DeNeille Thompson pleads not guilty in local embezzlement case

Posted: Friday, April 15, 2011 12:00 am | Updated: 8:38 am, Fri Apr 15, 2011.

DeNeille Thompson pleads not guilty in local embezzlement case By Jordan Guinn
News-Sentinel Staff Writer Lodi News-Sentinel | 0 comments

DeNeille Richie Thompson, 61, entered a not guilty plea against four felony charges in Lodi Superior Court on Thursday morning. Thompson is charged with conspiracy, forgery, falsification of documents and grand theft.

Thompson's wife, Cheryl Jacobson-Thompson, 53, was arrested Jan. 26 for allegedly embezzling nearly $250,000 from Tokay Glass company. The prosecution alleges the embezzlement began in 2005 and that Thompson took $43,000 during that time.

Thompson was arrested Tuesday and his wife's case was amended to add him to the charges. A request from Thompson's attorney to be released on his own recognizance was denied and his bail was set at $78,000.

During his request, attorney Lance Jacot said Thompson has appeared at court hearings for his wife and isn't a flight risk. Thompson works as an entertainer in Las Vegas and would return for his next scheduled court date, Jacot said. District Attorney Stephen Taylor countered by saying he didn't have any knowledge of full-time work for Thompson.

"He's worked two times in two years," Taylor said. "If he were employed, it would be news to us."

Contact reporter Jordan Guinn at jordang@lodinews.com .

Lodi Criminal attorney Lance Jacot was able to get all of the charges dismissed against his client (see story below).  If you have been charged with a crime in Lodi, Tracy, Manteca, Stockton, or anywhere in San Joaquin County contact criminal defense attorney Lance Jacot at (209) 463-1800 for a free consultation.

Lodian admits to grand theft

Bookkeeper Cheryl Jacobson-Thompson pleads guilty to embezzling nearly $250K from Tokay Glass

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Cheryl Jacobson-Thompson

Posted: Thursday, April 28, 2011 12:00 am | Updated: 6:14 am, Fri Apr 29, 2011.

Lodian admits to grand theft By Jordan Guinn
News-Sentinel Staff Writer Lodi News-Sentinel | 0 comments

Cheryl Jacobson-Thompson, 53, pled guilty to grand theft Wednesday afternoon in Lodi Superior Court. Jacobson-Thompson was arrested Jan. 26 for embezzling nearly $250,000 from Tokay Glass Company over a period of several years.

“She admits the embezzlement exceeds $200,000 and will be sentenced Aug. 1,” said District Attorney Stephen Taylor. “She will be held without bail at county jail in French Camp until then.”

The plea deal comes with a 3-year prison sentence, Taylor said.

Jacobson-Thompson’s attorney, John Soldati, declined to comment on Wednesday’s plea.

“It’s still an open plea at this time,” he said. “I have no comment at this time.”

Jacobson-Thompson’s husband, DeNeille Thompson, 61, had the charges against him dropped, Taylor said. Thompson was charged with conspiracy, theft, forgery and falsifying books at Tokay Glass. Thompson had been included in the charges because photographs taken at a Wells Fargo bank appeared to show him cashing forged checks.

However, charges against Thompson were dropped because his wife said she told him they were her paychecks that he was cashing, Taylor said. The checks Thompson cashed came on the 1st and 15th of the month, days that are commonly paydays, Taylor said.

“Cheryl insisted he knew nothing,” Taylor said. “The law requires there to be an intent to steal.”

While the charges were dropped, they can be re-filed against Thompson if new evidence is uncovered, Taylor said. He also remains in custody on an unrelated charge for a misdemeanor in Los Angeles, Taylor said.

As part of her plea, Jacobson-Thompson will testify under oath about how she spent the money over the years. Her testimony will be key in the civil suit between Tokay Glass Company and Georgia Martin Accounting, the company Jacobson-Thompson worked for.

While she did the books for Tokay Glass Company, Jacobson-Thompson was not an employee of the company. She was employed by Georgia Martin Accounting and worked on a contract basis for Tokay Glass. The glass company is suing the bookkeeping agency, Taylor said.

While the district attorney’s office works to recoup embezzled money in cases like these, Taylor said Tokay Glass may never see the hundreds of thousands of dollars Jacobson-Thompson took again.

“That money is spent and gone,” he said.

