Alleged cop killer wants a little freedom

The result of this case seems certain - he shot and killed a police officer intentionally and that is a death sentence. However, the defense has a point with respect to the charge of "killing as a gang particiant". As I recall, Topete kidnapped his son and as a result the police searched for him and in the end chased him. He bolted from his car, leaving the child in the car, and ran off into the underbrush to hide. Then he took at a shot at the first officer he saw. How can that be "killing as a gang participant"? The case has everything to do with kidnapping a child and nothing directly related to gang activity, even though he may be a gang member. I doubt the single charge in question make any real difference to the defendant, but to the public it is another example of Stacking Charges. The DA does it too often and the weak Yolo judges allow it to happen.
The DA, the Judges and the Sheriff have already clearly demonstrated lack of interest in Due Process in this case and that pattern continues.

"...even though he may be a gang member...."

nuff said

You are right or are you wrote:

According to the gang validation processes, being in possession of a blue or red banana is not enough to legally label someone as a gang member.
I'm sure even without the gang enhancement, this guy is going to get life sentences.
But, being in Yolo County; anyone with a dark skin is automatically gang related.

Since you appear to make it look like you know something about the validation process, you should know your point [re: skin color] is meritless.

Let me ask you - how many factors does it take for validation and what are they, if you "know."

Uh, no. He's a cop killer and a kidnapper. He's lucky he's still alive at this point. If anything, put a bag on his head so no one has to look at him. He disgusts me so much. I think that's all to be said about it.

topete is ugly, his face is full of anger and hate.

Why don't you do some research in his prior crimes. He has long been a validated gange member before this shooting.

This low-life, gang-banging scum should get as much freedom as his victim now has. That would be in the confines of a cofin underground. The city, the county, the sate and the country will be better off with this vermin permanently removed from society.

How come Reisig wasn't in court for this??? It's his case.. he's going to use the conviction for his platform to run for DA again, even tho it's a slam dunk. I guess his buddy Hamilton is doing his grunt work for him. I'm sure the DD editor won't keep this in...

Woodland Citizen wrote:

This low-life, gang-banging scum should get as much freedom as his victim now has. That would be in the confines of a cofin underground. The city, the county, the sate and the country will be better off with this vermin permanently removed from society.

Well said it disgusts me ,how can someone even defend people like him ,and all you please do not come back at me about his rights.

This is the problem with crying wolf all the time by DA Reisig. He calls everyone a gang member and gang banger and then when you get a real gang member, everyone is tired of hearing it and does not believe the DA since he will do or say anything to win a case.

The justice system is broke and not believable with Reisig pulling the strings and that is why innocent people get charged and convicted and why guilty people go free... NO CONFIDENCE IN REISIG since he can't be believed!

Watching too wrote:

How come Reisig wasn't in court for this??? It's his case.. he's going to use the conviction for his platform to run for DA again, even tho it's a slam dunk. I guess his buddy Hamilton is doing his grunt work for him. I'm sure the DD editor won't keep this in...

That is such a dumb comment what does it have to do with the article. But the last time I checked that is why you have Deputy District Attorney's for. Rest in Peace Tony scumbags like the guy who wrote this blog have terrible agendas.

DA not creditable wrote:

This is the problem with crying wolf all the time by DA Reisig. He calls everyone a gang member and gang banger and then when you get a real gang member, everyone is tired of hearing it and does not believe the DA since he will do or say anything to win a case.
The justice system is broke and not believable with Reisig pulling the strings and that is why innocent people get charged and convicted and why guilty people go free... NO CONFIDENCE IN REISIG since he can't be believed!

Last time I checked Woodland per capita has more gang members than Sacramento. Now that is scary this Topete guy is pure evil and yes is a true gang member but do you think he just hung out by himself C'mon dummy wake up. Honest citizens are aware of the gangs in Yolo County. I worry about my sister and parents everyday that are still living in that dump of a city.

gang wrote:

<quoted text>Last time I checked Woodland per capita has more gang members than Sacramento. Now that is scary this Topete guy is pure evil and yes is a true gang member but do you think he just hung out by himself C'mon dummy wake up. Honest citizens are aware of the gangs in Yolo County. I worry about my sister and parents everyday that are still living in that dump of a city.

