Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/747615
ByPaulElias The Associated Press MARTINEZ A Northern California prosecutor said Friday that he's charging a retired police captain with misdemeanor solicit- ing a prostitute, but found no other criminal conduct within his jurisdiction in a wide-ranging police sexual misconduct case involving more than two dozen offi- cers. Contra Costa County Dis- trict Attorney Mark Peter- son said that sexual en- counters between a teenage prostitute and several offi- cers in his county were con- sensual and didn't involve the exchange of money or explicit promises of help. The district attorney in neighboring Alameda County last month said she would charge seven cur- rent and former officers implicated in the scandal and said there appeared to be evidence of criminal conduct in Contra Costa County. But on Friday, Pe- terson said none was found after reviewing 19 separate interviews of the teen con- ducted by six law enforce- ment agencies. Peterson declined to name the retired Oakland Police captain until the man is formally charged next week. Peterson said the man is in his 80s and had retired long before his encounter with the teen, who is the daughter of an Oakland Police dispatcher. The 19-year-old woman has filed legal actions against several Northern California cities and po- lice departments, saying she was sexually exploited by more than two dozen officers while she worked as a prostitute. The cities have yet to respond to the claims, which are precur- sors to lawsuits. The woman's allegation has roiled the Oakland Po- lice Department, which cy- cled through three police chiefs in under two weeks before the city administra- tor took over leadership of the department when the scandal surfaced publicly in June. The scandal surfaced after a federal judge who monitors the long-troubled department ordered inter- nal affairs to look deeper into an officer's suicide note in which he discussed his and colleagues' relation- ship with the woman. The officer killed himself in Sep- tember 2015. The woman says she is no longer a prostitute and says some of the sex occurred be- fore her 18th birthday. She also said she traded sexual favors for tip-offs of prosti- tution stings and protection from arrest. Peterson said one en- counter between the teen and a former Contra Costa County sheriff's deputy may have occurred when the woman was 17 years old. But Peterson said it would be difficult to win a convic- tion because the deputy's argument that he thought she was older is a "complete defense." The Associated Press doesn't generally name vic- tims of sexual crimes. LAW ENFORCEMENT RetiredOaklandpolicecaptain to be charged in sex probe BENMARGOT—THEASSOCIATEDPRESS Contra Costa District Attorney Mark Peterson speaks at a media conference Friday in Martinez. By Don Thompson The Associated Press SACRAMENTO Califor- nia met a legal deadline to switch to a new method of executing condemned in- mates, just days before vot- ers decide whether to do away with the death pen- alty, corrections officials said Friday. Under court pressure and facing a nationwide short- age of execution drugs, offi- cials proposed a year ago to begin using a single lethal drug instead of a combina- tion of three that was used in the state's last execution a decade ago. The Department of Cor- rections and Rehabilitation submitted the regulations Friday for a final adminis- trative review, department spokeswoman Terry Thorn- ton said. It comes as voters weigh competing initiatives in Tuesday's election that could decide the future of the 750 condemned inmates on the nation's largest death row. One measure, Propo- sition 62, would end the death penalty and keep condemned inmates in prison for life. Proposition 66 would speed up appeals and let officials begin sin- gle-drug executions without going through a similar ad- ministrative process. The Office of Adminis- trative Law has 30 work- ing days to review the regulations for technical problems. If the rules are certified by Nov. 30, they would take effect Jan. 1. If the office approves them in December, they would take effect April 1. But opponents already have signaled they are likely to challenge the regulations in court, meaning more de- lays are likely before anyone is executed if voters keep the death penalty. The regulations would let corrections officials choose between four types of pow- erful barbiturates — amo- barbital, pentobarbital, secobarbital or thiopental — before each execution, depending on which one is available. Inmates also could choose the gas cham- ber for their execution. Eight states have used a one-drug method, according to the nonprofit Death Pen- alty Information Center. DEATH PENALTY California meets deadline to shi execution method By Alanna Durkin Richer The Associated Press RICHMOND, VA. Rolling Stone magazine, its pub- lisher and a reporter de- famed a University of Vir- ginia administrator who sued them for $7.5 million over a discredited story about a gang rape at a fra- ternity house, a federal jury said Friday. The 10-member jury in Charlottesville sided with administrator Ni- cole Eramo, who claimed the article portrayed her as a villain. Jurors found that journalist Sabrina Ru- bin Erdely was responsible for libel, with actual mal- ice, and that Rolling Stone and its publisher were also responsible for defaming Eramo. Eramo claimed the November 2014 article falsely said she discour- aged the woman identi- fied only as Jackie from reporting the incident to police. A police investiga- tion found no evidence to back up Jackie's claims about being raped. Rolling Stone's attor- neys contended during the trial that Jackie ap- peared to be an entirely credible source and that the reporter fell victim to an elaborate ruse. The magazine stood by its crit- icism of the university's handling of sexual assault cases despite problems with Jackie's story. In a statement Friday, the magazine apologized to Eramo and others im- pacted by