Contact reporter Jordan Guinn at jordang@lodinews.com.

 

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STOCKTON - A 21-year-old woman wanted in connection with a drive-by killing in April was arrested Wednesday upon her return to the United States.

The San Joaquin County Sheriff's Office said Georgina Nunez fled to Mexico after the fatal shooting April 5 in Boggs Tract of Eduardo Cornejo. Acting on information they'd received that she would return, detectives were waiting for her at San Jose International Airport. Nunez was arrested and booked on suspicion of murder and two counts of attempted murder.

The investigation of Cornejo's killing took a strange turn in December, when deputies serving a search warrant at a home in the 5100 block of East Main Street discovered a 25-year-old man who had been kidnapped and tortured.

One woman and four men have been charged with that crime.

Stockton criminal defense lawyer Lance Jacot of The Jacot Law Firm has represented many persons acussed of serious crimes and has handled many high profile homicide cases.  If you are in need of a dedicated and experienced criminal defense attorney in Stockton, Modesto, Sacramento, or any where in the greater Central Valley contact Stockton homicde attorney Lance Jacot toll free at 866-572-2084.

Camel caller

If you need a criminal defense attorney who will fight for you, and has been described as a rising star in the Stockton criminal defense community, then contact Lance Jacot of The Jacot Law Firm for a free consultation. 

www.Jacotlawfirm.com LJacot@Jacotlawfirm.com

STOCKTON - A 20-year-old Stockton man charged with two murders dismissed his attorneys Monday, including one highly regarded for handling high-profile capital murder cases.

Percy Lamonte Camel faces a potential death sentence on charges he shot two men in separate incidents within three months. Camel and his attorneys met in private with the judge to discuss their difficulties.

After the closed hearing, San Joaquin County Superior Court Judge George Abdallah said he ruled in favor of Camel, relieving the two attorneys of the case. The judge did not say why Camel wanted new counsel or why he granted Camel's request.

Camel had been represented by San Joaquin County Chief Deputy Public Defender Miriam Lyell, who recently brought on San Francisco attorney Michael Burt to help her.

Burt has led or assisted in the defenses of Lyle Menendez, Charles Ng, Richard Ramirez and Cary Stayner. Recently, he assisted in the defense of Melissa Huckaby of Tracy.

For her part, Lyell last year defended an emergency room doctor of charges that he stole a dead patient's Rolex watch. A jury exonerated him.

Camel is charged with the Dec. 1, 2009, slaying of Roberto Hernandez, 21, at Amsterdam Place and Skyline Drive. He also is charged with the Feb. 7, 2010, killing of Francisco Bernardino, 24, at Mariposa and Farmington roads.

Upon dismissing the two attorneys, Abdallah assigned private Stockton attorney Lance Jacot to represent Camel. Walking into court, Jacot held a hushed meeting with Camel, who indicated he accepted Jacot.

Camel returns to court April 20.

Contact reporter Scott Smith at (209) 546-8296 or ssmith@recordnet.com. Visit his blog at recordnet.com/smithblog.

Stockton criminal defense attorney Lance Jacot has represented defendants accused of serious crimes for over a decade.  He is qualified to handle the most serious type of cases, including capital homicide cases.  If you need the services of a highly qualified and dedicated criminal defense attorney in Stockton, CA then contact attorney Lance Jacot at the Jacot Law Firm for a free consultation.

Stockton attorney Lance Jacot can be reached 24 hours a day at (209) 463-1800 or through his website at www.Jacotlawfirm.com or email at LJacot@Jacotlawfirm.com.

Vandalism, also known as malicious mischief, is a serious crime in California involving the intentional destruction of the property of another. It is often committed out of anger, boredom, revenge, defiance, or during peer pressured dares or pranks. Though vandalism is a property crime generally considered less serious than a crime against a person, the consequences can be severe in California regardless of arguably mitigating circumstances such as youth, artistic expression, or political demonstration. 

"Every person who maliciously commits any of the following acts with respect to any real or personal property not his or her own, in cases other than those specified by state law, is guilty of vandalism: (1) Defaces with graffiti or other inscribed material. (2) Damages. (3) Destroys."

Examples of acts of vandalism under PC § 594(a) include breaking objects, ransacking property, slashing tires, keying paint, removing car emblems, doing graffiti, and salting lawns.

