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Santa Cruz Eleven Defendants Follow the Money from Bob Lee to Wells Fargo at Latest Parade
On August 22, another energetic parade was held in support of the final four Santa Cruz Eleven defendants, who are still facing criminal charges in relation to the 2011 occupation of the vacant bank building located at 75 River Street. The course of the parade "followed the money" from District Attorney Bob Lee, who is prosecuting the case, to Wells Fargo Bank. Community members dressed in green and carried large, gold dollar signs. They followed a suit-clad parader wearing a Bob Lee mask who lead them to the Wells Fargo branch located at 74 River Street. Wells Fargo is the so-called plaintiff in the case, and defendants have recently discovered Lee has a financial relationship with the bank. The defendants are due back in court in Santa Cruz on Wednesday, August 27 at 9am to further press the District Attorney's office on this issue.
The visit to Wells Fargo felt much like the 2011 occupy protests that occurred there, and many of the other locations visited along the parade also recalled the occupy era. The court house was visited, as was San Lorenzo Park, and the parade traveled the length of Pacific Avenue twice. The parade also made its way past 75 River Street, where the building still sits empty and unrented, as it has for six years now.
Since June, defense attorneys have been attempting in court to obtain information related to a 2010 campaign disclosure form filed by District Attorney Lee with the county that indicated he received a campaign loan from Wells Fargo in the amount of $34,000, with zero interest having been paid on it from February to March of 2010.
When confronted by activists in 2012, Lee claimed that charges were still being pressed against the Santa Cruz Eleven defendants in order to recover financial damages Wells Fargo said it incurred as a result of vandalism that occurred during the occupation.
Though there has been no evidence presented that any of the defendants committed any acts of vandalism, they are being held to felony vandalism charges under a theory that their alleged involvement in relation to the occupation "aided an abetted" the damage to the building done by others. Additionally, the remaining four defendants will be responsible for paying the $20,000 in damages claimed by Wells Fargo if they are found guilty.
Many who participated in the parade wore shirts that read "I was in the Building," which is a reference to the large number of people who participated in the 2011 occupation.
Hundreds if not thousands of people entered and exited the bank during the three day occupation of 75 River Street in 2011, but when charges were filed in 2012, only eleven individuals were targeted for prosecution by District Attorney Lee. By 2013, seven of those had their charges dismissed by Judge Paul Burdick, all due to insufficient evidence presented by the prosecution.
The District Attorney's office has been responsible for many delays in the case, and at one point was sanctioned and fined $500 by Judge Burdick. One defendant estimates the case has required nearly 50 visits to court.
For more information about the Santa Cruz Eleven, see:
http://santacruz11.wordpress.com/
Alex Darocy
http://alexdarocy.blogspot.com/
Since June, defense attorneys have been attempting in court to obtain information related to a 2010 campaign disclosure form filed by District Attorney Lee with the county that indicated he received a campaign loan from Wells Fargo in the amount of $34,000, with zero interest having been paid on it from February to March of 2010.
When confronted by activists in 2012, Lee claimed that charges were still being pressed against the Santa Cruz Eleven defendants in order to recover financial damages Wells Fargo said it incurred as a result of vandalism that occurred during the occupation.
Though there has been no evidence presented that any of the defendants committed any acts of vandalism, they are being held to felony vandalism charges under a theory that their alleged involvement in relation to the occupation "aided an abetted" the damage to the building done by others. Additionally, the remaining four defendants will be responsible for paying the $20,000 in damages claimed by Wells Fargo if they are found guilty.
Many who participated in the parade wore shirts that read "I was in the Building," which is a reference to the large number of people who participated in the 2011 occupation.
Hundreds if not thousands of people entered and exited the bank during the three day occupation of 75 River Street in 2011, but when charges were filed in 2012, only eleven individuals were targeted for prosecution by District Attorney Lee. By 2013, seven of those had their charges dismissed by Judge Paul Burdick, all due to insufficient evidence presented by the prosecution.
The District Attorney's office has been responsible for many delays in the case, and at one point was sanctioned and fined $500 by Judge Burdick. One defendant estimates the case has required nearly 50 visits to court.
