GUILTY CA - Justice Rees, 2 wks, Woodland, 24 Feb 2015

[SophieRose]

http://www.davisenterprise.com/loca...-involuntary-manslaughter-child-endangerment/

Reached for comment Wednesday, Prieto said he supports the DA’s decision to file the revised charges, noting that prosecutors carry the higher burden of backing them up in court.

“We had probable cause to believe she had committed a murder, but they have to prove it beyond a reasonable doubt,” Prieto said. “That’s fine — this isn’t a personal issue with me. We all have different responsibilities.”

 

[SophieRose]

Oh wow, just wow - thanks so much for finding this! I was feeling despair that this case was going to quietly go away. Like I said earlier, I think the Yolo county sheriff had strong feelings about this case and was keeping his real thoughts in check. I guess he's looking for answers too, and most importantly, making sure that everyone who contributed to Justice's death gets their due.

You rock sheriff!

Question of the day - how could the grandparents not know?

Call me vengeful but this new arrest felt muy satisfying.

I wonder if Lake County (some call it Meth capital of California) didn't retrieve him for their warrants so Yolo County issued the search warrant.

http://www.davisenterprise.com/loca...-involuntary-manslaughter-child-endangerment/

Johnson sentenced Rees to a year of probation, during which he must use an ignition interlock device before driving, a $2,309 fine and 10 days in jail, which he likely will have satisfied by today.

Yolo County sheriff’s Capt. Larry Cecchettini said his agency will report Rees’ pending release to Lake County officials, who will decide whether to retrieve him to answer for their own warrant — which charges him with impaired driving and child endangerment — or approve his release on a citation.

 

[MsMarple]

I wonder if Lake County (some call it Meth capital of California) didn't retrieve him for their warrants so Yolo County issued the search warrant.

http://www.davisenterprise.com/loca...-involuntary-manslaughter-child-endangerment/

Johnson sentenced Rees to a year of probation, during which he must use an ignition interlock device before driving, a $2,309 fine and 10 days in jail, which he likely will have satisfied by today.

Yolo County sheriff’s Capt. Larry Cecchettini said his agency will report Rees’ pending release to Lake County officials, who will decide whether to retrieve him to answer for their own warrant — which charges him with impaired driving and child endangerment — or approve his release on a citation.

One of the news videos said the search warrant was issued in connection to SG's case so I think it was unrelated to the Lake county warrants. Duh, I guess FR thought he was home free so no reason to hide or dispose of his drugs. The ammunition charge is interesting though since it comes from a former felony conviction.

As you probably already know but I didn't, California Proposition 47 downgraded possession of meth to a misdemeanor (max. one year sentence, more likely probation and rehab) except for someone with a prior conviction for a violent offense or a registered sex offender. AFAIK FR doesn't qualify. Too bad.

 

[MsMarple]

To add to my above post: I was surprised to read that FR was sentenced to 10 days in jail and probation but was was released right after instead of being taken to jail to serve his time. I can't quite connect the dots here but I do wonder if there might be surveillance underway, including local drug dealers. Or maybe informants.

ITA with SwampMama that there's more to come...

 

[SophieRose]

Baby Justice’s Dad Speaks Out from Behind Bars
http://fox40.com/2015/03/06/baby-justices-dad-speaks-out-from-behind-bars/

Rees has only had days to process his 20-day-old son’s death and he said time hasn’t been kind. FOX40 wasn’t allowed to bring our cameras inside but Rees explained why sheriff’s deputies found methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia at his home on West El Dorado Drive in Woodland just hours before.

“Anything that they found was old,” he said. “They had to dig for it.”

He said they may have found a broken drug pipe in his garage and said of his new charges that authorities are, “trying to charge me with a felony but technically I’m not a convicted felon.”

 

[nikb]

Well jail time in California is pretty much a joke... so I can easily see 10 days being less than a day. I have a friend who's a prison guard in CA and he said the "inmate reduction" thing that has caused so-called "nonviolent" criminals to be released is awful. He said many of them are in fact violent - but of course plead down to just the nonviolent charges. It's scary. I wasn't surprised at all to hear FR was released, but I wonder if he'll actually be sentenced to anything either.

 

[SophieRose]

http://www.dailydemocrat.com/general-news/20150306/father-of-baby-justice-arrested-on-meth-charges

On Wednesday, when Rees was arraigned for these charges, he pleaded no contest to driving on a suspended license last March. The other Yolo County charges were dismissed and he was sentenced to one year informal probation and 10 days in the Yolo County Jail. The jail time was originally going to be served at a later date. Under this agreement, Rees is also restricted from driving unless the vehicle has a valid ignition interlock device.

Although his Yolo County cases were resolved Wednesday, Rees’ Lake County charges remain. After being released from custody Wednesday night, he was ordered to appear in Lake County on April 27.

 

[katydid23]

Baby Justice’s Dad Speaks Out from Behind Bars
http://fox40.com/2015/03/06/baby-justices-dad-speaks-out-from-behind-bars/

Rees has only had days to process his 20-day-old son’s death and he said time hasn’t been kind. FOX40 wasn’t allowed to bring our cameras inside but Rees explained why sheriff’s deputies found methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia at his home on West El Dorado Drive in Woodland just hours before.

“Anything that they found was old,” he said. “They had to dig for it.”

He said they may have found a broken drug pipe in his garage and said of his new charges that authorities are, “trying to charge me with a felony but technically I’m not a convicted felon.”

