The idea that he is the first Law Enforcement Officer Charged in California since the law changed January 2020 should be shocking. San Mateo County has the Sandra Lee Harmon Homicide by Deputies, Shot in back three times all fatal, shot while unarmed with hands up above her head. 3 of the 14 spent shell casings moved (Evidence Tampering) because the original location didn’t support the Sheriff’s Office Official Statement, which by the way was supported by the District Attorney’s Office. The Half Moon Bay City Council made a Historical Effort to make an official request to the Attorney Generals Office for a Independent Criminal Investigation of the Sheriff Deputy, the Sheriff’s Office and the District Attorney’s Office Investigation of the Homicide. The City Staff members did everything possible to water down, dilute the request to make sure the A.G.’s office would never open the Investigation of the Homicide of Sandra Lee Harmon on May 5, 2020 in Half Moon Bay.
Aaron Russell, 24 is Charged in the Death of Nicholas Bils, 36,
Former San Diego Sheriff Deputy Aaron Russell is the first law enforcement officer in California to be charged with murder since the state raised the standard January 2020 last year for when peace officers can use deadly force.
Prosecutors contend Russell committed second-degree murder.
San Diego Deputy Dist. Atty. Stephen Marquardt argued that the shooting was not legally justified and noted that no other officers at the scene pulled a weapon.
“The idea that this amount of force was necessary … it’s just not plausible,
This is a first good step in reforming Law Enforcement, Charge those who commit crimes, all of them.
Nobody is above the law, That is what we have all heard all of our lives, now prove it.
Update: 2:00PM Motion to Continue granted Next Court Date Feb 3, 2021 1:30 PM and Feb 16, 2021 9 AM
Today at 1:30 PM Hon. Judge Susan Greenberg Courtroom 2A
The best thing the Attorney General’s Office can do for Public Trust is to take this case all the way to trial. No Plea Deal also it would be nice if they made a Public Comment on the Case Period.
Remember this was a Embezzlement and Laundering Investigation being conducted by both San Mateo County Sheriff Office which you have to ask Why? would the Sheriff Office be involved in investigating one of there own and the California Attorney General’s Office who is prosecuting this case.
If you would like to listen to the Court Appearance below is the Phone number and code.
Courtroom
Conference number
Conference code
Courtroom 2A
1-206-279-9589
599028
Barbara Bonilla x Sheriff Activity League Executive Directo
Minneapolis Police Department are releasing the Body Worn Cameras (BWC) from Police Officers who were involved in a Shooting that caused the death of a civilian yesterday. That is exactly how it should be done.
The Half Moon Bay May 5, 2020 Homicide of Sandra Lee Harmon by San Mateo County Sheriff Deputies who claimed a Shootout was very different, so much so that the City Council asked the Attorney General to conduct an Independent Criminal Investigation of the Sheriff’s Office. Sheriff Bolanos promoted a story that his deputy didn’t turn on his BWC and since has refused to provide the AXON Log Records which would prove his deputy’s story. Sheriff Bolanos did not ask his deputy to take a Polygraph Test regarding his alleged failure to turn on the BWC. Also Sheriff Bolanos released a highly edited and Captioned video 45 days later which does show that Sandra Lee Harmon was fired at while she was unarmed with hands above her head. She died from 3 FATAL shots in her back.
In late 2015 Rachel Amanda Quintana did what most of us hope we would have the courage to do. She went to the San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office Sub Station in Half Moon Bay to file an official complaint about Sheriff Deputies abusive interactions involving her two brothers. She should get the Best Sister Award if there is such an award.
What she got instead was arrested at her home a couple of days later. The ARRESTING party was lead by Sergeant Michael E. Otte, and included Deputy Nicholas P. Kostielney and Deputy Jose M. Velasquez. 66.66% of the arresting party lied and made false statements.
San Mateo County Sheriff Deputy Kostielney filed A supplemental report after the arrest in which he stated that “no cellular telephones possessed any video footage of the incident.”
What he was declaring was that Sergeant Micheal E. Otte did NOT Video the Arrest with his personal Cellphone which in fact was a lie and he knew it.
It’s one thing to lie in an Official Police Report It’s a whole different ball game to lie under oath on the Witness Stand in Hon. Judge Lisa Novak’s Courtroom which is exactly what Sergeant Michael E. Otte did on January 5, 2017. Who was aware of the Perjury committed by a San Mateo County Sheriff Sergeant in a Superior Court in San Mateo County. The list is long, I won’t bother listing all but at the top was Sheriff Carlos G. Bolanos, County Counsel Attorney David Silberman, Hon. Judge Lisa Novak, Her Bailiff who should be acknowledged for doing what we all expect of our law enforcement employees.
We know what happened to Sergeant Michael E. Otte, Sheriff Carlos G. Bolanos gave him a Retirement Party.
Sgt. Michael E. Otte & Sheriff Bolanos
How many more Brave Citizens/Residents of Half Moon Bay came forward to report abusive behavior by the San Mateo County Sheriff Deputies. The City Council should have a data base available to the public to protect the public.
Rachel Amanda Quintana paid the price, years in the criminal justice system, with all charges to be dismissed quietly.
