney's Office, oversees
the Chief Deputy District Attorneys,
Special Operations Division and
Restitution Enforcement/Victim
Services Division. Rodriguez joined
the DA's Office in January 2003
after serving 16 years as a Superior
Court Judge, 10 of those years as
Supervising Judge at San Diego
County's South Bay Courthouse.
Mark Pettine
Chief Deputy District Attorney --
Central Operations
Oversees the Case
Issuing/Extraditions, Pretrial and
Disposition, Superior Court and
Appellate Divisions. Pettine joined
the DA's Office in 1976 as a Deputy
District Attorney after graduating
from the University of the Pacific -
McGeorge School of Law.
Carlos Armour
Chief Deputy District Attorney --
Branches
Oversees the Vista, El Cajon, South
Bay and Juvenile branches of the
District Attorney’s Office. Armour
joined the DA's Office in 1977 as a
Deputy District Attorney after
graduating from the University Of
San Diego School Of Law and has
served as Chief of the Juvenile,
North County and East County
branches.
Julie Korsmeyer
Chief Deputy District Attorney --
Special Units
Oversees the Family Protection,
Special Operations, Sex
Crimes/Stalking, Insurance Fraud,
Economic Crimes Divisions and
the office's travel budget.
Korsmeyer joined the DA's Office in
1988 after serving as a police
officer in Colorado. She was
previously the Chief of the Special
Operations Division. She
graduated from The University of
Denver School of Law.
Jeff B Dusek
Chief Deputy District Attorney --
Special Units
Oversees the Cold Homicide,
Gangs, Narcotics and Appellate
Divisions. Dusek joined the office
in 1977 after graduating from
Washington and Lee University
School of Law in Lexington, VA. He
used to play professional minor
league baseball.
Cheryl Ruffier
Chief, Employee Relations
Oversees Personnel, Training and
Payroll. Ruffier joined the DA's
Office in January 2003 after 26
years as a civil attorney specializing
in employment law in San Diego.
She is a past president of Lawyers
Club and formerly Vice President of
the San Diego County Bar
Association.
Michelle Bush
Chief, Administrative Services
Oversees Financial and
Information Technology Services
and participates in coordination of
Employee Relations. Bush joined
the DA's Office in September 2006.
She graduated from San Diego
State with a degree in Accounting
and she is also a CPA. Previously
Bush was employed by San Diego
County for nine years with three
different departments, including the
office of the Auditor and Controller
and the County’s Technology Office.
Arlene Smith
Assistant Chief, Administrative
Services
Manages budget development,
accounting functions and trust
funds, travel, equipment inventory,
facilities, procurement, grants and
revenue sources, and all financial
reporting. Smith joined the DA's
Office in November 2004 after nine
years at the San Diego County
Office of the Public Defender. She
has been with San Diego County
since 1979 in various departments.
Gail Stewart
Special Assistant
Policy advisor on governmental
affairs. She is also responsible for
special projects. Gail joined the
DA's Office in January 2003, leaving
her Media and Public Relations
Consulting business. Gail served
as a journalist in the San Diego
market for 17 years working as a
radio anchor/reporter and as a TV
investigative reporter for a local
network affiliate. She holds a
Bachelor of Arts in Political Science
from UCSD.
Paul Levikow
Communications Director
Oversees all internal and external
communication for the District
Attorney's Office. Editor of Law
Enforcement Quarterly, manages
media relations, including reporter
inquiries, news releases and
organizing news conferences,
oversees content for the DA's
public web site and internal intranet
site, responds to public inquiries,
special events planning including
the annual Citizens of Courage
Awards Luncheon. Levikow joined
the DA's Office in 2003 after 20
years in print, TV and radio news in
San Diego.
Steve Walker
Public Affairs Officer
Provides information to the media
on individual cases and overall
office policy in Communications
Director's absence. Editor of the
Annual Report and contributor to
Law Enforcement Quarterly. Writes
and publishes news releases,
organizes news conferences, and
manages content for the DA’s
public website and internal intranet
site. Writes speeches. Responds
to public inquiries, provides media
training, and oversees special
event planning. Walker joined the
DA’s office in 2006. He has more
than 20 years television news
experience including work at NBC
News and as an embedded
journalist during the Iraq war.
Jesse Navarro
Community Relations Officer
Oversees the DA's Community
Advisory Board, represents the DA
at various community and civic
events, liaison to community,
governmental agencies and
business organizations, organizes
the DA's town hall meetings,
special projects, and provides
interviews for Spanish speaking
news media. Navarro joined the
DA's Office in January 2003 after 12
years as a small business owner,
participating on numerous local
and state boards and
commissions and 15 years in law
enforcement in San Diego.
Jeffery Anderson
Community Relations Officer
Oversees the DA's Literacy
Intervention, Mentor and Reentry
Programs and Community Advisory
Board, Represents the DA at city
council and community council
meetings, participates in
community collaborations.
Anderson joined the DA's Office in
2003 after serving as a Substance
Abuse Assessor for the San Diego
County Court System.
Midge Costanza
Community Relations Officer
Elder Abuse advocate helping to
educate seniors throughout the
county how to protect themselves;
works with financial institutions on
identity theft deterrence; represents
the DA at public and community
events with an emphasis in crime
prevention. Costanza joined the
DA's Office in 2005 after making
history when she was the first
woman named Assistant to the
President by Jimmy Carter in 1976.
California Governor Gray Davis
appointed Costanza as Special
Assistant to the Governor in 2000.
Costanza was the first woman
elected to the Rochester, NY city
council. She was also an adjunct
professor at San Diego State
University.
Julie Wartell
Crime Analysis Administrator
Coordinates crime analysis and
research for the office by working
with staff, other criminal justice
organizations and the public to
provide statistics, mapping and
crime trends. Wartell joined the
DA's Office in 2003 after 11 years
as a police crime analyst and
criminal justice researcher. She
has also done extensive training
and writing about crime analysis
and problem oriented policing.
Paula Robinson
Chief, Bureau of Investigation
Oversees the law enforcement
component of the District Attorney's
Office, including eight divisions and
four branch offices. Robinson
joined the DA’s Office in September
2006 from the San Diego County
Sheriff’s Department where she
served as Assistant Sheriff of Court
Services. Her 29 previous years in
law enforcement in San Diego
County also included serving as a
SDPD Officer and Deputy County
Marshal where she earned the rank
of Captain. She served as the Chief
of Police for Del Mar, Solana Beach
and Encinitas (in 2002-2003) as
the Encinitas Station Captain.
Carlos 'Chico' Gonzalez
Assistant Chief, Bureau of
Investigation
Directs the daily operations of the
Bureau of Investigation and assists
the Bureau Chief in overseeing the
administrative matters of the
Bureau. Gonzalez joined the DA's
office as an investigator in 1990
after 15 years with the National City
Police Department and 5 years as
a Criminal Investigator in the U.S.
Army.
Michael Bishop
Deputy Chief, Bureau of
Investigation
Oversees investigative operations
for the Economic Crimes Division,
which includes Public Assistance
Fraud, Insurance Fraud, Computer
and Technology Crime High Tech
Response Team (CATCH), the
Consumer Protection and Real
Estate Fraud units. Bishop joined
the DA's office in 1988 after nine
years with the National City Police
Department. He holds a masters
degree in Leadership Studies from
the University of San Diego.
Robert "Butch" Etheridge
Deputy Chief, Bureau of
Investigation
Oversees the Range, Training,
DA's Office Fleet, the California
Witness Protection/Relocation
Program, the Public Assistance
Office, special projects and
administrative matters for the
Bureau of Investigation. Etheridge
joined the DA's office in 2002 after
30 years with the FBI.
following.
My question: why isn't Patrick
O'Toole listed?
This page is called "The D.A.'s
Office":
Bonnie M. Dumanis
District Attorney
Elected November 2002. Took
office January 2003.
Meet the DA
Jesse Rodriguez
Assistant District Attorney
Second in command, responsible
for the day-to-day operations of the
District Attorney's Office, oversees
the Chief Deputy District Attorneys,
Special Operations Division and
Restitution Enforcement/Victim
Services Division. Rodriguez joined
the DA's Office in January 2003
after serving 16 years as a Superior
Court Judge, 10 of those years as
Supervising Judge at San Diego
County's South Bay Courthouse.