OMG, you believe this, first there are more gang members in Rio Linda than in the entire county of Yolo. Second, the numbers you quote are from DA Reisig, who obviously has lots to gain by convincing uninformed people like you to believe all Hispanics are gang members. If you are so worried about you sister living in Woodland move them to Sacramento where there are less gang members...lol

I also heard there are more Hispanics in Woodland than in Mexico...ummm I bet that is true too, if DA Reisig says so.

You are funny wrote:

<quoted text>
OMG, you believe this, first there are more gang members in Rio Linda than in the entire county of Yolo. Second, the numbers you quote are from DA Reisig, who obviously has lots to gain by convincing uninformed people like you to believe all Hispanics are gang members. If you are so worried about you sister living in Woodland move them to Sacramento where there are less gang members...lol
I also heard there are more Hispanics in Woodland than in Mexico...ummm I bet that is true too, if DA Reisig says so.

Per Capita if you understand what that means. And no Rio Linda does not have more gang members than Yolo County. Please contact the Sacramento Sheriff's Department so you can make at least an honest argument. Please just post I don't like Reisig and move on. You just can't believe that young Latinos are gang members in Yolo County. But please understand there are more great and honest young Latinos than the gangsters. All I am trying to say is we cannot ignore this problem. We must try to stop young men from falling into gangs.

gang wrote:

<quoted text>That is such a dumb comment what does it have to do with the article. But the last time I checked that is why you have Deputy District Attorney's for. Rest in Peace Tony **** like the guy who wrote this blog have terrible agendas.

Thanks Jeff. RIP Tony.

DA not creditable wrote:

This is the problem with crying wolf all the time by DA Reisig. He calls everyone a gang member and gang banger and then when you get a real gang member, everyone is tired of hearing it and does not believe the DA since he will do or say anything to win a case.
The justice system is broke and not believable with Reisig pulling the strings and that is why innocent people get charged and convicted and why guilty people go free... NO CONFIDENCE IN REISIG since he can't be believed!

You know absolutely nothing about the criminal process, and you know nothing about this case. Please cite one innocent person that went to Jail, with sufficient facts. Please cite your actual knowledge of gang members in Yolo County. And the only reason guilty people go free is because people like you who can't grasp what the law says and don't understand that a cop responds to a crime, he tells the DA what happened, the DA (Who gets the file) charges, and then goes to trial if necessary. The only thing possibly broken with this system is Deputy Diaz' own colleagues have to protect and look out for the the guy charged with his murder.

Watching too wrote:

<quoted text>
Thanks Jeff. RIP Tony.

No not Jeff but please don't disgrace Tony Diaz's name that would be a tragedy.

Alfonso - Why do you think multiple charges are filed? Is it possibly because there is evidence that the individual has committed all of those crimes? Is it possible that there might be a penalty phase where you are going to want to add on all those charges as aggravating factors? In short we should probably leave the charging decisions up to the people who actually know what they are doing.

"In short we should probably leave the charging decisions up to the people who actually know what they are doing."

The only problem with that statement is that they (the DA & the Yolo Judges) have already demonstrated (in this case) they do not know what they are doing. One Judge had to step away from the case due to mistakes made by a bunch of people who are supposed to know the process. I do not believe in the death penalty, but if anyone deserves a penalty like that it would be people who kill police officers. I do not doubt the end result, however all defendants deserve Due Process. If you take it away from the really bad people then eventually you take it way from everyone.

Alphonso wrote:

"In short we should probably leave the charging decisions up to the people who actually know what they are doing."
The only problem with that statement is that they (the DA & the Yolo Judges) have already demonstrated (in this case) they do not know what they are doing. One Judge had to step away from the case due to mistakes made by a bunch of people who are supposed to know the process. I do not believe in the death penalty, but if anyone deserves a penalty like that it would be people who kill police officers. I do not doubt the end result, however all defendants deserve Due Process. If you take it away from the really bad people then eventually you take it way from everyone.

You are sadly misinformed, because through careful reading you might have saw that he nothing really happened that day, only the charges were read to him, he didn't even say whether he was pleading guilty or not guilty. And having your family at your arraignment is absolutely no where in the constitution and has absolutely nothing to do with due process.