Barbara Bonilla SAL, Ca.PAL, Nat.PAL Sheriff Bolanos Campaign Manager
Update 11:15AM 12/21/2020 Barbara Bonilla appeared per Zoom, Next Court Date: Jan 21, 2021 1:30 PM SDR and Feb. 4, 2021 Preliminary Hearing.
12/21/2020 9:00 AM Courtroom 4B Arraignment 20SF013661A
San Mateo County Superior Court Judge Michael Wendler
The main Question is What Happened to the Laundering Investigation?
Here are the current charges:
BONILLA, BARBARA
Description
Statute
Level
Date
001
PC487(a)-FEL-Grand Theft By Embezzlement
487(a)
Felony
03/01/2017
002
PC487(a)-FEL-Grand Theft By Embezzlement
487(a)
Felony
09/15/2017
003
PC487(a)-FEL-Grand Theft By Embezzlement
487(a)
Felony
10/14/2018
004
PC487(a)-FEL-Grand Theft By Embezzlement
487(a)
Felony
12/18/2018
005
PC487(a)-FEL-Grand Theft By Embezzlement
487(a)
Felony
02/15/2019
006
PC487(a)-FEL-Grand Theft By Embezzlement
487(a)
Felony
03/01/2019
007
PC487(a)-FEL-Grand Theft By Embezzlement
487(a)
Felony
10/21/2019
On February 10, 2020 Barbara Bonilla was escorted from her office of Executive Director of San Mateo County Sheriff Activities League (SAL). The SAL is a division of the Sheriff’s Office. At that time Barbara Bonilla was employed by the San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office.
Barbra Bonilla is well connected and well known for her Fund Raising abilities. She was also Sheriff Carlos G. Bolanos’s Campaign Manager for his 2018 run for Sheriff. April 2017 She donated $1,000 to his campaign. She was on the Boards of National PAL, California PAL, Redwood City Rotary, San Mateo County Parks and Rec Commission.
In May of 2020 she resigned from the Sheriff’s Office. Why? She was not charged with any crime and even if she was it doesn’t mean there is any evidence of a crime. The former Sheriff Deputy Juan P. Lopez case is a prefect example of that. “Smuggling a Cell Phone and Drugs to a Hells Angel Gang member in SMC Jail.” ZERO evidence to support those charges, they were dismissed.
San Mateo County District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe referred the Criminal Investigation to the State of California Attorney General because he was a member of the board of SAL. He wanted to avoid the Appearance of a Conflict of Interest. That is always a Good Idea when Public Trust is an issue.
San Mateo County Sheriff’Office should have done the same. Why would Sheriff Carlos G. Bolanos and all Sheriff Employees think they should Investigate Barbara Bonilla at all. If Steve Wagstaffe couldn’t Investigate it for an Appearance of a Conflict of Interest certainly the Sheriff’s Office had more of a Conflict of Interest.
The A.G.’s Office and the Sheriff’s Office worked together in the Criminal Investigation of Embezzlement & Laundering. The DOJ had expected to have Barbara Bonilla Arrested as early as April 2, 2020, but that arrest did not occur. Why?
Laundering Money, one of the easiest ways to accomplish this is Prepaid Gift Cash Cards you buy at many Stores. Did this element exist in the SAL Investigation? YES it did.
The last sentence in the SMCSO News Release dated December 4, 2010 says: “this investigation is still underway and being handled by an outside agency.” It doesn’t identify that outside agency WHY?
When I asked SMCDA Steve Wagstaffe who’s Criminal Investigation was this he informed me it was the San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office.
December 12, 2020
Good morning Michael,
It was charged by the Attorney General’s Office, so it would be described as a DOJ case. I believe that is how it would be listed in statewide statistics, since I believe they list the prosecuting agency. But the investigating agency would be the Sheriff’s Office.
Thanks
Steve
At this moment it is still unclear Who the Investigative Agency was and is.
Normally I would attend the Court proceeding, Today I will not, there is a Pandemic. Stay Safe
This should be the only subject that is Important for the City of Half Moon Bay Public Safety Subcommittee. The Sheriff is the Vendor of Law Enforcement.
Bob Nesbit
Half Moon Bay City Manager Bob Nesbit and Deputy City Manager Matthew Chidester have shown consistently that they have no interest in the truth about Sandra Lee Harmon’s Homicide by San Mateo County Deputies on May 5, 2020 at 845 Main St. Half Moon Bay, California.
Matthew Chidester
They both have been provided a tremendous amount of data by Citizens to know beyond a shadow of doubt that Sheriff Carlos G. Bolanos is dishonest and they both continue to mislead the subcommittee and the public.
Sheriff Carlos G. Bolanos told the public Sandra Lee Harmon was killed in a Shootout with two of his deputies. He said She fired first. His deputies have Body Worn Cameras and that shootout should be simple to verify right? Wrong the Sheriff casually says the one and only BWC that could verify the shootout was turned off at the time of the killing. Sheriff Bolanos knows Ms. Harmon was shot 3 times in the back all 3 shots were fatal, he omits that fact. He knows 3 of the 14 spent shell casings were moved and replaced in a location more consistent with the official narrative. He knows his deputy fire at Ms. Harmon while she was unarmed and her hands were above her head he fails to inform the public of that fact.
