{"article":{"id":140239,"heading":"Deputy DA hits Theresa Dang with new criminal charge","author":"Duane J. Roberts","created":"2005-12-01 05:02:03","modified":"2005-12-02 04:58:06","last_modified":"Fri, 02 Dec 2005 11:58:06","article":"<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC \"-\/\/W3C\/\/DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional\/\/EN\" \"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/TR\/REC-html40\/loose.dtd\">\n<html><body><p>&gt;&gt;&gt; PLEASE EMAIL AND POST THIS MESSAGE EVERYWHERE &lt;&lt;&lt; <br><br> Hello everybody: <br><br> I'm sending out this new email to keep people informed <br>  <br> about the latest developments in Theresa Dang's <br>  <br> pending trial on bogus flashlight theft charges. And <br>  <br> yes, I said *charges*, because the Orange County <br>  <br> District Attorney's Office today accused her of <br>  <br> committing yet another criminal offense! Yup, they <br>  <br> pulled a wand out of their magic hat and *poof* <br>  <br> accused Ms. Dang for \"theft of lost property\" -- with <br>  <br> no new evidence! <br><br> Here are the details, plus a couple of other points <br>  <br> that were raised at today's hearing: <br><br> * Shortly after lunch, Erik Petersen, the Deputy <br>  <br> District Attorney handling this case, amended the <br>  <br> original criminal complaint that was filed against Ms. <br>  <br> Dang back in June, adding a new charge. She is now <br>  <br> being accused of violating Section 485 of the <br>  <br> California Penal Code which states that \"one who finds <br>  <br> lost property under circumstances which give him <br>  <br> knowledge of or means of inquiry as to the true owner, <br>  <br> and who appropriates such property to his own use, or <br>  <br> to the use of another person not entitled thereto, <br>  <br> without first making reasonable and just efforts to <br>  <br> find the owner and to restore the property to him, is <br>  <br> guilty of theft.\" In the words of Deputy District <br>  <br> Attorney Petersen himself, his office is now charging <br>  <br> her for \"theft of lost property\" -- this is on top of <br>  <br> the misdemeanor petty theft charge they originally <br>  <br> filed against her! According to Petersen, the new <br>  <br> charge was filed not because they had any new evidence <br>  <br> against her, but because they [his colleagues] had a <br>  <br> \"new legal theory\" to try out! <br><br> * Judge Erick L. Larsh, the judicial officer who is <br>  <br> overseeing the trial in Department W10, told everybody <br>  <br> present that jury services believes this case is going <br>  <br> to last about two days, most likely ending on <br>  <br> Thursday. However, he said that it's quite possible <br>  <br> jury deliberations regarding Ms. Dang's fate may take <br>  <br> place on Friday. <br><br> * In another comment, Judge Larsh publicly estimated <br>  <br> that a jury trial like this one is going to cost <br>  <br> California taxpapers about $22,000 per day. If this <br>  <br> trial lasts until Friday, then it will cost you and I <br>  <br> somewhere in the neighborhood of $66,000. [my comment: <br>  <br> put into perspective, this money could have bought 700 <br>  <br> police officers a brand new Maglite flashlight of the <br>  <br> exact same make, model, and quality that Dang is <br>  <br> alleged to have stolen, especially if purchased in <br>  <br> bulk. Of course, it could have paid college tuition <br>  <br> for a lot of young people, too.] <br><br> * The twelve jurors that were selected for the trial <br>  <br> are predominately white, with a wide range of ages. <br>  <br> There are almost an equal number of males to females. <br>  <br> Many of the people on this jury appear to be college <br>  <br> educated. <br><br> * Opening arguments in this case will begin tommorrow <br>  <br> morning [November 30th] at 9:15 am sharp, with the <br>  <br> Deputy District Attorney laying out his case, followed <br>  <br> by a response from B. Kwaku Duren, Ms. Dang's defense <br>  <br> attorney. It's expected that at least one Garden Grove <br>  <br> Police officer will be called to testify, along with <br>  <br> another possible witnesses -- including Ms. Dang <br>  <br> herself. <br><br> * One issue of contention will be the interpretation <br>  <br> of images on a videotape that was taken by a Minuteman <br>  <br> supporter at the May 25th counterdemonstration against <br>  <br> Jim Gilchrist at the Garden Grove Civic Woman's <br>  <br> Center. The Orange County District Attorney's Office <br>  <br> is using this videotape as the basis for charging Ms. <br>  <br> Dang with two misdemeanor criminal offenses. A portion <br>  <br> of this videotape was broadcast in court today and a <br>  <br> motion was granted by Judge Larsh to omit the audio on <br>  <br> the part that was aired for fear that it could <br>  <br> prejudice the jury. [author comment: I've seen the <br>  <br> videotape in question months ago and can tell you <br>  <br> right now that Ms. Dang committed none of the criminal <br>  <br> acts that she's been accused of; the facts <br>  <br> establishing all of this will come out during the <br>  <br> trial. When the facts are brought out into the open, <br>  <br> I'll say more about this publicly.] <br><br> That's all I have to report for now! However, please <br>  <br> see the following appeal I make below! Please take the <br>  <br> time to read it! <br><br> Thank you! :) <br><br> Sincerely, <br><br> Duane J. Roberts <br>  <br> <a href=\"mailto:duaneroberts92804@yahoo.com\">duaneroberts92804@yahoo.com<\/a> <br><br>  <br>  <br> SUPPORT THERESA DANG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! <br><br> I strongly urge that as many people as possible come <br>  <br> to Westminster to support Theresa Dang in her fight <br>  <br> against both the Garden Grove Police Department and <br>  <br> the Orange County District Attorney's Office. <br><br> You don't have to attend these trials every day, or be <br>  <br> there every hour. But commit yourself to three hours <br>  <br> (or even one) and watch what has to be one of the <br>  <br> biggest farces in the history of the criminal justice <br>  <br> system here in Orange County. <br><br> Although Friday is still uncertain, here are the days <br>  <br> and hours you could attend: <br><br> Wednesday  <br><br> 9:00 am - 12 noon <br>  <br> 1:30 pm - 4:30 pm <br><br> Thursday <br><br> 9:00 am - 12 noon <br>  <br> 1:30 pm - 4:30 pm <br><br> Friday <br><br> 9:00 am - 12 noon <br>  <br> 1:30 pm - 4:30 pm <br><br> Department W10, like every courtroom, will be closed <br>  <br> from 12 noon - 1:30 pm for lunch. <br><br> If you yourself cannot attend, please call or email <br>  <br> friends and let them know about this case; ask if they <br>  <br> can commit themselves to attending this trial either <br>  <br> all day long or for just a few hours. <br><br> YOUR PRESENCE WILL HAVE A HUGE IMPACT UPON THE JURY. <br>  <br> IN ADDITION TO THAT, YOU'LL SEND A MESSAGE TO THE <br>  <br> ORANGE COUNTY DA AND THE GARDEN GROVE POLICE THAT WE <br>  <br> THE PEOPLE WILL NOT TOLERATE THE HARASSMENT OF <br>  <br> ACTIVISTS EXERCISING THEIR FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS. <br><br> THIS IS AN IMPORTANT TRIAL POLITICALLY, CULTURALLY, <br>  <br> AND HISTORICALLY. IT IS AT THE CONJUNCTURE OF <br>  <br> IMPORTANT STRUGGLES AGAINST RACISM, SEXISM, CLASSISM, <br>  <br> AND STATE REPRESSION! <br><br> Address for Theresa Dang's trial: <br><br> Department W10 <br>  <br> West Justice Center <br>  <br> Orange County Superior Court <br>  <br> 8131 W. 13th Street <br>  <br> Westminster, California <br><br> See <a href=\"http:\/\/www.occourts.org\/locations\/westmap.asp\">http:\/\/www.occourts.org\/locations\/westmap.asp<\/a> for <br>  <br> a map of where the courthouse is located.  <br><br>  <br><br> <\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","contact":"duaneroberts92804@yahoo.com","link":"","address":"","phone":"","parent_id":0,"mime_type":"text\/plain","summary":"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.","numcomment":9,"fileurl":"\/uploads\/","filesize":null,"article_url":"\/news\/2005\/12\/140239.php"},"attachments":[],"comments":[{"id":140263,"heading":"Hey Leftist Indy Media Wackos","article":"Stay out of Orange County!","author":"OcVoter","parent_id":140239,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2005-12-01 16:36:57","modified":"2005-12-01 16:36:57","fileurl":""},{"id":140274,"heading":"Jury intimidation!","article":"This creature stole a police flashlight while laying down bleating about being hit by a van, which naturally didn't happen, just another shrill lefty performance. And now, the legions of anarchy are supposed to show up at the courthouse, to show the jurors how you feel. That's a GREAT idea! Talk about a jury I wish I was on. She'd be in the chair next to Tookie.","author":"Dang me","parent_id":140239,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2005-12-01 19:21:35","modified":"2005-12-01 19:21:35","fileurl":""},{"id":140275,"heading":"She'd be in the chair next to Tookie.","article":"\r\nfor allegedly stealing a flashlight?\r\nwow","author":"wow","parent_id":140239,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2005-12-01 19:31:51","modified":"2005-12-01 19:31:51","fileurl":""},{"id":140279,"heading":"Interesting conspiracy notions","article":"So now they're trying to claim that the vehicular assault didn't happen.\r\n\r\nThe workd wide conspiracy to denigrate the good people of the SOSMM et al. has widened now to include the police, I see.\r\n\r\nAmusing.\r\n","author":"Fredric L. Rice","parent_id":140239,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2005-12-01 19:52:01","modified":"2005-12-01 19:52:01","fileurl":""},{"id":140309,"heading":"Reg: \u201cShe'd be in the chair next to Tookie.\u201d","article":"Reg: \u201cShe'd be in the chair next to Tookie.\u201d\r\n\r\nThanks for showing your True Colors!! Not that we didn\u2019t know!\r\n\r\nI wouldn\u2019t be surprised if you are one of the PIGs on the Fascist Garden Grove Police Dept.\r\n\r\nAss Wipes like you keep telling us to &quot;LEAVE (the U.S.) if you don't like it!&quot; Well, YOU are the one refusing to live under our Constitution, so YOU leave you SHIT!! Try Saudi Arabia, you\u2019ll fit right in you FUCK! Your favorite Allie!!! \r\n\r\nProud Orange County Republican?? Your ideologies led to your counties bankruptcy!!!! (One of the top 5 Richest Counties in the U.S.!!!!! What a JOKE!!! Capitalism at it\u2019s best??) SO FUCK YOUR IDEOLOGY!  \r\n\r\nYou're brainwashed by the likes of RUSH who are the puppets of the Billionaires that never pay a dime in taxes and none of their kids ever go to War! \r\n\r\nYou want to blame our problems on some poor immigrant who ran away from his country, which our government destroyed! \r\n\r\nBut you are too blind to see that the guy who is really destroying us, by outsourcing tens of thousands of good paying American jobs, is a Blue Eyed, Blonde Haired, all-American CEO!!! The same Fuck who is posting record profits, but paying slave wages to American Workers!!!!!\r\n\r\nFucks like you pretend to know what freedom is all about, but you\u2019d hang every journalist if you could!! Proving your ignorance that without a Free Press there can\u2019t be a Free Country, or a Democracy!!! (F- in High School Government class??)\r\n\r\nYou are the same FUCK who will justify the killing of South American Priests and Nuns, because \u201cThey are Commies\u201d!!!! You sick, sadistic, Nazi, go back to your fake church, pray for a bigger SUV, and when you get it, get the Hell out of this country!\r\n \r\nThis is the country of Robin Hood, Superman, and Justice for All!!!!! NOT Selfish, Greedy, Closed-minded FUCKS! \r\n\r\nActually, what I'm really trying to say is: FUCK YOU!\r\n","author":"RB","parent_id":140239,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2005-12-02 02:28:20","modified":"2013-11-11 00:36:54","fileurl":""},{"id":140310,"heading":"Simple..","article":"Her defense could be simple... she was going to give the flashlight (which they never found, right?) back but the cops chased her, me and everyone else that night into traffic with complete disregard to public safety.  After that, out of fear for unlawful persecution she didn't feel safe returning such said lost property.  \r\n\r\nThis is bullshit.  Everyone fight.  ","author":"fight this.","parent_id":140239,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2005-12-02 02:30:06","modified":"2005-12-02 02:30:06","fileurl":""},{"id":140311,"heading":"Reg: \u201cShe'd be in the chair next to Tookie.\u201d","article":"Reg: \u201cShe'd be in the chair next to Tookie.\u201d\r\n\r\nThanks for showing your True Colors!! Not that we didn\u2019t know!\r\n\r\nI wouldn\u2019t be surprised if you are one of the PIGs on the Fascist Garden Grove Police Dept.\r\n\r\nAss Wipes like you keep telling us to &quot;LEAVE (the U.S.) if you don't like it!&quot; Well, YOU are the one refusing to live under our Constitution, so YOU leave you SHIT!! Try Saudi Arabia, you\u2019ll fit right in you FUCK! Your favorite Allie!!! \r\n\r\nProud Orange County Republican?? Your ideologies led to your counties bankruptcy!!!! (One of the top 5 Richest Counties in the U.S.!!!!! What a JOKE!!! Capitalism at it\u2019s best??) SO FUCK YOUR IDEOLOGY!  \r\n\r\nYou're brainwashed by the likes of RUSH who are the puppets of the Billionaires that never pay a dime in taxes and none of their kids ever go to War! \r\n\r\nYou want to blame our problems on some poor immigrant who ran away from his country, which our government destroyed! \r\n \r\nBut you are too blind to see that the guy who is really destroying us, by outsourcing tens of thousands of good paying American jobs, is a Blue Eyed, Blonde Haired, all-American CEO!!! The same Fuck who is posting record profits, but paying slave wages to American Workers!!!!!\r\n\r\nFucks like you pretend to know what freedom is all about, but you\u2019d hang every journalist if you could!! Proving your ignorance that without a Free Press there can\u2019t be a Free Country, or a Democracy!!! (F- in High School Government class??)\r\n\r\nYou are the same FUCK who will justify the killing of South American Priests and Nuns, because \u201cThey are Commies\u201d!!!! You sick, sadistic, Nazi, go back to your fake church, pray for a bigger SUV, and when you get it, get the Hell out of this country!\r\n\r\nThis is the country of Robin Hood, Superman, and Justice for All!!!!! NOT Selfish, Greedy, Closed-minded FUCKS! \r\n\r\nActually, what I'm really trying to say is: FUCK YOU!\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\n","author":"RB","parent_id":140239,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2005-12-02 02:30:23","modified":"2013-11-11 00:36:54","fileurl":""},{"id":140315,"heading":"Mutual Respect","article":"Hey racists!\r\n\r\nJust read what you are writing and think about BP.  You cry like babies when a little water bottle knocks some sense into you and then think it is okay to run someone over with a car, and kill a person for allegedly stealing a flashlight (not that she did).  I am glad you are showing your true colors.  It helps the crowd standing for justice and equality regardless of national origin to lose the empathy for the people on your side.\r\n","author":"Antiracist","parent_id":140239,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2005-12-02 03:36:56","modified":"2005-12-02 03:36:56","fileurl":""},{"id":140323,"heading":"PROTEST!!!!","article":"Someone needs to organize a protest outside the courthouse and notify the media ASAP!!!! This is a great story for the media especially the part of how much this trial is costing the taxpayers: $66,000 and for what...a lost flashlight...somebody call john stossel cause all I can say about this case is gimmie a break! What a bull$hit case, someone call the mayor cause this is a waste of taxpayer funds. I don't wish I was on the jury, I wish I was the judge so I could just sit there and yell at the prosecution for hours about what a waste of my time this was! What a fuken joke. All this while some paranoid old man rides around free on the streets looking for his next hit and run victim! Only in AmeriKa! ","author":"the courthouse","parent_id":140239,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2005-12-02 04:58:06","modified":"2005-12-02 04:58:06","fileurl":""}]}