If you remember the deep, deep, deep unpleasantness of last January’s string of Bernal Heights muggings, you will also remember how good it felt to learn that the SFPD had apprehended the perps responsible for the crimes.
Now Neighbor Sarah, Bernalwood’s official unofficial crime reporter, is encouraging all Citizens of Bernalwood to attend the first criminal hearing for the men who stand accused of last winter’s crime spree:
The rescheduled hearing date for the robbery suspects is coming up on Friday, June 28 (Hall of Justice, 850 Bryant, Department 20, at 8:45am). We need people to sign up to attend the hearing to show their concern and support our neighbors.
We all probably remember how terrifying it felt in January when it felt as if we were “under siege,” as Caroline (I believe) so aptly described it. But you may want to reread this to drop yourself back into the moment.
Neighbor Jeff (robbed in the Bocana Street incident) and the others will appreciate your support. The two suspects will surely have their families and community members there to support them again. Bernal Heights needs to be represented as well.
Please sign up using this online form if you would like to attend. If it doesn’t work, or if you’d rather just let me know directly, email me with your name and contact info at so I can add you to the list.
An important note: These hearings often get rescheduled at the last minute, so as much as we want people to sign up and attend, please know that this hearing might get rescheduled (again). That’s to say, we need people there if it DOES move forward, but please don’t feel jaded and disillusioned if it gets moved. That’s just the way the process works.
One thing I will say is that these hearings – and just being in the court watching this and other court business – is totally fascinating, so there’s that ancillary perk.
Bernalwood 
“…also remember how good it felt to learn that the SFPD had apprehended the perps responsible for the crimes.”
Pretty sure that they are suspects, and are presumed innocent until found guilty.
They’re suspects who were tracked using the location of a stolen iPhone and led the police on a high speed chase until they crashed. Police found a gun and stolen property from several muggings in their car.
I’m all for the legal presumption of innocence. It’s an important civil liberties issue. But since I’m not a judge or juror, I’m gonna draw the obvious conclusion that these guys are guilty.
Thanks for this. The assistant district attorney for these cases is Larry DeSouza at 553-7908. I’ll send him at email tonight (I don’t have it but if I use 4 or 5 permutations it’ll get there) about my attitude to the offences and to those who perpetrated them. No pleas, no out in 18 months, I want it properly prosecuted. Once I find which email is the right one, I’ll post it in another comment.
It is actually Lili Nguyen. They are aiming for “double digits” for each of them in terms of jail time. Are you on the BernalSafe Yahoo group? Lots of updates there over past few months.
Come on, Bernalwood, “the perps responsible for the crime”? That shows no understanding or appreciation for the criminal justice system that (dysfunctional as it may be) operates on the presumption of innocence until guilt is proven. It’s not a touchy-feely piety, it’s not about condoning crime or liking criminals, it’s a protection against abuse of power. In a lot of countries, a criminal can be anyone who someone powerful says is a criminal. That’s the kind of “justice” you’re advocating when you call someone accused of a crime a “perp”.
Oh PLEASE.. just STOP, it with your PC nonsense over the use of a word. Besides that, we all know they have the right people.
+1
I am so torn by this. On the one hand, it is our right as citizens to let the DA know we take this crime seriously and want the suspects prosecuted seriously. On the other, I kind of feel like Sarah is asking us to demand/persuade–in a grassroots activism kind of way–the powers-that-be to come up with the outcome we have predetermined is the correct one. The matter is now in the hands of the justice system. The facts and impartial minds should determine the outcome, without civic or polictical agenda. I’m a little uncomfortable with the “call for support” and a sign up sheet to get a crowd of people there. This in no way diminishes my gratitude for all the work Sarah does to keep our neighborhood informed and safe.
SAB, you are right to raise these points. They are very important, and I definitely did not mean the call for support to imply a circumventing of the judicial process.
The whole thing is a very complex (and depressing) situation: these men will have very little chance of rehabilitation, given the state of the prison system, if they are convicted and sentenced to many years of incarceration. At the same time, it is an unnerving situation to be a victim/witness in these crimes – that is why some victims choose not to participate – and the defendants will have quite a few supporters in the courtroom. The DA’s office has recommended that we encourage those interested in these cases to attend to show that the community is engaged. I do not think an angry mob would be the right approach. The purpose of this hearing is for the judge to decide if there is enough evidence to proceed to a full trial.
The presumption of innocence and the assurance that the defendants receive a fair trial are indeed paramount. The public defenders in SF are sufficiently well funded and quite good from what I’ve seen, which is something we should all appreciate since it will help ensure the ‘fair trial’ part.
Thank you Sarah for such a thoughtful reply. The situation is complex and I do have faith that the accused will have good defense attorneys. It is still troubling to me that an “engaged community” somehow makes it more clear to a judge that there is enough evidence to prosecute. It implies that the same evidence would be judged differently when the crime happens in an unengaged community. As it probably would, in a low-income community where people are afraid of the police/justice system or where work and child care obligations make it impossible for them to take a day to go to court. Heck, even a community that doesn’t have an advocate like you giving out information is at a disadvantage. Personally, I think these guys are guilty and I hope the facts support that. (And yes, I wish rehabilitation were likely, but it’s not.) I totally get the practical reality that neighborhood turnout will mean that a judge is less likely to cut a deal for the sake of expediency. But how sad is that? Especially in communities where crime is a much more prevalent problem? Sarah, no one gets these complex issues better than you. Thanks for all you do.
I respect your view but it isn’t one I share.
I love San Francisco but if there is any city in the U.S. where serial armed robbers would be given a few years, let out early and ineffectively monitored on probation, it would be this one. Residents making sure their views are heard is absolutely appropriate.
These guys were pretty much caught red handed. They need to be given the maximum allowed by law. They terrorized an entire neighborhood! They will do it again! People like this rarely stop. Just look at our own District 9, & several other SF districts – Crime is non-stop, with no end in sight!
Most likely at the the trial their family & friends will be saying how they are really good guys & were trying to turn their life around; it was a case of racial profiling, the police picked up the wrong guys. Getting tired of these kinds of people.
My husband was at a murder trial for a guy like those described. Showed absolutely no remorse for killing a young man. The murder victim’s offence: He was trying to protect his girlfriend who was getting beaten up by the perp’s girlfriend who young woman had accidently bumped into.
At the trial, the murder’s family & friends gave this spin of what a good guy he is & that he would never murder anyone. Oh, & they also intimidated the jurors & witnesses. Lovely group!
The perp turned out to be a major gang banger from Daly City. At the 1st trial, this guy was acquited, But then like most, he got too cocky. Fortunately, someone who he had beaten up with a broken bottle due to testifying against him, turned the guy in. He is now behind bars for a very long time. Justice is served!
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