Read: Napa County District Attorney's Office Newsletter, December 2024

Press release from the Napa County Government:

DA NEWSLINE, DECEMBER 2024 — Napa County District Attorney's Newsletter

From The Desk of Napa County District Attorney Allison Haley:

It’s that time of the year when I like to take a moment to pause and reflect on everything that took place in 2024, both the good and the bad.

It was a year highlighted by retirements, a big move for both the Monarch Justice Center and the Courage Center, and our first ever Seniors Against Financial Exploitation event.

In 2024, we also kicked off a special presentation that I conducted alongside FBI Supervisory Special Agent Ann Hawkins in which we talked about the dangers of sextortion, a presentation that we will continue to do for school groups in 2025.

We launched our Speaker’s Bureau in 2024 as a way for the community to request our subject matter experts to speak on a variety of topics that we deal with in our Office. If you would like to learn more about that effort, you may visit our website to peruse our list of experts and request a presentation.

On a more troubling note, Napa County saw an unprecedented seven murders occur in 2024 and I am deeply disturbed that there are seven local families who will be without their loved ones during the holidays.

There’s nothing anyone can do to bring these people back, but I can promise our office is committed to pursuing justice for these families and their loved ones and supporting them in any way that we can through our Victim Services Division and its partners.

The happenings of 2024 made me appreciate even more our incredible team at the Napa County DA’s Office. It was certainly a memorable 2024, and with the passing of Prop. 36, which you can read about in this newsletter, I look forward to an even more eventful 2025.

My very best seasons greetings go out to you and your friends and families.

Courage Center Caps Year with 130th Forensic Interview, Move to New Office

By Jessica Solano, Forensic Interviewer

It has been close to a year and a half since I started my job here at the Napa County District Attorney’s Office as a Forensic Interviewer for Napa County’s Courage Center (CAC).

In that short amount of time, I have conducted over 130 interviews with children and adolescents. However, the CAC’s mission is not marked by how many interviews are conducted. The goal is to provide a child-friendly, safe, calming, trauma-informed process and space where the needs of child victims come first and where the psychological impact of the experience is reduced. In the neutral setting of the CAC, the multidisciplinary team can collaborate on strategies that will aid the investigation without causing further harm to the victim. In September, the Courage Center went through an incredible transition from its location downtown to 5 Financial Plaza along with the Monarch Justice Center.

The Courage Center space has now more than doubled in size.

Our center previously had only one interview room and an observation room with no windows that doubled as a conference room for other agencies to use. We learned that a lot of movement happens downtown. Our waiting room was next to a restaurant/bar that would play live or loud music from time to time. Although we worked with what we had, it was time for a transition.

Now, our center has new and fantastic upgrades. We have two interview rooms, one for younger children and the other for teens. We are now able to conduct developmentally appropriate interviews with children who have been victimized in developmentally appropriate rooms.

A friendly environment can alleviate a child’s fear and anxiety. It can also foster trust and rapport between the child and the interviewer leading to more accurate and detailed information during a disclosure. In addition, when children feel comfortable and respected, they are more likely to cooperate with interviews.

We have an observation room with windows – its sole purpose is to be used by the team to observe the interviews. We also have two separate waiting areas that are not close to any noisy distractions. Our main lobby has a welcoming feeling to it. There is a big circular lion rug in the middle and our amazing 93-inch teddy bear that made the move with us as well.

Sometimes, when I come out to introduce myself to the family, I will catch three-year-olds, nine-year-olds, 17-year-olds and those in between sitting on our teddy bear’s lap while they watch a movie on the T.V.

Our second waiting area is more so dedicated for teens to use but not limited to just them. As you can imagine, it is not unlikely for children/teens to disclose multiple incidents of abuse.

Some of those interviews last up to two hours depending on a lot of circumstances. When breaks are offered, especially during those types of interviews, teens like to step out of the room and into a more comfortable space of their own.

Most of the time, it includes being away from their caregivers. Here, they have the option of sitting on a couch or on an incredibly large bean bag. They can play video games, watch a movie, or simply just relax and de-stress. They have a view of clouds and hot air balloons hanging by the wall.