Mark Pettine
Chief Deputy District Attorney --
Central Operations
Oversees the Case
Issuing/Extraditions, Pretrial and
Disposition, Superior Court and
Appellate Divisions. Pettine joined
the DA's Office in 1976 as a Deputy
District Attorney after graduating
from the University of the Pacific -
McGeorge School of Law.
Carlos Armour
Chief Deputy District Attorney --
Branches
Oversees the Vista, El Cajon, South
Bay and Juvenile branches of the
District Attorney’s Office. Armour
joined the DA's Office in 1977 as a
Deputy District Attorney after
graduating from the University Of
San Diego School Of Law and has
served as Chief of the Juvenile,
North County and East County
branches.
Julie Korsmeyer
Chief Deputy District Attorney --
Special Units
Oversees the Family Protection,
Special Operations, Sex
Crimes/Stalking, Insurance Fraud,
Economic Crimes Divisions and
the office's travel budget.
Korsmeyer joined the DA's Office in
1988 after serving as a police
officer in Colorado. She was
previously the Chief of the Special
Operations Division. She
graduated from The University of
Denver School of Law.
Jeff B Dusek
Chief Deputy District Attorney --
Special Units
Oversees the Cold Homicide,
Gangs, Narcotics and Appellate
Divisions. Dusek joined the office
in 1977 after graduating from
Washington and Lee University
School of Law in Lexington, VA. He
used to play professional minor
league baseball.
Cheryl Ruffier
Chief, Employee Relations
Oversees Personnel, Training and
Payroll. Ruffier joined the DA's
Office in January 2003 after 26
years as a civil attorney specializing
in employment law in San Diego.
She is a past president of Lawyers
Club and formerly Vice President of
the San Diego County Bar
Association.
Michelle Bush
Chief, Administrative Services
Oversees Financial and
Information Technology Services
and participates in coordination of
Employee Relations. Bush joined
the DA's Office in September 2006.
She graduated from San Diego
State with a degree in Accounting
and she is also a CPA. Previously
Bush was employed by San Diego
County for nine years with three
different departments, including the
office of the Auditor and Controller
and the County’s Technology Office.
Arlene Smith
Assistant Chief, Administrative
Services
Manages budget development,
accounting functions and trust
funds, travel, equipment inventory,
facilities, procurement, grants and
revenue sources, and all financial
reporting. Smith joined the DA's
Office in November 2004 after nine
years at the San Diego County
Office of the Public Defender. She
has been with San Diego County
since 1979 in various departments.
Gail Stewart
Special Assistant
Policy advisor on governmental
affairs. She is also responsible for
special projects. Gail joined the
DA's Office in January 2003, leaving
her Media and Public Relations
Consulting business. Gail served
as a journalist in the San Diego
market for 17 years working as a
radio anchor/reporter and as a TV
investigative reporter for a local
network affiliate. She holds a
Bachelor of Arts in Political Science
from UCSD.
Paul Levikow
Communications Director
Oversees all internal and external
communication for the District
Attorney's Office. Editor of Law
Enforcement Quarterly, manages
media relations, including reporter
inquiries, news releases and
organizing news conferences,
oversees content for the DA's
public web site and internal intranet
site, responds to public inquiries,
special events planning including
the annual Citizens of Courage
Awards Luncheon. Levikow joined
the DA's Office in 2003 after 20
years in print, TV and radio news in
San Diego.
Steve Walker
Public Affairs Officer
Provides information to the media
on individual cases and overall
office policy in Communications
Director's absence. Editor of the
Annual Report and contributor to
Law Enforcement Quarterly. Writes
and publishes news releases,
organizes news conferences, and
manages content for the DA’s
public website and internal intranet
site. Writes speeches. Responds
to public inquiries, provides media
training, and oversees special
event planning. Walker joined the
DA’s office in 2006. He has more
than 20 years television news
experience including work at NBC
News and as an embedded
journalist during the Iraq war.
Jesse Navarro
Community Relations Officer
Oversees the DA's Community
Advisory Board, represents the DA
at various community and civic
events, liaison to community,
governmental agencies and
business organizations, organizes
the DA's town hall meetings,
special projects, and provides
interviews for Spanish speaking
news media. Navarro joined the
DA's Office in January 2003 after 12
years as a small business owner,
participating on numerous local
and state boards and
commissions and 15 years in law
enforcement in San Diego.
Jeffery Anderson
Community Relations Officer
Oversees the DA's Literacy
Intervention, Mentor and Reentry
Programs and Community Advisory
Board, Represents the DA at city
council and community council
meetings, participates in
community collaborations.
Anderson joined the DA's Office in
2003 after serving as a Substance
Abuse Assessor for the San Diego
County Court System.
Midge Costanza
Community Relations Officer
Elder Abuse advocate helping to
educate seniors throughout the
county how to protect themselves;
works with financial institutions on
identity theft deterrence; represents
the DA at public and community
events with an emphasis in crime
prevention. Costanza joined the
DA's Office in 2005 after making
history when she was the first
woman named Assistant to the
President by Jimmy Carter in 1976.
California Governor Gray Davis
appointed Costanza as Special
Assistant to the Governor in 2000.
Costanza was the first woman
elected to the Rochester, NY city
council. She was also an adjunct
professor at San Diego State
University.
Julie Wartell
Crime Analysis Administrator
Coordinates crime analysis and
research for the office by working
with staff, other criminal justice
organizations and the public to
provide statistics, mapping and
crime trends. Wartell joined the
DA's Office in 2003 after 11 years
as a police crime analyst and
criminal justice researcher. She
has also done extensive training
and writing about crime analysis
and problem oriented policing.
Paula Robinson
Chief, Bureau of Investigation
Oversees the law enforcement
component of the District Attorney's
Office, including eight divisions and
four branch offices. Robinson
joined the DA’s Office in September
2006 from the San Diego County
Sheriff’s Department where she
served as Assistant Sheriff of Court
Services. Her 29 previous years in
law enforcement in San Diego
County also included serving as a
SDPD Officer and Deputy County
Marshal where she earned the rank
of Captain. She served as the Chief
of Police for Del Mar, Solana Beach
and Encinitas (in 2002-2003) as
the Encinitas Station Captain.
Carlos 'Chico' Gonzalez
Assistant Chief, Bureau of
Investigation
Directs the daily operations of the
Bureau of Investigation and assists
the Bureau Chief in overseeing the
administrative matters of the
Bureau. Gonzalez joined the DA's
office as an investigator in 1990
after 15 years with the National City
Police Department and 5 years as
a Criminal Investigator in the U.S.
Army.
Michael Bishop
Deputy Chief, Bureau of
Investigation
Oversees investigative operations
for the Economic Crimes Division,
which includes Public Assistance
Fraud, Insurance Fraud, Computer
and Technology Crime High Tech
Response Team (CATCH), the
Consumer Protection and Real
Estate Fraud units. Bishop joined
the DA's office in 1988 after nine
years with the National City Police
Department. He holds a masters
degree in Leadership Studies from
the University of San Diego.
Robert "Butch" Etheridge
Deputy Chief, Bureau of
Investigation
Oversees the Range, Training,
DA's Office Fleet, the California
Witness Protection/Relocation
Program, the Public Assistance
Office, special projects and
administrative matters for the
Bureau of Investigation. Etheridge
joined the DA's office in 2002 after
30 years with the FBI.
Here's another page I
downloaded on April 9, 2008.
I know that the Public Integrity
Unit is within "Special
Operations." But why doesn't
this page say so?
