5/17 update: Yesterday, a judge rescheduled Steve's sentencing for Wednesday, May 18th at 9am in the same courtroom. The judge said that Steve will be serving jail time.

5/10 update: Steve DeCaprio was found guilty on 3 counts related to unlawful entry into a residence. His sentencing hearing will take place at 9:00 next Monday morning, again in Room 105 of the Wiley Manuel Courthouse at 7th and Washington Streets in downtown Oakland.

On Monday, May 9th, Steve DeCaprio gave his final arguments.
May 5th Update: Steve's case is going to trial. He is charged with 3 misdemeanors on varying prosecution theories related to either unlawful entry or trespassing. He faces a maximum of a year and a half in county jail.
5/4/2005: Jury selection is taking place this week and opening statements should begin Thursday morning at 10:30. Read more
Steve DeCaprio moved into his house on March 13, 2004. He had been looking for a house of his own for at least 3 years. He found a house in the same neighborhood as many of his friends- it had not been occupied in some 15 years. Steve invoked "occupancy" under Acquisition of Property California Civil Codes Sections 1000-1006 and moved in. He has been embroiled in a fierce battle with the police ever since. Steve's fight for his house can be seen as an example of battles against gentrification in his area of the East Bay.

Steve's attempts to fix up the house have been stymied by multiple visits from the police. It is somewhat unclear who exactly is calling the police whenever Steve is there, but things have progressed to a point where Steve is not allowed to go within 100 yards of the house, in spite of the fact that many of his belongings are inside. An out-of-town relative of a former owner who had not expressed interest in the property in over 15 years has begun to fight for the title to the property. Steve has attended 19 hearings- both court and commission hearings as part of his struggle to own his home. The fight for the house is being waged in federal, appellate, and criminal courts, as well as at police commission meetings. Steve is representing himself in court and in dealings with the police, with some advice from attorneys and paralegals. Read more about Steve's case

A past update: On Friday, April 22nd, a judge in a federal court will decide about a motion from the city of Berkeley for summary judgement against Steve DeCaprio. Steve, in turn, has moved for a preliminary injunction against Berkeley, as well as summary judgement (the court would then judge based on what has been submitted, without any further proceedings). The hearing will take place in Courtroom 2 at 10am, in the Federal Courthouse in Oakland, which is located at 1301 Clay Street, 94612. Judge Claudia Wilkins will be presiding. She is the judge who ruled against the City of Oakland and the FBI in the Judi Bari case.