Sometimes, multiple children are involved in a case, or non-offending caregivers have multiple children that they must bring along with them to the center, even if only one of their children is interviewed. We created a play area/reading nook with lots of books to read and toys to play with which comes in very handy. Kids don’t usually get bored at the CAC. Sometimes, even after an interview they prefer to stay and color.

Finally, our self-care pantry is a client favorite. After an interview, children and teens can make a self-care bag and choose from Croc-charms, fidget toys, stickers, reading and coloring books, squishies and beanie babies. It’s rare that clients pass on the pantry. The Courage Center has provided a space that is crucial in minimizing further trauma to children who are already experiencing a stressful situation.

Voters Pass Proposition 36, Transform Criminal Justice System in California

By Carlos Villatoro, Public Affairs and Media Officer

If you voted ‘yes’ on Proposition 36 during the recent election, you were among the overwhelming number of Californians who approved the law designed to reduce crime by increasing penalties for certain theft and drug crimes.

The summary of Prop. 36 featured on the Secretary of State’s website states Prop. 36 allows felony charges for possessing certain drugs and for thefts under $950 if the defendant has two prior drug or theft convictions.

That’s a big deal, and here’s why.

California has long been experiencing rampant retail theft and other crimes linked to drug use. The cause of this can be traced to the passing of Assembly Bill 109 in 2011 and subsequent passing of Proposition 47 in 2014.

While both bills had good intentions behind them, they resulted in dramatic increases in drug-related crimes and retail thefts across the state.

AB 109, also known as the Public Safety Realignment Act, was specifically designed to reduce prison overcrowding by shifting the responsibility to manage non-violent, non-serious, and non-sexual offenders from state prisons to local county jails and probation departments. While AB 109 did as it was intended to do and reduced the prison population, it swelled communities and local jails with people whose offenses were no longer serious enough to merit prison.

Prop. 47 reduced most drug possession crimes to misdemeanors, along with the shoplifting of goods worth $950 or less.

Before this, repeat shoplifters could face felony charges and up to three years in state prison. After Prop. 47, the maximum penalty for shoplifting became six months in county jail. The passing of Prop. 36 allows local DAs to gain some ground in the war against retail theft and drug crimes, particularly related to fentanyl, by allowing DAs to charge people in possession of fentanyl with felonies, and repeat shoplifters with felonies, leading to stricter sentences. It becomes effective January 1, 2025, and does not apply retroactively.

But the law isn’t just about punishment, it has a rehabilitative component that establishes a category of treatment-mandated felonies, permitting people convicted of certain drug offenses to have their charges dismissed if they complete a drug rehabilitative program.

DA Staff Updates

Angeleen Martija, Office Assistant

Angeleen joined Napa County District Attorney’s Office as an Office Assistant in late October. She graduated with a Marketing Management degree from Cal State Los Angeles in December 2023.

In January 2024, Angeleen started working for Alameda County Registrar of Voters and comes to the Napa County District Attorney’s Office with a desire to contribute to the Office’s mission of keeping the community safe.

Jay Maloney, Deputy District Attorney

Jay Maloney joined the Napa County District Attorney’s Office as a law clerk in late August and was hired as a Deputy District Attorney in mid-November.

He graduated with degrees in Literature and Legal Studies from UC Santa Cruz in 2021 and graduated from UC Davis School of Law in May 2024.

During his time in law school, Jay served as a member of the Trial Practice Honors Board, including working as a Training Chair, and competed for UC Davis in several mock trial competitions. He was selected for the Order of Barristers and graduated with certificates in Pro Bono Law and Public Service Law. Jay previously clerked for the Sacramento and Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Offices during law school.

Kaden Kenaga, Deputy District Attorney

Kaden Kenaga joined the Napa County District Attorney’s Office as a Law Clerk in late August and was hired as a Deputy District Attorney in mid-November. He graduated from Azusa Pacific University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Finance in 2014 and graduated from UC Davis School of Law in 2024.

During his time in law school, Kaden served for two years as the president of the Criminal Law Association. He was also a member of the Trial Practice Honors Board and competed in mock trial competitions. Based on his accomplishments in mock trial, Kaden was admitted to the Order of the Barristers.

Upon graduating law school, Kaden also received the Criminal Law and Policy Certificate, the Public Service Law Certificate, and the Pro Bono Certificate.

