Branch Offices
East County Branch | North County Branch | South Bay BranchThe District Attorney maintains three branch offices to better serve the needs of different areas of San Diego County. The Juvenile Division is also located off site.
East County Branch
The District Attorney’s East County Branch is located in El Cajon. The branch serves 535,000 residents and covers more than 2,000 square miles. DDA Glenn McAllister serves as Division Chief and DDA Jim Romo serves as Assistant Chief. During 2009, the branch took 40 felony and 65 misdemeanor cases to trial, in addition to those tried by the branch’s Gang and Family Protection Divisions. More than 94 percent of cases were settled prior to trial, providing a significant cost savings to law enforcement and the public without any change in disposition guidelines.
Because of its location and proximity to rural stretches of the international border, the East County Branch often deals with cases involving the smuggling of drugs and human cargo. These smugglers often flee from law enforcement endangering both the public and their human cargo. In addition, the branch often handles DUI cases that result in fatalities on rural roads. Presently we are working in cooperation with the California Highway Patrol and the Sheriff’s Office in developing State Route 67 into a “safety corridor.” The combination of increased enforcement and road improvements has reduced accidents over the last year.
Prosecutors in the East County Branch are also experienced in homicide, sexual assault, child molestation, and a large volume of property crime, drug offenses, and DUI cases.
Cases of note that the branch handled in 2009 include:
People vs. Jean Rices and Anthony Miller
Division Chief Glenn McAllister and DDA Jennifer Kaplan prosecuted these defendants for the robbery and murder of two victims at the Granada Liquor Store in El Cajon. The defendant Rices was convicted and sentenced to death. Defendant Miller was convicted and will receive a life sentence.
People vs. McCauley and Bernal
Assistant Division Chief Jim Romo and DDA Martin Doyle prosecuted these defendants
for two murders – one at a 7/11 store in Lemon Grove and the other in Murrieta,
California. Both defendants were convicted and are serving life sentences
without the possibility of parole.
People v. Robert Carson
DDAs John Rice and Marlene Coyne are prosecuting this defendant for the attempted
rape and murder of a young East County woman.
The East County Branch office proudly participates in the Diversity Pipeline and Mock Trial programs aimed at introducing the youth of East County to our criminal justice system and the potential for careers in criminal justice.
North County Branch
The
North County Branch of the District Attorney's Office serves about one
third of San Diego County’s population – some one million residents. Ten
law enforcement agencies, including six sheriff’s substations submit crime
reports to the North County Branch for prosecution. The branch was led
during the year by Chief Summer Stephan and Assistant Chief Garland Peed.
During 2009, this branch handled 16,615 criminal cases including the prosecution of 21 homicide cases, 25 vehicular manslaughter cases and 134 sex crime cases.
Some of the branch’s most important cases included:
People v. Derlyn Threats
The defendant murdered a 24-year old mother and wife when she returned
to her home and interrupted a burglary. The defendant brutally tortured
and stabbed the victim to death. DDA Pat Espinoza and his team tried
this murder and special circumstance case. The jury returned guilty verdicts
and determined that the death penalty was appropriate.
People v. Frank Lewis
The defendant shot and killed an innocent young woman seated in the passenger
seat of a car. The defendant shot at the driver of the vehicle but the
bullet grazed the driver and went into the victim, killing her. DDA Brendan
McHugh and his team tried this case to a jury who convicted the defendant
of murder. He was sentenced to 110 years-to-life.
People v. Stacey Dejourney
The defendant, who was sex registrant, sexually assaulted a developmentally
disabled victim. DDA Kate Flaherty and her team received guilty verdicts
that assured that defendant would not prey on the public again.
South Bay Branch
The South Bay Branch of the District Attorney’s Office is located in the city of Chula Vista. The branch handles all misdemeanors and felonies that occur in Chula Vista, National City, Imperial Beach, San Ysidro and Coronado. The branch also prosecutes cases from R. J. Donovan State Prison and the county detention facilities in East Mesa.
The office works in conjunction with the Department of Homeland Security in prosecuting cases that involve drug smuggling and stolen vehicles that occur at the Port of Entry at the U.S./Mexico border.
During 2009, the South Bay Branch was led by Branch Chief Gregg McClain and Assistant Chief Sherry Thompson.
The South Bay Branch does general prosecution and also houses deputies from the Gangs, Family Protection and Narcotics Divisions. These specialized units work closely with local law enforcement agencies to prosecute the most difficult types of crimes.
The South Bay Branch working in conjunction with the Chula Vista Police Department has an Office of Traffic Safety Grant which places an emphasis on reducing the high number of alcohol-related traffic injuries and deaths as well as offenders with multiple DUIs. DDA Cally Bright has led the effort to educate the public and military personnel on the dangers of drinking and driving.
The branch routinely handles approximately 5,000 felony cases during the
course of a year.
Cases of note for 2009 included:
People v. Carl
The defendant and victim were inmates at Donovan State Prison. The defendant
severely beat the victim inflicting serious head injuries. The victim died
six months later. DDA Hector Jimenez successfully prosecuted the defendant
and obtained a first-degree murder conviction.
People v. Diaz
The defendant had two passengers in his car and drove over
100 miles per hour. The defendant flipped his car. One passenger died and
the other was seriously injured. The defendant’s blood alcohol level was
.22 and he has two prior DUI’s. The case is pending.
People v. Manzo
The defendant pulled the truck he was driving into a parking lot, shot
and killed a passenger and attempted to shoot another passenger in the
truck. DDA Rick Clabby and investigator Al Mendoza did an excellent job
of locating witnesses and directing forensic testing on the gun. The jury
convicted the defendant of first-degree murder.
