Hi Donnie, I remember having read an article on this new law, I will drop this article hear (copy paste, not typing over) maybe sth in it is interesting to you...
LANDMARK CALIFORNIA LAW BARS PROSECUTORS FROM PURSUING MURDER CHARGES AGAINST PEOPLE WHO DIDN’T COMMIT MURDER November 23 2018 The intercept
JACQUE WILSON WAS in his car heading home from a softball game on a late August evening when his phone rang. It was his friend Kate Chatfield: She told him California Senate Bill 1437 had finally passed and was headed to Gov. Jerry Brown’s desk. “And I’m driving, and I just break down crying,” Wilson told The Intercept.
The new law would dramatically redefine use of the state’s archaic felony murder rule in criminal prosecutions. It would also mean that Wilson’s younger brother Neko might finally be coming home after more than nine years behind bars awaiting trial for a grisly crime that he insists he played no part in.
Neko Wilson was one of six people charged with the robbery-murder of Gary and Sandra DeBartolo, who had an illicit marijuana grow operation inside their Fresno County home. The state alleged that Neko and the others planned to steal the dope and whatever cash was in the house. But that plot apparently went sideways. Minutes after two of the accused conspirators, Leroy Johnson and Jose Reyes, entered the DeBartolos’ home on the morning of July 22, 2009, the couple was killed, their throats slashed. After a high-speed chase, police caught up with the getaway car.
Neko was not at the DeBartolos’ house that day, and he wasn’t in the getaway car. Still, he was arrested and charged with the couple’s murder. Prosecutors announced that they would seek the death penalty for Neko under the felony murder rule.
A throwback to English common law, the felony murder rule works like this: Say two people decide to burgle a house, and in the process, one of them shoots and kills the homeowner; even if the shooting was completely spontaneous, and even if one of the burglars didn’t know the other had a gun, both could be held equally liable for the murder. Neko Wilson might not have been there when the DeBartolos died, but prosecutors alleged he was the one who hatched the plan for the robbery, which meant he was responsible for what happened even if he didn’t kill anyone.
Most states have some version of the felony murder rule on the books, and in a number of states, it can be used to seek the death penalty. In Texas, five men have been executed for murders that they did not commit (a sixth is slated for execution in December). Although a handful of states have curtailed or eliminated this brand of accomplice liability, California’s law had remained active — much to the chagrin of people like Jacque Wilson, who is also an attorney with the San Francisco Public Defender’s Office.
I am currently transcribing your story and wanted to check up on a few things for you. I did a quick online research to help update some information here.
--
Regarding Mike Walsingam, he's been promoted to Assistant Special Agent in Charge at GBI. He's still called to testify in courts from the look of it, and he makes the news for public commentary.
Wendell Cofer has been promoted to Chief Deputy at the Decatur County Sheriff's Office. I couldn't find a report regarding the investigation of his wife's death. Only a comment he made about how another deputy's wife accidentally shot herself with a loaded gun.
Paula Smith is now a Senior Assistant Attorney General for Atlanta, Georgia.
Thurbert E. Baker is an Attorney General in Atlanta, Georgia. Or at least, as far as this year he is. Some of the hits appear dated.
Elizabeth Lewis Jaeger appears to be an attorney. And she was a new one at the time of your case, according to her online stats. I don't see a lot about her, only other people with her name.
I can't find your Ginger Harris online. I found another woman with the same name, but she wouldn't have been working at the same time as your cases (by about a good 5-6 years).
Google doesn't show you or your loved ones' case(s). If it does, it is very obscure and hard to locate. Another Johnson in a completely unrelated case does show up though.
---
Like I said, I'm still transcribing (and still reading), and I hope to finish this soon. I'm not sure if this information will help you or not. Hoped to give you some perspective of changes, is all.
Hey there! I've sent some emails to some organizations that may or may not help you. I'm hoping they'll contact you soon.
One of them already got back to me. Here's what they said:
"Donny Welch can find assistance in Beeville by contacting Workforce Solutions of the Coastal Bend.
They have a career center in Beeville located at 3800 Charco Rd, Beeville, TX 78102. You may contact them at 361-358-8941 or 800-666-0479. The center offers support services for job seekers, including those with criminal backgrounds."
===
I don't know if you have contacted them or not, but there is a nonprofit Texas organization that claims to help people in your situation. Maybe give them a shot.
I'll copy and paste their information here for you. Good luck! Don't give up on yourself!
===
Texas Inmate Families Association TIFA is a 501(c)(3) non-profit. Our mission is to break the cycle of crime by strengthening families through support, education, and advocacy. TIFA also provides parole workshops as well as online resources for our members.
What we do TIFA provides support, education, and advocacy for our members through monthly chapter meetings, this website, a quarterly newsletter, and access to the executive director of TIFA. Some of our accomplishments and services:
* Provide several different types of workshops that orient new families to TDCJ and that answer questions about parole and how to assemble a parole packet * Provide webinars to our members who cannot attend chapter meetings because of distance or their schedule * Launched new chapters and increased new memberships and renewals * Send holiday cards with inmate-specific greetings from local chapter members to their loved ones and others without outside support so they know they are not forgotten during the holidays * Send weekly Constant Contact email messages to keep members informed about important issues, conditions and changes * Distribute, free TDCJ approved clear coin purses for member use when visiting loved ones * Locate inmates who have been transferred from county jails to TDCJ for anxious families * Represent members in discussions with TDCJ and legislative officials * Provided ongoing updates about the Texas Legislature * All of the above items were provided to members as a part of their memberships in TIFA.
