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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2021-05-11 - AGENDA REPORTS - DORSEY SENTENCE ENHANCE (2)O Agenda Item: 4 P CITY OF SANTA CLARITA AGENDA REPORT CONSENT CALENDAR CITY MANAGER APPROVAL:1 DATE: May 11, 2021 SUBJECT: SUPPORT OF SENTENCE ENHANCEMENTS IN DORSEY CASE DEPARTMENT: City Manager's Office PRESENTER: Masis Hagobian RECOMMENDED ACTION City Council approve the attached letter and authorize that it be sent as a five -signature letter to the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors. BACKGROUND At the April 27, 2021, regular City Council meeting, the City Council requested a five -signature letter be sent to the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, requesting support in urging the District Attorney's Office to file sentence enhancements in the murder of Michelle Dorsey to the full extent allowable under state law. Following the devastating murder of Michelle Dorsey on April 15, 2021, the District Attorney's Office filed five counts against the accused murderer, but did not file any sentencing enhancements. By failing to file any sentencing enhancements, law enforcement and criminal justice officials have stated that Ms. Dorsey's accused murderer potentially faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. If sentence enhancements were applied, consistent with state law and findings related to the murder of Ms. Dorsey, including Special Circumstances of lying in wait and murder committed in the attempt to kidnap, the potential maximum sentence for the accused murderer could be a life sentence without the possibility of parole. As part of the series of special directives, unilaterally adopted in December 2020, District Attorney George Gascon issued Special Directive 20-08, restricting prosecutors from filing a range of sentence enhancements. Specifically, Special Directive 20-08 restricts the filing of any prior -strike enhancements, including the Three Strikes Law; gang related enhancements; violations of bail; and Special Circumstances allegations resulting in a life sentence without the possibility of parole. The City Council adopted a resolution of a vote of no confidence in District Attorney Gascon on Page 1 Packet Pg. 24 O March 9, 2021, citing significant concerns and opposition to some of the special directives adopted in December 2020, including Special Directive 20-08. The City Council is requested to approve the attached letter and authorize that it be sent as a five - signature letter to the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors. ALTERNATIVE ACTION Other direction as determined by the City Council. FISCAL IMPACT The resources required to implement the recommended action are contained within the City of Santa Clarita's adopted FY 2020-21 budget. ATTACHMENTS Five Signature Letter - Dorsey Case Page 2 Packet Pg. 25 4.a May 12, 2021 Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors Kenneth Hahn Hall of Administration 500 W. Temple Street Los Angeles, CA 90012 Subject: Support of Sentence Enhancements in Dorsey Case Dear Chair Solis and Members of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors On April 15, 2021, the Santa Clarita community was stunned and deeply saddened to hear of the murder of Michelle Dorsey, a loving and devoted mother of three young boys and resident of the City of Santa Clarita (City). Following this devastating tragedy, we were informed that the District Attorney's Office refused to file any sentence enhancements against Ms. Dorsey's murderer. To the dismay of Ms. Dorsey's family, friends, and surrounding community, the reluctance and failure to file sentence enhancements, that are consistent with state law and reflective of findings in the murder case, is a grave lapse in judgment and a direct consequence of the policies adopted by the District Attorney in December 2020. We are writing to respectfully request that your office join the Santa Clarita City Council in urging the District Attorney's Office to file sentence enhancements against the accused murderer of Ms. Dorsey, to the full extent allowable under state law. Detectives of the Los Angeles County Sheriff s Department — Homicide Bureau, who supervised the investigation of Ms. Dorsey's murder, presented their findings to the District Attorney's office. Their findings included reasonable evidence to file sentence enhancements for murder in commission of a burglary, murder committed in the attempt of kidnapping, and lying in wait. However, as adopted in Special Directive 20-08, the District Attorney's Office refused to include any sentence enhancements in the charges brought against Ms. Dorsey's murderer. Packet Pg. 26 4.a Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors May 12, 2021 Page 2 It is of the utmost importance that policies aiming to restructure prosecutorial directives are issued with reasonable intent and priority to enhance public safety and protect public wellbeing and victims' rights. In failing to file any sentence enhancements, law enforcement and criminal justice officials have stated that Ms. Dorsey's accused murderer may be released in 20 years. This potential outcome is of gross negligence that only endangers the physical and mental wellbeing of Ms. Dorsey's family and perpetuates the trauma they will carry for the rest of their lives. It is imperative that the District Attorney's Office uphold its duties and responsibilities to appropriately prosecute criminals, based on the evidence presented and consistent with state law. We implore you to join us in urging the District Attorney to file sentence enhancements in this case. Thank you for your consideration on this grave matter. We look forward to working with each of you in securing justice for Michelle Dorsey and those she is survived by. Should you or your staff require any additional information regarding this letter, please contact Masis Hagobian, Intergovernmental Relations Analyst, at (661) 255- 4384 or mhagobian&santa-clarita.com. Sincerely, William A. Miranda Mayor Jason Gibbs Councilmember CC:MH:as S/MS/Masis/Letters/Dorsey Case 5.12.21 Laurene Weste Mayor Pro Tem Marsha McLean Councilmember cc: Kenneth W. Striplin, City Manager Frank Oviedo, Assistant City Manager Leadership Team Masis Hagobian, Intergovernmental Relations Analyst Cameron Smyth Councilmember Packet Pg. 27 4.a Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors May 12, 2020 Page 3 Jennifer Quan, League of California Cities California Contract Cities Association Packet Pg. 28