Criminal
Divisions
Appellate Division
Bureau of Investigation
Case Disposition
Case Issuance / Extraditions
Central Pretrial
Cold Case Homicide
Economic Crimes
Family Protection Division
Gangs
Information Technology
Division
Insurance Fraud
Juvenile Division
Narcotics Division
Restitution Enforcement &
Victims Services Division
Sex Crimes / Stalking Division
Special Operations
Superior Court
APPELLATE DIVISION [TOP]
This staff is dedicated to
fulfilling the mission of the San
Diego County District Attorney's
Office while providing with
excellence the following
functions for the Office:
The Motions, Writs, and
Appeals Function
The Function of Legal Advisor
The Function of Legislation
Representative and
Coordinator
Each deputy and each support
staff member in the Appellate
Division strive to serve the
office in protecting criminal
convictions as well as shaping
the law through sound legal
advice, high quality motions,
writs & appeals, and cogent
legislative efforts.
BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION
[TOP]
The District Attorney's Bureau
of Investigation (BOI) is made
up of more than 120 District
Attorney Investigators (DAIs),
57 Public Assistance
Investigators (PAIs) and almost
two dozen support staff, all
stationed throughout the
office's four branches and
other offsite locations. The
primary function of the BOI is to
provide the DA's office its law
enforcement component by
taking part in developing a
criminal case to the point of
proof beyond a reasonable
doubt to ensure convictions in
court. The technical
investigations staff provides
assistance to DDAs in the
production of trial exhibits,
fingerprint analysis,
promotional materials and
audio/visual production.
The BOI is comprised of nine
units, each of which is
managed by a lieutenant and
at least one supervising
investigator. The units include:
PreTrial; Computer and
Technology Crimes High Tech
Response Team; Economic
Crimes and Insurance Fraud;
Family Protection; Gang
Prosecution; Special
Operations; Branches;
Professional Standards; and
Public Assistance Fraud.
CASE DISPOSITION [TOP]
The Case Disposition Division
was formed in 2003. There are
three deputy district attorneys
and a chief deputy district
attorney assigned to the
division. Over the year 2003,
the division handled 7,000
felony cases, resulting in over
3,300 guilty pleas. The division
has worked hard to assist in
increasing the conviction rate
for Superior Court, which has
seen a reduction in not guilty
verdicts since the year 2000.
The division has also worked
to promote cost saving efforts
in the disposition of cases,
including policy changes in
immediate sentencing and by
encouraging pleas at early
stages.
CASE
ISSUANCE/EXTRADITIONS
[TOP]
Case Issuing and Extraditions
Division is primarily involved in
reviewing felony cases for
filing. The attorneys review
approximately 650 cases per
month, in addition to their other
duties. The probation
revocation unit reviews several
hundred more cases per
month. Three liaison deputies
are available to law
enforcement agencies around
the county to assist them with
criminal investigations and
training. The Extraditions
attorneys are responsible for
handling the legal proceedings
required for bringing a fugitive
back into this jurisdiction.
Those lawyers also assist
other states and countries that
wish to extradite fugitives
arrested in San Diego County.
CENTRAL PRETRIAL [TOP]
The Central Pre-Trial Division
handles all felony cases
arising in the central area of
San Diego which are not
handled by special divisions or
at the branch offices. This
division is one of the busiest in
the office. The attorneys in this
division initially arraign the
defendants charged in felony
complaints. They then primarily
conduct preliminary
examinations in front of a
magistrate to prove the
charges, based upon a
probable cause standard.
Central Pretrial attorneys also
handle suppression motions,
bail reviews,plea negotiations,
change of plea proceedings,
and miscellaneous calendars.
Occasionally, they conduct
misdemeanor trials which
result if felony charges are
reduced at the preliminary
hearing. This division also
orders San Diego County
probation cases, prison priors
and three strike cases for
preliminary hearing
defendants. The staff prepares
hundreds of subpoenas each
week to ensure the
appearance of essential
witnesses who are needed to
prove the charges at the
preliminary examinations. The
cases that are proven at the
preliminary hearing are then
bound over and transferred to
the attorneys in the Superior
Court Division for trial.
COLD CASE HOMICIDE [TOP]
The District Attorney’s Cold
Case Homicide Unit was
formed in 2003 with the
expressed purpose of solving
and successfully prosecuting
the over 2,000 old, inactive
homicide cases in San Diego
County. Cold Case Homicide
is staffed with highly
experienced Deputy District
Attorneys and District Attorney
Investigators. They work with
the various law enforcement
agencies throughout San
Diego County in a concentrated
effort to seek justice for the
many victims of homicide and
their families. If you have
information about an unsolved
murder case, please call 619-
531-3374.
ECONOMIC CRIMES [TOP]
The mission of the Economic
Crimes Division is to prevent
and prosecute financial crimes
and to enforce the law in
partnership with law
enforcement and the
community. Cases against
public officials, large
corporations and high tech
criminal rings are large,
complex matters, which require
a team effort of lawyers,
paralegals, investigators and
clerical support. The teams
within the division, including
CATCH, Consumer Protection,
Complex Theft, Environmental
Protection, Public Assistance
and Real Estate Fraud, were
responsible for 575 cases
being issued in 2003.
FAMILY PROTECTION
DIVISION [TOP]
The Family Protection Division
of the San Diego County
District Attorney's Office
ethically and aggressively
promotes public safety by
prosecuting crimes of murder,
domestic violence, crimes
against children, and elder
abuse. The division includes
30 deputy district attorneys, 18
investigators, 14 paralegals,
and 25 other staff members
who are stationed downtown
as well as in each Branch
office in the County. During
2003, the division issued over
700 felony cases of domestic
violence, over 1,000 domestic
violence misdemeanors,
nearly 200 child abuse
felonies, 138 elder abuse
cases, 88 statutory rape cases,
and numerous other significant
criminal cases. The Family
Protection Division strongly
supports victims of crime, and
works closely with criminal
justice agencies and
community partners.
GANGS [TOP]
The goal of the Gang
Prosecution Division is to
reduce the level of gang
violence in San Diego County.
This goal is achieved by
targeting violent gang crime
such as murder, attempted
murder, assault with weapons,
drive by shootings, rape and
robbery. The Gang Division will
also work with outside
agencies to proactively target
known gang members to
prosecute them for lesser
violations in order to prevent
more violent crimes from
happening. This division will
also target known gangs and
their members through civil
injunctions and abatements in
order to disrupt the gang
culture and lifestyle. This multi
prong approach will have the
affect of lowering the level of
gang violence throughout San
Diego County.
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
DIVISION [TOP]
Chief Information Officer Pam
Summers leads this division
charged with providing a full-
spectrum of technology
services to support the
operations of the DA. The
Network Section, which
includes desktop support, LAN
operations, and the Help Desk,
are responsible for acquiring,
installing, and supporting
information systems hardware
and software. The Applications
Development Section creates
timely and effective business
solutions for the DA in the form
of software applications. The
Web Development Section
provides a multitude of visual
communications and
information to the public via the
Internet, as well as daily
communications and tools via
the internal DA's intranet. ITD
also encompasses the Trial
Support Services Section, the
skilled and creative staff that
provide photography,
audio/video duplication,
graphics, trial displays and
fingerprint analysis. As
technology utilized throughout
the law enforcement
community advances, ITD
adapts its tools and strategies
to maintain a strong
collaborative presence as a
public safety partner in the
county.
INSURANCE FRAUD [TOP]
San Diego's Insurance Fraud
Division (IFD) started a
Premium Fraud Task Force in
1996 to investigate and
prosecute workers'
compensation premium fraud
and tax evasion. Premium
fraud involves employers
falsifying business records to
reduce their workers'
compensation insurance
premium, thereby gaining an
unfair business advantage over
law abiding competitors.
Premium defrauders often also
fail to pay proper taxes.
Members of the task force
include representatives from:
the Labor Commissioners
Office, Employment
Development Department,
Franchise Tax Board, California
Department of Insurance (CDI);
State Contractors' Licensing
Board, Bureau of Automotive
Repair, and the District
Attorney's Office.
JUVENILE DIVISION [TOP]
The Juvenile Division of the
District Attorneys Office
prosecutes all juvenile felonies
and misdemeanors for the
County of San Diego, including
City of San Diego cases. From
traffic matters to homicides,
rapes and vehicular
manslaughters, Juvenile DDAs
review, issue and prosecute all
of these cases. Juvenile's staff
includes 21 DDAs, two
investigators, seven paralegal
and victim assistance staff, 20
support staff and one process
server. They all work with an
incredible team spirit to
tirelessly handle the volume of
cases that move rapidly
through the Juvenile Courts. In
2003, this branch received
7,700 cases for review. There
were more than 2,700 felony
petitions filed and over 2,400
misdemeanor petitions filed.