Additionally, the California penal code has special provisions under sections 594 and 640 covering certain acts of vandalism relating to 1) use of noxious or caustic chemicals, etc.); 2) possession of vandalism tools (aerosol paint, drill bit, glass cutter, chisel, etc); and 3) distinct locations (religious sites, government facilities, highways, etc.).

Vandalism can be prosecuted as a misdemeanor or felony, and potentially carry steep fines (from $1,000 to $50,000), jail or prison time, probation, restitution, and community service.  The punishments vary greatly depending on the amount of damage, gang enhancements, hate implications and prior convictions. A vandalism conviction leaves you with a permanent criminal record. 

If you have been charged with vandalism, you need to contact a law firm that has experience in dealing with these specialized types of cases.  The Jacot Law Firm has the expertise and dedication to fight and win your case.  Contact attorney Lance Jacot right away for a free consultation.  Call toll free 24 hours a day 888-823-4883.

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By Christian Burkin

Record Staff Writer

May 28, 2010 12:00 AM

STOCKTON - A man found beaten unconscious in January in the backyard of a south Stockton home died Tuesday.

Officer Pete Smith, a spokesman for the Stockton Police Department, said the death of 43-year-old Joseph Sandoval had not yet been ruled a homicide. Investigators were still waiting for the Coroner's Office to link the exact cause of death to the beating.

"We have to have a definitive nexus between his death and his injuries," Smith said.

Sandoval was found around 11:30 a.m. Jan. 24, lying on the ground in the backyard of a home in the 1400 block of South American Street. He was taken to San Joaquin General Hospital, where doctors found he was bleeding internally. Investigators found what they thought was a crime scene in a standalone building in the backyard.

The white clapboard home was condemned as a public hazard by the city on Jan. 25, according to documents still posted near its front door Thursday morning. The home stands out among its neighbors, which are generally well-kept. Araceli Gonzalez, who lives nearby, said it was once one of the nicest on the block.

"And now it's basically a crack house," she said. "Everyone on Charter Way knows that house is empty."

The home's windows and doors were boarded over with plywood, except for one window in the back, which appeared to have been pried open. Beneath that window, a man was taking a nap. He awoke and prepared to move on, insisting he had only stopped for a moment. He said he knew Sandoval, but not well.

"I just knew him from the streets," he said. He declined to give his own name.

Contact reporter Christian Burkin at (209) 546-8279 or cburkin@recordnet.com. Visit his blog at recordnet.com/burkinblog.

Contact The Jacot Law Firm at 888-823-4883.

DEJ

For violations of certain specified drug crimes, a defendant may be eligible to participate in a deferred entry of judgment program.  Deferred entry of judgment (DEJ) is the suspension of criminal proceedings for a proscribed period of time with certain conditions and a defendant's guilty plea.  If a defendant is found to be eligible for DEJ, he or she must plead guilty to the crime charged and waive time for the entry of judgment.  Entry of judgment on the defendant's plea is then deferred pending successful completion of a drug program.  Should the defendant successfully complete the program, criminal proceedings against the defendant are dismissed, and the defendant may legally answer that he or she has never been arrested for, nor charged with, the offense.  Should the defendant not successfully complete the program, however, the court will enter judgment and schedule a sentencing hearing.

Proposition 36

Proposition 36 was passed by the electorate on November 7, 2000, and became effective July 1, 2001.  It mandates program and drug treatment for defendants convicted of a "nonviolent drug possession offense."  It prohibits incarceration as an initial term of probation, but does permit incarceration for a subsequent violation of probation.  The proposition also establishes procedures for violations of probation or parole that involve nonviolent drug offenses.  If the defendant successfully completes the drug treatment program, the defendant may petition the sentencing court to dismiss all charges against him or her.  If the court finds that the defendant has successfully completed the program and has substantially complied with the conditions of probation, the courtmust set aside and dismiss the indictment or information against the defendant.  The arrest will be deemed never to have occurred.  Notwithstanding the dismissal, the defendant remains subject to restriction on possession of concealable firearm, and must disclose the arrest and conviction in response to any law enforcement inquiry.  The defendant must also disclose the arrest and conviction in any application for public office, peace officer employment, licensing by any state or local agency, contracting with the state lottery, or purposes of serving on a jury.

