Home Antioch Letter: Contra Costa District Attorney Blasts Antioch Mayor Sean Wright

Letter: Contra Costa District Attorney Blasts Antioch Mayor Sean Wright

by ECT

On Saturday, Contra Costa County District Attorney Diana Becton issued the following statement in letter form to City of Antioch residents.

Dear Antioch Residents:

“The most dangerous untruths are truths slightly distorted.” Recently, Sean Wright, the Mayor of Antioch has made repeated distorted untruths about the District Attorney office policies, and about my record as your District Attorney. To have an elected official, make distorted truths, and then hide his head in the sand and refuse to learn the true facts is troubling to say the least. I take transparency and accountability very seriously, as any elected official should.

Facts matter. First, the Mayor bought a political smear hit piece from a biased website about looting. He never reached out to me to find out what my office guidelines actually require.  The guidelines do not prohibit the filing of any looting case – in fact, just recently, we filed a felony looting case. The truth is, my office guidelines assist prosecutors in making the distinction between thefts and burglaries that merely happen while we are in the pandemic, and lootings which are substantially motivated by a state of emergency. The guidelines are on the District Attorney website. I encourage you to read them.

Second, your mayor attacked our office policies regarding low-level, stand alone drug cases. What he fails to mention is that initially these cases are referred to the behavioral health care system for treatment. Please do not forget the failed policies of the War on Drugs. Arresting citizens for possession of small amounts of drugs, taking them to jail, and releasing them without treatment ensures that these individuals will soon be arrested again, and so the cycle continues. The aim of my office policy is to stop chronic patterns of arrest, to connect individuals to behavioral health services, to reduce the burden on the court system and law enforcement, and to allow prosecutors to focus on more serious and violent crimes. Of course repeat offenders can be charged, diverted or suffer additional consequences.  As the chief law enforcement officer for the county, I take my oath seriously to protect the public. However, clogging our criminal justice system with low-level crimes does not deter crime nor find equitable solutions for our community. I am focused on common-sense solutions that are fair and equitable, and good for the entire community. 

Here are some items to keep in mind during this election season. We cannot let lies get in the way of the truth, even during campaign season. The mayor is making this a political attack against me in order to bolster his campaign for re-election, and to take swipes at his East Bay Times endorsed opponent, Lamar Thorpe. Stand on our own record Mr. Mayor, and please stop trying to bolster your platform by making distorted claims about our office policies. During the election season, we hear from elected officials about their vision for their community. Unfortunately, despite his message of unifying the community, your Mayor is trying to divide Antioch and use our office as a foil and create a controversy when none exists. Examine the facts. Facts matter.

Sincerely,

Diana Becton
District Attorney, Contra Costa County

You may also like

18 comments

lameDA Oct 10, 2020 - 5:14 pm

under Diana Becton, violence has taken a life of it’s own, crime, shootings, robbery’s, drugs, prostitution. She has a very poor record of convictions…

Walter Oct 10, 2020 - 8:10 pm

Hi Sean

Loretta Sweatt Oct 10, 2020 - 8:20 pm

What a self righteous bunch of BS the DA is trying to feed us. Those druggies need intervention BEFORE they commit any crime, not afterwards!!!!

Kate C Oct 10, 2020 - 9:36 pm

Do you really expect anything else from that witch? I should have spelled the last word with a “b” … she has to go!

Larry P. Oct 10, 2020 - 5:45 pm

“ we filed “a” felony looting case “
As in ONE case?

“The truth is, my office guidelines assist prosecutors in making the distinction between thefts and burglaries that merely happen while we are in the pandemic, and lootings which are substantially motivated by a state of emergency. “

Who’s truth is that? Theft and burglaries motivated by the pandemic?
Please, how stupid do you think people are? There is, or NEVER has been, justification for theft and burglary.

Doc Oct 10, 2020 - 6:35 pm

Sounds like the DA is making excuses. She doesn’t want to prosecute low level crime because prosecuting them does stop tge behavior. Drug offenses are worth prosecuting because it doesnt change the behavior. So her solution is to continue with a policy that actually encourages the criminal behavior.
I can assure you. If some attempts to breaks into my home, steal from my business, destroy my neighborhood, or stands in front of my vehicle in order to block my way, it will be the last time. The end result will be their obituary in the local paper. I will gladly be judge by 12 vs. carried by 6. California taxpayers need to wake and and get rid of the Woke politicians that were elected to serve the community but in reality only have interests in serving themselves

Coastrider711 Oct 11, 2020 - 6:06 am

See you in prison. You don’t get to decide the law. You just think you get to go to Burger King. I am not aware of “all the crime in Antioch.”..d.a has nothing to do with no patrol cars EVER patrolling the neighborhoods. Try putting more officers where the crime stats show. Lots of car break ins and house burglaries near Bart station. Plainclothes officers could catch those white guys shown in the house videos…same neighborhood. But talk of any police reform starts the screeching. Just don’t want to change the way it has always been. Wright is WRONG for our city

hold the pickles Oct 11, 2020 - 8:36 am

better get ready for your shift at burger king, and try to get my order right this time—

Martin J. Oct 11, 2020 - 7:40 pm

I’ve already protected my house during an attempted invasion and one of the shitheads was carried out in a body bag. The other two got away with some lead in their asses. This happened in the San Diego area (Imperial Beach). I think the two high-tailed it off to Mexico with the leads still in their butts.

Joe Ocallaghan Oct 10, 2020 - 8:54 pm

Who voted for this woman???

Listen to her justify crime and criminal behavior

Daisy's Momma Oct 10, 2020 - 8:56 pm

She is not up for re-election so bashing her unjustly wouldn’t help or hurt her. I don’t think the process lr protocol her office has in place any good. Crime especially in Antioch is out of control. And needs to be put back in control. A slap on the wrist or the current catch and release program isn’t working for us. And if you really think about it she just prettied up his comments. Basically she does exactly what he said. In my opinion the City of Antioch council and mayor office need a complete overhaul. We need new blood… Thank you!!!

Chris Lewis Oct 15, 2020 - 9:32 pm

Unjustly? Where did that come from? The woman is a train wreck! We deserve better.

LANNA Butler-McCoy Oct 10, 2020 - 11:34 pm

Don’t commit yourselves to being unaware of truths. Do your research and learn the truth regarding The Contra Costa DA office Policies. Many Politicians lie to push their divisive agenda, don’t fall for it. We all must be cognizance of Politicians, who work against the greater good of their communitIes, by using the ballot box, you can hold these Politicians to speak truths.

LANNA Butler-McCoy Oct 10, 2020 - 11:35 pm

Don’t commit yourselves to being unaware of truths. Do your research and learn the truth regarding The Contra Costa DA office Policies.

Libby Oct 11, 2020 - 8:05 am

It was CC Supervisors, Diane Burgis, Federal Glover and John Gioia who voted to appoint Diana Becton as Interim District Attorney.

Alice Young Oct 11, 2020 - 7:46 pm

I thought Federal (?) Glover died. What parents would name their kid “Federal?”

Becton is a corrupt Soros backed racist! Oct 12, 2020 - 10:51 am

There it is citizens. The George Soros backed DA outlines what a complete disgrace she is. Hated by the citizens and her staff alike , Becton is allowing criminals to conduct business freely and without fear of any consequences from the DA. Contra Costa County will continue its downhill slide as long as Becton is in place.
Please remember this at election time!

Get rid of Becton Oct 13, 2020 - 2:08 pm

She blasted our mayor? Tell you what! Let’ ALL blast this witch! I have no idea how she got into that position, but shortly after she was installed, most of the ADA’s quit and who could blame them?

Comments are closed.