>>> PLEASE EMAIL AND POST THIS MESSAGE EVERYWHERE
Hello everybody:

I'm sending out this new email to keep people informed

about the latest developments in Theresa Dang's

pending trial on bogus flashlight theft charges. And

yes, I said *charges*, because the Orange County

District Attorney's Office today accused her of

committing yet another criminal offense! Yup, they

pulled a wand out of their magic hat and *poof*

accused Ms. Dang for "theft of lost property" -- with

no new evidence!

Here are the details, plus a couple of other points

that were raised at today's hearing:

* Shortly after lunch, Erik Petersen, the Deputy

District Attorney handling this case, amended the

original criminal complaint that was filed against Ms.

Dang back in June, adding a new charge. She is now

being accused of violating Section 485 of the

California Penal Code which states that "one who finds

lost property under circumstances which give him

knowledge of or means of inquiry as to the true owner,

and who appropriates such property to his own use, or

to the use of another person not entitled thereto,

without first making reasonable and just efforts to

find the owner and to restore the property to him, is

guilty of theft." In the words of Deputy District

Attorney Petersen himself, his office is now charging

her for "theft of lost property" -- this is on top of

the misdemeanor petty theft charge they originally

filed against her! According to Petersen, the new

charge was filed not because they had any new evidence

against her, but because they [his colleagues] had a

"new legal theory" to try out!

* Judge Erick L. Larsh, the judicial officer who is

overseeing the trial in Department W10, told everybody

present that jury services believes this case is going

to last about two days, most likely ending on

Thursday. However, he said that it's quite possible

jury deliberations regarding Ms. Dang's fate may take

place on Friday.

* In another comment, Judge Larsh publicly estimated

that a jury trial like this one is going to cost

California taxpapers about ,000 per day. If this

trial lasts until Friday, then it will cost you and I

somewhere in the neighborhood of ,000. [my comment:

put into perspective, this money could have bought 700

police officers a brand new Maglite flashlight of the

exact same make, model, and quality that Dang is

alleged to have stolen, especially if purchased in

bulk. Of course, it could have paid college tuition

for a lot of young people, too.]

* The twelve jurors that were selected for the trial

are predominately white, with a wide range of ages.

There are almost an equal number of males to females.

Many of the people on this jury appear to be college

educated.

* Opening arguments in this case will begin tommorrow

morning [November 30th] at 9:15 am sharp, with the

Deputy District Attorney laying out his case, followed

by a response from B. Kwaku Duren, Ms. Dang's defense

attorney. It's expected that at least one Garden Grove

Police officer will be called to testify, along with

another possible witnesses -- including Ms. Dang

herself.

* One issue of contention will be the interpretation

of images on a videotape that was taken by a Minuteman

supporter at the May 25th counterdemonstration against

Jim Gilchrist at the Garden Grove Civic Woman's

Center. The Orange County District Attorney's Office

is using this videotape as the basis for charging Ms.

Dang with two misdemeanor criminal offenses. A portion

of this videotape was broadcast in court today and a

motion was granted by Judge Larsh to omit the audio on

the part that was aired for fear that it could

prejudice the jury. [author comment: I've seen the

videotape in question months ago and can tell you

right now that Ms. Dang committed none of the criminal

acts that she's been accused of; the facts

establishing all of this will come out during the

trial. When the facts are brought out into the open,

I'll say more about this publicly.]

That's all I have to report for now! However, please

see the following appeal I make below! Please take the

time to read it!

Thank you! :)

Sincerely,

Duane J. Roberts

duaneroberts92804@yahoo.com



SUPPORT THERESA DANG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I strongly urge that as many people as possible come

to Westminster to support Theresa Dang in her fight

against both the Garden Grove Police Department and

the Orange County District Attorney's Office.

You don't have to attend these trials every day, or be

there every hour. But commit yourself to three hours

(or even one) and watch what has to be one of the

biggest farces in the history of the criminal justice

system here in Orange County.

Although Friday is still uncertain, here are the days

and hours you could attend:

Wednesday

9:00 am - 12 noon

1:30 pm - 4:30 pm

Thursday

9:00 am - 12 noon

1:30 pm - 4:30 pm

Friday

9:00 am - 12 noon

1:30 pm - 4:30 pm

Department W10, like every courtroom, will be closed

from 12 noon - 1:30 pm for lunch.

If you yourself cannot attend, please call or email

friends and let them know about this case; ask if they

can commit themselves to attending this trial either

all day long or for just a few hours.

YOUR PRESENCE WILL HAVE A HUGE IMPACT UPON THE JURY.

IN ADDITION TO THAT, YOU'LL SEND A MESSAGE TO THE

ORANGE COUNTY DA AND THE GARDEN GROVE POLICE THAT WE

THE PEOPLE WILL NOT TOLERATE THE HARASSMENT OF

ACTIVISTS EXERCISING THEIR FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS.

THIS IS AN IMPORTANT TRIAL POLITICALLY, CULTURALLY,

AND HISTORICALLY. IT IS AT THE CONJUNCTURE OF

IMPORTANT STRUGGLES AGAINST RACISM, SEXISM, CLASSISM,

AND STATE REPRESSION!

Address for Theresa Dang's trial:

Department W10

West Justice Center

Orange County Superior Court

8131 W. 13th Street

Westminster, California

See http://www.occourts.org/locations/westmap.asp for

a map of where the courthouse is located.