Gang Member Guilty in Murder of Camille Love

On January 12, 2012, a Pierce County jury convicted
22-year-old Eduardo Sandoval of Murder in the First Degree, Assault in the First Degree, and Conspiracy to Commit Murder for the drive-by shooting death of 20-year-old Camille Love and injury to her brother Joshuah on February 7, 2010. Sandoval was one of 19 Eastside Lokotos Surenos (ELS) gang members who were arrested and charged in a Gang Unit sweep in 2010.

Co-defendants Saul Mex and Santiago Mederos fired on Camille's car as she and her brother drove down Portland Avenue. Camille and Joshuah were mistakenly targeted as rival Blood gang members because their car was red and Joshuah happened to be wearing a red coat. Sandoval acted as a lookout during the commission of the crime.

This was one of four major sweeps by the Prosecutor's Office Gang Unit. In February 2010, 36 Hilltop Crips were charged with a string of violent offenses. In Fall 2010, 19 ELS gang members were charged with three murders, including the murder of Camille Love. In March 2011, 26 Hiltop Crips were charged in a series of burglary and property crimes. In May 2011, a dozen Tillicum Park Gangsters were charged with gun and drug crimes.

Deputy Prosecutors Greg Greer and Jared Ausserer prosecuted the four defendants in a joint trial. Sandoval was found to be an active accomplice and co-conspirator in the crimes. He faces a sentence of 60 to 75 years in prison when sentenced on February 3, 2012 at 1:30 p.m. in Courtroom 304.

Targeting Crimes Against Elders

On November 7, Prosecutor Mark Lindquist and deputy prosecuting attorneys Sven Nelson, Grant Blinn and Erika Nohavec spoke about prosecuting elder abuse crimes at the 10th Annual Guardianship Seminar.

Nelson oversees the Identity Theft and Financial Elder Abuse Unit, which is dedicated to prosecuting felony level financial crimes, especially those against the elderly and other vulnerable individuals. Blinn supervises the Special Assault Unit, which prosecutes felony domestic violence and sexual assault cases and crimes against children. Nohavec, pictured here, is the designated DPA responsible for prosecuting cases involving financial exploitation of older citizens.

'Vigorously prosecuting crimes against our community's most vulnerable members is a top priority for our office and we are devoting resources and developing expertise to target financial crimes against elders,' said Prosecutor Lindquist.

Fight Crime Invest in Kids

Prosecutor Lindquist joined Pierce County Sheriff Paul Pastor and Tacoma Police Chief Don Ramsdell in urging leaders in congress to protect proven crime reduction programs, specifically those focuses on early childhood care and education.

On October 20, the trio visited a Head Start classroom at Stanley Elementary School where they read to children and discussed the value of early childhood education.

A new report called 'Pay Now or Pay Much More Later' shows that at-risk children who attend high-quality early care and education programs are less likely to commit crimes and end up in prison. Fight Crime: Invest in Kids is a national, non-profit anti-crime organization of more than 5,000 police chiefs, sheriffs, prosecutors, and survivors.

Prosecutors Reduce Superior Court Backlog

The project involving the pre-assignment of Class A felony cases continues to be a success. The backlog of felony cases pending trial has been reduced dramatically. The number of pending felony cases has dropped from a high of 2,146 in April 2009 to 1,481 as of January 27, 2012, a reduction of more than 30%.

Access to justice has increased as the backlog has decreased. The judges currently involved in the pilot project are the Honorable Frank Cuthbertson, Linda Lee, Vicki Hogan and Ronald Culpepper. Judges who participated in the past include the Honorable James Orlando, Kitty-Ann van Doorninck, Bryan Chuschcoff and John McCarthy. Judge Lisa Worswick participated in the original planning.

An increased number of cases are resolving sooner because of the immediate availability of courtrooms, which makes defendants choose to plead guilty or go to trial. This project gives these most serious felony cases top priority by pre-assigning them to a court room. This has been beneficial for victims, witnesses and the community. Prosecutor Lindquist said, 'I look forward to further collaboration with Superior Court and expansion of the project so that we can deliver justice in a more timely fashion.'

Partners in Fighting Crime

Prosecuting Attorney Mark Lindquist chairs the Law & Justice Council, a committee comprised of Sheriff Paul Pastor, Lakewood Police Chief Bret Farrar, Tacoma Police Assistant Chief Bob Sheehan, WA State senators Debbie Regala and Mike Carroll, State Representative Jeannie Darneille, County Council member Dick Muri, representatives from the Department of Corrections and many others who work in various capacities within or related to the criminal justice system.

Members of the Law & Justice Council meet regularly to work on issues related to public safety and law and justice in Pierce County. The Fair Share Oversight Committee actively monitors the number of high risk violent felony offenders being released into our community by the Department of Corrections in accordance with Senate Bill 6157.

Melancon Shooter Sentenced to 61 Years

On August 3, 2011, Olujimi Blakeney, 26, was sentenced to more than 61 years in prison for the murder of 41-year-old Lisa Melancon, a well loved Tacoma code enforcement officer, on July 22, 2010.

'Deputy Prosecutor Jerry Costello did an outstanding job on this important case for our community,' Prosecutor Mark Lindquist said. 'Detective Brian vold and the Tacoma Police Department built a strong case that led to these convictions.'

Blakeney was a passenger in a vehicle fleeing the scene of a fight in a South Tacoma neighborhood when he reached out and fired multiple shots. One of the bullets hit Melancon in the head and killed her instantly.

Community Involvement

A team of Prosecutor's Office employees helped raise money and awareness for military personnel dealing with traumatic brain injuries and post traumatic stress disorder by participating in the Race for a Soldier Half-Marathon on October 16. Tanya Murdock Lewis, counselor in the El Cid Diversion Unit, created a brochure on TBI/PTSD to be used as a resource for soldiers. Pictured here are Michelle Luna-Green, Katie Blinn, Tim Lewis, Tanya Murdock Lewis, Andrea Hill, and Therese Kahn, who donned matching Prosecutor's Office t-shirts for the event.

Prosecutor's Office employees were in the giving spirit this holiday season. DPA Lisa Wagner organized a holiday food drive, which netted 650 pounds of food and $570 in monetary donations for the St. Leo Food Connection, Pierce County's largest food bank. Each month more than 140,000 seek emergency food assistance in Pierce County.

Family Support DPA Sue Sholin spearheaded the office's annual Adopt-A-Family program, which provides Christmas gifts for children and families in need. This year employees sponsored more than 100 parents and children through Phoenix Housing Network and Pierce County Alliance Youth Services, a foster care program.

The 2012 United Way campaign wrapped up in December.
Becky Stover, HR & Communications Manager for the Prosecutor's Office, coordinated the county-wide campaign which raised more than $99,000 for vital United Way programs.

In December, Misdemeanor Division Chief Kevin Benton and Vehicular Homicide and Vehicular Assault Unit leader Tim Jones climbed aboard the U. S. Coast Guard Icebreaker Polar Star, which is drydocked in Seattle. Benton and Jones and spoke to a crew of 120 service men and women about the dangers of drinking and driving and the penalties for alcohol related crimes.

Community Speaking Events