Penal Code section 290 Registration:

Defendants who are convicted of certain sex crimes, or the attempt to commit them,for the rest of his or her life while residing in California, shall be required to register with the chief of police of the city in which he or she is residing, or the sheriff of the county if he or she is residing in an unincorporated area or city that has no police department, and, additionally, with the chief of police of a campus of the University of California, the California State University, or community college if he or she is residing upon the campus or in any of its facilities, within five working days of coming into, or changing his or her residence within, any city, county, or city and county, or campus in which he or she temporarily resides, and shall be required to register thereafter in accordance with the Act.

The following persons shall be required to register:

 Any person who, since July 1, 1944, has been or is hereafter convicted in any court in this state or in any federal or military court of a violation of Section 187 committed in the perpetration, or an attempt to perpetrate, rape or any act punishable under Section 286, 288, 288a, or 289, Section 207 or 209 committed with intent to violate Section 261, 286, 288, 288a, or 289, Section 220, except assault to commit mayhem, Section 243.4, paragraph (1), (2), (3), (4), or (6) of subdivision (a) of Section 261, paragraph (1) of subdivision (a) of Section 262 involving the use of force or violence for which the person is sentenced to the state prison, Section 264.1, 266, or 266c, subdivision (b) of Section 266h, subdivision (b) of Section 266i, Section 266j, 267, 269, 285, 286, 288, 288a, 288.3, 288.4, 288.5, 288.7, 289, or 311.1, subdivision (b), (c), or (d) of Section 311.2, Section 311.3, 311.4, 311.10, 311.11, or 647.6, former Section 647a, subdivision (c) of Section 653f, subdivision 1 or 2 of Section 314, any offense involving lewd or lascivious conduct under Section 272, or any felony violation of Section 288.2; any statutory predecessor that includes all elements of one of the above-mentioned offenses; or any person who since that date has been or is hereafter convicted of the attempt or conspiracy to commit any of the above-mentioned offenses.

Special Sentencing Rules for Certain Sex Crimes:    

          An entirely separate sentencing scheme applies if certain enumerated sex offenses are perpetrated on a single victim on a single occasion.  When a defendant is convicted of one or more enumerated sex crimes, the trial court has discretion to ignore the usual rule of Penal Code section 1170.1(a) limiting consecutive terms to one-third the midterm.  Instead, the court may sentence some or all of the enumerated sex crimes under Penal Code section 667.6(e), which allows full-term consecutive sentences.  Therefore, the trial court has two decisions:

        ● Whether the terms should be concurrent or consecutive; and

● Whether any consecutive terms for the enumerated sex crimes should be imposed under 1170.1(a) (one-third the midterm) or under 667.6(e) (full consecutive terms).

If a defendant is convicted of enumerated sex offenses committed against different victims, or against the same victim on different occasions, Penal Code 667.6(d) requires full consecutive sentences.  This means the Penal Code section 1170.1(a) one-third the midterm formula does not apply.  The court has the usual discretion to choose between, and state reasons for, the lower, middle, or upper base term.  However, no statement of reasons is necessary for the mandatory consecutive terms. Under these circumstances, leniency may only be expressed by imposing consecutive full lower terms.

  Penal Code section 667.6, states:

  (a) Any person who is convicted of an offense specified in subdivision (e) and who has been convicted previously of any of those offenses shall receive a five-year enhancement for each of those prior convictions.

(b) Any person who is convicted of an offense specified in subdivision (e) and who has served two or more prior prison terms as defined in Section 667.5 for any of those offenses shall receive a 10-year enhancement for each of those prior terms.

(c) In lieu of the term provided in Section 1170.1, a full, separate, and consecutive term may be imposed for each violation of an offense specified in subdivision (e) if the crimes involve the same victim on the same occasion. A term may be imposed consecutively pursuant to this subdivision if a person is convicted of at least one offense specified in subdivision (e). If the term is imposed consecutively pursuant to this subdivision, it shall be served consecutively to any other term of imprisonment, and shall commence from the time the person otherwise would have been released from imprisonment. The term shall not be included in any determination pursuant to Section 1170.1. Any other term imposed subsequent to that term shall not be merged therein but shall commence at the time the person otherwise would have been released from prison.

(d) A full, separate, and consecutive term shall be served imposed for each violation of an offense specified in subdivision (e) if the crimes involve separate victims or involve the same victim on separate occasions.

