Superior Court Division
The Superior Court Division, led by Division Chief Andrea Freshwater and
Assistant Chief Victor Nunez, prosecutes some of the most challenging cases
in the District Attorney’s Office, including kidnapping, assaults, robberies,
attempted murders, and murders. During 2008, the Superior Court Division
had a felony conviction rate of 95 percent.
One of the largest divisions in the office, Superior Court deputies handle all felonies not assigned to a branch or vertical prosecution division and are responsible for more than one third of all felony cases tried by the District Attorney’s Office.
Within the division is the Major Violators Unit, which prosecutes criminals with an extensive felony background, serial bank robbers and other defendants charged with numerous serious felonies who are facing extraordinarily long prison sentences.
In addition, the division handles post-conviction mental health cases for those found to be a danger to the community as a result of mental illness and are thereafter placed in state hospitals.
High-profile cases prosecuted by the Superior Court Division in 2008 include:
People v. Gerald Nash
Allen Hawes, a well-known and much-loved transient, was shot to death by
a man he thought was a friend, Gerald Nash. After murdering Hawes, Nash
dismembered the body and disposed of the torso and limbs at various locations
throughout San Diego County. This chilling evidence was presented to
a jury which found Nash guilty of first-degree murder with a gun. Nash
was subsequently sentenced to 50 years-to-life in prison.
People v. Seth Cravens
Cravens, along with a notorious group known as the Bird Rock Bandits attacked
and killed Emery Kauanaui, a promising local pro surfer. Kauanui was
attacked outside of his La Jolla home by members of the group. During
the attack, Cravens punched Kauanui in the head, rendering him unconscious
and causing him to fall backward onto the street. A skull fracture and
significant brain injuries resulted in Kauanui's death four days later.
Cravens was convicted of second-degree murder and six other violent crimes.
The other defendants pled guilty to involuntary manslaughter
and accessory to a felony.
