latimes--2020-02-13--DNA clears imprisoned man in 1985 murder as a new suspect is identified

Shortly after midnight on July 7 , 1985 , newspaper columnist Jane Hylton was found stabbed to death inside a blood-spattered El Dorado , Calif. , home .
It took 20 years for a man to be convicted for her murder — despite his repeated protests of innocence .
On Thursday , 15 years after Ricky Leo Davis was imprisoned , forensic evidence and genetic genealogy proved he was telling the truth .
He has been exonerated of all charges related to the crime after DNA evidence linked Hylton ’ s death to a new suspect , who is currently @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Ricky Leo Davis did not kill Jane Hylton , ” El Dorado County District Atty .
Vern Pierson said .
The case was backed by the Northern California Innocence Project and marks the first time in California history that the use of investigative genealogy — the same process that led to the arrest of alleged Golden State Killer Joseph James DeAngelo Jr. — has led to the exoneration of one person and the simultaneous incrimination of a new suspect .
“ When crime scene evidence is uploaded to a genealogy site , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ individual ’ s genetic information .
They get the same information that anyone using that site would get — a list of potential relatives that may lead them to the answer , ” Sacramento County District Atty .
Anne Marie Schubert said .
“ Investigative genealogy , just like DNA , is about one thing : finding the truth no matter what it is .
The victim and her daughter deserve that .
Ricky Davis deserves that.
” Davis ’ initial conviction in 2005 was based heavily on accounts obtained from his former @ @ @ @ @ @ @ officials referred to as aggressive interrogation techniques .
At the the time of Hylton ’ s death , reports suggested that Hylton and her 13-year-old daughter , Autumn , had fled Hylton ’ s husband and had taken refuge inside Davis ’ mother ’ s home , where Davis and his former girlfriend Dahl were also living .
Dahl , who died in 2014 , originally said that she , Davis and Autumn discovered the 54-year-old woman after her death .
But detectives had theorized that after Hylton prohibited Autumn from attending a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lost his temper and attacked Hylton .
Years later , when pressed by detectives in the case over details she had provided one day after Hylton ’ s death to the Mountain Democrat newspaper , Dahl changed her story and blamed Davis for the slaying .
Autumn ’ s testimony has consistently remained the same in the years since her mother ’ s death , and ultimately led to the arrest of a suspect whom officials identified as Michael Green .
That was the name Autumn gave to authorities years ago , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ custody .
Green would have been a juvenile at the time of the crime .
Officials offered limited details about Green ’ s possible involvement in Hylton ’ s death .
Pierson said that prior to Hylton ’ s death , Autumn said she left the house , angry that her mother would not allow her to attend a party with Davis and Dahl .
While walking outside , she said she ran into three teenage boys , including Green and two others .
Autumn went back into the house , changed her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was going over to a friend ’ s house , before meeting up with the boys again .
Later , she said that she , Dahl and Davis discovered the gruesome scene .
The Innocence Project in Northern California has been working on Davis ’ case since 2010 , four years after he sent a letter asking for help .
Davis had previously served time behind bars , including a nine-year stint for bank robbery .
But Melissa O ’ Connell , a staff attorney and policy liaison at the Innocence Project who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she was sure he was not guilty of murder .
Ultimately , the 2014 discovery of DNA evidence pulled from Hylton ’ s nightgown helped exonerate him .
“ To say this has been a day that has been long overdue is an understatement , ” she said .
“ Ricky never gave up hope that the the truth would come out and he would be proven innocent .
I think that ’ s remarkable of the human spirit.
” Following the announcement of Davis ’ freedom , O ’ Connell said that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ courtroom .
His mother and sisters have been steadfast supporters in the years since his conviction .
O ’ Connell said that , according to Davis , he has been behind bars for 23 years and 184 days .
Once released , his first meal after years of confinement , she said , will be pizza .

Shortly after midnight on July 7, 1985, newspaper columnist Jane Hylton was found stabbed to death inside a blood-spattered El Dorado, Calif., home. It took 20 years for a man to be convicted of her murder — despite his repeated protests of innocence.
On Thursday, 15 years after Ricky Leo Davis was imprisoned, forensic evidence and genetic genealogy proved he was telling the truth. He has been exonerated of all charges related to the crime after DNA evidence linked Hylton’s death to a new suspect, who is now in police custody.
“Simply put, Ricky Leo Davis did not kill Jane Hylton,” El Dorado County Dist. Atty. Vern Pierson said.
The case was backed by the Northern California Innocence Project and marks the first time in California history that the use of investigative genealogy — the same process that led to the arrest of alleged Golden State Killer Joseph James DeAngelo Jr. — has led to the exoneration of one person and the simultaneous incrimination of a new suspect.
“When crime scene evidence is uploaded to a genealogy site, law enforcement does not get access to individual’s genetic information. They get the same information that anyone using that site would get — a list of potential relatives that may lead them to the answer,” Sacramento County Dist. Atty. Anne Marie Schubert said. “Investigative genealogy, just like DNA, is about one thing: finding the truth no matter what it is. The victim and her daughter deserve that. Ricky Davis deserves that.”
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Davis’ initial conviction in 2005 was based heavily on accounts obtained from his former girlfriend, Connie Dahl, under what officials referred to as aggressive interrogation techniques.
At the the time of Hylton’s death, reports suggested that Hylton and her 13-year-old daughter, Autumn, had fled Hylton’s husband and had taken refuge inside Davis’ mother’s home, where Davis and his former girlfriend Dahl were also living. Dahl, who died in 2014, originally said that she, Davis and Autumn discovered the 54-year-old woman after her death.
But detectives had theorized that after Hylton prohibited Autumn from attending a party with Dahl and Davis, Davis lost his temper and attacked Hylton. Years later, when pressed by detectives in the case over details she had provided one day after Hylton’s death to the Mountain Democrat newspaper, Dahl changed her story and blamed Davis for the slaying.
Autumn’s testimony has consistently remained the same in the years since her mother’s death, and ultimately led to the arrest of a suspect officials identified as Michael Green. That was the name Autumn gave to authorities years ago. Green would have been a juvenile at the time of the crime. Officials offered limited details about Green’s possible involvement in Hylton’s death.
Pierson said that prior to Hylton’s death, Autumn said she left the house, angry that her mother would not allow her to attend a party with Davis and Dahl. While walking outside, she said, she ran into three teenage boys, including Green and two others. Autumn went back into the house, changed her clothes and told her mother that she was going over to a friend’s house, before meeting up with the boys again. Later, she said that she, Dahl and Davis discovered the gruesome scene.
In court, Green denied her account.
The Innocence Project in Northern California has been working on Davis’ case since 2010, four years after he sent a letter asking for help. Davis had previously served time behind bars, including a nine-year stint for bank robbery. But Melissa O’Connell, a staff attorney and policy liaison at the Innocence Project who has overseen Davis’ case, said she was sure he was not guilty of murder. Ultimately, the 2014 discovery of DNA evidence pulled from Hylton’s nightgown helped exonerate him.
“To say this has been a day that has been long overdue is an understatement,” she said. “Ricky never gave up hope that the the truth would come out and he would be proven innocent. I think that’s remarkable of the human spirit.”
Following the announcement of Davis’ freedom, O’Connell said that the 54-year-old hugged his mother in the courtroom. His mother and sisters have been steadfast supporters in the years since his conviction.
O’Connell said that, according to Davis, he has been behind bars for 23 years and 184 days. Once released, his first meal after years of confinement, she said, will be pizza.


latimes--2020-02-13--Apple store workers should be paid for time waiting to be searched, court rules

California law requires Apple Inc. to pay its workers for being searched before they leave retail stores , the California Supreme Court decided unanimously Thursday .
A group of Apple workers filed a class-action lawsuit against the tech giant , charging they were required to submit to searches before leaving the stores but were not compensated for the time those searches required .
The U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals , where the case is now pending , asked the California Supreme Court to clarify whether state law requires compensation .
In a decision written by Chief Justice Tani Cantil-Sakauye @ @ @ @ @ @ @ order defines hours worked as “ the time during which an employee is subject to the control of an employer , and includes all the time the employee is suffered or permitted to work , whether or not required to do so.
” Apple , which has 52 retail stores in California , requires its workers to submit to exit searches of their bags , packages , purses , backpacks , brief cases and personal Apple devices , such as iPhones , to deter theft .
Failure to comply with the search policy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ supposed to find a manager or security officer to do the searches after they clock out .
Employees estimate that waiting for and undergoing the searches can take five to 20 minutes , or , on busiest days , up to 45 minutes .
Apple argued that workers could avoid such searches by choosing not to bring a bag , package , or personal Apple technology device to work .
A federal district court judge ruled in favor of Apple , deciding that workers had to prove they not only were restrained from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to avoid having personal items searched .
Apple said it could prohibit employees from bringing any bags or personal Apple devices into its stores altogether but gave them that benefit .
The California Supreme Court said a ban on any personal items would be “ draconian.
” “ Under the circumstances of this case and the realities of ordinary , 21st century life , we find farfetched and untenable Apple ’ s claim that its bag-search policy can be justified as providing a benefit to its employees , ” the court said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ a bag to hold ordinary , everyday items , including wallets , keys , cellphones , eye glasses and water bottles .
“ Apple ’ s proposed rule conditioning compensability on whether an employee can theoretically avoid bringing a bag , purse , or iPhone to work does not offer a workable standard , and certainly not an employee protective one , ” Cantil-Sakauye wrote .
The court ’ s decision is retroactive .
The case will now return to the 9th Circuit , where the federal judges will apply Thursday ’ s @ @ @ @ @