Texas Inmate Families Association P.O. Box 300220 Austin, TX 78703-0004
RSS
I remember having read an article on this new law, I will drop this article hear (copy paste, not typing over) maybe sth in it is interesting to you...
LANDMARK CALIFORNIA LAW BARS PROSECUTORS FROM PURSUING MURDER CHARGES AGAINST PEOPLE WHO DIDN’T COMMIT MURDER
November 23 2018 The intercept
JACQUE WILSON WAS in his car heading home from a softball game on a late August evening when his phone rang. It was his friend Kate Chatfield: She told him California Senate Bill 1437 had finally passed and was headed to Gov. Jerry Brown’s desk. “And I’m driving, and I just break down crying,” Wilson told The Intercept.
The new law would dramatically redefine use of the state’s archaic felony murder rule in criminal prosecutions. It would also mean that Wilson’s younger brother Neko might finally be coming home after more than nine years behind bars awaiting trial for a grisly crime that he insists he played no part in.
Neko Wilson was one of six people charged with the robbery-murder of Gary and Sandra DeBartolo, who had an illicit marijuana grow operation inside their Fresno County home. The state alleged that Neko and the others planned to steal the dope and whatever cash was in the house. But that plot apparently went sideways. Minutes after two of the accused conspirators, Leroy Johnson and Jose Reyes, entered the DeBartolos’ home on the morning of July 22, 2009, the couple was killed, their throats slashed. After a high-speed chase, police caught up with the getaway car.
Neko was not at the DeBartolos’ house that day, and he wasn’t in the getaway car. Still, he was arrested and charged with the couple’s murder. Prosecutors announced that they would seek the death penalty for Neko under the felony murder rule.
A throwback to English common law, the felony murder rule works like this: Say two people decide to burgle a house, and in the process, one of them shoots and kills the homeowner; even if the shooting was completely spontaneous, and even if one of the burglars didn’t know the other had a gun, both could be held equally liable for the murder. Neko Wilson might not have been there when the DeBartolos died, but prosecutors alleged he was the one who hatched the plan for the robbery, which meant he was responsible for what happened even if he didn’t kill anyone.
Most states have some version of the felony murder rule on the books, and in a number of states, it can be used to seek the death penalty. In Texas, five men have been executed for murders that they did not commit (a sixth is slated for execution in December). Although a handful of states have curtailed or eliminated this brand of accomplice liability, California’s law had remained active — much to the chagrin of people like Jacque Wilson, who is also an attorney with the San Francisco Public Defender’s Office.
I am currently transcribing your story and wanted to check up on a few things for you. I did a quick online research to help update some information here.
--
Regarding Mike Walsingam, he's been promoted to Assistant Special Agent in Charge at GBI. He's still called to testify in courts from the look of it, and he makes the news for public commentary.
Wendell Cofer has been promoted to Chief Deputy at the Decatur County Sheriff's Office. I couldn't find a report regarding the investigation of his wife's death. Only a comment he made about how another deputy's wife accidentally shot herself with a loaded gun.
Paula Smith is now a Senior Assistant Attorney General for Atlanta, Georgia.
Thurbert E. Baker is an Attorney General in Atlanta, Georgia. Or at least, as far as this year he is. Some of the hits appear dated.
Elizabeth Lewis Jaeger appears to be an attorney. And she was a new one at the time of your case, according to her online stats. I don't see a lot about her, only other people with her name.
I can't find your Ginger Harris online. I found another woman with the same name, but she wouldn't have been working at the same time as your cases (by about a good 5-6 years).
Google doesn't show you or your loved ones' case(s). If it does, it is very obscure and hard to locate. Another Johnson in a completely unrelated case does show up though.
---
Like I said, I'm still transcribing (and still reading), and I hope to finish this soon. I'm not sure if this information will help you or not. Hoped to give you some perspective of changes, is all.
One of them already got back to me. Here's what they said:
"Donny Welch can find assistance in Beeville by contacting Workforce Solutions of the Coastal Bend.
They have a career center in Beeville located at 3800 Charco Rd, Beeville, TX 78102. You may contact them at 361-358-8941 or 800-666-0479. The center offers support services for job seekers, including those with criminal backgrounds."
===
I don't know if you have contacted them or not, but there is a nonprofit Texas organization that claims to help people in your situation. Maybe give them a shot.
I'll copy and paste their information here for you. Good luck! Don't give up on yourself!
===
Texas Inmate Families Association
TIFA is a 501(c)(3) non-profit. Our mission is to break the cycle of crime by strengthening families through support, education, and advocacy. TIFA also provides parole workshops as well as online resources for our members.
What we do
TIFA provides support, education, and advocacy for our members through monthly chapter meetings, this website, a quarterly newsletter, and access to the executive director of TIFA. Some of our accomplishments and services:
* Provide several different types of workshops that orient new families to TDCJ and that answer questions about parole and how to assemble a parole packet
* Provide webinars to our members who cannot attend chapter meetings because of distance or their schedule
* Launched new chapters and increased new memberships and renewals
* Send holiday cards with inmate-specific greetings from local chapter members to their loved ones and others without outside support so they know they are not forgotten during the holidays
* Send weekly Constant Contact email messages to keep members informed about important issues, conditions and changes
* Distribute, free TDCJ approved clear coin purses for member use when visiting loved ones
* Locate inmates who have been transferred from county jails to TDCJ for anxious families
* Represent members in discussions with TDCJ and legislative officials
* Provided ongoing updates about the Texas Legislature
* All of the above items were provided to members as a part of their memberships in TIFA.
Texas Inmate Families Association
P.O. Box 300220
Austin, TX 78703-0004
Phone: (512) 371-0900
Email: tifa@tifa.org