Media
Press Releases
Judge Dismisses Two Cases Due to Lack of Courtrooms
Press Release (Woodland, CA) – On February 17, 2026, Judge Tom Dyer dismissed two misdemeanor cases set for trial due to a lack of sufficient judges and courtrooms. Under California Penal Code section 1382, felony and misdemeanor cases have specific statutory time...
Learn about the Criminal Justice System at the Yolo County District Attorney’s Citizens Academy
Applications now being accepted Press Release (Woodland, CA) – February 13, 2026 – Applications are now being accepted for the annual Yolo County District Attorney Citizens Academy. The academy is sponsored by the Yolo County District Attorney’s Office in cooperation...
Woman Convicted in Death of Her Infant Son Denied Parole
Samantha Green was convicted in death of Baby Justice in 2016 Press Release (Woodland, CA) – February 12, 2026 - Samantha Green, now 33 years old, who was convicted in the death of her infant son in 2016, was denied parole at her first parole hearing on February 12,...
Felony Charges Filed for Theft of Beehives
Press Release (Woodland, CA) – February 12, 2026 The Yolo County District Attorney has filed charges against 46-year-old Sacramento resident, Leonid Terzi, for the theft of a large number of beehives that had been reported stolen from the central valley of...
Uber Driver Convicted of Sexual Battery of UC Davis Student
Press Release (Woodland, CA) – February 6, 2026 – On February 5, 2026, 46-year-old Carmichael man, Safiullah Miakhil, was convicted by a Yolo County jury of two counts of sexual battery. The offense occurred after midnight on November 1, 2023, when the victim received...
Winter’s Rapist Recommended for Parole under State’s Elder Parole Hearing Process – Israel Ceja was convicted of 20 counts of Forcible Rape and other charges in 2000
Press Release (Woodland, CA) – February 5, 2026 - Convicted rapist Israel Ceja was recommended for elder parole last week by a two-commissioner panel of the Board of Parole Hearings. The hearing took place virtually. In 1993, Ceja married the victim’s mother and...
Charges Filed Against West Sacramento Man after DUI Collision that Resulted in the Death of Davis Woman
Press Release (Woodland, CA) – January 28, 2026 The Yolo County District Attorney has filed charges against 28-year-old West Sacramento resident, Kanwal Sahil, after a collision that occurred on January 25, 2026, in West Sacramento, that resulted in the death of a...
Resentencing Denied for Man Convicted for his Part in Murder of California Highway Patrol Officer Andrew Stevens
Gregory Zielesch Conspired with Stevens’ Murderer Brendt Volarvich Press Release (Woodland, CA) – January 22, 2026 On January 21, 2026, the Honorable Daniel M. Wolk denied the resentencing of Gregory Zielesch, 67, that would have reversed his murder conviction for his...
Baby Kidnapper Will Stay in Prison
Press Release (Woodland, CA) – January 16, 2026 - On January 15, 2026, the California Board of Parole hearings ruled that former Woodland resident, Bruce Young, will remain in prison for August 9, 1982, kidnapping of Woodland baby Brandon Huff who was three months old...
West Sacramento Child Molester Sentenced to Life in Prison
Press Release (Woodland, CA) – January 15, 2026 On January 9, 2026, the Honorable Paul K. Richardson sentenced West Sacramento resident Enrique Urbina Mendoza, to a 12-year determinate sentence to be followed by an indeterminate sentence of 25 years to Life in state...
Why We Seek Justice
Our team at the Yolo County District Attorney’s Office is comprised of a dedicated and diverse group of professionals. In our new video series “Why We Seek Justice” you will meet some of our amazing colleagues and hear their personal stories. We hope you enjoy!
Meet Deputy District Attorney Diane Ortiz
Meet Deputy District Attorney Kyle Hasapes
Meet Deputy District Attorney Amanda Zambor
Meet Multi-Disciplinary Interview Center Admin Clerk Shobna Sharma
Meet Deputy District Attorney Jay Linden
Podcasts
The Chronicles of Justice Episode 24: Car Break-ins
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The Chronicles of Justice Episode 23: Citizens Academy Podcast
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The Chronicles of Justice Episode 22: Breast Cancer Awareness – Virginia’s Story
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The Chronicles of Justice Episode 21: Domestic Violence Awareness Month – 2017
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The Chronicles of Justice Episode 20: From Victim to Survivor – A Story of Hope
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The Chronicles of Justice Episode 19: An Interview with Lt. Dave Marshall
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The Chronicles of Justice Episode 18: Yolo County Cannabis Task Force
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The Chronicles of Justice Episode 17: Empower Yolo
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The Chronicles of Justice Episode 16: Campus Detection Dogs
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The Chronicles of Justice Episode 15: Safety at Picnic Day
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The Chronicles of Justice Episode 14: Motorist & Bicyclist Collision Prevention
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The Chronicles of Justice Episode 13: Human Trafficking Awareness
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The Chronicles of Justice Episode 12: Campus Sexual Assault
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The Chronicles of Justice Episode 11: Operation Vigilance
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The Chronicles of Justice Episode 10: Domestic Violence Awareness Month
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The Chronicles of Justice Episode 9: School Attendance Matters
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The Chronicles of Justice Episode 8: Yolo Day Reporting Center & Restorative Justice
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The Chronicles of Justice Episode 7: LGBTQIA Pride Month & Hate Crimes
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The Chronicles of Justice Episode 6: Elder Financial Abuse
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The Chronicles of Justice Episode 5: Victim Tribute
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The Chronicles of Justice Episode 4: Child Abduction Unit
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The Chronicles of Justice Episode 3: NHC Homeless Restorative Justice Program
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The Chronicles of Justice Episode 2: Human Trafficking
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The Chronicles of Justice Episode 1: Sonias Story with DUI Prevention & Awareness
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Non-Violent Second Strikers
After a federal court ordered California to reduce prison overcrowding, a number of measures were put into place that result in early prison releases, including early parole consideration for individuals characterized as “non-violent second-strikers.” In order to qualify, inmates must not currently be serving a sentence for a crime which is legally categorized as a ‘violent felony’ and must not be required to register as sex offenders.
Starting January 1, 2015, the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) began a new early parole determination process, evaluating “nonviolent second-strikers” for parole once they have served only 50 percent of their sentence or are within 12 months of having served 50 percent of their actual sentence. Upon receipt of inmate names from CDCR with a recommendation for release, the Board of Prison Hearings conducts an administrative review to determine if the inmate should be released from prison or retained for the term otherwise prescribed by law. The Board determines whether an offender would pose an unreasonable risk to public safety based on criminal history, behavior in prison, rehabilitation efforts, and written statements.
The Yolo County District Attorney’s Office takes an active role in evaluating these cases and writes letters to the Board with an overview of the inmate’s criminal history, an opinion regarding the public safety risk posed by the inmate, and the appropriateness, or lack thereof, of an inmate’s early release. However, because our resources are limited, we do not prepare letters in every case. Instead, we focus our opposition efforts on offenders who we believe pose the greatest risk to the community.
Many of the offenders who are granted early release from prison have violent and lengthy criminal histories. The Yolo County District Attorney’s Office feels it is important for the public to be aware of the so-called nonviolent offenders being released early from prison into our neighborhoods.
This web page was created to provide the names and criminal overview of the offenders who have been approved for early release despite our opposition. This list will be updated on a regular basis.