 In determining whether crimes against a single victim were committed on separate occasions under this subdivision, the court shall consider whether, between the commission of one sex crime and another, the defendant had a reasonable opportunity to reflect upon his or her actions and nevertheless resumed sexually assaultive behavior. Neither the duration of time between crimes, nor whether or not the defendant lost or abandoned his or her opportunity to attack, shall be, in and of itself, determinative on the issue of whether the crimes in question occurred on separate occasions.

 The term shall be served consecutively to any other term of imprisonment and shall commence from the time the person otherwise would have been released from imprisonment. The term shall not be included in any determination pursuant to Section 1170.1. Any other term imposed subsequent to that term shall not be merged therein but shall commence at the time the person otherwise would have been released from prison.

(e) This section shall apply to the following offenses:

 (1) Rape, in violation of paragraph (2), (3), (6), or (7) of subdivision (a) of Section 261.

 (2) Spousal rape, in violation of paragraph (1), (4), or (5) of subdivision (a) of Section 262.

 (3) Rape, spousal rape, or sexual penetration, in concert, in violation of Section 264.1.

 (4) Sodomy, in violation of paragraph (2) or (3) of subdivision (c), or subdivision (d) or (k), of Section 286.

 (5) Lewd or lascivious act, in violation of subdivision (b) of Section 288.

 (6) Continuous sexual abuse of a child, in violation of Section 288.5.

 (7) Oral copulation, in violation of paragraph (2) or (3) of subdivision (c), or subdivision (d) or (k), of Section 288a.

 (8)  Sexual penetration, in violation of subdivision (a) or (g) of Section 289.

 (9) As a present offense under subdivision (c) or (d), assault with intent to commit a specified sexual offense, in violation of Section 220.

 (10) As a prior conviction under subdivision (a) or (b), an offense committed in another jurisdiction that includes all of the elements of an offense specified in this subdivision.

(f) In addition to any enhancement imposed pursuant to subdivision (a) or (b), the court may also impose a fine not to exceed twenty thousand dollars ($20,000) for anyone sentenced under those provisions. The fine imposed and collected pursuant to this subdivision shall be deposited in the Victim-Witness Assistance Fund to be available for appropriation to fund child sexual exploitation and child sexual abuse victim counseling centers and prevention programs established pursuant to Section 13837. If the court orders a fine to be imposed pursuant to this subdivision, the actual administrative cost of collecting that fine, not to exceed 2 percent of the total amount paid, may be paid into the general fund of the county treasury for the use and benefit of the county.

If you or a loved one has been accused of a sexual offense you need to contact Attorney Lance Jacot at The Jacot Law Firm for a free consultation.

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By  Scott Smith

Record Staff Writer

May 16, 2010 12:00 AM

STOCKTON - Police monitoring downtown surveillance cameras tipped off a pair of bicycle patrol officers to a large brawl Friday night at Dean De Carli Waterfront Square, netting a total of five arrests, the Stockton Police Department reported Saturday.

The arresting officer had to manhandle hostile teens - one armed with a large, fixed blade hunting knife and a second who tried to kick and spit at them even after his arrest, officers reported.

The first of two related incidents happened at about 9 p.m., when the camera operator told two officers about the large group of young people fighting. DeCarli Square is at 141 North El Dorado Street opposite the City Centre Stadium 16 + IMAX movie theater.

Upon arriving, the crowd had scattered, but officers tried talking to two boys - ages 16 and 17. The 17-year-old ran and pulled out the hunting knife, police reported. But he fell, dropping the knife, police said, adding that the boy took a fighting stance once he got up.

An officer hit the boy once on the arm with a baton, placing him under arrest as he again tried to run, police said. The boy was later released to his parents. Officers arrested the 16-year-old boy without incident on an outstanding felony warrant, police said.

Half an hour later, the same two bicycle patrol officers broke up a fight also at De Carli square between two young men. A 19-year-old tried to pull his friend away from officers and then advanced on police, who had told him to stand back, police said.

Officers arrested the 19-year-old man identified as Andres Marroquin, who remains in the San Joaquin County Jail. Officers said he tried to kick and spit on them as they led him to the patrol car, police reported.

While officers next tried to disperse the crowd, a 17-year-old boy refused, police said. The boy was verbally abusive and bumped an officer with his shoulder, leading to his arrest. Police said he violently struggled with officers.

Contact reporter Scott Smith at (209) 546-8296 or ssmith@recordnet.com. Visit his blog at recordnet.com/smithblog.