David Silberman
The Axon Log Records are the answer. San Mateo County Counsel Attorney David Silberman who’s daughter Sara is employed by Sheriff Bolanos has obstructed the release of the Axon Log Records multiple times. Why?
Retired Deputy Mark Melville is running for Sheriff of San Mateo County in 2022.
Candidate for San Mateo County Sheriff 2022 Mark Melville has stated “Absolutely he will release the Axon records as soon as he is Sheriff. He said the same thing about all Booking photos.
Bob Nesbit and Matthew Chidester have known this information for a long time and produced this meeting December 10, 2020. There is No Mention of Chinedu V. Okobi Homicide by San Mateo County Sheriff Employees on October 3, 2018 in Millbrae. Why? Chinedu was San Mateo County’s George Floyd, No 911 call, No crime being committed, Sheriff Bolanos Issued 2 False News Releases that remained on the County’s website for 5 months. That is almost identical to the Sandra L. Harmon Homicide.
A reasonable person in San Mateo County would know by now not to believe anything Sheriff Carlos G. Bolanos or his Public Information Officers publish or provide to the public.
The News Releases dated October 3, 2018 involving the Homicide by Deputies of Chinedu V. Okobi is just one example.
The Recent Homicide by Deputies of Sandra Lee Harmon May 5, 2020 Half Moon Bay is another.
Now we have a News release issued December 4, 2020 by the San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office about Barbara Bonilla being arrested on December 4, 2020. On Friday, December 4, 2020, Bonilla was booked into the San Mateo County Jail on 7 counts of Grand Theft. Bail was set at $70,000. That is a Baldface Lie. If that was a TRUE statement there would be a Booking Photo dated December 4, 2020. Its that simple.
You’ll notice there is No Booking Photo provided by the Sheriff’s Office, Why? Did any of the other print media request the Booking Photo of Barbara Bonilla? I have.
From the News Release: “SAL is a non-profit organization affiliated with the San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office.” That is an understatement, Sheriff Activities League (SAL) is a Division of San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office.
From the News Release: “The investigation determined that approximately $25,000 was missing.“
Did the State of California Department of Justice (DOJ) Investigate the Sheriff Activities League Executive Director and others for 10 months for approximately $25,000 of MISSING money. The Investigation was for Embezzlement and Laundering not Missing money. Why did the Investigation take 10 months if it was only $25,000?
I would like to see what the DOJ says the total amount is, not what Sheriff Carlos G. Bolanos says.
Why was Barbara Bonilla not arrested on April 2, 2020 as the DOJ expected?
This case is being Prosecuted by the State of California A.G. Office.
The Public understands that people are just human beings and there a bad apples everywhere. When one is discovered we the people expect those who know to speak up, Notify the Public Immediately. San Mateo County Sheriff Activity League of all the organizations involving Children, Volunteers, Donors and Sheriff Deputies should have been the first group of people to inform the Public about this Embezzlement. All 7 Print Media in SMC should have had front page stories about this on February 10, 2020. None of them did. ClimateRWC should have had the story first Adam Alberti the Editor is on SAL Board, he knew.
Update December 11, 2020: It turns out there is NO EVIDENCE to support Sheriff Carlos G. Bolanos News Release of December 4, 2020 “On Friday, December 4, 2020, Bonilla was booked into the San Mateo County Jail on 7 counts of Grand Theft. Bail was set at $70,000.” No booking photo, and no record of her being in Jail or Court until December 9, 2020.
This case is being Prosecuted by the State of California A.G. Office.
Barbara Bonilla the former Campaign Manager for Sheriff Carlos G. Bolanos in 2018, and a former San Mateo County Sheriff Employee until she resigned while being investigated by the State of California Department of Justice since February 10, 2020 when she was escorted from the SAL offices in Redwood City. She was also on the San Mateo County Parks and Recreation Commission, as well as on the Boards for State and Federal Police Activity Leagues (PAL) Associations.
She has been charged with 7 felony counts after being Independently Investigated by the A.G.’s Office for Embezzlement and Laundering. San Mateo County District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe had to refer the Investigation to the A.G. because he is also on the Sheriff Activity League Board. Her bail was set at $70,000 she should be out by now.
I asked the only Candidate for San Mateo County Sheriff in the 2022 Election a direct question about the Axon Log Records that Sheriff Carlos G. Bolanos is refusing to make public in the Sandra L. Harmon Homicide of May 5, 2020 in Half Moon Bay.
Candidate Mark Melville’s answer:
I can assure you unequivalently, I will release said records…..There is absolutely no reason not to release the records….Transparency…!!!!
On Fri, Nov 27, 2020 at 7:47 AM Michael Stogner <michaelgstogner@yahoo.com> wrote: Somebody has asked me, to ask you and I think you have already answered but this is a little different. When you are elected Sheriff of San Mateo County will you release the Axon Log Records in the Sandra L. Harmon Homicide right away.
Thank You Michael G. Stogner San Mateo County News.com