Recognizing the importance of
handling sensitive and
complex cases vertically, the
Juvenile Division has
designated deputies to
vertically prosecute cases
involving: sexual assault,
graffiti, prostitution, street
racing, arson, teen relationship
violence and truancy and Drug
Court matters.
NARCOTICS DIVISION [TOP]
The Major Narcotics Division
was launched in 2003. It is
staffed with 18 attorneys,
handling a variety of cases
countywide. During this time
the division has been very busy
providing a new service to law
enforcement. Since inception,
the Narcotics Division has
handled over 1,100 cases and
nine wiretaps. Its
responsibilities have included
running the treatment side of
the drug cases in Drug Court
and Proposition 36, the
Substance Abuse Initiative, and
Federal and State Asset
Forfeiture matters, to assisting
law enforcement with large
buy/walk projects in specific
high crime areas.
RESTITUTION
ENFORCEMENT & VICTIM
SERVICES DIVISION [TOP]
The Restitution Enforcement &
Victim Services Division had an
extremely busy and productive
year during 2003. The division
handled restitution issues on
1,771 cases throughout San
Diego County affecting
$43,520,248 in claims for
restitution.
This division helped 11,679
victims in 2003. It's primary
focus is alleviating the plight of
victims, especially as they
encounter the criminal justice
system. Victims play a critical
role in that system and, by
virtue of the California
Constitution and statutes, have
rights that must be respected
and upheld.
For many years now the District
Attorney's Office in San Diego
has aided victims directly
through the Victim Assistance
Program funded in part by the
California Office of Criminal
Justice Planning (OCJP). This
program features District
Attorney's Office paralegal
victim advocates serving
throughout the office to provide
victims support and assistance
at every stage of the
investigation, trial, appellate
and incarceration processes.
SEX CRIMES/STALKING
DIVISION [TOP]
This is one of the new
divisions created by DA
Dumanis. This specialized
division deals with some of the
most violent and sensitive
crimes in San Diego. It has
already made a significant
impact on the way sex crimes
and stalking cases are issued
and prosecuted. All of the
DDAs assigned to this division
receive special training to
better understand the complex
nature of working with these
vulnerable victims. There are
11 DDAs assigned to this
division with an average
caseload of 20 cases per
attorney. Supporting these
deputies are four paralegals,
two district attorney
investigators and four
secretaries.
SPECIAL OPERATIONS [TOP]
This division investigates and
prosecutes cases involving
public officials and law
enforcement. It also handles
internal affairs, election law
violations, hate crimes and
major vice. This division acts
as the primary advisor to the
San Diego Grand Jury and
reviews all police use of
deadly force. The
investigators are involved in
the gathering and
dissemination of criminal
intelligence, threat
assessment and are on call
for officer involved shootings
and incidents involving
serious violence against
police officers. To make sure
the office maintains good
working relationships with
Mexico and with the Indian
tribes in the area, this division
has International Liaisons and
a Tribal and Gaming Liaison.
SUPERIOR COURT [TOP]
The court has handled some of
the most challenging and
tragic cases in the history of
the county, include
kidnappings, assaults,
robberies and murders. The
Superior Court team works
tirelessly to hold accountable
the predators that victimize the
citizens of San Diego County
while exercising the highest in
ethical standards. From its
support staff, to its
investigators, to its attorneys,
the court is committed to
helping victims of crime
recover from losses at the
hands of criminals. Superior
Court tried 135 trials last year
with a conviction rate of 96% of
those cases that went to verdict.
http://www.sdcda.
org/office/divisions.php#15
downloaded on April 9, 2008.
I know that the Public Integrity
Unit is within "Special
Operations." But why doesn't
this page say so?
Criminal
Divisions
Appellate Division
Bureau of Investigation
Case Disposition
Case Issuance / Extraditions
Central Pretrial
Cold Case Homicide
Economic Crimes
Family Protection Division
Gangs
Information Technology
Division
Insurance Fraud
Juvenile Division
Narcotics Division
Restitution Enforcement &
Victims Services Division
Sex Crimes / Stalking Division
Special Operations
Superior Court
APPELLATE DIVISION [TOP]
This staff is dedicated to
fulfilling the mission of the San
Diego County District Attorney's
Office while providing with
excellence the following
functions for the Office:
The Motions, Writs, and
Appeals Function
The Function of Legal Advisor
The Function of Legislation
Representative and
Coordinator
Each deputy and each support
staff member in the Appellate
Division strive to serve the
office in protecting criminal
convictions as well as shaping
the law through sound legal
advice, high quality motions,
writs & appeals, and cogent
legislative efforts.
BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION
[TOP]
The District Attorney's Bureau
of Investigation (BOI) is made
up of more than 120 District
Attorney Investigators (DAIs),
57 Public Assistance
Investigators (PAIs) and almost
two dozen support staff, all
stationed throughout the
office's four branches and
other offsite locations. The
primary function of the BOI is to
provide the DA's office its law
enforcement component by
taking part in developing a
criminal case to the point of
proof beyond a reasonable
doubt to ensure convictions in
court. The technical
investigations staff provides
assistance to DDAs in the
production of trial exhibits,
fingerprint analysis,
promotional materials and
audio/visual production.
The BOI is comprised of nine
units, each of which is
managed by a lieutenant and
at least one supervising
investigator. The units include:
PreTrial; Computer and
Technology Crimes High Tech
Response Team; Economic
Crimes and Insurance Fraud;
Family Protection; Gang
Prosecution; Special
Operations; Branches;
Professional Standards; and
Public Assistance Fraud.
CASE DISPOSITION [TOP]
The Case Disposition Division
was formed in 2003. There are
three deputy district attorneys
and a chief deputy district
attorney assigned to the
division. Over the year 2003,
the division handled 7,000
felony cases, resulting in over
3,300 guilty pleas. The division
has worked hard to assist in
increasing the conviction rate
for Superior Court, which has
seen a reduction in not guilty
verdicts since the year 2000.
The division has also worked
to promote cost saving efforts
in the disposition of cases,
including policy changes in
immediate sentencing and by
encouraging pleas at early
stages.
CASE
ISSUANCE/EXTRADITIONS
[TOP]
Case Issuing and Extraditions
Division is primarily involved in
reviewing felony cases for
filing. The attorneys review
approximately 650 cases per
month, in addition to their other
duties. The probation
revocation unit reviews several
hundred more cases per
month. Three liaison deputies
are available to law
enforcement agencies around
the county to assist them with
criminal investigations and
training. The Extraditions
attorneys are responsible for
handling the legal proceedings
required for bringing a fugitive
back into this jurisdiction.
Those lawyers also assist
other states and countries that
wish to extradite fugitives
arrested in San Diego County.
CENTRAL PRETRIAL [TOP]
The Central Pre-Trial Division
handles all felony cases
arising in the central area of
San Diego which are not
handled by special divisions or
at the branch offices. This
division is one of the busiest in
the office. The attorneys in this
division initially arraign the
defendants charged in felony
complaints. They then primarily
conduct preliminary
examinations in front of a
magistrate to prove the
charges, based upon a
probable cause standard.
Central Pretrial attorneys also
handle suppression motions,
bail reviews,plea negotiations,
change of plea proceedings,
and miscellaneous calendars.
Occasionally, they conduct
misdemeanor trials which
result if felony charges are
reduced at the preliminary
hearing. This division also
orders San Diego County
probation cases, prison priors
and three strike cases for
preliminary hearing
defendants. The staff prepares
hundreds of subpoenas each
week to ensure the
appearance of essential
witnesses who are needed to
prove the charges at the
preliminary examinations. The
cases that are proven at the
preliminary hearing are then
bound over and transferred to
the attorneys in the Superior
Court Division for trial.