Contact Stockton Criminal Attorney Lance Jacot at The Jacot Law Firm if you need an experienced, dedicated and aggressive attorney to represent you or a family member.  Stockton Criminal Attorney Lance Jacot has extensive experience defending people accused of violent crimes like assault and battery.  

Call Stockton Attorney Lance Jacot for a free initial consultation. 

Local Number:          (209) 463-1800

Toll Free Number:     888-823-4883

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STOCKTON - A 31-year-old Stockton man was arrested Friday morning in connection with two bank robberies this month.

The Stockton Police Department reported that detectives turned up information connecting Demarko Payne to robberies of Stockton banks May 3 and 14, and the attempted robbery of a bank customer last Saturday.

Payne was arrested at his home in the 8100 block of Palisades Drive and booked into the County Jail on suspicion of two counts of robbery and one count of attempted robbery. He was being held in lieu of $150,000 bail.

He is scheduled to appear in court at 1:30 p.m. Monday.

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By  Scott Smith

Record Staff Writer

May 01, 2010 12:00 AM

STOCKTON - Revelations a week ago that methamphetamine samples at a state crime lab in Ripon may have been altered continue to reverberate in the San Joaquin County legal community.

Many local defense attorneys believe the state drug bust on the lab casts serious doubt on its credibility in handling evidence. Some attorneys are considering strategies to attack past drug convictions. Yet another said he doubts that the acts of one bad analyst will have far-reaching ramifications.

"It's the exception, not the rule," said private Stockton attorney Michael Platt. "It's more important to some attorneys than others."

The California Department of Justice announced last week that a protocol breach in the handling of meth samples had occurred at the Central Valley Bureau of Forensic Service laboratory in Ripon. Certain evidence handled by a particular analyst weighed less than originally reported.

The lab serves San Joaquin, Stanislaus, Tuolumne, Merced and Calaveras counties.

The unidentified criminalist was put on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of an investigation.

Platt said that the criminalist in question analyzed drugs allegedly seized from one of his clients who awaits trial. The controversy likely won't benefit his client, Platt said.

"The cases that it will impact are those where there is no dope left," said Platt, explaining that in older cases, drug evidence is destroyed after analysis.

Other attorneys said they are gearing up for motions to overturn past convictions.

Stockton attorney Gregory Davenport said that in light of the news, he's preparing a motion to withdraw a guilty plea that put one client in state prison a year ago. His client took a plea deal for two years in prison, Davenport said.

In that case, police in Stockton stopped his client and found suspected meth in his pocket. Davenport said the analyst in question was the one who confirmed it as meth, and now questions over that state employee's conduct raise suspicion about the entire criminal-justice system.

"When you have somebody in that type of position engaging in this type of conduct, it creates reasonable doubt," Davenport said.

The San Joaquin County District Attorney's Office declined to comment on the investigation nor say how many criminal cases it puts into question.

The Ripon lab's assistant director, Katy Ciula, referred questions to state justice officials, who did not respond to a request for comment Friday.

Suspects arrested with small quantities of meth might also benefit from the lab's controversy, said Patrick Piggott, a Stockton attorney and dean of the Humphreys College Laurence Drivon School of Law.

A missing quantity of some drug samples won't make a difference to the outcome of most cases. But it could in those where a suspect is charged with possession for sales. In these, the weight determines if a charge applies, Piggott said.

"That's the one time when weight is most important," he said.

Attorney Doug Goss said he believes the drug-testing process has been corrupted. He wonders now if the analyst was mixing up evidence and taking other substances collected as evidence.

"I'm in the process right now of having all my old cases pulled back," Goss said. "I'm trying to sort it out myself."

If you have been charged with a drug crime, contact Stockton drug attorney Lance Jacot at The Jacot Law Firm for a free consultation.  (209) 463-1800.  Attorney Lance Jacot has been representing people accused of drug related offenses for over a decade in the central valley.

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STOCKTON - Police are investigating the death of a man found shot Thursday night in north Stockton. A juvenile has been arrested and booked on murder charges in that case and another homicide in the same neighborhood earlier in the month.

Stockton police found Corry Rojas, 32, shot about 9:45 p.m. Thursday at his residence in the 700 block of Ponce de Leon Ave. He was taken to St. Joseph's Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead a short time later.

