Three men have concluded their preliminary hearing in connection with the death of five-year-old Eliyanah Crisostomo. Time is running out as the family awaits the swearing-in of the new Alameda County District Attorney, yet they have been detained pending trial.
The Crisostomo family wants Ursula Jones Dickson, the newly appointed district attorney, to do something that Pamela Price, who was recalled by voters last year, refuses to do as the trial draws near.
In April 2023, Crisostomo was traveling to a grandpa and grandma’s birthday celebration in Fremont on Interstate 880 in the rear seat of her mother’s vehicle. Three gang members reportedly started shooting at that point, with one bullet hitting Eliyanah in the chest, according to the authorities.
“The pain often comes and goes,” Eliyanah’s mother, Sophia Crisostomo, stated. “There are days that I’m good, days that I’m bad but it’s something that I’ve just learned to live with.”
Crisostomo has taken on a legal struggle while she mourns the loss of her daughter. She never imagined that she would have to do it.
She told CBS News Bay Area, “As her mother, I am advocating for her to make sure she gets the justice she deserves,”
Price informed Crisostomo that charging the guys with murder under unusual circumstances was not part of her office’s policy.
“I am aware that she advocated for the rehabilitation of criminals, and it is true that certain crimes and criminals can be reformed in specific circumstances. However, killing a child without cause is irreparable,” she stated.
Crisostomo is optimistic that a new DA will add the special circumstances charge before to the defendants’ trial.
She stated, “What’s right is right,” “What is incorrect is incorrect. Additionally, they will be eligible for life in prison without the possibility of parole due to exceptional circumstances. There’s no reason to risk our children’s future just so they can escape again.
On February 11, however, the day the new DA is sworn in, the case will proceed to trial. At a meeting on Tuesday, supervisors chose Jones Dickson, a former deputy district attorney and current judge in the Alameda County Superior Court, to replace Price.
Crisostomo feels that voters have made it clear to Jones Dickson that they want reform and that offenders should be held accountable for their actions.
“I’m never going to be able to see my daughter as a teenager,” she stated. “These crooks might be able to see their kids through a window made of glass or anything else. I will never be able to see my daughter, though, so guess what? They will. Justice must thus be done.
Ursula Jones Dickson, a judge in the Alameda County Superior Court who is now wrapping up cases, was contacted by CBS News Bay Area on Thursday.
We have asked her to comment on this matter, but she has not done so.
Eliot Pierce is a dedicated writer for ChiefsFocus.com, covering local crime and finance news. With a keen eye for detail and a passion for storytelling, Eliot aims to provide his readers with clear and insightful analysis, helping them navigate the complexities of their financial lives while staying informed about important local events. His commitment to delivering accurate and engaging content makes him a valuable resource for the community.