Knox Campaign Blasts Contra Costa D.A. Diana Becton’s Failure to Act on Antioch Mayor Lamar Thorpe’s DUI

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Antioch Mayor Lamar Thorpe has endorsed D.A. Diana Becton in her re-election campaign

MARTINEZ, CA–  The Mary Knox for District Attorney campaign released a statement calling for action from District Attorney Diana Becton after more than 60 days passed with no action on a DUI case involving a Becton campaign endorser, Antioch Mayor Lamar Thorpe.

The Contra Costa Herald previously reported that District Attorney Diana Becton held a private meeting with Mayor Thorpe just three days following the incident.

“It has now been more than 60 days since it was reported that Mayor Lamar Thorpe was arrested for a DUI and yet we have seen no action come from the D.A.’s office. ” said Jamie Patton, spokeswoman for Mary Knox, Candidate for District Attorney, “Contra Costa residents deserve safety from drivers who recklessly drive under the influence of alcohol. Everyone wants to see their District Attorney act with integrity and fairness, regardless of a person’s position of power or influence, yet D.A. Diana Becton met with Lamar Thorpe personally following the incident and we continue to see no action to prosecute. We believe D.A. Diana Becton must address this glaring dereliction of duty and take action on this rapidly-aging case. ”

Mary Knox has served as a Prosecutor in the Contra Costa District Attorney’s office for 37 years and has extensive trial experience. Knox has earned the endorsement of every law enforcement agency in the County, as well as state and local organizations such as the California Correctional Peace Officers Association,  PORAC, the California Narcotics Officers Association and the California Gang Investigators Association. Mary has advanced social justice while preventing crime in Contra Costa County.  She brought anti-bias training to the District Attorney’s Office and has fought to end discrimination against women in the Contra Costa County’s District Attorney’s Office.

Mary Knox and the incumbent are the only candidates running for election as District Attorney.  Since this election will be won by a simple majority, the election of the next District Attorney of Contra Costa County will be determined by the votes cast on June 7, 2022.

Background:

March 2022: Antioch Mayor Lamar Thorpe Was Arrested For Driving Under The Influence.

“On Saturday, Antioch Mayor Lamar Thorpe confirmed in a video that he was arrested by the California Highway Patrol for a DUI. CHP later released a statement confirming the incident just before 11:00 am.” [East County Today, 3/19/22]

Becton Had “Private Meeting” With Thorpe Three Days After His Arrest, As District Attorney’s Office Was Investigating Incident.

“Three days after Antioch Mayor Lamar Thorpe was arrested for DUI and while the Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office was investigating the incident, on Tuesday, March 22, 2022, he held a private meeting with D.A. Diana Becton in her office in Martinez, according to reports of what was seen on her visitor sign-in log. Neither Becton, her staff nor Thorpe will say what the meeting was about or if anyone else, such as the city attorney or interim city manager, was in the room with them.” [Contra Costa Herald, 3/30/22]

Thorpe Later Confirmed He Had Met With Becton, Said She Had Requested “Cooperation In The Investigation.”

“During a press conference, Wednesday morning, April 4, 2022 on Antioch Police Department staffing, hiring incentives and the investigation of officers by the FBI and Contra Costa D.A.’s office, Mayor Lamar Thorpe confirmed what had been previously reported, of a private meeting that he had with Contra Costa District Attorney Diana Becton on Tuesday, March 22, the day before the investigation occurred. He said Interim Antioch City Manager Con Johnson was also in attendance. The meeting was held just three days following Thorpe’s arrest for DUI and while he was under investigation by her department… Thorpe said the meeting was held by Becton to request his and Johnson’s cooperation in the investigation and they were to ‘keep confidentiality as this was an ongoing investigation’.” [Contra Costa Herald, 4/4/22]

As of May 2022, a search of Contra Costa County’s online case portal did not show any pending cases involving Thorpe. [cc-courts.org]

We mailed a criminal records search request regarding Thorpe to the Contra Costa County Superior court on May 11, 2022 and are awaiting a response.

Thorpe is listed as a campaign endorser on Becton’s campaign website. 

 

**Editors note**
When asked how quickly DUI’s are typically processed, here is what the campaign responded with:

“CHP reports are typically written and approved within 2 weeks. With a breath test, the case is then submitted to the DA’s Office for filing within a month. In the case of the arrest of an elected official that had gotten press, the DA’s office may work with the arresting agency to expedite the filing so there was no appearance of impropriety,”  said Jamie Patton, spokeswoman for Mary Knox, Candidate for District Attorney

 

Mary Knox Bio: 

Mary Knox has dedicated her life to making Contra Costa County safer. For more than 37 years, Mary has served as an experienced prosecutor and advocate for crime victims. As a lead prosecutor in the District Attorney’s office, Mary has won high profile cases against some of the most notorious criminals in Contra Costa County history. She worked to dismantle the criminal gangs who have preyed upon our most disadvantaged communities, and she has engaged in meaningful violence reduction by instituting effective strategies to reduce crime and prosecute violent criminals. To discourage freeway shootings, she secured $3.5 million for freeway security cameras. She brought in $3.5 million in federal funding to combat sex trafficking. And, after recent smash and grab robberies, Mary developed a three-point plan to hold organized crime syndicates accountable and prevent future crimes.

Born and raised in Walnut Creek, Mary Knox attended UCLA and then Pepperdine Law School. During law school, Mary worked as a law clerk in the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office in the Sexual Assault Unit and in a second clerkship in the Juvenile Unit. Once Mary graduated from law school, she came home and has worked as a prosecutor in the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s for the past 37 years while raising her son, Darien, as a single mother.

Key Endorsements (for a complete list visit maryknox4da.com):

• Crime Victims United
• Police Officer Research Association of California (PORAC)
• California Narcotic Officers’ Association (CNOA)
• California Correctional Peace Officers Association
• Central Coast Gang Investigators Association
• National Latino Police Officer Association – Contra Costa County NLPOA Advocacy Chapter
• Chinese American Political Association (CAPA) PAC
• Contra Costa County Sheriff, David Livingston
• Mitchell Celaya III, Calistoga Police Chief
• Douglas Krathwal, Retired San Pablo Police Chief
• Joseph Aida, Retired San Pablo Police Chief
• Walt Schuld, Retired San Pablo Police Chief
• John Moore, Retired Pleasant Hill Police Chief
• Dan Lawrence, Retired Clayton Police Chief
• Tom Holt, Former Police Lieutenant from the Contra Costa Community College District
• Contra Costa County Deputy Sheriffs’ Association
• Contra Costa District Attorney Investigators Association
• El Cerrito Police Officer Association
• Hercules Police Officer Association
• Martinez Police Officer Association
• Oakley Police Officer Association
• Pinole Police Officer Association
• Pittsburg Police Officer Association
• Pleasant Hill Police Officer Association
• San Ramon Police Officer Association
• Antioch Police Officer Association
• BART Police Officer Association
• Brentwood Police Officer Association
• Richmond Police Officer Association
• San Pablo Police Employees’ Association
• Clayton Police Officer Association
• Concord Police Officer Association
• East Bay Regional Parks Police Officer Association
• Walnut Creek Police Officer Association