The suspect, a 16-year-old boy, was found in the residence and arrested without incident. He was booked into juvenile hall on felony murder charges related to Thursday's slaying and the earlier homicide, which occurred May 1 in the 8600 block of Santa Paula Way.

In that case, police found a 30-year-old man shot to death in the alley between Santa Maria and Santa Paula ways after they received a report of a shooting about 10:30 that night. Three days after the killing, the Stockton Police Department still had not released the identity of the victim, because family had not been notified.

The first shooting occurred around a cluster of apartments just west of Kennedy Elementary School. One bullet also struck the gas main to a nearby building, requiring authorities to shut off the gas to several apartments, according to police.

No further details were available Friday.

If you are need of an experienced homicide attorney in Stockton then contact The Jacot Law Firm and speak with Lance Jacot.

STOCKTON - With a gag order on Melissa Huckaby's case still in place, the public has no clearer understanding today of the hows and whys of 8-year-old Sandra Cantu's death.

San Joaquin County Superior Court Judge Linda Lofthus appears steadfast in her decision to keep details of the Tracy crime under wraps. After taking a guilty plea Monday from 29-year-old Huckaby, Lofthus said she wanted time to consider lifting her gag order.

It's unclear when Lofthus may release key documents in Huckaby's case - if ever.

One legal expert said there is logic behind the judge's ruling, while a second said freezing this information could engender further suspicion of government.

A third attorney, John Schick, who teaches at Stockton's Humphreys College Laurence Drivon School of Law, said now is the time for the public to wade into the details of Sandra's death despite their disturbing nature.

Schick said disclosure might finally bring closure to a community left reeling.

"I think that would be very helpful to people's sense of healing," Schick said. "We've all had so many questions about the unusual nature of the case."

Before her guilty plea, Huckaby was headed to trial in October and a possible death sentence for Sandra's March 27, 2009, kidnapping, rape and murder.

In a surprise development, Huckaby pleaded guilty to first-degree murder and kidnapping, which carry a prison sentence of life without the possibility of parole. Lofthus is expected to sentence Huckaby formally June 14.

Soon after taking the case last year, Lofthus imposed a gag order, preventing involved parties from talking to the media. Lofthus sealed the autopsy reports and volumes of transcripts from a grand jury hearing, among documents that give insight into the crime.

Aside from a small circle of attorneys and investigators on the case, nobody knows how Sandra died - initially drawing a rape charge - and what motive Huckaby may have had for carrying out the crime. Sandra's body was found stuffed in a black suitcase and dumped in a dairy pond.

Lofthus has said she feared releasing the details which could taint the jury pool. She also said she wanted to protect the privacy of Sandra's family. "There is no doubt the public views the sexual assault of a child to be a heinous act," the judge said in a hearing one year ago.

After Huckaby's plea, San Joaquin County Deputy District Attorney Thomas Testa asked Lofthus to lift the gag order, and San Joaquin County Deputy Public Defender Sam Behar said he had no problem with that.

Lofthus refused, saying she didn't want to "undo anything we've done here today," referring to the plea deal.

Schick said that assuming Lofthus followed procedure while taking Huckaby's plea, there is no way the defendant can change her mind and back out of her guilty plea. The sentencing next month amounts to a clerical act, because the pleas carry a prescribed life prison term, Schick said.

"There's no discretion left for anybody," Schick said. "Why not get the information out there?"

Yet Ruth Jones, a former criminal prosecutor and now a law professor at University of the Pacific McGeorge School of Law in Sacramento, said she presumes Lofthus wants to keep the details quiet until after Huckaby's sentencing.

"The case really isn't over at this level until she is sentenced," Jones said.

She said Lofthus may fear the plea deal could fall apart for some unforeseen reason. It is quite difficult for a defendant to withdraw a plea, she said, but it is not unheard of.

Jones said Lofthus might encounter a big challenge if she wishes to protect Sandra's family by sealing the Huckaby documents permanently. Once the case is over, the public's right to know would outweigh the family's privacy rights, Jones said.

At a constitutional level, the public has a right to observe the court process to make sure the criminal justice system is functioning correctly, Jones said.

"There has to be some justification as to why the public doesn't have a right to know," she said.

Donna Shestowsky, a psychologist and law professor at the University of California, Davis, King Hall School of Law, said there is possibly a darker consequence to secrecy in a case such as this. It tends to heighten people's suspicions of government, she said, citing research.