California law requires Apple to pay its workers for being searched before they leave retail stores, the state Supreme Court said.
California law requires Apple Inc. to pay its workers for being searched before they leave retail stores, the California Supreme Court decided unanimously Thursday.
A group of Apple workers filed a class-action lawsuit against the tech giant, charging they were required to submit to searches before leaving the stores but were not compensated for the time those searches required. The U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals, where the case is now pending, asked the California Supreme Court to clarify whether state law requires compensation.
In a decision written by Chief Justice Tani Cantil-Sakauye, the court said an industrial wage order defines hours worked as “the time during which an employee is subject to the control of an employer, and includes all the time the employee is suffered or permitted to work, whether or not required to do so.”
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Apple, which has 52 retail stores in California, requires its workers to submit to exit searches of their bags, packages, purses, backpacks, brief cases and personal Apple devices, such as iPhones, to deter theft. Failure to comply with the search policy can lead to termination.
Employees are supposed to find a manager or security officer to do the searches after they clock out. Employees estimate that waiting for and undergoing the searches can take five to 20 minutes, or, on busiest days, up to 45 minutes.
Apple argued that workers could avoid such searches by choosing not to bring a bag, package, or personal Apple technology device to work.
A federal district court judge ruled in favor of Apple, deciding that workers had to prove they not only were restrained from leaving but that there was no way to avoid having personal items searched.
Apple said it could prohibit employees from bringing any bags or personal Apple devices into its stores altogether but gave them that benefit. The California Supreme Court said a ban on any personal items would be “draconian.”
“Under the circumstances of this case and the realities of ordinary, 21st century life, we find farfetched and untenable Apple’s claim that its bag-search policy can be justified as providing a benefit to its employees,” the court said.
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The court noted that workers may need a bag to hold ordinary, everyday items, including wallets, keys, cellphones, eye glasses and water bottles.
“Apple’s proposed rule conditioning compensability on whether an employee can theoretically avoid bringing a bag, purse, or iPhone to work does not offer a workable standard, and certainly not an employee protective one,” Cantil-Sakauye wrote.
The court’s decision is retroactive. The case will now return to the 9th Circuit, where the federal judges will apply Thursday’s interpretation of state law.


latimes--2020-02-13--Rainfall in February looks bleak. Is California heading for another drought?

Swaths of Southern California , including downtown Los Angeles , could be heading toward one of the driest combined starts to a year on record if the Golden State doesn ’ t start getting some rain , the National Weather Service said Thursday .
While precipitation in November and December provided a solid start to winter across the state , a persistent high-pressure ridge hovering over the eastern Pacific Ocean has kept wet weather at bay for much of January and early February , said David Sweet , a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Oxnard .
“ It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the Pacific storms into the Pacific Northwest up near Seattle , ” Sweet said .
“ Overall for January and February , we ’ ve been far below normal in terms of rainfall.
” Downtown Los Angeles received 0.32 inches of rain in January .
So far in February , which is typically the wettest month of the year , the area has received just a trace of precipitation .
Typically , downtown Los Angeles receives 6.92 inches of rain in January and February , according to the weather service .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is also more than an inch below normal , coming in at just 7.28 inches , data show .
“ By this time in the season last year , downtown Los Angeles had 13.29 inches of rain , a full six inches more than we have this year , ” Sweet said .
“ This gives you a good contrast between the two seasons.
” And it doesn ’ t appear to be getting wetter anytime soon .
Long-term models don ’ t show any significant rain in Southern California for at least @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s possible that parts of the northern section of the state could go completely dry for the rest of February , climatologists say .
About 46 % of the state , including Santa Barbara and Ventura counties and much of Los Angeles County , is already in abnormally dry conditions because of the lack of precipitation this year .
About 9.5 % of the state , centered across the San Joaquin Valley , is already considered to be in moderate drought conditions , according to a map released by the U.S. Drought Monitor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has also taken its toll on the Sierra Nevada snowpack , a key source of the state ’ s water supply .
On Thursday , the statewide snowpack measured 59 % of average for the time of year .
The snow season typically begins in December and ends on the first day of April , when the snowpack is normally at its highest .
How much snow falls during this period is critical to California ’ s annual water outlook and is watched closely by state water managers .
The snowpack provides about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the state .
Its spring and summer runoff feeds rivers and reservoirs , and part of it is distributed to water agencies for farm irrigation , landscaping and urban drinking supplies .
The good news , officials say , is that the state ’ s reservoirs , including Folsom Lake and Shasta Lake , are near or above their averages for this time of year , thanks in part to solid rainfall last winter .
Despite the lackluster winter weather , experts say it ’ s too early to say whether the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ persistent drought .
Historically in California , it takes two years of significantly below-normal rainfall to create a drought , said Daniel Swain , a climate scientist with UCLA and the National Center for Atmospheric Research .
“ The likelihood is that this winter will end up being dry , ” Swain said .
“ If we have another dry winter , we would be in a significant drought , but we won ’ t quite be there this year.
” Last year , the Drought Monitor map showed no areas suffering from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2011 .
The last drought , which was declared over in 2017 , led to restrictions on outdoor irrigation and other users in urban areas and resulted in cutbacks in water delivery for agricultural uses .
Millions of trees across California also died during the drought , which contributed to devastating wildfires .
Bill Patzert , a weather expert and former climatologist with the Jet Propulsion Laboratory , contends California never really fully emerged from the last drought .
“ I think of droughts in the long term , not year to year @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they tend to be large and they wax and wane , ” Patzert said .
“ The other thing is they fool you .
You think you ’ re out and they pull you back in.
” Even if the state isn ’ t looking down the barrel of an outright drought , a dry winter does bring other consequences , including increased wildfire risks as the state ’ s forests dry out .
And if Southern California receives a burst of rain in March and April , those conditions may be too @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than normal .
Late rains also allow seasonal grasses and brush to grow more rapidly , providing more fuel for wildland fires .
A report from the National Interagency Fire Center , released earlier this month , predicted large fire potential to climb to above normal levels for Southern California due to an early onset of springtime grassfire season .
“ The worst combination for fires is a relatively dry winter followed by a burst of wet conditions late winter and spring , ” Swain said .
“ The extra growth of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be a bad combination .
”