COLD CASE HOMICIDE [TOP]
The District Attorney’s Cold
Case Homicide Unit was
formed in 2003 with the
expressed purpose of solving
and successfully prosecuting
the over 2,000 old, inactive
homicide cases in San Diego
County. Cold Case Homicide
is staffed with highly
experienced Deputy District
Attorneys and District Attorney
Investigators. They work with
the various law enforcement
agencies throughout San
Diego County in a concentrated
effort to seek justice for the
many victims of homicide and
their families. If you have
information about an unsolved
murder case, please call 619-
531-3374.
ECONOMIC CRIMES [TOP]
The mission of the Economic
Crimes Division is to prevent
and prosecute financial crimes
and to enforce the law in
partnership with law
enforcement and the
community. Cases against
public officials, large
corporations and high tech
criminal rings are large,
complex matters, which require
a team effort of lawyers,
paralegals, investigators and
clerical support. The teams
within the division, including
CATCH, Consumer Protection,
Complex Theft, Environmental
Protection, Public Assistance
and Real Estate Fraud, were
responsible for 575 cases
being issued in 2003.
FAMILY PROTECTION
DIVISION [TOP]
The Family Protection Division
of the San Diego County
District Attorney's Office
ethically and aggressively
promotes public safety by
prosecuting crimes of murder,
domestic violence, crimes
against children, and elder
abuse. The division includes
30 deputy district attorneys, 18
investigators, 14 paralegals,
and 25 other staff members
who are stationed downtown
as well as in each Branch
office in the County. During
2003, the division issued over
700 felony cases of domestic
violence, over 1,000 domestic
violence misdemeanors,
nearly 200 child abuse
felonies, 138 elder abuse
cases, 88 statutory rape cases,
and numerous other significant
criminal cases. The Family
Protection Division strongly
supports victims of crime, and
works closely with criminal
justice agencies and
community partners.
GANGS [TOP]
The goal of the Gang
Prosecution Division is to
reduce the level of gang
violence in San Diego County.
This goal is achieved by
targeting violent gang crime
such as murder, attempted
murder, assault with weapons,
drive by shootings, rape and
robbery. The Gang Division will
also work with outside
agencies to proactively target
known gang members to
prosecute them for lesser
violations in order to prevent
more violent crimes from
happening. This division will
also target known gangs and
their members through civil
injunctions and abatements in
order to disrupt the gang
culture and lifestyle. This multi
prong approach will have the
affect of lowering the level of
gang violence throughout San
Diego County.
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
DIVISION [TOP]
Chief Information Officer Pam
Summers leads this division
charged with providing a full-
spectrum of technology
services to support the
operations of the DA. The
Network Section, which
includes desktop support, LAN
operations, and the Help Desk,
are responsible for acquiring,
installing, and supporting
information systems hardware
and software. The Applications
Development Section creates
timely and effective business
solutions for the DA in the form
of software applications. The
Web Development Section
provides a multitude of visual
communications and
information to the public via the
Internet, as well as daily
communications and tools via
the internal DA's intranet. ITD
also encompasses the Trial
Support Services Section, the
skilled and creative staff that
provide photography,
audio/video duplication,
graphics, trial displays and
fingerprint analysis. As
technology utilized throughout
the law enforcement
community advances, ITD
adapts its tools and strategies
to maintain a strong
collaborative presence as a
public safety partner in the
county.
INSURANCE FRAUD [TOP]
San Diego's Insurance Fraud
Division (IFD) started a
Premium Fraud Task Force in
1996 to investigate and
prosecute workers'
compensation premium fraud
and tax evasion. Premium
fraud involves employers
falsifying business records to
reduce their workers'
compensation insurance
premium, thereby gaining an
unfair business advantage over
law abiding competitors.
Premium defrauders often also
fail to pay proper taxes.
Members of the task force
include representatives from:
the Labor Commissioners
Office, Employment
Development Department,
Franchise Tax Board, California
Department of Insurance (CDI);
State Contractors' Licensing
Board, Bureau of Automotive
Repair, and the District
Attorney's Office.
JUVENILE DIVISION [TOP]
The Juvenile Division of the
District Attorneys Office
prosecutes all juvenile felonies
and misdemeanors for the
County of San Diego, including
City of San Diego cases. From
traffic matters to homicides,
rapes and vehicular
manslaughters, Juvenile DDAs
review, issue and prosecute all
of these cases. Juvenile's staff
includes 21 DDAs, two
investigators, seven paralegal
and victim assistance staff, 20
support staff and one process
server. They all work with an
incredible team spirit to
tirelessly handle the volume of
cases that move rapidly
through the Juvenile Courts. In
2003, this branch received
7,700 cases for review. There
were more than 2,700 felony
petitions filed and over 2,400
misdemeanor petitions filed.
Recognizing the importance of
handling sensitive and
complex cases vertically, the
Juvenile Division has
designated deputies to
vertically prosecute cases
involving: sexual assault,
graffiti, prostitution, street
racing, arson, teen relationship
violence and truancy and Drug
Court matters.
NARCOTICS DIVISION [TOP]
The Major Narcotics Division
was launched in 2003. It is
staffed with 18 attorneys,
handling a variety of cases
countywide. During this time
the division has been very busy
providing a new service to law
enforcement. Since inception,
the Narcotics Division has
handled over 1,100 cases and
nine wiretaps. Its
responsibilities have included
running the treatment side of
the drug cases in Drug Court
and Proposition 36, the
Substance Abuse Initiative, and
Federal and State Asset
Forfeiture matters, to assisting
law enforcement with large
buy/walk projects in specific
high crime areas.
RESTITUTION
ENFORCEMENT & VICTIM
SERVICES DIVISION [TOP]
The Restitution Enforcement &
Victim Services Division had an
extremely busy and productive
year during 2003. The division
handled restitution issues on
1,771 cases throughout San
Diego County affecting
$43,520,248 in claims for
restitution.
This division helped 11,679
victims in 2003. It's primary
focus is alleviating the plight of
victims, especially as they
encounter the criminal justice
system. Victims play a critical
role in that system and, by
virtue of the California
Constitution and statutes, have
rights that must be respected
and upheld.
For many years now the District
Attorney's Office in San Diego
has aided victims directly
through the Victim Assistance
Program funded in part by the
California Office of Criminal
Justice Planning (OCJP). This
program features District
Attorney's Office paralegal
victim advocates serving
throughout the office to provide
victims support and assistance
at every stage of the
investigation, trial, appellate
and incarceration processes.
SEX CRIMES/STALKING
DIVISION [TOP]
This is one of the new
divisions created by DA
Dumanis. This specialized
division deals with some of the
most violent and sensitive
crimes in San Diego. It has
already made a significant
impact on the way sex crimes
and stalking cases are issued
and prosecuted. All of the
DDAs assigned to this division
receive special training to
better understand the complex
nature of working with these
vulnerable victims. There are
11 DDAs assigned to this
division with an average
caseload of 20 cases per
attorney. Supporting these
deputies are four paralegals,
two district attorney
investigators and four
secretaries.
SPECIAL OPERATIONS [TOP]
This division investigates and
prosecutes cases involving
public officials and law
enforcement. It also handles
internal affairs, election law
violations, hate crimes and
major vice. This division acts
as the primary advisor to the
San Diego Grand Jury and
reviews all police use of
deadly force. The
investigators are involved in
the gathering and
dissemination of criminal
intelligence, threat
assessment and are on call
for officer involved shootings
and incidents involving
serious violence against
police officers. To make sure
the office maintains good
working relationships with
Mexico and with the Indian
tribes in the area, this division
has International Liaisons and
a Tribal and Gaming Liaison.
SUPERIOR COURT [TOP]
The court has handled some of
the most challenging and
tragic cases in the history of
the county, include
kidnappings, assaults,
robberies and murders. The
Superior Court team works
tirelessly to hold accountable
the predators that victimize the
citizens of San Diego County
while exercising the highest in
ethical standards. From its
support staff, to its
investigators, to its attorneys,
the court is committed to
helping victims of crime
recover from losses at the
hands of criminals. Superior
Court tried 135 trials last year
with a conviction rate of 96% of
those cases that went to verdict.
http://www.sdcda.
org/office/divisions.php#15
April 9, 2008
Where did Patrick
O'Toole and the Public
Integrity Unit disappear
to?
