Family Protection Division
The Family Protection Division prosecutes crimes of Murder, Domestic Violence, Stalking, 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 Patrick McGrath.
In 2010, there were 611 domestic violence felonies filed in San Diego County and 1,900 domestic violence misdemeanors filed. A total of 324 Child Abuse cases and 20 Internet Crimes Against Children cases were prosecuted in the Family Protection Division. Some 242 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 2010, The District Attorney’s Office sponsored and managed a collaborative grant titled the “North County Family Violence Prevention Center.” This coordinated community response meant that partners from all stake-holding agencies came together to discuss how best to protect Domestic Violence Victims and prevent future violence. The team meets regularly to have “multi-disciplinary” meetings where best practices are used in order to better unite the many systems involved in Domestic Violence prevention.
Elder Abuse
In a true community-partnering effort, our office spearheads a grant titled, “The HOPE Team.” We, along with Adult Protective Services, San Diego Police Department, and The Center for Community Solutions, bring together all agencies with the goal of protecting our seniors. The team meets weekly and discusses individual cases in order to best serve our senior victims. The team makes home visits, assists in legal advice, and even brings care packages to seniors who need them most. 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 705 contacts that led to 177 cases being opened and 89 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, Germany, Peru, Columbia, Guam, Venezuala, Marianna Island, and Taipei.
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 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.
Cases of note in the Family Protection Division during 2010
include:
People v. Lisowski
The defendant killed his wife during a custody dispute and then dumped her body in a dumpster. After a jury convicted him of first-degree murder with a special circumstance of killing for financial gain, defendant took his own life while awaiting his sentencing.
People v. Sergio Conde
A molester was held accountable for molesting several females in his family. The molestations reached back 20 years, and the youngest victim was seven years old. Five of the defendant’s step-granddaughters testified, and the jury convicted defendant of each and every count. Defendant was sentenced to 105 years-to-life for his crimes.
People v. Wilmer
Neighbors heard a woman yelling, “I can’t breathe” and crying for help. The neighbors tried to get the door opened, but the defendant (victim’s husband) held it shut, and then lit the residence on fire. Luckily, neighbors were able to get the victim out, but she suffered a lacerated spleen, swollen and black eyes, a fractured rib, and a burnt larynx, with second-degree burns over her body. The defendant was convicted and will spend years in the state prison.
People v. Galliher
The defendant had been a financial planner in the North County, and had built up an impressive clientele. He was able to manipulate his victims into either “lending” him money for a side business or designate himself as sole trustee for irrevocable family trusts. He would then arrange for some of the victims to purchase life policies and pay premiums annually direct to the defendant. Unknown to the victims, defendant would then take out loans against the policies to the point of making many of the policies worthless. The total losses to the various victims amounted to just short of $1.5 million. This defendant, who had no prior criminal record, was sentenced to 10 years in state prison for his actions.
AWARDS
One Family Protection Division DDA, Per Hellstrom, was recognized by his peers as an Outstanding Prosecutor of the Year, for his work in a double-homicide case.
