DA to bulk up on cold-case, environmental prosecutions
Mike Cruz, Staff Writer
Posted: 11/30/2008 09:39:05 PM PST
SAN BERNARDINO - Despite a tight budget, District Attorney Michael A. Ramos said he plans to expand a few key areas of his office, including the Cold Case Unit and environmental- fraud prosecution, with existing resources in 2009.
Like other San Bernardino County department leaders, Ramos has had to find ways to address a growing list of needs with manpower he already has in a tough economic environment. Adding more people isn't an option.
Ramos announced a hiring freeze three weeks ago but has avoided layoffs, he said in a telephone interview last week. Nevertheless, the county's top prosecutor believes he already has the people to tackle new goals in the new year.
For example, Ramos wants to expand the number of attorneys in his Cold Case Unit, from just one today. He would reassign prosecutors from other units and either base them all in San Bernardino or spread them among other offices in the county. Local police departments are putting more focus on unsolved cases, and Ramos anticipates an increased caseload.
"It's never a cold case to a family who has lost a loved one," Ramos said, recalling his last trial as a prosecutor, in 2002. In that case, 44-year-old Phillip Perry of Upland was found shot to death in the backseat of his car in Tijuana in 1992.
Last month, sheriff's deputies arrested David Loustaunau on suspicion of shooting and killing 39-year-old LeRoy Stracner in 1988 in the victim's Barstow home. Loustaunau was tracked to Kingman, Ariz.
In another case, Gustavo Perez was convicted in October of second-degree murder for the Aug. 10, 1992, stabbing death of his wife, Gina Perez, in their Sugarloaf home.
Ramos said his pilot program for cold cases and working with the Sheriff's Department has been successful, and he envisions the effort will require more prosecutors in the future.
Ramos is also following closely the violent drug war being fought by cartels in Mexico, he said, and if needed, he will assign more attorneys to narcotics prosecution efforts locally.
Ramos said he is concerned that drug cartels and smugglers will leave Mexico and come into Southern California.
"I'm not going to let that happen here in this county," Ramos said. He will partner with the U.S. Attorney's Office in Los Angeles for that effort.
Additionally, his office is following a statewide effort toward prosecuting environmental fraud, meaning companies responsible for illegal water and air pollution and other waste.
"We have an excellent environmental- fraud unit," Ramos said. But we "could do a better and more efficient job" of making sure the environment is clean and safe, he said.
Ramos said he is closely watching federal legislation that seeks to release prisoners early and dismantle the death penalty. He opposes both ideas. He also wants to maintain his efforts on gang suppression, witness protection and gang injunctions.
"I envision putting an injunction net over the entire county," Ramos said.
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