San Diego District
Attorney Organization
Chart
http://www.sdcda.org/office/orgchart.pdf
Where did Patrick
O'Toole and the Public
Integrity Unit disappear
to?
San Diego District
Attorney Organization
Chart
http://www.sdcda.org/office/orgchart.pdf
| Home Why This Website SDCOE CVESD Castle Park Elem Law Enforcement CTA CVE Stutz Artiano Shinoff Silence is Golden Schools and Violence Office Admin Hearings Larkins OAH Hearing |
UPDATE: In August 2008 Patrick O'Toole was transferred to another
(unknown) division of the DA's office.
(unknown) division of the DA's office.
In April 2007, the Public Integrity Unit of San Diego District Attorney
Bonnie Dumanis began prosecuting political opponents of Cheryl
Cox. Patrick O'Toole, who had previously been appointed as US
Attorney for San Diego by Attorney General John Ashcroft, headed
the unit. O'Toole prosecuted a staffer for mayor Steven Padilla who
had taken two hours off work in an effort to get a photograph of
Cheryl Cox with her disgraced family friend David Malcolm at a
twilight yacht party fundraiser for Cox.
The staffer was charged with five felony counts of perjury for telling
a grand jury that he filled out his leave slip from work before rather
than after he took off from his job at the City of Chula Vista. He pled
guilty to lesser charges as part of a plea deal.
The now-dormant unit ended its active phase with a second and
final prosecution, that of Steve Castaneda, who had run against
Cheryl Cox for mayor. Castaneda was prosecuted for allegedly
lying about whether he planned to buy a condo, even though he
never bought the condo in question.
According to the San Diego Union Tribune, "Castaneda was a
tenant at the complex and was accused of seeking favors, such as
free rent, from Sunbow owner Ash Israni, according to the
1,200-page grand jury transcript.
The investigation found that Castaneda paid his rent and
didn't ask for special treatment.
O'Toole told the grand jury the perjury charges are
warranted because Castaneda should be held accountable
for 'lying about the facts'; even if no crime was
uncovered...Castaneda has been vocal about O'Toole's
investigations, saying they are politically motivated. He contended
that Dumanis conspired with Chula Vista Mayor Cheryl Cox, his
political rival in the 2006 mayoral primary."
"DA unit works as quietly as it began"
"Trial and Re-election bid could coincide"
Bonnie Dumanis began prosecuting political opponents of Cheryl
Cox. Patrick O'Toole, who had previously been appointed as US
Attorney for San Diego by Attorney General John Ashcroft, headed
the unit. O'Toole prosecuted a staffer for mayor Steven Padilla who
had taken two hours off work in an effort to get a photograph of
Cheryl Cox with her disgraced family friend David Malcolm at a
twilight yacht party fundraiser for Cox.
The staffer was charged with five felony counts of perjury for telling
a grand jury that he filled out his leave slip from work before rather
than after he took off from his job at the City of Chula Vista. He pled
guilty to lesser charges as part of a plea deal.
The now-dormant unit ended its active phase with a second and
final prosecution, that of Steve Castaneda, who had run against
Cheryl Cox for mayor. Castaneda was prosecuted for allegedly
lying about whether he planned to buy a condo, even though he
never bought the condo in question.
According to the San Diego Union Tribune, "Castaneda was a
tenant at the complex and was accused of seeking favors, such as
free rent, from Sunbow owner Ash Israni, according to the
1,200-page grand jury transcript.
The investigation found that Castaneda paid his rent and
didn't ask for special treatment.
O'Toole told the grand jury the perjury charges are
warranted because Castaneda should be held accountable
for 'lying about the facts'; even if no crime was
uncovered...Castaneda has been vocal about O'Toole's
investigations, saying they are politically motivated. He contended
that Dumanis conspired with Chula Vista Mayor Cheryl Cox, his
political rival in the 2006 mayoral primary."
"DA unit works as quietly as it began"
"Trial and Re-election bid could coincide"
Chula Vista City Councilman Steve Castaneda fights a bizarre
prosecution by the secretive Patrick O'Toole, San Diego District
Attorney Bonnie Dumanis' pal who suddenly went low-profile
after a very public announcement of his "Public Integrity Unit."
prosecution by the secretive Patrick O'Toole, San Diego District
Attorney Bonnie Dumanis' pal who suddenly went low-profile
after a very public announcement of his "Public Integrity Unit."
Chula Vista City Councilman Steve
Castaneda case
Castaneda case
Charges are filed against
ex-aide
Hightower accused of misusing city post
By Kristen Green
San Diego Union-Tribune
April 12, 2005
The City Attorney's Office filed a charge of
misuse of city position yesterday against the
former top aide to San Diego City Councilman
Tony Young.
Tommy Hightower was charged with the
misdemeanor over his request for a loan from
a person who was conducting business with
the city, said Assistant City Attorney Rupert
Linley.
Hightower was charged with a second
misdemeanor for failing to file an
economic-interest statement when he became
Young's chief of staff.
Each charge carries a possible six-month jail
sentence or a $1,000 fine. Hightower, who was
fired by Young in March, will face a judge on
the charges next month.
Hightower, in previous interviews, has said he
is a gambling addict and has amassed
$60,000 in debt. After he went to work for
Young in January, he sought loans from five
people, including developer Reese Jarrett and
consultant Cheryl Alethia Phelps, he has said.
The loan request to Phelps led to one of the
charges.
Phelps, who was applying for community
development block grant funds, did not make a
loan. Jarrett, a general partner of Carter
Reese & Associates, wrote Hightower a check
for $2,000.
Neither was a subject of the City Attorney's
investigation, Linley said.
"Mr. Jarrett should be viewed as a victim,"
Linley said.
Hightower declined to comment about the
charges yesterday, except to note that they
were "the most minimal charges" that could
have been filed.
He has said he did not believe he would be
prosecuted and met with the City Attorney's
Office without legal representation. He has
said he was guilty only of "being stupid and
naive."
Hightower has said he did not use the position
as Young's chief of staff to exert influence, and
that he considered Phelps and Jarrett friends.
Hightower has said that he sought loans from
as many as 15 people over the past two years.
By the time he asked Phelps and Jarrett for
money, he had already solicited all his close
friends and family.
He has said he thought the $80,000 salary he
earned working for Young would allow him to
pay back his debts. But when he assumed the
new position, his debtors became more
aggressive, which forced him to seek more
loans, he has said.
Young, who represents the 4th Council District,
did not return calls seeking comment last night.
He has said that a member of the community
called him March 11 to report that Hightower
had asked for a loan, after which he fired
Hightower.
Hightower and Young worked for the late
Councilman Charles Lewis, and during that
time, Hightower had sought loans from
co-workers.
When staffers reported him to Young, who
served as Lewis' chief of staff, Young told his
staff not to make loans to Hightower and told
Hightower not to ask his peers for loans.
ex-aide
Hightower accused of misusing city post
By Kristen Green
San Diego Union-Tribune
April 12, 2005
The City Attorney's Office filed a charge of
misuse of city position yesterday against the
former top aide to San Diego City Councilman
Tony Young.
Tommy Hightower was charged with the
misdemeanor over his request for a loan from
a person who was conducting business with
the city, said Assistant City Attorney Rupert
Linley.
Hightower was charged with a second
misdemeanor for failing to file an
economic-interest statement when he became
Young's chief of staff.
Each charge carries a possible six-month jail
sentence or a $1,000 fine. Hightower, who was
fired by Young in March, will face a judge on
the charges next month.
Hightower, in previous interviews, has said he
is a gambling addict and has amassed
$60,000 in debt. After he went to work for
Young in January, he sought loans from five
people, including developer Reese Jarrett and
consultant Cheryl Alethia Phelps, he has said.
The loan request to Phelps led to one of the
charges.
Phelps, who was applying for community
development block grant funds, did not make a
loan. Jarrett, a general partner of Carter
Reese & Associates, wrote Hightower a check
for $2,000.
Neither was a subject of the City Attorney's
investigation, Linley said.