A persistent high-pressure ridge over the eastern Pacific Ocean has kept wet weather at bay for much of January and early February in California.
Swaths of Southern California, including downtown Los Angeles, could be heading toward one of the driest combined starts to a year on record if the Golden State doesn’t start getting some rain, the National Weather Service said Thursday.
While precipitation in November and December provided a solid start to winter across the state, a persistent high-pressure ridge hovering over the eastern Pacific Ocean has kept wet weather at bay for much of January and early February, said David Sweet, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Oxnard.
“It’s been successful in diverting all of the Pacific storms into the Pacific Northwest up near Seattle,” Sweet said. “Overall for January and February, we’ve been far below normal in terms of rainfall.”
Downtown Los Angeles received 0.32 inches of rain in January. So far in February, which is typically the wettest month of the year, the area has received just a trace of precipitation. Typically, downtown Los Angeles receives 6.92 inches of rain in January and February, according to the weather service.
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The total seasonal rainfall so far in downtown is also more than an inch below normal, coming in at just 7.28 inches, data show.
“By this time in the season last year, downtown Los Angeles had 13.29 inches of rain, a full six inches more than we have this year,” Sweet said. “This gives you a good contrast between the two seasons.”
And it doesn’t appear to be getting wetter anytime soon.
Long-term models don’t show any significant rain in Southern California for at least the next two weeks and it’s possible that parts of the northern section of the state could go completely dry for the rest of February, climatologists say.
About 46% of the state, including Santa Barbara and Ventura counties and much of Los Angeles County, is already in abnormally dry conditions because of the lack of precipitation this year. About 9.5% of the state, centered across the San Joaquin Valley, is already considered to be in moderate drought conditions, according to a map released by the U.S. Drought Monitor on Thursday.
The lack of rain has also taken its toll on the Sierra Nevada snowpack, a key source of the state’s water supply. On Thursday, the statewide snowpack measured 59% of average for the time of year.
The snow season typically begins in December and ends on the first day of April, when the snowpack is normally at its highest. How much snow falls during this period is critical to California’s annual water outlook and is watched closely by state water managers.
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The snowpack provides about 30% of the annual freshwater supply for the state. Its spring and summer runoff feeds rivers and reservoirs, and part of it is distributed to water agencies for farm irrigation, landscaping and urban drinking supplies.
The good news, officials say, is that the state’s reservoirs, including Folsom Lake and Shasta Lake, are near or above their averages for this time of year, thanks in part to solid rainfall last winter.
Despite the lackluster winter weather, experts say it’s too early to say whether the state is headed for another massive and persistent drought. Historically in California, it takes two years of significantly below-normal rainfall to create a drought, said Daniel Swain, a climate scientist with UCLA and the National Center for Atmospheric Research.
“The likelihood is that this winter will end up being dry,” Swain said. “If we have another dry winter, we would be in a significant drought, but we won’t quite be there this year.”
Last year, the Drought Monitor map showed no areas suffering from prolonged drought for the first time since 2011. The last drought, which was declared over in 2017, led to restrictions on outdoor irrigation and other users in urban areas and resulted in cutbacks in water delivery for agricultural uses. Millions of trees across California also died during the drought, which contributed to devastating wildfires.
Bill Patzert, a weather expert and former climatologist with the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, contends California never really fully emerged from the last drought.
“I think of droughts in the long term, not year to year. Droughts tend to be long, they tend to be large and they wax and wane,” Patzert said. “The other thing is they fool you. You think you’re out and they pull you back in.”
Even if the state isn’t looking down the barrel of an outright drought, a dry winter does bring other consequences, including increased wildfire risks as the state’s forests dry out.
And if Southern California receives a burst of rain in March and April, those conditions may be too late to keep grasses from curing earlier than normal. Late rains also allow seasonal grasses and brush to grow more rapidly, providing more fuel for wildland fires.
A report from the National Interagency Fire Center, released earlier this month, predicted large fire potential to climb to above normal levels for Southern California due to an early onset of springtime grassfire season.
“The worst combination for fires is a relatively dry winter followed by a burst of wet conditions late winter and spring,” Swain said. “The extra growth of the grass and a really dry forest can be a bad combination.”


latimes--2020-02-13--LAPD automatic license plate readers pose a massive privacy risk, audit says

The Los Angeles Police Department and three other California law enforcement agencies have not provided sufficient privacy protections for the hundreds of millions of images collected by automated license plate readers and shared with other jurisdictions , the state auditor said Thursday .
Most of the images collected by the devices are unrelated to criminal cases .
The audit found that 99.9 % of the 320 million images the LAPD stored came from vehicles that were not on a list of those involved in criminal investigations when the image was made by the automated license plate readers , or ALPR @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a letter to Gov .
Gavin Newsom and the Legislature that changes were needed to better safeguard the privacy of license plate data collected by the Fresno Police Department , Marin County Sheriff ’ s Office , Sacramento County Sheriff ’ s Office and LAPD .
“ Local law enforcement agencies did not always follow practices that adequately consider the individual ’ s privacy in handling and retaining the ALPR images and associated data , ” the audit said .
“ None of the agencies have an ALPR usage and privacy policy that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2016 — requirements.
” State Sen. Scott Wiener ( D-San Francisco ) , who requested the audit , said he would write legislation to address the problems , including the need for more privacy safeguards and stronger state enforcement to ensure local law enforcement agencies have proper policies .
“ I am horrified , ” Wiener said Thursday .
“ We believed that there were problems with the ALPR program , but I did not anticipate the scale of the problem — the fact that we have so many law enforcement agencies that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ including LAPD.
” Wiener had asked for the audit of what he called “ mass surveillance ” systems , concerned that the information collected might indicate where someone worships or goes to the doctor , or where the person sleeps .
He said the systems were supposed to be used for the narrow purpose of identifying crimes .
“ Instead , we have law enforcement agencies retaining the data for years and disseminating it broadly , ” Wiener said .
“ It ’ s very disturbing.
” The findings will likely have consequences @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Howle said a survey by her office found that 70 % of all law enforcement agencies in California either operated or planned to operate an ALPR system .
“ This raises concerns that these agencies may share the deficiencies we identified at the four agencies we reviewed , ” the audit said .
LAPD Chief Michel Moore said in a letter responding to the audit that his agency had “ the utmost respect for individuals ’ privacy and currently has policies and procedures in place to safeguard personal information ” but that the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the auditor ’ s concerns .
The automated camera systems mounted on street light poles and patrol cars collect and store license plate images of vehicles passing in their view and enable law enforcement to track a vehicle ’ s movements over time .
The images are compared with a list of vehicles of interest , including stolen cars and those used in crimes , and officers are alerted in real time to their location .
State law requires that agencies adopt policies and safeguards to prevent misuse by describing the system ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , how the agency will share data , how the agency will protect and monitor the system , and how long the agency will keep the data .
“ However , the agencies we reviewed either did not have ALPR policies or their policies were deficient , and they had not implemented sufficient safeguards , ” the audit found .
“ For example , none had audited searches of the ALPR images by their staff and thus had no assurance that the searches were appropriate.
“ Privacy concerns have been raised by groups @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which has questioned the collection and storage of data on those not suspected of crimes , including associates and neighbors of suspects .
The audit found that LAPD policy is to retain the license plate data for at least five years .
But Mohammad Tajsar , a staff attorney for ACLU of Southern California , said data not involving criminal investigations should be disposed of immediately .
“ This audit confirms what we have long suspected : The LAPD treats its license plate reader program like it ’ s in the Wild West @ @ @ @ @ @ @ LAPD collects an extraordinary amount of license plate hits , keeps them for far longer than most agencies across the country , doesn ’ t delete the 99.9 % of records that aren ’ t related to a criminal investigation , and has no policy that safeguards the extremely sensitive information that its technology generates.
” The Fresno , Sacramento County and Marin County agencies share their images with hundreds of law enforcement entities throughout the country , the audit said , but they could not provide auditors with evidence that the other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ access the images .
“ We are concerned that unless an agency conducts verifying research , it will not know who is actually using the ALPR images and for what purpose , ” the audit concluded .
The Los Angeles Police Department shares license plate data with 58 law enforcement agencies in Southern California , including those in San Fernando , Anaheim and Thousand Oaks , and does a better job of recording and controlling which images are shared , the audit found .
Although the vast majority of images stored by the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a so-called “ hot list , ” the auditors said the stored images could “ provide value beyond immediate hit alerts , ” allowing officers to search the database to gather information on vehicles present at particular locations and “ to track vehicles ’ movements at particular times in order to gather or resolve leads in investigations.
” Howle recommended that the state Department of Justice develop a model policy to protect privacy that could be adopted by local law enforcement agencies .
She said the state agency should also have the power @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Fresno officials told Howle they will use the audit to help them achieve their goal of building trust in the community .
Sacramento County sheriff ’ s officials said they have already begun implementing many of the recommendations but dispute some of the audit findings .
Moore said in his written response that the LAPD provided extensive training to its employees on accessing the data and that information was only provided on a need-to-know basis .
But he said other steps were being taken .
“ Although our dedication to protecting individuals @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to day operations and procedures , the department is currently working on an ALPR policy to ensure that the protection of those rights is also memorialized in our Department Manual , ” Moore wrote .
He said he hoped the department would complete that work by April , and the new document will detail who can access the information and how long it can be stored .
Moore also promised to perform periodic audits to make sure the information is collected and handled properly .

