Sex Crimes & Stalking Division

The Sex Crimes and Stalking Division is composed of a highly-trained and specialized team of Deputy District Attorneys, District Attorney Investigators, paralegals and secretaries dedicated to the aggressive and just prosecution of perpetrators of sexual assault and stalking crimes.

The division also treats the victims of those serious crimes with compassion, dignity, and respect. Guided by Division Chief David Hendren and Assistant Chief John Rice, the division led the state during 2008 in proactive prosecution and utilization of cutting-edge technology including GPS (Global Positioning System) to vigorously prosecute and enforce the registration requirement of sex offenders.

The division is committed to protecting the community from sexually-violent predators by the strict application of the law to commit those qualified predators, and by notifying and informing the public about any anticipated releases of sexually-violent predators. The division is on the cutting-edge of implementing Proposition 83, also known as Jessica’s Law, and protects the community by committing sexually violent predators for indeterminate terms, and has already taken advantage of new Internet luring laws authorized under Jessica’s Law.

During 2008 the Division continued its partnership in the innovative P.R.I.C.E. initiative designed to prevent rape by intoxication through community education in partnership with local law enforcement agencies, universities, victim advocacy groups, and health-based organizations.

The division also sustained its unrelenting commitment to prosecuting human trafficking cases under the new human trafficking law adopted by California in 2005. The division’s lawyers continue to lead the state in the area of sex offenders, stalking and sex offender management, as many of the division’s prosecutors taught throughout the state on these issues.

During 2008, the attorneys in this division each handled significant cases including prosecutions for sexual assaults by strangers; sexual assaults by acquaintances; attacks upon developmentally disabled victims; stalking; human trafficking; prosecutions for failing to properly register as sexual offenders; and civil commitments upon sexually-violent predators.

Significant cases include:

People v. Donald Smith, Antonio Washington and Willie Watkins
A home invasion against four young students who were inside a Mission Beach apartment. Three men entered the home with guns, robbed the victims and committed sexual assaults. Each of the assailants was convicted after a jury trial in 2008 and sentenced to multiple life terms for their crimes.

People v. D’Andre Smith
A defendant prosecuted for raping two elderly North Park women in their homes in the same week. He was sentenced in 2008 to 50 years-to-life.

People v. Teddy Baek
The defendant was sexually-violating women in their homes in the University City area and was apprehended and prosecuted by the Sex Crimes and Stalking Division in 2008. He was convicted and sentenced to 90 years-to-life in prison.

AWARDS

The Sex Crimes and Stalking Division’s outstanding lawyers received numerous awards for their work during 2008:

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