"Mr. Jarrett should be viewed as a victim,"
Linley said.
Hightower declined to comment about the
charges yesterday, except to note that they
were "the most minimal charges" that could
have been filed.
He has said he did not believe he would be
prosecuted and met with the City Attorney's
Office without legal representation. He has
said he was guilty only of "being stupid and
naive."
Hightower has said he did not use the position
as Young's chief of staff to exert influence, and
that he considered Phelps and Jarrett friends.
Hightower has said that he sought loans from
as many as 15 people over the past two years.
By the time he asked Phelps and Jarrett for
money, he had already solicited all his close
friends and family.
He has said he thought the $80,000 salary he
earned working for Young would allow him to
pay back his debts. But when he assumed the
new position, his debtors became more
aggressive, which forced him to seek more
loans, he has said.
Young, who represents the 4th Council District,
did not return calls seeking comment last night.
He has said that a member of the community
called him March 11 to report that Hightower
had asked for a loan, after which he fired
Hightower.
Hightower and Young worked for the late
Councilman Charles Lewis, and during that
time, Hightower had sought loans from
co-workers.
When staffers reported him to Young, who
served as Lewis' chief of staff, Young told his
staff not to make loans to Hightower and told
Hightower not to ask his peers for loans.
DA Transfers Corruption Guy
Voice of San Diego
August 5, 2008
by Scott Lewis
"After much fanfare and about 17 months on
the job, Patrick O'Toole has been reassigned
away from the high profile position he held as
District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis' chief in
charge of the public integrity unit...
It was O'Toole who handled the
not-so-successful prosecution of Chula Vista
City Councilman Steve Castaneda -- one of
the two major springtime embarrassments for
the district attorney. O'Toole failed to secure a
conviction of Castaneda for supposedly lying
when he said he did not want to buy a condo
that the councilman never bought. O'Toole
also briefly headed the San Diego city
attorney's Public Integrity Unit.
In O'Toole's only case there, [Tommy
Hightower--see story below] an aide to City
Councilman Tony Young approached the city
attorney and admitted to having asked
constituents in Young's council district for
loans. O'Toole nailed him with two
misdemeanors before moving to the DA's
office...
Voice of San Diego
August 5, 2008
by Scott Lewis
"After much fanfare and about 17 months on
the job, Patrick O'Toole has been reassigned
away from the high profile position he held as
District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis' chief in
charge of the public integrity unit...
It was O'Toole who handled the
not-so-successful prosecution of Chula Vista
City Councilman Steve Castaneda -- one of
the two major springtime embarrassments for
the district attorney. O'Toole failed to secure a
conviction of Castaneda for supposedly lying
when he said he did not want to buy a condo
that the councilman never bought. O'Toole
also briefly headed the San Diego city
attorney's Public Integrity Unit.
In O'Toole's only case there, [Tommy
Hightower--see story below] an aide to City
Councilman Tony Young approached the city
attorney and admitted to having asked
constituents in Young's council district for
loans. O'Toole nailed him with two
misdemeanors before moving to the DA's
office...
Irish-American Bar of San Diego
Board of Directors
Patrick O'Toole, President
Patrick O' Toole graduated magna cum laude and
phi beta kappa from USC in 1975, and from UCLA
School of Law in 1978. He served as an Assistant
United States Attorney from 1982 until 2005, and
tried approximately 100 felony cases, primarily
involving corruption, drug and alien smuggling,
violent crime, and fraud. Mr. O'Toole has argued
approximately 70 cases in the Ninth Circuit Court of
Appeals, and has over 40 published Ninth Circuit
opinions. From 2000 to 2001, Mr. O' Toole served
as First Assistant United States Attorney, and was
the United States Attorney from 2001 to 2002. Since
2005, he has been working at the San Diego
District Attorney's Office, where he has investigated
and handled public corruption cases, and created a
criminal investigative grand jury system. Mr.
O'Toole's current assignment is in the Appeals and
Training unit, where his practice focuses on
subpoena issues, federal questions, and grand
jury issues.
[Maura Larkins' comment: I don't think it's
necessary to include every single job one
has ever had in one's resume, but I'm
trying to figure out how long Mr. O'Toole
worked for San Diego City Attorney Casey
Gwinn. He must have started at the city
attorney's office on or after September 4,
2002, when Carole Lam took over from
O'Toole as US Attorney. He was working
for the city attorney in April 2005 when
he prosecuted the Hightower case. Mike
Aguirre took over from Casey Gwinn after
the November 2004 election. O'Toole was
probably very disappointed that Leslie
Devaney, the number 2 official in the
office, lost to Mike Aguirre. My guess is
that O'Toole didn't like working for
Aguirre, who didn't share O'Toole's right
wing politics. I doubt that Aguirre had
much use for O'Toole, either, so it's not
surprising that O'Toole left the city
attorney's office in 2005. Leslie
Devaney left the office to go to Stutz,
Artiano, Shinoff & Holtz.
Welcome to the Irish American Bar
Association of San Diego!
Greetings to members and friends of the Irish
American Bar Association of San Diego. The Irish
American Bar Association of San Diego was
founded in 2008 and currently has an active
membership of more than 150. We welcome
everyone from the legal profession whose ties to
Ireland are through either heritage or affinity, and
who wish to embrace and cultivate our common
heritage and culture in the professional arena. We
appreciate your membership and support, and
encourage you to help build the Irish American Bar
Association of San Diego by attending our events
and encouraging your colleagues to become a part
of the network.
The Four Courts, heart of the Irish legal system, on
the River Liffey in Dublin
Our goal is to offer a number of networking events
each year with the active input and participation of
our local members and to broaden our reach as we
grow by connecting with other Irish legal
communities and organizations in California and
beyond.
With your support we look forward to sharing and
promoting our heritage as members and friends of
the Irish American legal community. We look
forward to seeing you at our next event!
Mise le meas,
Patrick O'Toole
President
downloaded August 24, 2010
Board of Directors
Patrick O'Toole, President
Patrick O' Toole graduated magna cum laude and
phi beta kappa from USC in 1975, and from UCLA
School of Law in 1978. He served as an Assistant
United States Attorney from 1982 until 2005, and
tried approximately 100 felony cases, primarily
involving corruption, drug and alien smuggling,
violent crime, and fraud. Mr. O'Toole has argued
approximately 70 cases in the Ninth Circuit Court of
Appeals, and has over 40 published Ninth Circuit
opinions. From 2000 to 2001, Mr. O' Toole served
as First Assistant United States Attorney, and was
the United States Attorney from 2001 to 2002. Since
2005, he has been working at the San Diego
District Attorney's Office, where he has investigated
and handled public corruption cases, and created a
criminal investigative grand jury system. Mr.
O'Toole's current assignment is in the Appeals and
Training unit, where his practice focuses on
subpoena issues, federal questions, and grand
jury issues.
[Maura Larkins' comment: I don't think it's
necessary to include every single job one
has ever had in one's resume, but I'm
trying to figure out how long Mr. O'Toole
worked for San Diego City Attorney Casey
Gwinn. He must have started at the city
attorney's office on or after September 4,
2002, when Carole Lam took over from
O'Toole as US Attorney. He was working
for the city attorney in April 2005 when
he prosecuted the Hightower case. Mike
Aguirre took over from Casey Gwinn after
the November 2004 election. O'Toole was
probably very disappointed that Leslie
Devaney, the number 2 official in the
office, lost to Mike Aguirre. My guess is
that O'Toole didn't like working for
Aguirre, who didn't share O'Toole's right
wing politics. I doubt that Aguirre had
much use for O'Toole, either, so it's not
surprising that O'Toole left the city
attorney's office in 2005. Leslie
Devaney left the office to go to Stutz,
Artiano, Shinoff & Holtz.
Welcome to the Irish American Bar
Association of San Diego!
Greetings to members and friends of the Irish
American Bar Association of San Diego. The Irish
American Bar Association of San Diego was
founded in 2008 and currently has an active
membership of more than 150. We welcome
everyone from the legal profession whose ties to
Ireland are through either heritage or affinity, and
who wish to embrace and cultivate our common
heritage and culture in the professional arena. We
appreciate your membership and support, and
encourage you to help build the Irish American Bar
Association of San Diego by attending our events
and encouraging your colleagues to become a part
of the network.