Prior to his current position, Kaden clerked for the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office and the Alameda County District Attorney’s Office.

Victim Advocates Band Together to Prepare for Mass Casualty Incidents

By Carlos Villatoro, Public Affairs and Media Officer

Victim advocates from all over the Bay Area gathered at the Monarch Justice Center in northeast Napa in early November to discuss the unimaginable, a mass casualty incident related to crime, and brainstorm ways to prepare for it should it happen in Napa and regional Bay Area counties.

The meeting of the Bay Area Mass Casualty Planning Committee brought together victim advocates from the counties of Napa, Sonoma, Santa Clara, San Francisco, San Joaquin, Contra Costa and San Mateo to talk about what the role of a victim advocate would be if they were called to respond to a mass casualty incident related to a criminal act.

“It was very good to connect with other counties, learn from them, and discuss ways that we can help one another,” said Erin Harper, Victim Witness Program Manager at the Napa County District Attorney’s Office. “We hope that our recent meeting will lead to further collaboration and training that each of our counties can benefit from.”

The advocates spoke of possible table-top training opportunities, shared best practices and office updates that prompted further discussion.

The group is set to meet again in February, in which they will further shape the training to help the victim advocates prepare for a mass casualty incident.

Napa DA Case Updates

People V. Luis Melgoza, Erika Chavez & Alan Martinez

Luis Fajardo Melgoza, age 21, of Santa Rosa, pled no contest to second-degree murder and admitted all of the alleged aggravating factors for his role in the death of 17-year-old Napa teenager, Monica Flores, who was killed when she took a lethal dose of fentanyl in May 2022.

His co-defendant, Erika Garcia Chavez, age 24, of Santa Rosa, has pled no contest to possession for sale of a controlled substance and conspiracy to commit a crime. She additionally admitted the applicable aggravating factors. They will both be sentenced at a future date after the conclusion of the case.

During a preliminary hearing that took place November 12 – 14, 2024, Napa County Superior Court Judge Kecia Lind held the third co-defendant, Alan Jazeel Martinez, age 24, of Santa Rosa, to answer to the charges of murder; sale of a controlled substance to a minor; transportation for sale of a controlled substance; possession for sale of a controlled substance; conspiracy to commit a crime; and child abuse likely to cause great bodily injury or death.

Martinez is due back in court at 8:30 a.m., on December 17, 2024, in Department 1 of the Napa County Superior. Napa County Deputy District Attorneys Agnes Dziadur and Katie Gross are prosecuting this case against the three defendants.

People V. Wade Andrew Wilson

Wade Andrew Wilson, age 61, of Fairfield, pled no contest to a felony charge of vandalism and was sentenced to two years of formal probation with terms and condition, and 30 days in jail. The Court also ordered the defendant to pay a court fee of $30, and a restitution fine of $300.

On January 8, 2024, Wilson used spray paint to deface the “Welcome to Napa” sign situated along Highway 221 near the Napa State Hospital, using the black paint to damage the insignias of the LGBTQ Connection, Order of the Eastern Star and Free Masons featured on the sign. The damage amounted to over $400.

In addition to the restitution fine mentioned above, Wilson is ordered to pay restitution totaling $806 to the Order of the Eastern Star, Free Masons, Napa State Hospital, City of Napa Mayor Scott Sedgley, and the LGBTQ Connection.

Wilson is to remand into the custody of the Napa County Department of Corrections on December 13, 2024, to begin serving his jail sentence. The case against Wilson was prosecuted by Napa County Deputy District Attorney Kayla Richeson.

People V. Maurilio Montero Sanchez

Maurilio Montero Sanchez, age 28, of Clearlake, pled no contest to two counts of threatening a police officer, two counts of resisting arrest, unlawful driving or taking of a vehicle, DUI, driving while having a .08 percent or higher blood alcohol level, hit and run, and being an unlicensed driver. In addition, the defendant admitted the special allegations of refusal of a DUI test and excessive BAC level.

The Napa County Superior Court sentenced Sanchez to three years, eight months in state prison and ordered him to pay fines of $1,300 or more, including restitution fees.