The Los Angeles Police Department and three other California law enforcement agencies have not provided sufficient privacy protections for the hundreds of millions of images collected by automated license plate readers and shared with other jurisdictions, the state auditor said Thursday.
Most of the images collected by the devices are unrelated to criminal cases. The audit found that 99.9% of the 320 million images the LAPD stored came from vehicles that were not on a list of those involved in criminal investigations when the image was made by the automated license plate readers, or ALPR.
State Auditor Elaine Howle said in a letter to Gov. Gavin Newsom and the Legislature that changes were needed to better safeguard the privacy of license plate data collected by the Fresno Police Department, Marin County Sheriff’s Office, Sacramento County Sheriff’s Department and LAPD.
“Local law enforcement agencies did not always follow practices that adequately consider the individual’s privacy in handling and retaining the ALPR images and associated data,” the audit said. “None of the agencies have an ALPR usage and privacy policy that implements all the legally mandated — since 2016 — requirements.”
State Sen. Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco), who requested the audit, said he would write legislation to address the problems, including the need for more privacy safeguards and stronger state enforcement to ensure local law enforcement agencies have proper policies.
“I am horrified,” Wiener said Thursday. “We believed that there were problems with the ALPR program, but I did not anticipate the scale of the problem — the fact that we have so many law enforcement agencies that are not complying with state law, including LAPD.”
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Wiener had asked for the audit of what he called “mass surveillance” systems, concerned that the information collected might indicate where someone worships or goes to the doctor, or where the person sleeps. He said the systems were supposed to be used for the narrow purpose of identifying crimes.
“Instead, we have law enforcement agencies retaining the data for years and disseminating it broadly,” Wiener said. “It’s very disturbing.”
The findings will probably have consequences far beyond the four agencies examined. Howle said a survey by her office found that 70% of all law enforcement agencies in California either operated or planned to operate an ALPR system.
“This raises concerns that these agencies may share the deficiencies we identified at the four agencies we reviewed,” the audit said.
LAPD Chief Michel Moore said in a letter responding to the audit that his agency had “the utmost respect for individuals’ privacy and currently has policies and procedures in place to safeguard personal information” but that the department was taking additional steps to address the auditor’s concerns.
The automated camera systems mounted on streetlight poles and patrol cars collect and store license plate images of vehicles passing in their view and enable law enforcement to track a vehicle’s movements over time. The images are compared with a list of vehicles of interest, including stolen cars and those used in crimes, and officers are alerted in real time to their location.
State law requires that agencies adopt policies and safeguards to prevent misuse by describing the system’s purpose, who may use it, how the agency will share data, how the agency will protect and monitor the system, and how long the agency will keep the data.
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“However, the agencies we reviewed either did not have ALPR policies or their policies were deficient, and they had not implemented sufficient safeguards,” the audit found. “For example, none had audited searches of the ALPR images by their staff and thus had no assurance that the searches were appropriate.“
Privacy concerns have been raised by groups including the American Civil Liberties Union, which has questioned the collection and storage of data on those not suspected of crimes, including associates and neighbors of suspects.
The audit found that LAPD policy is to retain the license plate data for at least five years. But Mohammad Tajsar, a staff attorney for the ACLU of Southern California, said data not involving criminal investigations should be disposed of immediately.
“This audit confirms what we have long suspected: The LAPD treats its license plate reader program like it’s in the Wild West,” Tajsar said. “The LAPD collects an extraordinary amount of license plate hits, keeps them for far longer than most agencies across the country, doesn’t delete the 99.9% of records that aren’t related to a criminal investigation, and has no policy that safeguards the extremely sensitive information that its technology generates.”
The Fresno, Sacramento County and Marin County agencies share their images with hundreds of law enforcement entities throughout the country, the audit said, but they could not provide auditors with evidence that the other entities had a right or need to access the images.
“We are concerned that unless an agency conducts verifying research, it will not know who is actually using the ALPR images and for what purpose,” the audit concluded.
The LAPD shares license plate data with 58 law enforcement agencies in Southern California — including those in San Fernando, Anaheim and Thousand Oaks — and does a better job of recording and controlling which images are shared, the audit found.
Although the vast majority of images stored by the LAPD are not related to vehicles on a so-called hot list, the auditors said the stored images could “provide value beyond immediate hit alerts,” allowing officers to search the database to gather information on vehicles present at particular locations and “to track vehicles’ movements at particular times in order to gather or resolve leads in investigations.”
Howle recommended that the state Department of Justice develop a model policy to protect privacy that could be adopted by local law enforcement agencies. She said the state agency should also have the power to make sure agencies complied with policies.
Fresno officials told Howle they will use the audit to help them achieve their goal of building trust in the community. Sacramento County sheriff’s officials said they have already begun implementing many of the recommendations but dispute some of the audit findings.
Moore said in his written response that the LAPD provided extensive training to its employees on accessing the data and that information was only provided on a need-to-know basis. But he said other steps were being taken.
“Although our dedication to protecting individuals’ privacy is covered in our day to day operations and procedures, the department is currently working on an ALPR policy to ensure that the protection of those rights is also memorialized in our Department Manual,” Moore wrote. He said he hoped the department would complete that work by April, and the new document will detail who can access the information and how long it can be stored.
Moore also promised to perform periodic audits to make sure the information is collected and handled properly.


latimes--2020-02-13--Fighting meth-fueled 'chemsex' in the LGBTQ community, West Hollywood takes a stand

It was the kind of town hall meeting that could , perhaps , only be held in West Hollywood .
“ We ’ re going to talk about sex , ” City Councilman John Duran warned the crowd , feigning surprise .
Behind the scenes a few minutes earlier , one of the panelists , a drag queen in a sparkling halter top , had asked him how much swearing was appropriate , given the topic .
( Try to avoid F-bombs , Duran advised . )
But what they were talking about , in such a colorful way , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ topic at the packed town hall Wednesday night was a growing crisis , especially in the LGBTQ community , that health experts say is not talked about enough : “ chemsex , ” or using drugs like methamphetamine , cocaine and MDMA to enhance sexual activity and lower inhibitions .
Also called “ party and play , ” chemsex has become pervasive on online dating apps like Adam4Adam , Scruff and Grindr , where people use constantly changing code words and emojis to show they want to use or buy drugs and have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the Tweakers Project , a support group for people struggling with crystal meth addiction .
“ I don ’ t think there ’ s anyone in West Hollywood that hasn ’ t been touched , somehow , some way , by meth , ” Palmieri said .
In West Hollywood , methamphetamine was involved in 47 deaths between 2015 and 2018 , and meth-related hospitalizations have steadily ticked upward for the last decade , according to the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health .
The event follows the overdose deaths of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hollywood apartment of Democratic donor Ed Buck , who was accused last fall of injecting fatal doses of crystal methamphetamine into victims for his own sexual gratification .
“ For far too long , I think , meth has been overlooked as a public health crisis , ” said Dr. Lello Tesema , an associate medical director at the L.A. County Department of Public Health Division of Substance Abuse Prevention and Control .
While it does not have the same national attention as the opioid crisis , methamphetamine in the Los Angeles area @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dangerous , ” she said .
The town hall came at a time when , city leaders say , there is a critical shortage of spaces in West Hollywood that can and will accommodate addiction recovery groups .
Currently , the fate of a run-down log cabin on Robertson Boulevard that hosts some two dozen sobriety meetings each week is up in the air .
Beverly Hills owns the lot on which it sits and wants it gone ; West Hollywood officials are trying to lease it to keep the meetings going .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ a drag queen , said that the problem is rarely discussed openly .
There are “ influencers on Instagram with a hundred thousand followers , and they ’ re doing crystal meth on the side , and no one understands or even knows that and everyone ’ s scared to talk about it , ” he said .
De Puy , who has been sober for eight years , said that , like many young gay men who come to West Hollywood , he had not been taught about gay sex and was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to crystal meth at a bathhouse , and it seemed to make intimacy easier and more euphoric .
The addiction quickly took over his life .
He was homeless for a spell before moving into an apartment filled with cockroaches , fleas and bedbugs .
“ Meth and sex kept me from having to deal with life , ” De Puy said .
“ When I got sober , I had to learn how to have sex again because I was used to this seedy , dangerous , risky sex ... .
You @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
You can go to the bathhouse .
You can do this stuff sober , ” De Puy said .
De Puy , 29 , said he ’ s “ had so many friends die unexpectedly ” from overdoses .
In recent surveys of nearly 1,600 people in West Hollywood , more than 70 % of respondents said that meth use at community events , bars and clubs is a “ pressing issue ” for the city , according to the Safe West Hollywood Community Coalition .
The coalition and city employees recently @ @ @ @ @ @ @ LA Pride and West Hollywood ’ s Halloween Carnaval to hand out free naloxone , a medication that can reverse drug overdoses , as well as condoms and testing strips to determine whether recreational drugs are laced with fentanyl .
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , the contamination of illicit drugs like methamphetamine with fentanyl — a synthetic opioid 50 times more potent than heroin — is a growing public health concern .
Often , users are unaware that it has been added .
“ People don ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” Duran said .
“ We ’ re seeing a lot of people in our community who just thought they were going to party and not waking up the next day .
“ When you throw in sexuality , oppression , shame , stigma , HIV , meth and then add fentanyl in the mix , it ’ s a deadly combination.
” The town hall panelists said that one of the tragedies of chemsex is that it often stems from loneliness and LGBTQ people ’ s shame around their sexuality or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a world increasingly connected by technology , “ we ’ re in a crisis of loneliness.
” The questions from the audience reflected that : “ Can you talk about how this ties in with mental health and self-esteem and suicide prevention ?
” “ How can I get people to rally around this issue ?
” Melissa McCracken , a chemsex counselor for Breathe Life Healing Center in West Hollywood , said people “ lose self intimacy ” when in the throes of drug addiction and that meth use “ disables empathy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ casualties.
” “ Giving yourself the space and the time to actually connect with another person is difficult , but it ’ s not impossible , ” she said .
Tesema noted that people often become depressed when they relapse after trying to stop using meth , even though relapse is “ not only common but an expected process in recovery.
” In the lobby afterward , where naloxone and fenantyl-testing strips were being handed out , a 31-year-old man said the town hall was a nice change of pace from the crystal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ attends .
The man , who asked that his name not be used because he was in recovery , said he works as a property manager for a 187-unit building in Westwood and has had to call authorities twice recently because of tenants overdosing on heroin .
Sobriety meetings are peer-to-peer , he said .
Seeing issues like chemsex and meth use be discussed bluntly by experts , in a city council chamber , gave him hope that they would get more attention , he said .
“ To see that the city @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he said .
“ It elevates it , for sure .
”