The Four Courts, heart of the Irish legal system, on
the River Liffey in Dublin
Our goal is to offer a number of networking events
each year with the active input and participation of
our local members and to broaden our reach as we
grow by connecting with other Irish legal
communities and organizations in California and
beyond.
With your support we look forward to sharing and
promoting our heritage as members and friends of
the Irish American legal community. We look
forward to seeing you at our next event!
Mise le meas,
Patrick O'Toole
President
downloaded August 24, 2010
| San Diego Education Report |
| SDER |
San Diego
Education Report
Education Report
| SDER |
| SDER |
| SDER |
| San Diego Education Report |
| SDER |
San Diego
Education Report
Education Report
| SDER |
| SDER |
| SDER |
| Dumanis. |
| . |
Jan. 10, 2013
It appears that Bonnie
has just scratched the
surface of corruption
in schools and colleges
in San Diego.
She kept hands off the
people whose abuse of
power at Miracosta College cost millions, but she's
going hard on people in South Bay who were
involved in small-time shakedowns.
I do not believe that Bonnie is a racist.
It's just that the people in San Diego who have
political clout and are therefore untouchable are
likely to be white.
Bonnie would NOT be in office if her PIU went after
white male Republicans. I imagine she was thrilled
that a couple of them turned up in her South Bay
sweep.
It appears that Bonnie
has just scratched the
surface of corruption
in schools and colleges
in San Diego.
She kept hands off the
people whose abuse of
power at Miracosta College cost millions, but she's
going hard on people in South Bay who were
involved in small-time shakedowns.
I do not believe that Bonnie is a racist.
It's just that the people in San Diego who have
political clout and are therefore untouchable are
likely to be white.
Bonnie would NOT be in office if her PIU went after
white male Republicans. I imagine she was thrilled
that a couple of them turned up in her South Bay
sweep.
Manuel Paul Yolanda Hernandez Yolanda
Salcido
Salcido
Bertha Lopez
6 years later, Patrick O'Toole tries
to shift blame from himself for his
failed prosecution of Steve
Castaneda
Phone Call Raises Questions About
DA Dumanis’ Chula Vista
Investigations
By Amita Sharma
KPBS News
April 21, 2014
...The chief prosecutor in the investigations says
a phone call by Bonnie Dumanis to the then
mayor of Chula Vista should have been disclosed
and the District Attorney's Office should have
recused itself from the probes.
As Bonnie Dumanis campaigns for a fourth term
as district attorney, a prosecutor in her office and
some former elected officials in the South Bay
are raising questions about whether she blurred
the boundary between politics and law
enforcement in a high-profile case six years ago.
At issue is the prosecution of former Chula Vista
Councilman Steve Castaneda, who was accused
in 2008 of lying to a grand jury. A jury acquitted
him on most charges and hung on others.
At the time, the case perplexed people in the
media and legal circles who suspected political
motives. KPBS recently learned of a phone call
Dumanis made in late 2005 that some now say
could lend credence to those suspicions.
...The chief prosecutor in all of those
investigations — Deputy District Attorney Patrick
O’Toole — also declined an interview for this
story.
But he provided a written statement, saying he
was unaware of Dumanis’ call to Padilla until
early 2008, but if he had known about it he
would have insisted the office recuse itself
from prosecuting Castaneda.
O’Toole wrote that he first learned of the call in a
letter from the Chula Vista Better Government
Association, which claimed Dumanis abused her
power by trying to influence the Chula Vista
council appointment process, among other
allegations.
O’Toole said he tried to discuss his
concerns with Dumanis’ top staff member,
Assistant District Attorney Jesse
Rodriguez, but “was interrupted and told
just to do my job,”
O’Toole wrote.
Rodriguez also declined to be interviewed for this
story.
O’Toole said at that point he still doubted
Dumanis had called Padilla to get her own
employee appointed to the vacant Chula
Vista council seat. He said he believed that
if the call had been made, the office would
have told him because of the obvious
conflict of interest.
O’Toole said he got confirmation of that call
around the time of the Castaneda trial in
April 2008. Padilla was a witness in the case.
“Steve Padilla informed me that Bonnie
Dumanis had contacted him and requested
that he appoint Jesse Navarro to the vacant
Chula Vista City Council Position,” O’Toole
wrote. “
I believe that Steve Padilla also offered that he
thought the Castaneda prosecution was
'politically motivated,’ which I thought was strange
because Steve Padilla was saying something
sympathetic to Steve Castaneda when previously
he and Steve Castaneda had each been highly
and publicly critical of the other during the
previous mayoral primary race.”
O’Toole is supporting former federal
prosecutor Bob Brewer in his bid to unseat
Dumanis.
O’Toole said had he known about the call, at the
very least he would have recommended that
Castaneda’s lawyer, Marc Carlos, be told of the
conflict of interest. But O’Toole did not address in
his written statement why he himself didn’t tell
Carlos about the call once Padilla confirmed it.
He declined to answer that question, saying he
would not go beyond what he had put in his
statement already...
to shift blame from himself for his
failed prosecution of Steve
Castaneda
Phone Call Raises Questions About
DA Dumanis’ Chula Vista
Investigations
By Amita Sharma
KPBS News
April 21, 2014
...The chief prosecutor in the investigations says
a phone call by Bonnie Dumanis to the then
mayor of Chula Vista should have been disclosed
and the District Attorney's Office should have
recused itself from the probes.
As Bonnie Dumanis campaigns for a fourth term
as district attorney, a prosecutor in her office and
some former elected officials in the South Bay
are raising questions about whether she blurred
the boundary between politics and law
enforcement in a high-profile case six years ago.
At issue is the prosecution of former Chula Vista
Councilman Steve Castaneda, who was accused
in 2008 of lying to a grand jury. A jury acquitted
him on most charges and hung on others.
At the time, the case perplexed people in the
media and legal circles who suspected political
motives. KPBS recently learned of a phone call
Dumanis made in late 2005 that some now say
could lend credence to those suspicions.
...The chief prosecutor in all of those
investigations — Deputy District Attorney Patrick
O’Toole — also declined an interview for this
story.
But he provided a written statement, saying he
was unaware of Dumanis’ call to Padilla until
early 2008, but if he had known about it he
would have insisted the office recuse itself
from prosecuting Castaneda.
O’Toole wrote that he first learned of the call in a
letter from the Chula Vista Better Government
Association, which claimed Dumanis abused her
power by trying to influence the Chula Vista
council appointment process, among other
allegations.
O’Toole said he tried to discuss his
concerns with Dumanis’ top staff member,
Assistant District Attorney Jesse
Rodriguez, but “was interrupted and told
just to do my job,”
O’Toole wrote.
Rodriguez also declined to be interviewed for this
story.
O’Toole said at that point he still doubted
Dumanis had called Padilla to get her own
employee appointed to the vacant Chula
Vista council seat. He said he believed that
if the call had been made, the office would
have told him because of the obvious
conflict of interest.
O’Toole said he got confirmation of that call
around the time of the Castaneda trial in
April 2008. Padilla was a witness in the case.
“Steve Padilla informed me that Bonnie
Dumanis had contacted him and requested
that he appoint Jesse Navarro to the vacant
Chula Vista City Council Position,” O’Toole
wrote. “
I believe that Steve Padilla also offered that he
thought the Castaneda prosecution was
'politically motivated,’ which I thought was strange
because Steve Padilla was saying something
sympathetic to Steve Castaneda when previously
he and Steve Castaneda had each been highly
and publicly critical of the other during the
previous mayoral primary race.”
O’Toole is supporting former federal
prosecutor Bob Brewer in his bid to unseat
Dumanis.
O’Toole said had he known about the call, at the
very least he would have recommended that
Castaneda’s lawyer, Marc Carlos, be told of the
conflict of interest. But O’Toole did not address in
his written statement why he himself didn’t tell
Carlos about the call once Padilla confirmed it.
He declined to answer that question, saying he
would not go beyond what he had put in his
statement already...