Contra Costa County DA says recall effort is ‘weaponizing fear'

Yahoo

25-04-2025

(KRON) — Contra Costa County District Attorney Diana Becton is defending her record as the county's top prosecutor and blasting a recall effort as 'misguided.' The campaign seeking to oust Becton from office received approval Friday to begin collecting petition signatures for a potential recall.
'As your District Attorney, I'm committed to protecting public safety and pursuing justice without fear or favor. That means holding everyone accountable,' Becton wrote on her Facebook page Thursday.
'But now, special interests want to roll back our progress with a wasteful, misguided recall. They are weaponizing fear, distorting facts and exploiting victims — not to serve our community, but to push their own agenda,' Becton wrote.
Recall campaign leaders will hold a news conference 5 p.m. Saturday at the Alexis Gabe Memorial Bench, located at 3231 Main Street in Oakley. 'It is important to celebrate this momentous occasion with the many supporters who have been eagerly awaiting the opportunity to sign the petition,' the Recall District Attorney Diana Becton Team wrote.
Gabe, a 24-year-old Oakley woman, was slain by her boyfriend inside his Antioch home on January 26, 2022, according to police and prosecutors.
The boyfriend, Marshall Curtis Jones, drove to his mother's house two days later, backed his Ford Explorer into the driveway, and unloaded 'several large, heavy garbage bags,' police said. Gabe's family said her remains were inside the bags.
Surveillance video shows Jones carrying the black garbage bags and talking to his mother in her home driveway. That night, Jones re-loaded the bags back into the Ford Explorer while his mother was hosting a karaoke party inside her house. Gabe's partial remains were later found hidden in Plymouth, Calif. Jones, 27, was shot to death police officers who attempted to arrest him on murder charges.
Jones' mother was arrested by the Oakley Police Department in 2022, however, Becton declined to file charges against her. The DA's office said, 'Some information raised suspicion about Alicia Coleman-Clark's potential culpability as an accessory after the fact,' but prosecutors could not find sufficient evidence to charge her.
Alexis Gabe disappearance and homicide timeline
Gabe's father, who joined the recall campaign, wrote this week, 'Together, we can seek the justice that Diana Becton has withheld from us.'
Becton said the DA's office made 'significant strides in strengthening our criminal justice system' during her eight years as district attorney. Becton highlighted her accomplishments as:
'I established a Major Crimes Task Force to crack down on violent offenders, gang crime and organized retail theft.'
'I have also expanded our Victim Advocate Team, increasing services and resources for victims of violent crime, particularly in underserved communities.'
'I launched a Human Trafficking Unit to combat modern-day slavery and protect victims of exploitation.'
'My Cold Case Unit is at the forefront of solving unsolved homicides by combining forensic science with traditional investigative methods.'
'Because prevention is key to lasting safety, I have championed initiatives that keep our youth on the right path and stop crime before it happens.'
The recall against Becton was launched on the heels of two successful recalls against progressive district attorneys in the Bay Area. San Francisco DA Chesa Boudin was recalled by voters in 2022, and Alameda County DA Pamela Price was throw out of office by a 2024 recall.
Becton wrote Thursday, 'We cannot afford to go backward. This recall isn't about public safety, it's the final cry of a broken system and its failed policies that made all our communities less safe. I've learned the right thing isn't always easy, but it is necessary to deliver safety, justice and progress.'
Recall campaign leaders will need to gather about 72,000 signatures for the process to move forward. Campaign leaders wrote, 'The residents have reached a breaking point. We stand in solidarity with the victims of crime who have suffered under this administration and feel despair in their pursuit of justice. We deserve a District Attorney who demonstrates empathy for victims while ensuring that criminals are held accountable for their actions.'
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