Home Contra Costa County Mary Knox Says District Attorney Diana Becton Has Invited Crime into Contra Costa County

Mary Knox Says District Attorney Diana Becton Has Invited Crime into Contra Costa County

by ECT

In a statement released Tuesday night Mary Knox, candidate for Contra Costa County District Attorney, blasted District Attorney Diana Becton over “smash and grab” looting.

In her statement, Knox called the incident at Nordstrom in Walnut Creek unacceptable and was entirely predictable.

“Diana Becton, the current district attorney, has not only failed to prosecute these criminals, she has encouraged them to come to Contra Costa to commit these crimes,” said Knox. “After the looting of Walnut Creek in 2020, Becton imposed a requirement on prosecutors to consider looters’ personal needs in the decision whether to charge them with crimes.”

Last September, Becton’s Office issued the following:

Theft Offenses Committed During State of Emergency (PC 463)
In order to promote consistent and equitable filing practices the follow analysis is to be applied when giving consideration to filing of PC 463 (Looting):

1. Was this theft offense substantially motivated by the state of emergency, or simply a theft offense which occurred contemporaneous to the declared state of emergency?

a. Factors to consider in making this determination:
i. Was the target business open or closed to the public during the
state of emergency?
ii. What was the manner and means by which the suspect gained
entry to the target business?
iii. What was the nature/quantity/value of the goods targeted?
iv. Was the theft was committed for financial gain or personal need?
v. Is there an articulable reason why another statute wouldn’t
adequately address the particular incident?

Knox also pointed out that even after Nordstrom lost of $200k in the incident, Becton has not publicly condemned the violence or the organized theft.

“Diana Becton is sending a message to criminals this Holiday Season: come to Contra Costa County – we won’t hold you accountable if you loot our stores,” said Knox.  “Public safety must be restored in Contra Costa. Organized looters should go to jail. We need a D.A. who cares and will protect the citizens of Contra Costa.”

Mary Knox announced her run for Contra Costa County District Attorney in July. For more on her campaign, visit: www.maryknox4da.com

You may also like

8 comments

Predators Are Everywhere Nov 23, 2021 - 8:30 pm

If this crime was predictable, why didn’t she head them off at the pass? So ridiculous. Crime is transient, looks for opportunity and will seize it. Yes, including in Walnut Creek.

STREET-SWEEPER Nov 24, 2021 - 3:25 am

Generations of EBT and Section 8 moochers have passed down to their useless kids that working hard and having goals in life ISN’T necessary. They instead teach them that the Government will coddle them with free housing and food and that being a criminal is justified, since ” the man ” still owes them.

Brandon's America Nov 24, 2021 - 4:42 am

Wow. You’d think it couldn’t be clearer that the Becton agenda clearly enabled…and will further enable…criminal punks….yet there’s always a jackass unable to refrain from displaying her ignorance.

Predators Are Everywhere Nov 25, 2021 - 1:04 am

Same thing is happening in other counties as well and in fact across the country. It’s not just a Contra Costa County problem and therefore it’s not tied to a singular political agenda. What we’re witnessing is the steady decline of morals, self respect and the respect for others in our society. It’s much greater than Contra County.

TSG Nov 29, 2021 - 8:42 am

@ PREDETOS: No, this is not a general problem found everywhere. This happens only in counties and cities with progressive DA’s and politicians. This problem is increasing because more progressives get elected by people like you. There is no reason to play this down.

Predators Are Everywhere Nov 29, 2021 - 7:06 pm

@TSG If you think that I was attempting to play down the criminal activity we see and how rampant it is, you totally missed the point. Keep your blinders on though. They look good on you.

Emma Dec 3, 2021 - 12:25 pm

This is nonsense. “Looting” food and other necessities of life in the event of an earthquake is a specific crime. The smash-and-grab robberies we’ve seen lately are completely different crimes under the criminal statutes. One does not encourage or enable the other. DA Becton will be charging the criminals who perpetrated the recent crimes to the fullest extent of the law. I’m surprised and worried that Ms. Knox has made this major error. If she wants to run for DA and enforce the law, she should study and understand it first.

slbi Dec 21, 2021 - 10:21 am

what necessities did they get at Nordstrom’s?

Comments are closed.