Wow, former San Jose Mercury News crime reporter Sean Webby is now the media spokesperson for the Santa Clara DA's office. Sorry to see him leave the newspaper business, as he was a ferocious investigative reporter.

Let me state things once again, since I appreciate the follow-up article. The testifying officer being available for the prostitute's trial has nothing to do with his availability for the Menlo Park police officer's trial. These were two different trials. Next, the fact the prostitute was not convicted is immaterial. That's because Officer Vasquez CONFESSED to the crime. This all stinks. Rosen's acknowledgment of a mistake is appreciated, and he holds his office to a higher standard than Wagstaffe does, to be sure. But, there is still monkey business going on here.

I asked the Almanac to submit a FOIA request for the testifying officer's time sheets for the time of the trial. I believe that should elucidate the matter far more than whether he showed up for other trials during that time period.

Even if the DA dropped the case once, they could still resume it if they really wanted to, right? Double jeopardy doesn't apply unless a judge or jury finds him not guilty.

Yes, and why isn't San Mateo County inclined to track crimes committed by police officers?

For his actions two years ago in helping to weed out prosecutors who commit misconduct in his office, and now for his decision to start tracking crimes by police officers, Santa Clara DA Jeff Rosen shows once again why he is head and shoulders above the current district attorney in San Mateo County.

Good story, Almanac.

Dropped:

As we mentioned in the first story, under California law you generally can't refile a misdemeanor case once it's been dismissed pre-trial. Misdemeanor domestic violence cases and felonies can be refiled.

Sandy

Speaking of domestic violence, when are you going to report on Kwame Harris public DV case?

Maybe Greg Munks' "indiscretions" & hilarious incident while in Las Vegas on a law enforcement conference has something to do with enforcement laxity? Munks & his deputy were caught in a LVPD raid on an unlicensed brothel. They claimed they thought they were going to a massage parlor. No way is that possible. The brothel was in a seedy neighborhood on the outskirts of town, nowhere near where any legitimate massage business would be located. Besides, therapeutic massages are readily available through the concierge or hotel services desk of any reputable hotel in town.
My friends in LV still scoff about this one but it isn't funny for those of us locals who pay for the junkets and expect better behavior. Astonishingly, this guy actually got re-elected & is still sheriff.

I take it that downtowner, resident of m.p. has been to the establishment since he knows the part of town it is in....mmmmmmm

Steve:

If you do a Google search, there are a ton of news stories and stories on blogs that describe where the house for underaged prostitutes was in Las Vegas. Pretty well covered by the mainstream media.. Nothing new. I've never been to the house of prostitution, but have been hearing about it long enough to know where it is. Everyone knows where it is.

Prostitution shouldn't be a crime. Regardless, if this was a regular citizen and not a holier-than-thou public servant, you can be sure that the treatment would not be hands off.

@ steve. mmmmmm yourself. As I said, I have friends in LV who know the 'hoods. One of my (several) LV cop friends said it would not have been possible for anyone to mistake the establishment for a legitimate massage parlor, due to it's "seedy residential" neighborhood where a business use violated the zoning ordinance.
Bad decision on the part of our sheriff & his pal.