Family Protection Division
The Family Protection Division prosecutes crimes of murder, domestic violence, crimes against children, and elder abuse. The division strongly supports victims of crime and works closely with criminal justice agencies and community partners. The division is led by Chief Kimberlee Lagotta and Assistant Chief Tracy Prior.
In 2008, there were 678 domestic violence felonies filed in San Diego County and 2,014 domestic violence misdemeanors filed. A total of 295 child abuse cases and 25 Internet crimes against children cases were prosecuted in the Family Protection Division. More than 200 Elder Abuse cases were filed by our office.
Domestic Violence
Today’s misdemeanor can be tomorrow’s homicide. The DA’s Office has specially-trained DDAs across the county handling only misdemeanor domestic violence, from the earliest stage (issuing) all the way through the trial. This vertical handling of the caseload ensures better courtroom efficiency, better perpetrator accountability, and better victim safety.
In 2008, The District Attorney’s Office coordinated the updating of the “San Diego County Law Enforcement Protocol” which promotes consistency among the various police agencies in their investigations of Domestic Violence incidents. Additionally, we facilitated training for every First Responding Law Enforcement Officer that focuses on Children Exposed to Domestic Violence as a serious community concern and public safety issue. Finally, our office partnered with various community agencies to provide a “one-stop-shop” for domestic violence victims in both North County and East County at Family Justice Centers dedicated to serving victims and their families.
Elder Abuse
In a true community-partnering effort, our office (along with Adult Protective Services, San Diego Police Department, and San Diego State University) works within the Archstone Project and provides one-on-one personal services to elderly victims, such as home visits, advocacy, assistance with health and other home-care projects, and court-accompaniment. Specially trained DDAs and victim advocates have proven that rapport and relationships with our elder victims endure well beyond the prosecution of any particular case.
Child Abduction Unit
The Child Abduction Unit was busy with 571 contacts that led to 215 cases being opened and 93 children recovered. Our specially-trained Investigators and DDAs not only recover children locally, but consult and assist internationally, with countries such as Russia, France, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, and Germany.
Internet Crimes Against Children
The Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force (ICAC) is comprised of law enforcement officers and prosecutors from the local, state, and national levels who work together to reduce the online sexual exploitation of children. The unit has three deputy district attorneys specially-trained in prosecuting the exploitation of children on the Internet. Efforts include full-time online investigation of Internet predators, aggressive prosecution of offenders, as well as community outreach to schools and parents.
Two prosecutors in the Family Protection Division were honored in 2008: DDA Kelly Mok was recognized by North County law enforcement for her dedication to domestic violence victims and partnering with Oceanside Police Department. DDA Dan Link was awarded one of “San Diego’s Top 40 Prosecutors for 2008” by the San Diego Daily Transcript.
Cases of note in the Family Protection Division during 2008 include:
People v. Orta
This one-man-crime spree defendant sexually-assaulted his live-in-girlfriend
for more than five hours, stole her car, drank alcohol, and fled from
police, causing a high-speed pursuit. He drove more than 100 miles per
hour and ultimately crashed his girlfriend’s car. The prosecution resulted
in criminal convictions and three strikes legislation enabled the DA’s
office to secure a 29 years to-life sentence.
People v. Duarte
The defendant threw the mother of his child off a second story balcony,
killing her. The victim’s 12-year-old daughter witnessed the violence.
The defendant was convicted of murder and child endangerment and will
spend the rest of his life in prison.
People v. Jack Lewis
The defendant repeatedly beat, battered, sexually-assaulted and tortured
his live-in girlfriend with his fists, flashlights, and other objects,
then left her in their apartment to die. The defendant was convicted
of first-degree murder and the special circumstance of torture. He received
a sentence of life in state prison without the possibility of parole.
People v. Chillis
The defendant chased down his estranged wife as she was leaving her workplace,
stabbing her 21 times. The defendant was convicted of first-degree murder
and special circumstances. He received a life sentence without the possibility
of parole.