Oh yeah, SURE...all that drug stuff was really old.

That's why the newborn baby was born with meth in his system...and his girlfriend did meth last week.

 

[MsMarple]

Oh yeah, SURE...all that drug stuff was really old.

That's why the newborn baby was born with meth in his system...and his girlfriend did meth last week.

Right! Really Frank? Was it past the expiration date? /sarcasm

So... FR says LE had to "dig" to find it while LE says it was "where children were able to access it."

As Dr. Phil would say: "Somebody here is lying."

 

[time]

I was surprised when I saw the news late last night about him being arrested (but happy of course)! Can't believe Frank was arrogant or dumb enough to have that stuff in the house. They interviewed a couple of neighbors and they said there had been a lot of fights and police calls to the house - seemed they were way tired of it and said the neighborhood just doesn't usually have that kind of stuff going on. Also, not sure anyone has posted on this, but the news I heard (KCRA, I think) said that they were looking to see if Frank was involved in the baby's death.

 

[SurfieTX]

YOLO COUNTY, Calif. (KCRA) —Frank Rees, the father of baby Justice Rees, was released from Yolo County jail overnight after posting $45,000 bail, according to jail officials.

http://www.kcra.com/news/local-news...justice-frank-rees-bails-out-of-jail/31669426

 

[time]

http://www.kcra.com/news/local-news...justice-frank-rees-bails-out-of-jail/31669426

Wonder who put up the money?

 

[perfectingpink]

Wonder who put up the money?

Probably the same person who vowed to stand by the mom and dad. :maddening:

 

[CarolinaMoon]

It would seem to me that Rees has some excellent enablers in the family. This case is so terribly distressing. A dead infant and other children around meth (shades of the Grogan-Canela case). Methinks the grandparents need to be investigated as well.

 

[MsMarple]

It would seem to me that Rees has some excellent enablers in the family. This case is so terribly distressing. A dead infant and other children around meth (shades of the Grogan-Canela case). Methinks the grandparents need to be investigated as well.

Yeah, step-granny Freddie really changed the way I think about grandparents.

But I don't think that's the case here. JMO, I think they may have been in over their heads - 5 kids in the house, two adults with meth addictions, CPS involvement - that's quite a burden. Something else I've noticed is a couple of news reports mentioned neighbors' reactions.

From an article prior to FR being released on bail:

Neighbors tell CBS13 they aren’t surprised by Rees’ arrest.

Jack Korth says the people who live in the area mostly keep to themselves, but the home didn’t seem to fit in in the usually quiet neighborhood.

“Just loud music, noise, verbal loudness,” he said. “It’s just a bad scenario all the way around.”

http://sacramento.cbslocal.com/2015...ated-charges-two-days-after-court-appearance/

Given what we now know about FR I have to wonder if the grandparents were a little afraid or intimidated by their son. It doesn't excuse their lack of following the safety plan to the letter but it might help explain their defensiveness and denial. I dunno.

MOO

 

[MsMarple]

Rees told The Enterprise he has “no clue” about the source of the methamphetamine and drug pipe reportedly found in his home’s garage. He made a reference to “past recreations” — he underwent a state drug-treatment program in lieu of prison time for a grand theft case several years ago — but says he would never keep drugs in his house now.
...

http://www.davisenterprise.com/local-news/crime-fire-courts/baby-justices-father-i-want-answers-too/

More excuses... er... statements at the link.

 

[tlcya]

yeah, because meth addicts are often in the habit of "forgetting" where their meth and pipe are. Happens all the time - NOT. MOO

 

[tlcya]

just waiting for the R family to figure out it is better for lil frankie if they cut mom loose. They will soon enough decide to leave her flapping in the wind once they realize that it is better legally for ole FR if he was totally clueless about mom's activities and he was going about doing what he was supposed to. She had us all fooled, etc and so forth. Kinda shocked he didn't say the stuff found in garage was SG's and the rest of the household had no clue she was back to her old tricks.


Oh well, I am pretty sure it's coming.

 

[SwampMama]

I was surprised when I saw the news late last night about him being arrested (but happy of course)! Can't believe Frank was arrogant or dumb enough to have that stuff in the house. They interviewed a couple of neighbors and they said there had been a lot of fights and police calls to the house - seemed they were way tired of it and said the neighborhood just doesn't usually have that kind of stuff going on. Also, not sure anyone has posted on this, but the news I heard (KCRA, I think) said that they were looking to see if Frank was involved in the baby's death.

BBM, yes i saw that report as well. It was a video report titled " Legal analyst explains new charges in baby Justice investigation" It was said that the investigators have some reason to believe that he was involved somehow in the death of Justice. With FR being on probation, they could legally search his areas of the house but they could not search the whole house, so they had a warrant for the other areas. A legal analyst was discussing the the implications of the search warrant and how it indicated that they were indeed trying get the evidence that would lead to charges for his part in the death of the baby. http://www.kcra.com/news/legal-analyst-explains-new-charges-in-baby-justice-investigation/31663628

If the police did not think he was involved, and truly believed he was a victim, they likely would not be going after him in this manner. But perhaps he is being less than cooperative or not completely honest with them and they will use this as leverage to get him to cooperate.

 

[tlcya]

Because the house is apparently that of The senior Rees parents I assumed the warrant was needed to examine/search the home for evidence against either mom or dad. The Elder Rees couple could give LE rights to search the common and their own areas but not those areas that were considered the private space of FR or SG. Right?