For more information about the Santa Cruz Eleven, see:
http://santacruz11.wordpress.com/
Alex Darocy
http://alexdarocy.blogspot.com/
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As always, great pictures by Alex as he continues the independent media tradition of covering the important events. Love the photo of Becky and I in front of you know where. Many thanks.
That picture of Bob Lee's Form 460 is worth more than all the Robert Norse and Becky Johnson postings on this topic. A later one http://www.co.santa-cruz.ca.us/ele/jun10/lee060410.pdf shows that only $2,000 remained of the $34,000 loan a few months later and it was Loan #0260620539 from Wells Fargo Bank in Newark, NJ 07101. Maybe Wells's California subsidiary answered honestly that it had no record of a loan. Great pictures of the blonde and the brunette, too.
These charges have had a devastating affect on my life. While it has been said many times in court that there is no evidence against any of those charged relating to vandalism, I personally have been in court more than 40 times in the past year and a half and I'm still awaiting trial. Because my personal schedule is not a factor in court scheduling, this case has affected my ability to maintain employment, and as a result it has affected nearly every other aspect of my life.
I usually feel very alone in this process but on the day of this parade, I felt supported. Thank you to everyone who attended and especially Grant, Penske, Jesse, Alex Darocy and Bradley Stuart. I also appreciate all who held up the sign and dove during the parade. Much gratitude.
I usually feel very alone in this process but on the day of this parade, I felt supported. Thank you to everyone who attended and especially Grant, Penske, Jesse, Alex Darocy and Bradley Stuart. I also appreciate all who held up the sign and dove during the parade. Much gratitude.
Wonderful coverage, Alex! Thank you!
This has been going on for way too long. These thugs -- Wells Fargo, SCPD, Bob Lee and his clowns -- are guilty!
As Wells Fargo is Accused of Fabricating Foreclosure Papers, Will Banks Keep Escaping Prosecution?
http://www.democracynow.org/2014/3/21/as_wells_fargo_is_accused_of
Wells Fargo instructions for fabricating foreclosure documents
https://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2014/03/22/18752950.php
Wells Fargo Wants Indybay.org Disabled As Soon As Possible
http://bradleyallen.net/2014/06/wells-fargo-wants-indybay-disabled/
This has been going on for way too long. These thugs -- Wells Fargo, SCPD, Bob Lee and his clowns -- are guilty!
As Wells Fargo is Accused of Fabricating Foreclosure Papers, Will Banks Keep Escaping Prosecution?
http://www.democracynow.org/2014/3/21/as_wells_fargo_is_accused_of
Wells Fargo instructions for fabricating foreclosure documents
https://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2014/03/22/18752950.php
Wells Fargo Wants Indybay.org Disabled As Soon As Possible
http://bradleyallen.net/2014/06/wells-fargo-wants-indybay-disabled/
How does one go about getting an interest free loan from Wells Fargo?
Can I go in right now and tell them I am a candidate, and they will give me $30k?
Can Ed Frey get one if he runs for District Attorney???
How did you do it, Bob???
I hope the SC11 is able to get a lot of information about this presented in court because it sounds totally shady to me.
Can I go in right now and tell them I am a candidate, and they will give me $30k?
Can Ed Frey get one if he runs for District Attorney???
How did you do it, Bob???
I hope the SC11 is able to get a lot of information about this presented in court because it sounds totally shady to me.
"It's a mystery! The Disappearing Records of Bob Lee's $34,000 Wells Fargo Loan" at https://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2014/08/23/18760572.php
DA Bob Lee must go to jail. He must lose his bar license, be disparaged in the media, and be prosecuted by a U.S. Attorney.
The 1% lose their pretty boy, Face of the POLICE STATE!!!
DA Bob Lee violated the SC 11's civil rights under color of law. File a complaint against DA Bob Lee with the USDOJ.
What happened in court on the 27th?
Bob Lee hoodwinked the Taxpayers. He wasted over $150K which could have housed people (whose homes were foreclosed on by Wells Fargo).
Bob Lee is the real criminal of 75 River Street.
Bob Lee is the real criminal of 75 River Street.
Looks like Bob Lee isn't going to get the "big win" he expected from the SC 11 cases. He really thought he was going to convict Becky Johnson for standing on the sidewalk? Ridiculous waste of taxpayer money to further state repression.
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