Recent articles in local papers confirm that the District
Attorney John Sarsfield is vindictive and just plain mean spirited.
He pursued felony charges against Maria Araujo because she
allegedly voted twice in March 2004. Even though the Elections
Office acknowledged it was their fault, he continued to harass this
woman with the threat of felony charges and jail time.
Editor,
Recent articles in local papers confirm that the District Attorney John Sarsfield is vindictive and just plain mean spirited. He pursued felony charges against Maria Araujo because she allegedly voted twice in March 2004. Even though the Elections Office acknowledged it was their fault, he continued to harass this woman with the threat of felony charges and jail time. This 37-year-old mother of two recently received an anonymous letter warning that after her “home boy supervisor is removed from the Board of Supervisors and put in jail for breaking the law … don’t come crying … in the paper again for that.”
Supervisor Jamie De La Cruz, District 5, had the approval of the Board of Supervisors to conduct a survey of his constituents. De La Cruz used money from his pocket, in addition to funds from Housing Opportunity Project Employment. Sarsfield is pursuing the cost of De La Cruz’s effort to educate his constituents. If more than $250 was used and not reported properly this may violate local campaign finance laws. This would allow Sarsfield to charge De La Cruz with violation of the plea bargain from January for the misdemeanor charge of intimidating an officer, and finally the DA could achieve his ultimate goal of ruining De La Cruz’s career and placing him in jail. This seems to be just another example of Sarsfield’s vindictiveness and his inability to focus on the prosecution of truly dangerous criminals.
Recently, Sarsfield wanted to charge Amanda Hernandez with practicing without a license. She has a law degree and has passed the Bar exam, but has yet to receive her license. She also works in Michael Pekin’s office. Hernandez believes Sarsfield is charging her because he has a personal vendetta against Pekin and anyone associated with him. “Just the allegation of this charge is probably going to be enough to make it so I’m not going to be able to practice law.”
Sarsfield’s dislike of Pekin should not be taken out on someone who happens to work for him. Did Hernandez’s actions adversely affect Sarsfield? I doubt it, but he is in effect trying to ruin her career.
Most recently, Sarsfield indicted Paul Greer on suspicion of illegal use of criminal data bank information. Would Sarsfield be so zealous in this effort if Greer had not signed the initial recall effort of the DA?
These four examples confirm how Sarsfield uses the office of the DA for personal gain by going after anyone who offends him. Why not focus on dangerous criminals, decreasing gang activity, prosecuting more strongly the misdemeanor offense of a DUI?
These are threats to our community and our safety. His priorities are misplaced. He needs to be removed now. Please support the Recall of John Sarsfield. Stop the corruption. Stop his personal, petty prosecutions. You may be next.
Rebecca Jones, Hollister
