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. Guided by Division Chief David Hendren and Assistant Chief John Rice, the division strives to treat the victims of sexual assaults with compassion, dignity, and respect.
During 2010, the economic downturn forced the attorneys and staff in the Sex Crimes and Stalking Division to work even harder with fewer resources. Attorneys and staff in this division handled significant cases including prosecutions for sexually motivated homicide; sexual assaults by strangers; stalking, sexual assaults by acquaintances; attacks upon developmentally disabled and intoxicated victims; lewd acts with children; stalking; human trafficking; pimping; pandering; prosecutions for failing to properly register as sexual offenders; indecent exposure and civil commitments upon sexually-violent predators.
We continue to see a rise in the prosecution of human trafficking, primarily in conjunction with pimping and pandering charges. Vulnerable young women and minors are being seduced into the underworld of prostitution throughout the county by unscrupulous felons intent upon profiting from this illicit business. The division not only prosecutes the offenders, but works with law enforcement and community based organizations which try to rehabilitate the victims and re-integrate them back into society.
The division is committed to protecting the community from sexually-violent predators through the pursuit of civil commitment petitions resulting in hospitalization and treatment of those offenders found to be a substantial danger to the public. The division works to keep the public informed as sexually violent predators reach the community treatment phase through community notification and public meetings.
Significant cases during 2010 include:
People v. Andre Meade
The defendant, a 28-year-old ex-college football player, met the 21-year-old victim, a German national, at a bar. The defendant spoke to her briefly, bought her a drink, and later followed her out of the bar. When the victim got separated from friends, the defendant told her he would to take her to them in his car. Once the defendant started driving on a freeway the victim realized he wasn't taking her to her friends. The Defendant instead took her to a dark room in a home where he sexually assaulted her, then forced the victim to take a shower where he scrubbed her with rubber gloves.
People v. Haydar Al Khafati
The victim was walking to her car after her shift at a hospital, when the defendant came from behind, grabbed her car keys and demanded her phone or threatened to kill her. The defendant led the victim around a building, down a canyon and stated he wanted to have sex with her. The defendant tied the victim’s arms with a belt, instructed her to lie down, and took items out of her purse. The defendant fled when hospital security approached. The defendant was convicted on all counts and sentenced to life in state prison.
People v. Carlos Diaz
The victim met the defendant at a 99 cent store, went home with him but when she tried to leave his place he punched her in the face and tried to choke her. He held her overnight and repeatedly sexually assaulted her over the course of the evening. The defendant was convicted of numerous sexual assaults and sentenced to 49 years-to-life in state prison.
People v. Robert Carson
A young 24-year-old woman went missing in May 2007, shortly after she had cell phone contact with the defendant. Her body was found two weeks later in a trash dumpster in Cleveland National Forest. The victim suffered at least 10 blows to the head and died of blunt force trauma. Physical evidence found near the body, as well as at the defendant’s home, tied defendant to the murder. The defendant is a sex offender with a history of sexual assaults and ultimately pleaded guilty to the murder and admitted numerous prior offenses and was sentenced to 91 years-to-life in state prison.
People v. Tony Childs
A 16-year-old honor student victim was dropped off at defendant’s house by the victim’s drug addict mother allegedly to receive a ride home. Defendant told the victim that her mom really dropped her off to have sex with the defendant in order to pay off the mom’s drug debt. The defendant then proceeded to sexually assault the young victim. Fortunately, the defendant was convicted of all counts and allegations and is scheduled to be sentenced in January.
People v. Brandon Dawkins
The 31-year-old defendant forced a 15-year-old runaway prostitute to perform acts of prostitution and pay the defendant the money she earned. The jury found defendant guilty of pimping and found true the allegation that the victim was a minor under 16 years of age. The defendant was sentenced to six years in prison.
Cassius Collins v. Sexually-Violent Predator
Mr. Collins had a history of molesting young boys, and the jury found that he still has a diagnosed mental disorder that makes him a danger to others in that he will likely engage in sexually violent criminal behavior in the future. As a result, Mr. Collins is currently living in Coalinga State Hospital while he is being treated for his dangerous disorder.