On April 1, 2017, Sanchez was involved in a hit-and-run collision at the intersection of Soscol and Lincoln Avenues. The defendant fled the scene in a Ford F-150 he was driving and later parked at La Tapatia Market on Brown Street, where authorities located him and conducted a DUI investigation. Sanchez was arrested on suspicion of DUI and taken into custody.

While at the jail, he repeatedly refused to take a blood or breath test and threatened to shoot and kill officers. Police obtained a DUI blood search warrant for Sanchez, which determined his level of intoxication, and booked him into jail without further incident.

During the investigation it was determined that Sanchez took a family member’s truck without permission and a charge of unlawful driving or taking of a vehicle was added. At the time of his arrest, Sanchez’ blood alcohol reading was at .23 percent, which is nearly twice the legal limit of .08 percent.

The case against the defendant was prosecuted by Napa County Deputy District Attorney Brittney Murray.

People V. Santiago Torres Mendez Jr.

A Napa jury convicted Santiago Torres Mendez Jr., 30, of Calistoga, of six counts of rape, two counts of kidnapping, three counts of oral copulation, two counts of sexual penetration by foreign object, and four counts of assault after a mid-November trial.

The defendant’s trial lasted approximately two and a half weeks, featured numerous witnesses, and was prosecuted by Deputy District Attorneys Kristen Orlando and Michelle Roberts.

In addition to the above-mentioned charges, the jury found true the special allegations of aggravated kidnapping, great bodily injury, minor victims, multiple victims, and that Mendez’s conduct showed planning, sophistication and professionalism, that the victims were vulnerable, that he took advantage of a position of trust, and that defendant engaged in violent conduct that indicates a serious danger to society. Mendez was convicted of raping 4 victims, some under the age of 18, in Napa, Sacramento, and Humboldt counties. Mendez was convicted of assaulting a 5th victim with the intent to rape. The Napa County crimes that led to the defendant’s arrest occurred in the early morning hours of April 28, 2021.

On that day, Mendez drove his 18-year-old victim to a remote part of Napa County, took her cell phone to prevent her from calling for help and strangled her to the point of unconsciousness. When she regained consciousness, Mendez was raping her on the side of the road. Mendez continued to sexually assault her both outside and inside of the car until she was able to escape and call the police. Napa County Sheriff’s deputies responded to the scene to help the woman and took Mendez into custody. During the investigation, police learned that Mendez had sexually assaulted four or more additional victims, which added to the charges Mendez was convicted of on November 22nd.

The defendant is to appear in court at 8:30 a.m., on January 8, 2025, in Department 4 of the Napa County Superior Court for sentencing.

People V. Adolfo Madriz-Gomez & Noe Valencia-Garcia

Adolfo Madriz-Gomez, age 23, of Clearlake, pled no contest to felony transporting methamphetamine for sale, transporting methamphetamine for sale across non-contiguous counties, possession for sale of methamphetamine, and conspiracy. Madriz-Gomez further admitted special allegations for possessing over a kilogram of methamphetamine and possessing a large quantity of contraband.

Madriz-Gomez will be sentenced to three years in local prison, with one year to be served in custody and two years to be served on mandatory supervision. He will be sentenced at 10:15 a.m., on December 9, 2024, in Department 1 of the Napa County Superior Court.

During a traffic stop near the intersection of Highway 29 at Highway 221, in the early morning hours of July 11, 2024, a California Highway Patrol K9 alerted CHP officers of narcotics inside a vehicle in which Madriz-Gomez was a passenger of. A subsequent search of the Nissan Murano’s trunk yielded approximately 70 pounds of methamphetamine and Madriz-Gomez and co-defendant Noe Valencia-Garcia, age 49, of Bakersfield, were taken into custody.

The driver of the vehicle, Valencia-Garcia, is charged with transporting methamphetamine for sale, transporting methamphetamine for sale across non-contiguous counties, possession for sale of methamphetamine, and conspiracy. He is additionally charged with the special allegations of possessing over a kilogram of methamphetamine and possessing a large quantity of contraband. His case will be resolved at a later date.

The case against Madriz-Gomez was prosecuted by Napa County Deputy District Attorney Ian McNear. DDA McNear is also prosecuting the case against Valencia-Garcia.

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