Attorneys for BLM protesters take another swipe at SLO County prosecutors
March 1, 2021
By KAREN VELIE
Attorneys for two San Luis Obispo Black Lives Matter protesters are asking the court to hold prosecutors in contempt of court for allegedly withholding records they were court-ordered to provide.
Attorneys Patrick Fisher and Curtis Briggs, who represent protesters Tianna Arata and Robert Lastra, filed a motion last month asking the court to incarcerate SLO Deputy District Attorney Delaney Henretty and California Deputy Attorney General William Frank for not providing all requested documentation. Fisher and Briggs assert there has to be more correspondence between law enforcement and prosecutors than has been disclosed.
–Legal counsel for the County of San Luis Obispo on Tuesday rejected the claims of Black Lives Matter protestors against San Luis Obispo County District Attorney Dan Dow. Tianna Arata, Sam Grocott, and Robert Lastra filed claims with the county last month in excess of $10,000 each for allegations of civil rights violations, racial discrimination, and defamation.
The county’s law firm Carl Warren & Company replied to the three claimants: “Notice is hereby given that claim, which you presented to the County Administration Office… was rejected. Subject to certain exceptions, you have only six months from the date this notice was personally delivered or deposited in the mail to file a court action on this claim.”
On Jan. 19, Gala Pride and Diversity Center was set to have its routine board meeting with an agenda item that included a question-and-answer segment with SLO County District Attorney Dan Dow intended to openly address their concerns regarding his appearance on certain radio shows and his comments on the topic of religion. click to enlarge File Photo By Karen Garcia
DISCUSSIONS The Gala Pride and Diversity Center is slated to have a private meeting with SLO County District Attorney Dan Dow in February to how his religious views affect his actions as the district attorney. However, an unusually large number of people planned to attend the meeting, which prompted Dow to decline Gala s invitation and offer the board a private meeting where they could address their concerns. Gala released a statement on
San Luis Obispo County judge halts more cases against BLM protesters
January 21, 2021
By JOSH FRIEDMAN
A San Luis Obispo County judge on Tuesday halted the criminal case against five Black Lives Matter protesters who are being prosecuted for actions at a demonstration separate than the one that led to charges against activist Tianna Arata and her co-defendants.
Judge Michael Duffy ruled to suspend proceedings in both the Arata case, stemming from a July 21, 2020 protest, and the case of five protesters who face misdemeanor counts stemming from a June 1, 2020 demonstration.
Duffy suspended court proceedings pending the result of an appeal filed by the SLO County District Attorney’s Office and the California Attorney General’s Office. Prosecutors are appealing a ruling by Judge Matthew Guerrero to disqualify the DA’s office from the Arata case due to his finding that District Attorney Dan Dow had a conflict of interest in prosecuting the Black Lives Matter activist.