I have read the comments attributed to District Attorney John
Sarsfield in your weekend edition of November 6-8, regarding a
notice of intention to recall him, filed on July 21.
Dear Editor,
I have read the comments attributed to District Attorney John Sarsfield in your weekend edition of November 6-8, regarding a notice of intention to recall him, filed on July 21. Comments such as what recall? And “they better get busy” and then belittling the recall supporters as “crazy” and being overly concerned with the rearranging of furniture, etc. are unwise to say the least, and perhaps even revealing of an attitude of extreme arrogance.
I personally have been involved in local and state politics for over 40 years and am not really an advocate of recalls, but am aware that fairly recently the governor of our state was recalled as was an Assembly woman over disputes with their constituents.
In matters dealing with the criminal justice system during the past few years, I have dealt with cases in Fresno, Merced, and Santa Clara counties as well as with a few cases in San Benito County after John Sarsfield was elected the county’s top law enforcement officer.
I am personally acquainted and had verbal interactions with the young man that the DA charged with murder when it finally became questionable that he was even guilty of a vehicle code violation. In another of the cases a young Gavilan College student was charged with a felony and jailed and then, because of quick work by his parents and myself, was released for lack of evidence.
In a current case, which may cost the local taxpayers a lot of money, the DA is attempting to plea bargain a 71 year old man into jail who was actually the victim of a crime.
As for the DA’s comments in the Free Lance that he is willing to sit down and talk to any (of his constituents) about their concerns he has refused to respond even in writing to questions from the 71 year old man who has lived and worked in Hollister for over 40 years.
I think that our community and the 71 year old victim would welcome a response from our “tough on crime” district attorney regarding this matter.
Frank Valenzuela, former Hollister resident