West Hollywood City Councilman John Duran, left, moderates a town hall and panel discussion about sex and the use of substances such as meth, GHB, cocaine and MDMA at the West Hollywood City Council chambers.
It was the kind of town hall meeting that could, perhaps, only be held in West Hollywood.
“We’re going to talk about sex,” City Councilman John Duran warned the crowd, feigning surprise.
Behind the scenes a few minutes earlier, one of the panelists, a drag queen in a sparkling halter top, had asked him how much swearing was appropriate, given the topic. (Try to avoid F-bombs, Duran advised.)
But what they were talking about, in such a colorful way, could not be more serious.
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The topic at the packed town hall Wednesday night was a growing crisis, especially in the LGBTQ community, that health experts say is not talked about enough: “chemsex,” or using drugs like methamphetamine, cocaine and MDMA to enhance sexual activity and lower inhibitions.
Also called “party and play,” chemsex has become pervasive on online dating apps like Adam4Adam, Scruff and Grindr, where people use constantly changing code words and emojis to show they want to use or buy drugs and have sex, said Jimmy Palmieri, founder of the Tweakers Project, a support group for people struggling with crystal meth addiction.
“I don’t think there’s anyone in West Hollywood that hasn’t been touched, somehow, some way, by meth,” Palmieri said.
In West Hollywood, methamphetamine was involved in 47 deaths between 2015 and 2018, and meth-related hospitalizations have steadily ticked upward for the last decade, according to the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health.
The event follows the overdose deaths of two black gay men in the West Hollywood apartment of Democratic donor Ed Buck, who was accused last fall of injecting fatal doses of crystal methamphetamine into victims for his own sexual gratification.
“For far too long, I think, meth has been overlooked as a public health crisis,” said Dr. Lello Tesema, an associate medical director at the L.A. County Department of Public Health Division of Substance Abuse Prevention and Control.
While it does not have the same national attention as the opioid crisis, methamphetamine in the Los Angeles area “is actually incredibly prevalent and incredibly dangerous,” she said.
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The town hall came at a time when, city leaders say, there is a critical shortage of spaces in West Hollywood that can and will accommodate addiction recovery groups. Currently, the fate of a run-down log cabin on Robertson Boulevard that hosts some two dozen sobriety meetings each week is up in the air. Beverly Hills owns the lot on which it sits and wants it gone; West Hollywood officials are trying to lease it to keep the meetings going.
Town hall panelist Jason De Puy, a drag queen, said that the problem is rarely discussed openly. There are “influencers on Instagram with a hundred thousand followers, and they’re doing crystal meth on the side, and no one understands or even knows that and everyone’s scared to talk about it,” he said.
De Puy, who has been sober for eight years, said that, like many young gay men who come to West Hollywood, he had not been taught about gay sex and was ashamed by it. He was introduced to crystal meth at a bathhouse, and it seemed to make intimacy easier and more euphoric.
The addiction quickly took over his life. He was homeless for a spell before moving into an apartment filled with cockroaches, fleas and bedbugs.
“Meth and sex kept me from having to deal with life,” De Puy said.
“When I got sober, I had to learn how to have sex again because I was used to this seedy, dangerous, risky sex.... You can go to the orgies, honey. You can go to the bathhouse. You can do this stuff sober,” De Puy said.
De Puy, 29, said he’s “had so many friends die unexpectedly” from overdoses.
Jason De Puy, dressed in drag, talks about his sobriety and former use of drugs during sex as a member of a panel at a town hall for a discussion about sex and the use of substances such as meth, GHB, cocaine and MDMA at the West Hollywood City Council chambers on Wednesday. (Genaro Molina/Los Angeles Times)
In recent surveys of nearly 1,600 people in West Hollywood, more than 70% of respondents said that meth use at community events, bars and clubs is a “pressing issue” for the city, according to the Safe West Hollywood Community Coalition.
The coalition and city employees recently have begun going to major events like LA Pride and West Hollywood’s Halloween Carnaval to hand out free naloxone, a medication that can reverse drug overdoses, as well as condoms and testing strips to determine whether recreational drugs are laced with fentanyl.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the contamination of illicit drugs like methamphetamine with fentanyl — a synthetic opioid 50 times more potent than heroin — is a growing public health concern. Often, users are unaware that it has been added.
“People don’t even realize they’re doing fentanyl,” Duran said. “We’re seeing a lot of people in our community who just thought they were going to party and not waking up the next day.
“When you throw in sexuality, oppression, shame, stigma, HIV, meth and then add fentanyl in the mix, it’s a deadly combination.”
The town hall panelists said that one of the tragedies of chemsex is that it often stems from loneliness and LGBTQ people’s shame around their sexuality or gender identity. Tesema said that in a world increasingly connected by technology, “we’re in a crisis of loneliness.”
The questions from the audience reflected that: “Can you talk about how this ties in with mental health and self-esteem and suicide prevention?” “How can I get people to rally around this issue?”
Melissa McCracken, a chemsex counselor for Breathe Life Healing Center in West Hollywood, said people “lose self intimacy” when in the throes of drug addiction and that meth use “disables empathy, which is one of the tragic casualties.”
Eric Fletes, an outreach specialist with the Los Angeles LGBT Center, shares information about fentanyl and substance abuse treatment with the public at a “chemsex” town hall meeting in West Hollywood. (Genaro Molina/Los Angeles Times)
“Giving yourself the space and the time to actually connect with another person is difficult, but it’s not impossible,” she said.
Tesema noted that people often become depressed when they relapse after trying to stop using meth, even though relapse is “not only common but an expected process in recovery.”
In the lobby afterward, where naloxone and fenantyl-testing strips were being handed out, a 31-year-old man said the town hall was a nice change of pace from the crystal meth and alcohol addiction recovery meetings he attends.
The man, who asked that his name not be used because he was in recovery, said he works as a property manager for a 187-unit building in Westwood and has had to call authorities twice recently because of tenants overdosing on heroin.
Sobriety meetings are peer-to-peer, he said. Seeing issues like chemsex and meth use be discussed bluntly by experts, in a City Council chamber, gave him hope that they would get more attention, he said.
“To see that the city is behind it is amazing,” he said. “It elevates it, for sure.”


latimes--2020-02-13--Conviction overturned in killing of LAPD officer 37 years ago

