I would like to start by personally thanking the local Bar
Association for taking a courageous leadership role in this
ever-widening political disaster by passing a vote of not
confidence in John Sarsfield.
Editor,
I would like to start by personally thanking the local Bar Association for taking a courageous leadership role in this ever-widening political disaster by passing a vote of not confidence in John Sarsfield.
It’s just too bad our elected “leaders” on the Board of Supervisors haven’t taken the helm to guide us through this politically destructive firestorm. Instead they stand motionless, mute as if hoping to become invisible, thinking we voters will forget it’s their responsibility, right or wrong, to take a stand. We want that from them. We expect that from them. We deserve that from them.
When asked why they’re not acting on this snowballing political quandary, they wring their hands and claim there’s nothing they can do. Yet they allocate $5,000 for an investigation into the “leaking” of an unprotected document that should have been released from the get go. Rather than release the investigation summary the Board chose to hide it from the public. Three Board members hadn’t ever read the summary, and yet two of them worked to strike a deal with Sarsfield, not even knowing what allegations of wrongdoing had been sustained in their very own expensive report.
No wonder this county’s in such turmoil.
Could it be the Board fears the prospect of being subpoenaed to testify in front of the secret grand jury which is being manipulated by an oppressive run amok District attorney hell bent on personal revenge?
Personally, I don’t care about the alleged affair. That’s between he and his family and her and her family. But what he’s done to his four employees and what he is doing with the covert grand jury is nothing less than an out of control political and personal vendetta.
Based on the dictionary definition and Erin Musgrave’s article(“Complaint filed against DA’s office,” Free Lance March 1) it is clear that when John Picone tried to force Miss Lawry into making her boyfriend Ken Speciale change his grand jury testimony Picone was trying to dissuade a witness or suborn perjury, which is illegal. That is, of course, unless the laws don’t pertain to an inexperienced, part-time prosecutor in little ol’ San Benito County. What compounded the situation was when Picone threatened them for filing a police report against him by saying in the newspaper, “filing a false police report is a crime.” Typical school yard bully.
Sarsfield has made it clear he is dedicated to finding out the names of Los Valientes. Well I think it’s time he tells us the names of his clandestine grand jurors. Last time I looked the good old U. S. of A was fresh out of, “tyrannical kings” so what is there to fear?
I have a question. Because there are now allegations that the secret grand jury was lied to, are they now considered victims or witnesses? And can and will all 19 of them be subpoenaed to testify at Mike Pekin’s trial? Will they wear ski masks or hide behind a screen to maintain their anonymity? Heck, you never know, they may bump into Los Valientes behind that screen.
Just to remind everyone, when this Los Valientes thing first started, I was squarely on the side of Richard Scagliotti and the old Board of Supes and wanted to see the Los Valientes’ names revealed. The DA’s alleged misuse of the nameless, faceless secret grand jury and his unwarranted attacks on normal everyday people has changed that view. This has to be stopped. The end does not justify the means.
In spite of the negativity, I do have hope and that’s because of the new Presiding Judge the Honorable Steven Sanders. Courthouse sources claim he’s make some radical but positive changes to the court calendar and judge’s responsibilities.
Based on the sentencing of Joseph Azevedo and a few other decisions I’ve heard about that he’s made since January, both in favor of the prosecution and the defense, it appears we have a real judge on the bench – one with a backbone.
From what I’ve heard, the decisions were not made because they were the easiest to justify or most expedient but because it was the right thing to do.
For that, I applaud him and for our sake I wish him well.
In closing, Mr. Sarsfield has drug this community to the very bottom of the pit but the stand taken by local attorneys and our new and improved Judge Sanders gives me hope, not only for our runaway justice system but our community as a whole.
Bruce Kiefert, Hollister
