Victims' Names are Never Made Public

Names of sexual assault and domestic violence victims are not named in Riverside County cases. This is because the Southwest staff - with the 100% cooperation of law enforcement agencies throughout the county - helped implement a plan that keeps confidential the names of sexual assault and domestic violence victims. The victim's name is kept off the police reports and other court documents so that the name can never be released to the public - either accidentally or purposely.

Recent cases of sexual assault and domestic violence:

• The son of a daycare provider often helped his mother by watching young children. He molested a 5-year-old girl over a short period of time; however, a 7-year-old girl knew about the molestation. He was convicted of 13 felony counts of child molestation with a special allegation.
• This violent man threatened to kill his wife and, once he made bail on the threat, to kill his mother-in-law. The prosecutor was able to show past incidents of domestic violence and a child witness to help prove the first threat. He was sent to prison.
• This 47-year-old hit his 62-year-old girlfriend because she had forgotten to get him his medicine. Later, with a knife, he threatened to cut her stomach out because he was in such pain. The girlfriend was able to call 911; the boyfriend, a third striker, faces a life sentence in state prison.

Return to Top

Drug Court - 8:30 am to 4:00 pm - Everyday

All day, every day, drug cases are being disposed of in this court in one of these ways: felony settlement conferences, diversion, Proposition 36 (rehabilitation programs), violation of probation hearings, the early disposition calendar (EDP), or preliminary hearing.

In EDP, from the earliest appearance of a defendant on a drug case, all parties engage in an effort to resolve the cases where justice would permit a disposition. This program saves the citizens time and money, and the defendants begin their individual programs or begin to serve their sentences at once.

In 2004, the team of seven lawyers handled drug cases in these numbers:

• In one drug case that went to trial, the defendant was charged with multiple drug violations when he offered crack cocaine to an undercover vice officer as part of her potential compensation. After the offer was made, the police arrested the defendant and found on his person 8 rocks of crack cocaine. He was convicted of sales and transportation.
• In another drug case, the defendant was charged with multiple counts of possession of heroin for sale. On three separate occasions he was found in possession of large quantities of heroin, thousands of dollars in cash, and various firearms. In one arrest he swallowed some heroin so it couldn't be weighed. This drug dealer was convicted on all counts and enhancements - even for the event where the drugs could not be recovered.

Prosecutions make the Southwest area safer for the citizens of that region.

Other recent cases include these:

• Two men with nylons over their heads robbed a Shell convenience store in Murrieta, taking cash and cigarettes. They were stopped within minutes and later were convicted of robbery.
• This man approached a woman who was loading groceries into her car and demanded her keys and her purse. He drove off in her car but was pursued by police. During a high-speed chase he crashed into a semi and was later convicted of carjacking, robbery, and felony evasion of law enforcement.
• This defendant hit another man in the face with a steel pipe as the second man argued with his wife; a few months later, the defendant fired a shot at two men with whom he was in a road-rage incident; and within the same month he was found involved in the burglary of a local school - with a loaded handgun in his backpack. This dangerous man was convicted of eight felony counts including assault with a firearm and use of a firearm.
• A bus driver told his wife he was a San Bernardino Sheriff's Deputy. Soon thereafter he confronted two young adults and told them they would "catch a bullet" if he had to show them his badge. His wife called the police. And the bus driver, who had law enforcement equipment at his house, was convicted of terrorist threats and possessing illegal weapons.
• This defendant threatened to "beat someone" because his payment had been shorted for yard work he had performed for the victim. He crashed his king cab truck through the victim's front yard; and when he saw the victim's girlfriend on the phone, he dared her to call the police. And then, with a gun, threatened to kill her. He was convicted of terrorist threats with a firearm, assault with a firearm, and assault with his truck.
• After his son's birthday party, this father drove drunk with his son and other children in the car. He sped and raced through the streets of Lake Elsinore. After running several red lights, he crashed into another car killing a 13-year-old passenger and injuring several others. He was convicted of second-degree murder.

Return to Top