the article. "It is our deep hope that our failings do not deflect from the pervasive issues discussed in the piece, and that reporting on sexual assault cases ultimately results in campus policies that better protect our stu- dents," the magazine said. Libby Locke, an attor- ney for Eramo, said she and her client are pleased with the decision. "The jury's verdict is a complete vindication of Nicole Eramo, and a com- plete repudiation of Roll- ing Stone's and Ms. Erde- ly's false and defamatory article," Locke said in an email. Because the judge de- termined that Eramo was a public figure, she had to prove Rolling Stone made statements with "actual malice," meaning it knew that what it was writing about her was false or en- tertained serious doubts as to whether it might be true. The jury found that Erdely acted with actual malice on six claims: two statements in the article and four statements to me- dia outlets after the story was published. In one in- stance, Erdely wrote in the story that Eramo had a "nonreaction" when she heard from Jackie that two other women were also gang raped at the same fraternity at the uni- versity. Jurors also found that the decision by Rolling Stone and Wenner Me- dia, the magazine's pub- lisher, to post the story on Dec. 5, 2014 — with an ed- itor's note acknowledg- ing problems with Jack- ie's account — counted as "republishing" the de- bunked story. Jurors con- cluded that the publisher and magazine didn't act with actual malice when the story was originally published but did when it was republished. The magazine did not officially retract the story and remove it from its website until the follow- ing April. VIRGINIA Jury: Rolling Stone's rape story defamed university official Published through an Event Co-Sposorship agreement with The Daily News It is the mission of the State Theatre for the Arts to develop the historic State Theatre as a vibrant community center for innovative cultural arts programming and popular events that foster the cultural enrichment and economic sustainability of the historic downtown Red Bluff. In keeping with our mission we have begun a seat campaign. The goal is to upgrade the flooring and replace the seating in the auditorium. To accomplish this vital step in the restoration of the theatre we will need to raise $365,000. The new seating will enhance the art deco theme of the auditorium and be more comfortable and quieter than the present seating. Sponsors, members and patrons of the State Theatre for the Arts are invited to be part of the effort. With your tax deductible donation of $500 per seat you will have a lasting legacy with an engraved recognition plate, bearing your name or the name of a person you wish to honor, affixed to each seat or block of seats you help to purchase. Our goal is to purchase the seats by February 1, 2017 and install them that summer. At this time we would like you to consider making a purchase or a pledge to help in this endeavor. If you have any questions please call (530) 529-2787. You will have the opportunity to pick an area or seat(s) with your purchase or pledge on a first come first serve basis. Please Take A Seat sponsors are not guaranteed seating in chairs bearing their engraved plate(s) when attending performances. State Theatre for the Arts is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization and donations are tax-deductible. State Theatre for the Arts 333 Oak Street, Red Bluff, CA 96080 Order Form Please Take A Seat sponsors are not guaranteed seating in chairs bearing their engraved plate(s) when attending performances. I would like to sponsor______ seats at $500 per seat. Total donated: ________ Name: Address: City: State: Zip: Payment is enclosed ❑ Payment: Check # ____________ (payable to State Theatre for the Arts) ❑ Please use the attached credit card information ❑ I would like to make a pledge at this time. I understand that I am able to make payments and the final payment will be made prior to February 1, 2017. AmEx Visa Master Card Discover Card Number: Exp:_____ YESonM It'sabouttime! The Tehama County Board of Supervisors makes million-dollar decisions that affect the lives of 64,000 residents while having the $1045 monthly salary frozen since 1986. Tehama County citizens deserve better. Thirty years ago the position was considered part-time in the management of a $37 million budget with 561 employees. Today, Tehama County Supervisors manage a $171 million budget with over 850 employees. Supervisors oversee the County Administrator and all 26 departments, consider hundreds of pages of background materials weekly, serve on numerous local, regional and state committees, and respond to citizens' concerns. Supervisors spend much of their time considering State mandates, property rights, health, safety and social services issues. This is no longer a part-time job!! Supervisors' travel and communication expenses are partially reimbursed, and health and retirement benefits are offered. However, Tehama County has the embarrassing distinction of paying its Supervisors the lowest compensation of California's 58 counties. As a result of public hearings, local business owners, homeowners, retirees, Republicans, Democrats, and others formed a committee. After extensive discussions, recommendations were made to bring salaries up to a minimal living wage through four annual raises which would then remain in effect until a future vote of the people. Still, the 2020 salary would be lower than today's neighboring counties compensation with similar characteristics. Today's salary restricts the candidate pool to mainly those with outside incomes or retirees. Your YES vote allows more people, to consider serving as a Supervisor. YES gives you a larger candidate pool from which you can elect the most qualified. A YES vote on Measure M is a positive vote for Tehama County's future. Paid for by the committee for Measure M | NEWS | REDBLUFFDAILYNEWS.COM SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2016 4 B