The California Supreme Court decided unanimously Thursday to overturn a man ’ s conviction in the killing of an LAPD officer 37 years ago during a traffic stop .
The state high court , citing extensive evidence that the defense lawyer for Kenneth Earl Gay was incompetent , reversed the conviction that sent Gay to death row in Officer Paul Verna ’ s killing on the evening of June 2 , 1983 , in Lake View Terrace .
Gay ’ s case has bounced between the lower courts and the California Supreme Court for years .
The court overturned his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he had an inadequate lawyer , and a new trial was held on whether he should be condemned to death .
Another jury also recommended death , but the second death sentence also was overturned .
Gay then argued that his lawyer , Daye Shinn , also botched the guilty phase of his trial .
Shinn , who was later disbarred and has since died , lied to get Gay ’ s case , evidence showed , counseled the defendant to admit to incriminating evidence and failed to introduce evidence that might have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spare his life .
Both Gay and a co-defendant , Raynard Cummings , were passengers in the stolen car stopped by motorcycle officer Verna .
Witnesses disagreed about which man shot Verna .
Both were convicted and sentenced to death for shooting Verna .
“ We can not say Gay ’ s murder conviction was the product of a trustworthy adversarial process , ” Justice Leondra R. Kruger wrote for the court .
“ Defense counsel obtained appointment to represent Gay through fraud , counseled him to make damaging confessions to the prosecution @ @ @ @ @ @ @ investigation into available testimony from eyewitnesses who would have exculpated Gay and peace officers who would have inculpated Gay ’ s co-defendant.
” Verna , who was 35 when he was fatally shot , won a medal of valor for trying to rescue children from a burning building .
Two sons , Bryce and Ryan , later became police officers and joined the LAPD .
Prosecutors argued that Cummings fired the first shot at Verna before passing the gun to Gay , who fired five bullets .
During his retrial , witnesses testified @ @ @ @ @ @ @ them , and a former girlfriend told the court he firebombed her family ’ s home .
Los Angeles prosecutors will now decide whether to retry Gay , 60 .
While on death row , Gay wrote a screenplay , “ A Children ’ s Story , ” which won an American Film Institute contest in 1994 .
Actor Ed Asner , a judge for the contest , testified on behalf of Gay during his retrial .
Shinn , the disbarred lawyer , also was the attorney for Manson “ family ” member @ @ @ @ @ @ @ participating in eight murders and died in prison in 2009 .
Shinn eventually lost his license to practice law for misappropriating client funds in an unrelated case .
Deputy Atty .
Gen. David F. Glassman , who represented the prosecution in the case , declined to comment .

Kenneth E. Gay in 2000 with attorney Kenneth Lezin in San Fernando Superior Court, where Gay was given a death sentence.
The California Supreme Court decided unanimously Thursday to overturn a man’s conviction in the killing of an LAPD officer 37 years ago during a traffic stop.
The state high court, citing extensive evidence that the defense lawyer for Kenneth Earl Gay was incompetent, reversed the conviction that sent Gay to death row in Officer Paul Verna’s killing on the evening of June 2, 1983, in Lake View Terrace.
Gay’s case has bounced between the lower courts and the California Supreme Court for years. The court overturned his death sentence years ago on the grounds he had an inadequate lawyer, and a new trial was held on whether he should be condemned to death. Another jury also recommended death, but the second death sentence also was overturned.
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Gay then argued that his lawyer, Daye Shinn, also botched the guilty phase of his trial. Shinn, who was later disbarred and has since died, lied to get Gay’s case, evidence showed, counseled the defendant to admit to incriminating evidence and failed to introduce evidence that might have persuaded a jury to acquit him or spare his life.
Both Gay and a co-defendant, Raynard Cummings, were passengers in the stolen car stopped by motorcycle officer Verna. Witnesses disagreed about which man shot Verna. Both were convicted and sentenced to death for shooting Verna.
“We cannot say Gay’s murder conviction was the product of a trustworthy adversarial process,” Justice Leondra R. Kruger wrote for the court. “Defense counsel obtained appointment to represent Gay through fraud, counseled him to make damaging confessions to the prosecution ... and failed to conduct a timely investigation into available testimony from eyewitnesses who would have exculpated Gay and peace officers who would have inculpated Gay’s co-defendant.”
Verna, who was 35 when he was fatally shot, won a medal of valor for trying to rescue children from a burning building. Two sons, Bryce and Ryan, later became police officers and joined the LAPD.
Prosecutors argued that Cummings fired the first shot at Verna before passing the gun to Gay, who fired five bullets. During his retrial, witnesses testified that Gay had previously robbed and beaten them, and a former girlfriend told the court he firebombed her family’s home.
Los Angeles prosecutors will now decide whether to retry Gay, 60.
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While on death row, Gay wrote a screenplay, “A Children’s Story,” which won an American Film Institute contest in 1994. Actor Ed Asner, a judge for the contest, testified on behalf of Gay during his retrial.
Shinn, the disbarred lawyer, also was the attorney for Manson “family” member Susan Atkins, who was convicted of participating in eight murders and died in prison in 2009. Shinn eventually lost his license to practice law for misappropriating client funds in an unrelated case.
Deputy Atty. Gen. David F. Glassman, who represented the prosecution in the case, declined to comment.


latimes--2020-02-13--The phones of victims aboard Kobe Bryant helicopter may hold clues to crash

With no black box recorder aboard the helicopter that crashed last month in Calabasas , killing Kobe Bryant and eight others , investigators with the National Transportation Safety Board are turning to the travelers ’ personal electronics for potential answers .
Investigators hope the passengers ’ cellphones and the pilot ’ s iPad can help them better understand the chaotic last moments of the flight before the chopper slammed into a Calabasas hillside in foggy conditions .
Experts have said the helicopter was flying low enough that the activities of the electronics were likely captured by cellphone towers .
Ara @ @ @ @ @ @ @ S-76B , made his last communication with air traffic control as he climbed to 2,300 feet heading toward Camarillo in heavy clouds on Jan. 26 .
Investigators are seeking to reconstruct what led him to suddenly bank left and descend rapidly just before the crash .
The NTSB is increasingly using personal electronics to help understand aviation disasters , and collecting the devices has become part of investigative protocol .
“ We were looking for electronic devices , as we always do .
We were able to recover an iPad and a cellphone @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shortly after the crash .
In the days that followed , investigators recovered additional personal devices and determined that the iPad belonged to Zobayan .
It could be awhile , though , before they know whether there is recoverable data on the devices , NTSB spokesman Keith Holloway said .
Investigators also will examine any potential communications from those devices during the flight from John Wayne Airport in Orange County , where the helicopter took off at 9:06 a.m .
The group was heading to Bryant ’ s Mamba Academy in Thousand Oaks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ chopper went down about 40 minutes later , everyone on board was killed : Bryant , the Lakers legend ; his 13-year-old daughter Gianna ; Mamba coach Christina Mauser ; player Payton Chester and her mother , Sarah Chester ; player Alyssa Altobelli and her parents , John and Keri Altobelli ; and Zobayan .
All died of blunt force trauma , according to coroner ’ s reports .
The helicopter had neither a cockpit voice recorder nor a flight data recorder , better known as a black box , for the NTSB @ @ @ @ @ @ @ did not require the chopper to have such recorders .
But the pilot did have an app loaded on his iPad that allows a pilot to plan a flight and check on weather , terrain , position and potential hazards in real time from the cockpit .
The ForeFlight app can provide in-flight alerts of changing conditions , and it monitors GPS , speed and other dynamics of the aircraft .
It ’ s unclear whether Zobayan was using the iPad because of the level of destruction during the crash , the NTSB @ @ @ @ @ @ @ FAA inspector who for years has inspected choppers at Island Express , the operator of the helicopter that went down , said it ’ s not uncommon to see iPads with ForeFlight mounted for use by pilots .
Veteran aviators say the devices can provide insight into a flight but also can prove to be a distraction .
Information from electronic devices gathered by NTSB investigators have previously helped investigators better understand why aircraft crashed .
Cellphone records were crucial in determining the cause of a fatal crash of a Bell helicopter in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ agency said .
The helicopter was flying over open ranch land when it went down .
The NTSB determined there was no mechanical failure or malfunction , but the pilot ’ s cellphone , which was recovered and reviewed , showed he had called a car rental agency during the flight .
When interviewed , the car rental clerk said she could tell the pilot was in a helicopter and that he seemed “ busy or distracted.
” They were talking about a future rental when the phone disconnected mid-sentence , she said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the pilot was likely using his cellphone during the low-altitude flight and became distracted , which resulted in the controlled flight into terrain , ” the NTSB determined last year .
Similarly , the likely cause of the fatal crash of a single-engine Cessna airplane near Watkins , Colo. , in May 2014 was revealed by a GoPro camera recovered from the wreckage .
While the crash itself was not captured , the video revealed the pilot and various passengers had been taking selfies with their phones during a night flight , sometimes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that the pilot probably became disoriented and “ it is likely that the cellphone use during the accident flight distracted the pilot and contributed to the development of spatial disorientation and subsequent lack of control.
” In addition to personal electronics , investigators also are likely trying to extract data from the helicopter ’ s flight management system .
Doug Solbrekken , a veteran pilot of Sikorsky helicopters with two decades flying as well as training pilots , said he suspects the system won ’ t yield much more than what officials already @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is still a slim chance that a passenger ’ s mobile phone or iPad could have been recording at the time of the crash , ” he said .
“ Some pilots also use GoPro-type cameras suction-cupped to the windows , either pointing outside or back into the cockpit or cabin during flight.
” The FAA in 2014 banned airline pilots from using personal electronic devices , citing them as a distraction .
But general aviation pilots are allowed to use devices such as tablets with programs like ForeFlight .
With pilots who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the FAA can authorize operators to use electronic devices that can assist pilots .
The U.S. Department of Transportation in 2014 examined the safety of electronic flight devices and personal electronics used in the cockpit .
Pilots complained of trouble scrolling and zooming with sometimes incorrect data and said the devices can be a distraction and sometimes lead to misinterpreted or erroneous aircraft performance parameters .

