DA Pamela Price Announces Death Penalty Conviction of Curtis Ervin Overturned Due to Prosecutorial Misconduct August 7, 2024 OAKLAND, CA — Today, Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price announced that the 1991 death penalty conviction of Mr. Curtis Lee Ervin (71) for the 1986 murder-for-hire of Carlene McDonald has been overturned due to serious prosecutorial misconduct. In this case, the Attorney General’s Office was directed to conduct a thorough re-examination of Mr. Ervin’s conviction, including his Batson claim that there was racial discrimination in the exclusion of African American prospective jurors. During jury selection, the prosecutor, Deputy District Attorney James Anderson, exercised 15 peremptory strikes, removing 9 of the 11 Black prospective jurors. Mr. Ervin is Black, and his victim, Ms. McDonald, was White. The use of strikes could not be explained without reference to the race of the jurors or the defendant. There was also evidence…

Arraignment Put Over in Case of Three Alameda Police Officers Charged for the Death of Mario Gonzalez August 2, 2024 OAKLAND, CA — Today, three City of Alameda Police officers charged with involuntary manslaughter in the death of Mario Gonzalez made their first appearances at the Wiley E. Manual Courthouse in Oakland. The three officers, James Fisher, Cameron Leahy, and Eric McKinley, face charges stemming from the April 19, 2021, death of Mr. Gonzalez while he was being detained on suspicion of shoplifting. If convicted and sentenced, the officers face up to four years in state prison. The officers waived time for a speedy arraignment and their attorneys asked for a continuance. The arraignment was continued to October 11, 2024. Today's hearing was attended by Mr. Gonzalez' family and friends, including his mother. The City of Alameda has previously settled a civil lawsuit arising from Mr. Gonzalez'…