Allowing the public to observe the process can be more important than the outcome in terms of how people react to authority figures, such as the judge in this case, Shestowsky said.

"If everything is kept quiet on such a shocking case, then that can definitely have negative consequences," she said. "In some ways, it can have a boomerang effect and make people want to know more."

Contact reporter Scott Smith at (209) 546-8296 or ssmith@recordnet.com. Visit his blog at recordnet.com/smithblog.

STOCKTON - A 31-year-old man was sentenced Monday to 15 years to life in state prison for killing his former girlfriend whose charred remains were found last year in a field outside Stockton.

Luis Alonso Vega said nothing and stared straight ahead as San Joaquin County Superior Court Judge Bernard Garber pronounced the sentence that could keep Vega in prison for the rest of his life for killing Jennifer Nicole Holland of Tracy.

Investigators believe Holland, 19, was shot at a Tracy home and driven to the field southwest of Stockton where her body was set on fire. Prosecutors presented no motive for the crime during the trial. Holland and Vega had a longtime relationship, and her blood was found in his car.

Jurors last month acquitted Vega's co-defendant Zackarie James Beck, 18, and Vega, who has a large tattoo across his forehead, was found guilty of second-degree murder and being a felon in possession of a firearm.

Garber said he wished every schoolchild could have watched the trial and personally witnessed the real side of drug abuse. Illegal drugs have become a national epidemic and "virtually nothing" is being done to stop it, he said.

"There's no glamour. There's nothing positive," Garber said. "It's just a negative downward spiral, and, unfortunately, this one ended in tragedy."

Michelle Holland, the victim's mother, said during the hearing that her daughter was planning to begin a county drug treatment program the day she was killed. She never made it there, said Holland, who shook as she spoke.

"My daughter was beautiful and loving," she said and then cast her eyes to Vega. "My daughter loved everybody, even scumbags like that."

Vega's co-defendant Beck was tried for the murder as an adult; he was 17 at the time. No evidence connected him directly to the crime, his attorney said.

San Joaquin County Deputy Public Defender Lance Jacot outside court said that he hopes his former client Beck can leave behind the bad company he kept that landed him on trial and facing life in prison.

According to Jacot, Holland was murdered on a couch in Beck's Tracy home, but Beck was at work all day in a factory for custom motorcycle parts, Jacot said.

"Hopefully, Zack can turn his life around and get back on track," Jacot said.

Contact reporter Scott Smith at (209) 546-8296 or ssmith@recordnet.com.

If you have been charged with murder you need an experienced attorney who has the expertise, dedication and tenacity to win your case.  Contact homicide attorney Lance Jacot of The Jacot Law Firm for a free consultation.

For the central valley office call- (209) 463-1800.

For the southern California office call- (949) 748-6992.

Or call toll free 888-823-4884

STOCKTON — Melissa Huckaby admitted guilt today to the murder and kidnapping last year of 8-year-old Sandra Cantu in a crime that shocked Tracy and captured national attention.

The surprise development spares Huckaby, 29, of the possible death sentence, which prosecutors intended to seek in trial. Under the negotiated plea deal announced in a Stockton courtroom, Huckaby will spend the rest of her natural life in state prison.

Huckaby pleaded guilty to murder with the special circumstance of kidnapping. All other charges against her were dropped, including charges of rape and poisoning.

Huckaby's guilty plea came a little more than one year after a surveillance camera captured one of Sandra's last living moments on March 27, 2009, as she happily skipped through Orchard Estates Mobile Home Park in Tracy.

Both Sandra and Huckaby's families lived in the mobile home park. Sandra was a playmate of Huckaby's young daughter.

Days later farm workers discovered Sandra's body about two miles north of town stuffed in a black suitcase and discarded in a dairy pond. Hucakby was linked to the suitcase and charged with special circumstances murder. Her trial was set to begin in October.

San Joaquin County Superior Court Judge Linda Lofthus set Huckaby's formal sentencing date for June 14.

Read Tuesday's Record for more on this story by staff writer Scott Smith.

If you have been charged with murder you need a qualified and experienced attorney to represent you.  Contact The Jacot Law Firm for a free consultation.  Toll Free 888-823-4883.

Attorney Lance Jacot has tried numerous murder cases, and is qualified to handle death penalty cases.