Sacramento County District Attorney Thien Ho will present the Outstanding Citizen Award to victims and witnesses who have shown uncommon courage by participating in the criminal justice process under extraordinarily challenging circumstances. A Beacon of Hope Award will also be presented to an individual and organization, who through compassion and dedication, enhance victim advocacy and public safety.
WHEN: Friday, April 25, 2025, 9:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
WHERE: Board of Supervisors’ Chambers -700 H Street, Sacramento
Media is invited to join us in recognizing this year’s recipients. Please RSVP to Shelly Orio by Thursday, April 24 at 3 p.m. for space and planning purposes.
Outstanding Citizen Award Recipients:
Harrell Fischer, John Stubbe, Damaria (People v Mandiko Kwadzo 20FE011791)
On July 27, 2020, West Sacramento police officers responded to a report of shots fired inside a residence. Moments later, a witness reported seeing the victim, Carliena Clayton, and the defendant having an argument on the driveway of that residence. The victim was then seen getting into a car with her four small children and the defendant getting into the passenger seat as she pulled out of the driveway. When officers arrived on scene, they found evidence of a shooting inside the residence. That night, Harrell Fischer was at Cliff’s Marina in Sacramento County when he heard a gunshot followed by a car crashing into the Sacramento River. He called a friend, John Stubbe, and the two went to the crash scene to help. They found the victim’s car partially submerged in the river with the defendant standing nearby not doing anything to help. When they looked into the car, they found the victim unresponsive in the driver’s seat and her four children in the backseat. The oldest 6-year-old child, Damaria, had already unbuckled all their seatbelts, but the youngest 2-year-old child was still in her car seat. Fischer and Stubbe got the children out of the car to safety. Responding CHP officers found the victim did not have a pulse with severe bleeding from her head. At that time, it was believed it was a car accident until Damaria told officers the defendant shot his mother. It was later determined that the victim suffered two gunshot wounds to her head. Damaria, Harrell Fischer and John Stubbe all testified at trial and were instrumental in obtaining guilty verdicts in this case.
The defendant was convicted of first-degree murder with a firearm allegation and felon in possession of a firearm. He was sentenced to 53 years to life in prison.
Gigi Barrios (People v. Dominick Roberson 22FE019182)
On November 18, 2022, Gigi Barrios was working at the Medical Safe Haven. A pregnant patient named Precious came into the clinic for an appointment. Gigi knew Precious well and immediately recognized something was wrong. Precious avoided eye contact, she was vague and hesitant when Gigi asked her questions and seemed distressed when she received text messages. Precious said her baby’s dad was the cause for her agitation. Gigi finally got Precious to reveal that the father of her unborn child was in the clinic parking lot and was threatening to kill her. He had a gun, and he had been trafficking Precious since she met him months earlier. Gigi jumped into action, making sure clinic staff called 911 and also personally reaching out to Sacramento Police Department human trafficking detectives that Gigi knew from her collaborative work throughout the county. Sacramento officers and detectives got to the clinic quickly. When they detained the defendant, they found a gun in his car. Precious was terrified of her trafficker, but with Gigi by her side she was able to explain that the defendant groomed her, portraying himself as a boyfriend before taking her to the “blade” to engage in prostitution and making her give him all the money she made. He regularly beat and threatened her; he threatened her family and controlled her life. Precious gave detectives access to her phone, where they found messages that corroborated what Precious told them. The defendant was arrested that day and Sacramento police detectives ensured that Precious got to a safe house, where she stayed through the birth of her child and through the trial.
The defendant was convicted of a variety human trafficking charges and sentenced to 71 years to life in prison.