Wreckage from the helicopter crash that killed Kobe Bryant, his 13-year-old daughter, Gianna, and seven others in Calabasas on Jan. 26.
With no black box recorder aboard the helicopter that crashed last month in Calabasas, killing Kobe Bryant and eight others, investigators with the National Transportation Safety Board are turning to the travelers’ personal electronics for potential answers.
Investigators hope the passengers’ cellphones and the pilot’s iPad can help them better understand the chaotic last moments of the flight before the chopper slammed into a Calabasas hillside in foggy conditions.
Experts have said the helicopter was flying low enough that the activities of the electronics were likely captured by cellphone towers.
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Ara Zobayan, the pilot of the Sikorsky S-76B, made his last communication with air traffic control as he climbed to 2,300 feet heading toward Camarillo in heavy clouds on Jan. 26. Investigators are seeking to reconstruct what led him to suddenly bank left and descend rapidly just before the crash.
The NTSB is increasingly using personal electronics to help understand aviation disasters, and collecting the devices has become part of investigative protocol.
“We were looking for electronic devices, as we always do. We were able to recover an iPad and a cellphone,” NTSB member Jennifer Homendy said shortly after the crash. In the days that followed, investigators recovered additional personal devices and determined that the iPad belonged to Zobayan.
It could be awhile, though, before they know whether there is recoverable data on the devices, NTSB spokesman Keith Holloway said.
Investigators also will examine any potential communications from those devices during the flight from John Wayne Airport in Orange County, where the helicopter took off at 9:06 a.m. The group was heading to Bryant’s Mamba Academy in Thousand Oaks for a basketball game.
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When the chopper went down about 40 minutes later, everyone on board was killed: Bryant, the Lakers legend; his 13-year-old daughter Gianna; Mamba coach Christina Mauser; player Payton Chester and her mother, Sarah Chester; player Alyssa Altobelli and her parents, John and Keri Altobelli; and Zobayan. All died of blunt force trauma, according to coroner’s reports.
The helicopter had neither a cockpit voice recorder nor a flight data recorder, better known as a black box, for the NTSB to analyze. Federal Aviation Administration regulations did not require the chopper to have such recorders.
But the pilot did have an app loaded on his iPad that allows a pilot to plan a flight and check on weather, terrain, position and potential hazards in real time from the cockpit. The ForeFlight app can provide in-flight alerts of changing conditions, and it monitors GPS, speed and other dynamics of the aircraft.
It’s unclear whether Zobayan was using the iPad because of the level of destruction during the crash, the NTSB said.
Gary Lackey, a former FAA inspector who for years has inspected choppers at Island Express, the operator of the helicopter that went down, said it’s not uncommon to see iPads with ForeFlight mounted for use by pilots. Veteran aviators say the devices can provide insight into a flight but also can prove to be a distraction.
Information from electronic devices gathered by NTSB investigators have previously helped investigators better understand why aircraft crashed. Cellphone records were crucial in determining the cause of a fatal crash of a Bell helicopter in New Mexico in September 2017, the agency said.
The helicopter was flying over open ranch land when it went down. The NTSB determined there was no mechanical failure or malfunction, but the pilot’s cellphone, which was recovered and reviewed, showed he had called a car rental agency during the flight.
When interviewed, the car rental clerk said she could tell the pilot was in a helicopter and that he seemed “busy or distracted.” They were talking about a future rental when the phone disconnected mid-sentence, she said.
“Based on available information, the pilot was likely using his cellphone during the low-altitude flight and became distracted, which resulted in the controlled flight into terrain,” the NTSB determined last year.
Similarly, the likely cause of the fatal crash of a single-engine Cessna airplane near Watkins, Colo., in May 2014 was revealed by a GoPro camera recovered from the wreckage. While the crash itself was not captured, the video revealed the pilot and various passengers had been taking selfies with their phones during a night flight, sometimes using a flash.
The NTSB concluded that the pilot probably became disoriented and “it is likely that the cellphone use during the accident flight distracted the pilot and contributed to the development of spatial disorientation and subsequent lack of control.”
In addition to personal electronics, investigators also are likely trying to extract data from the helicopter’s flight management system.
Doug Solbrekken, a veteran pilot of Sikorsky helicopters with two decades flying as well as training pilots, said he suspects the system won’t yield much more than what officials already know from local radar.
“There is still a slim chance that a passenger’s mobile phone or iPad could have been recording at the time of the crash,” he said. “Some pilots also use GoPro-type cameras suction-cupped to the windows, either pointing outside or back into the cockpit or cabin during flight.”
The FAA in 2014 banned airline pilots from using personal electronic devices, citing them as a distraction.
But general aviation pilots are allowed to use devices such as tablets with programs like ForeFlight. With pilots who are approved to fly passengers and cargo, the FAA can authorize operators to use electronic devices that can assist pilots.
The U.S. Department of Transportation in 2014 examined the safety of electronic flight devices and personal electronics used in the cockpit. Pilots complained of trouble scrolling and zooming with sometimes incorrect data and said the devices can be a distraction and sometimes lead to misinterpreted or erroneous aircraft performance parameters.


latimes--2020-02-13--L.A. County Dist. Atty. Jackie Lacey announces dismissal of 66,000 marijuana convictions

Dist .
Atty .
Jackie Lacey on Thursday announced that she had secured the dismissal of 66,000 marijuana convictions in Los Angeles County , marking a major step in a growing national effort to undo the harsh effects of a decades-long drug war .
The move , which comes years after California voters legalized weed , reverses decades of drug enforcement that disproportionately targeted people of color — who then faced barriers in finding housing and jobs and enrolling in school .
Lacey this week filed a motion asking a judge to erase 62,000 felony convictions dating to 1961 and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the county .
Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Sam Ohta signed the order Tuesday .
That means 22,000 people no longer have felonies on their records in California , and 15,000 no longer have a criminal record at all .
Of the 53,000 people who received relief , 32 % are black , 45 % are Latino and 20 % are white .
“ What this does is correct that inequity of the past , ” Lacey said in an interview .
“ It gives them a start , a new start.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Lacey said that her office went a step beyond what the law requires and also fully dismissed felony convictions for cultivating , transporting or selling marijuana for people who are over 50 or under 21 , haven ’ t had a felony conviction in the last 10 years or have completed probation for cannabis convictions .
Lacey is seeking a third term running the nation ’ s largest local prosecutor ’ s office and is facing an unexpectedly tough race against two challengers running on reform platforms in the March 3 primary @ @ @ @ @ @ @ partnership with Code for America , a nonprofit tech organization that developed a computer algorithm to quickly analyze county data to determine which cases were eligible to be cleared under Proposition 64 , which in 2016 legalized , among other things , the possession and purchase of up to an ounce of marijuana and allowed people to grow as many as six plants for personal use .
The technology can scan the records of 10,000 people in “ a matter of seconds , ” said Evonne Silva , Code for America ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ State legislation signed in 2018 required that California prosecutors review marijuana cases eligible for dismissal and decide whether to challenge any by July of this year .
The court must then automatically clear those that aren ’ t contested .
Illinois and New York also have passed laws that put the onus on officials to clear records .
Outside experts and advocates say the push to automatically clear pot convictions will gain more traction as more states legalize marijuana , the public becomes more comfortable with the drug ’ s use and progressive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ justice system .
In addition to the three states that have passed laws for automatic expungement of conviction records , 12 others have enacted laws that allow residents to seek the erasure of low-level cannabis convictions .
Before the move , people had to petition the court on their own , but the process was time-consuming and cumbersome .
Not many people even tried , advocates said .
The Drug Policy Alliance hosted clinics , recruiting attorneys to walk people through the arduous process of clearing their records .
Some criticized how long @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ We had to do all the legwork ... that could ’ ve been done with one decision , ” said Eunisses Hernandez , L.A. campaign coordinator for JustLeadershipUSA , which works to reduce mass incarceration .
Hernandez said Lacey ’ s announcement — less than three weeks before the primary election — was a publicity stunt to boost her credentials as she faces two far more progressive candidates in the heated race for district attorney .
“ She ’ s doing it now to bump herself up as a progressive , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ve taken this action years ago.
” Lacey said she was unable to act before getting the green light from city attorneys to dismiss the 4,000 misdemeanors in jurisdictions including Long Beach , Torrance , Pasadena , Inglewood , Burbank , Santa Monica , Hawthorne , Redondo Beach and Hermosa Beach .
She said her office received the final approval late last week .
Thursday ’ s news resonated strongly with Ingrid Archie , 38 , who had a felony conviction for possession of one pound of marijuana reduced after passage of Proposition @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that when she was fired from her job as a sales agent for a customer service company in 2009 , she knew it was because of the marijuana conviction .
For the next six years , Archie applied to countless jobs but remained unemployed .
She depended on food stamps to support herself and her three daughters .
“ Not being able to get a job , not being able to find housing , those are things that mothers need to take care of your children , ” she said .
Drug reform @ @ @ @ @ @ @ minorities .
Studies have shown that people of color are more likely to be arrested and punished in connection with marijuana offenses , even though whites , blacks and Latinos use and sell marijuana at similar rates .
The result , critics say , is a cycle of poverty and incarceration that has kept many minorities from getting jobs , going to school or finding housing .
“ Much of the crisis we face today with the homelessness or houselessness is a direct result of these kind of enforcements in the past , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said at the news conference with Lacey .
A found that although African Americans make up just 6 % of California ’ s population , they account for almost a quarter of those serving jail time exclusively for marijuana offenses .
The D.A.
’ s office is challenging 2,142 marijuana convictions it says are ineligible for relief because of the person ’ s criminal history .
Those individuals can still petition to be resentenced , the district attorney ’ s office said .
Lacey ’ s announcement came hours before her challengers in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ face off in a debate .
She dropped out of the event last week , saying one of the sponsors was linked to the biggest donor to the super PAC of George Gascón , the former San Francisco district attorney who is running against her .
The Coalition for DA Justice and Accountability said it is among a number of nonpartisan groups co-hosting the debate , but still offered to withdraw its participation “ because we do not want our association with a public forum to be used by any campaign as an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who is in her eighth year as the county ’ s top prosecutor , also pointed to hecklers who yelled and chanted as she spoke during the debate she did attend last month , when she squared off against Gascón and a second challenger , Rachel Rossi , a former public defender .
“ That ’ s not a fair debate , ” Lacey said .
“ I ’ m prevented from expressing my points or hampered by expressing my points because people are screaming and shouting.
” Gascón was the first district @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with Code for America to clear marijuana convictions in San Francisco .
His office dismissed 9,362 marijuana convictions , an initiative he announced before state law required prosecutors to review the cases .
Of those affected in San Francisco , 33 % were black and 27 % Latino .
“ Government shouldn ’ t wait for the people to take action , it should take action for the people , ” Gascón said in a statement Thursday .
“ For years , and in spite of legalization , individuals were denied employment and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Lack of access to a job and housing are primary factors that drive recidivism , and that ’ s why I took this action two years ago .
”