North Peredina & Scott Kingston (People v. Tycho Roney 24FE003928)
North Peredina is the general manager of Paco’s Bike Shop in Midtown Sacramento. The bike shop was burglarized with a loss of over $28,000 in high-end bikes and $13,000 in property damage. Peredina reviewed their interior surveillance cameras and saw the defendant drop into the business from a breached roof skylight. The profile of the defendant’s face was momentarily caught on the surveillance video. After reporting the crime, Peredina set out to find the stolen bikes. When he saw a man with one of the bikes, he immediately reported it to the Sacramento Police Department. Detectives responded to the area and spotted a similar looking bike outside of a tent. After confirming it was one of the stolen bikes, they found the defendant inside of the tent along with the clothes from the burglary, a loaded .9 mm semi-automatic handgun and methamphetamine. Peredina positively identified the defendant as the person in the surveillance video and with the stolen bike. Scott Kingston is in commercial real estate. Kingston rallied attention to this case, including writing passionate pleas to city leadership for the need to address retail crime and public safety in the city. As a business leader, Kingston encouraged city leaders to address these issues, or they would see the businesses leave and go elsewhere. Peredina’s proactive response to the burglary and Kingston’s challenging of the conditions that were leading to rampant crime helped lead to the arrest and conviction of the defendant. In a broader sense, their actions helped to restore faith in public safety and the criminal justice system for a business community plagued with repeat thefts.
The defendant was convicted and sentenced to 6 years in prison.
Joseph Bayless, Brandon Gross, Devonte Rainey, Michael Armendariz, Brian Saldivar & Jose Garcia (People v. Kryn Spear 22FE008691)
On May 26, 2022, Veronica Vargas was driving through the intersection of Power Inn Rd. and Elsie Ave. with her 4- year-old daughter, Samantha, in the back seat. At that same time and intersection, the defendant ran a red light at 89 mph and broadsided them with his dually truck. The force of the collision flipped the victim’s car onto its roof. Brian Casado was the first person who stopped at the scene after the crash occurred. He rushed over to the victim’s vehicle and could see and hear the little girl in the back seat. He tried to help other bystanders get the victims out of their car. Joseph Bayless and Brandon Gross also stopped at the scene and tried to help Veronica and Samantha. The three men stayed with Samantha, reassuring her she would be okay until first responders arrived. After the crash, the defendant got out of his truck and began walking away from the crash scene. Devonte Rainey had stopped at the scene to help the victims and followed the defendant as he recorded and took pictures of him. Michael Armendariz saw the crash scene and came across Rainey, who told him the driver who caused the crash was trying to get away. Armendariz stopped his car and went hands on with the defendant to detain him. Brian Saldivar and Jose Garcia also saw the crash scene and came across Rainey and Armendariz. Saldivar and Garcia helped Armendariz detain the defendant until CHP arrived. The defendant had a blood alcohol content of 0.251% and was on probation for a prior DUI at the time of this crash.
The defendant was convicted of gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated and a number of additional felony DUI related charges, hit and run causing death and or permanent injury and a great bodily injury allegation. He was sentenced to 13 years and 8 months in prison.
Beacon of Hope Award Recipients:
Victim Advocate Lisa Corral works tirelessly in the Domestic Violence Unit, where she has helped thousands of DV victims and supports the unit attorneys. The DV Unit is unlike any other unit in that the victim advocate is involved right from the beginning of the case, at filing, and sometimes when a case is not filed. The DV Unit is also a unique assignment because not all victims want our help and can be resistant to us. Lisa is patient and works through these challenges, with the mission to keep the victims of domestic violence safe.
The River City Waterway Alliance is made up of a volunteer team of 30 – 40 experienced waterway stewards who work tirelessly to keep the river waterways clean and safe for people and endangered salmon species. The Alliance reported that in just 5 years, volunteers pulled 247 tons of garbage and junk from the river bays – 247 tons is equivalent to more than three Boeng 737s or 38 elephants. It’s not just litter and trash. They recover large hazardous waste items – including propane tanks, household appliances, electronics as well as clothes and other personal items. Unhoused encampments all along the river levees are the primary source of the items found in the waterways. The amount and type of waste being tossed into our waters is a significant environmental and wildlife hazard. Alliance volunteers are continually cleaning these waters even as more garbage, junk and hazardous items are thrown right back into those same waters. It is a never-ending struggle for them; however, they remain devoted to keeping the waters and the environment clean and safe for people and wildlife.