Dist. Atty. Jackie Lacey on Thursday announced that she had secured the dismissal of 66,000 marijuana convictions in Los Angeles County, marking a major step in a growing national effort to undo the harsh effects of a decades-long drug war.
The move, which comes years after California voters legalized weed, reverses decades of drug enforcement that disproportionately targeted people of color — who then faced barriers in finding housing and jobs and enrolling in school.
Lacey this week filed a motion asking a judge to erase 62,000 felony convictions dating to 1961 and 4,000 misdemeanor convictions in 10 cities across the county. Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Sam Ohta signed the order Tuesday.
That means 22,000 people no longer have felonies on their records in California, and 15,000 no longer have a criminal record at all. Of the 53,000 people who received relief, 32% are black, 45% are Latino and 20% are white.
“What this does is correct that inequity of the past,” Lacey said in an interview. “It gives them a start, a new start.”
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Speaking at a news conference Thursday, Lacey said that her office went a step beyond what the law requires and also fully dismissed felony convictions for cultivating, transporting or selling marijuana for people who are over 50 or under 21, haven’t had a felony conviction in the last 10 years or have completed probation for cannabis convictions.
Lacey is seeking a third term running the nation’s largest local prosecutor’s office and is facing an unexpectedly tough race against two challengers running on reform platforms in the March 3 primary.
The effort was part of a partnership with Code for America, a nonprofit tech organization that developed a computer algorithm to quickly analyze county data to determine which cases were eligible to be cleared under Proposition 64, which in 2016 legalized, among other things, the possession and purchase of up to an ounce of marijuana and allowed people to grow as many as six plants for personal use.
The technology can scan the records of 10,000 people in “a matter of seconds,” said Evonne Silva, Code for America’s senior program director of criminal justice.
State legislation signed in 2018 required that California prosecutors review marijuana cases eligible for dismissal and decide whether to challenge any by July of this year. The court must then automatically clear those that aren’t contested. Illinois and New York also have passed laws that put the onus on officials to clear records.
Outside experts and advocates say the push to automatically clear pot convictions will gain more traction as more states legalize marijuana, the public becomes more comfortable with the drug’s use and progressive prosecutors become more influential in the criminal justice system.
In addition to the three states that have passed laws for automatic expungement of conviction records, 12 others have enacted laws that allow residents to seek the erasure of low-level cannabis convictions.
Before the move, people had to petition the court on their own, but the process was time-consuming and cumbersome. Not many people even tried, advocates said.
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The Drug Policy Alliance hosted clinics, recruiting attorneys to walk people through the arduous process of clearing their records. Some criticized how long it took Lacey to take action.
“We had to do all the legwork ... that could’ve been done with one decision,” said Eunisses Hernandez, L.A. campaign coordinator for JustLeadershipUSA, which works to reduce mass incarceration.
Hernandez said Lacey’s announcement — less than three weeks before the primary election — was a publicity stunt to boost her credentials as she faces two far more progressive candidates in the heated race for district attorney.
“She’s doing it now to bump herself up as a progressive,” Hernandez said. “She could’ve taken this action years ago.”
Lacey said she was unable to act before getting the green light from city attorneys to dismiss the 4,000 misdemeanors in jurisdictions including Long Beach, Torrance, Pasadena, Inglewood, Burbank, Santa Monica, Hawthorne, Redondo Beach and Hermosa Beach. She said her office received the final approval late last week.
Thursday’s news resonated strongly with Ingrid Archie, 38, who had a felony conviction for possession of one pound of marijuana reduced after passage of Proposition 64.
The South L.A. resident said that when she was fired from her job as a sales agent for a customer service company in 2009, she knew it was because of the marijuana conviction.
For the next six years, Archie applied to countless jobs but remained unemployed. She depended on food stamps to support herself and her three daughters.
“Not being able to get a job, not being able to find housing, those are things that mothers need to take care of your children,” she said.
Drug reform advocates said decades of enforcement disproportionately targeted minorities. Studies have shown that people of color are more likely to be arrested and punished in connection with marijuana offenses, even though whites, blacks and Latinos use and sell marijuana at similar rates. The result, critics say, is a cycle of poverty and incarceration that has kept many minorities from getting jobs, going to school or finding housing.
“Much of the crisis we face today with the homelessness or houselessness is a direct result of these kind of enforcements in the past,” L.A. County Public Defender Ricardo Garcia said at the news conference with Lacey.
A 2016 study found that although African Americans make up just 6% of California’s population, they account for almost a quarter of those serving jail time exclusively for marijuana offenses.
The D.A.’s office is challenging 2,142 marijuana convictions it says are ineligible for relief because of the person’s criminal history. Those individuals can still petition to be resentenced, the district attorney’s office said.
Lacey’s announcement came hours before her challengers in the March 3 primary were scheduled to face off in a debate. She dropped out of the event last week, saying one of the sponsors was linked to the biggest donor to the super PAC of George Gascón, the former San Francisco district attorney who is running against her.
The Coalition for DA Justice and Accountability said it is among a number of nonpartisan groups co-hosting the debate, but still offered to withdraw its participation “because we do not want our association with a public forum to be used by any campaign as an excuse to not participate.”
Lacey, who is in her eighth year as the county’s top prosecutor, also pointed to hecklers who yelled and chanted as she spoke during the debate she did attend last month, when she squared off against Gascón and a second challenger, Rachel Rossi, a former public defender.
“That’s not a fair debate,” Lacey said. “I’m prevented from expressing my points or hampered by expressing my points because people are screaming and shouting.”
Gascón was the first district attorney in California to announce a partnership with Code for America to clear marijuana convictions in San Francisco. His office dismissed 9,362 marijuana convictions, an initiative he announced before state law required prosecutors to review the cases. Of those affected in San Francisco, 33% were black and 27% Latino.
“Government shouldn’t wait for the people to take action, it should take action for the people,” Gascón said in a statement Thursday. “For years, and in spite of legalization, individuals were denied employment and housing opportunities because of old marijuana convictions. Lack of access to a job and housing are primary factors that drive recidivism, and that’s why I took this action two years ago.”
Times staff writer Del Quentin Wilber contributed to this report.