Bay Area

Former Warden Gets 70 Months for Crimes At Dublin Prison

A former warden of a women’s prison in Dublin was sentenced Wednesday in federal court in Oakland to nearly six years in prison following his conviction on sex-related crimes. Ray Garcia, 55, of Merced, was sentenced to 70 months in prison after being convicted Dec. 8 for sexually abusive conduct against three inmates and for lying to federal agents, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

Published

1 year ago

March 27, 2023

Oakland Post

Garcia was the warden of the Federal Correctional Institute Dublin, a low-security all-women's prison. Garcia was convicted of sexual abuse and abusive sexual contact with one victim and abusive sexual contact with two others between December 2019 and July 2021, federal prosecutors said.

By Keith Burbank
Bay City News

A former warden of a women’s prison in Dublin was sentenced Wednesday in federal court in Oakland to nearly six years in prison following his conviction on sex-related crimes.

Ray Garcia, 55, of Merced, was sentenced to 70 months in prison after being convicted Dec. 8 for sexually abusive conduct against three inmates and for lying to federal agents, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

Garcia was the warden of the Federal Correctional Institute Dublin, a low-security all-women’s prison.

Garcia was convicted of sexual abuse and abusive sexual contact with one victim and abusive sexual contact with two others between December 2019 and July 2021, federal prosecutors said.

Garcia was also convicted of making false statements to government agents on July 22, 2021.

Garcia also lied at trial. But on Wednesday for the first time, he took responsibility for his actions.

“I placed myself in this situation,” Garcia told U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers, who handed down the sentence Wednesday morning at the federal courthouse on Clay Street in Oakland.

“I didn’t show strength, discipline or character,” he said.

He commended the women for coming forward and said he hasn’t earned the right to call the victims by their first names.

“I couldn’t be more ashamed,” Garcia said.

Gonzalez Rogers weighed heavily that Garcia finally took responsibility. The judge cited similar cases in which offenders received 80 or even 100 months in custody. James Highhouse, the former chaplain at the women’s prison in Dublin, received 84 months, Gonzalez Rogers said.

“It was a critical important step,” the judge said about Garcia’s decision to accept responsibility.

Garcia waived his right to an appeal. He must appear May 19 to enter custody and he must pay restitution of $15,000 for therapy for his victims.

Two victims spoke at the sentencing.

“I pray I can heal from this,” said victim Melissa, who wanted Garcia taken away in handcuffs Wednesday.

“You molested my body,” Melissa said of Garcia. “You were a predator and a pervert.”

Melissa, whose last name isn’t being released because she is a crime victim, said Garcia showed her hundreds of pictures of his penis.

“You played God with my life,” Melissa said. “You sucked the life out of me.”

She looked at Garcia and told him she wants him to apologize.

In sentencing Garcia, Gonzalez Rogers aimed to deter others from the same behavior, while Garcia’s lawyer Kevin Little argued that Garcia should not be a poster boy.

Women sent to the prison in Dublin should expect that “they won’t be abused,” Gonzalez Rogers said.

As the warden, “you were supposed to be the check,” the judge said.

Gonzalez Rogers also weighed other factors when she sentenced Garcia. Garcia has a child with special needs, and he has helped his parents.

“I do understand you are very good to your family,” Gonzalez Rogers said. “That gets weighed.”

The judge described Federal Correctional Institute Dublin as a “cesspool” because of what’s been going on out there. She did not go into details.

But two other prison staff members in addition to Garcia and Highhouse have faced allegations of sexual misconduct. A year ago, seven members of Congress demanded an investigation into allegations of abuse and misconduct there.

Garcia entered the cesspool and “did nothing about it,” Gonzalez Rogers said.

“It needs to be stopped,” she said.

Following his prison term, Garcia must register as a sex offender.

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Oakland Post: Week of April 24 – 30, 2024

The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of April 24 – 30, 2024

Published

5 hours ago

April 26, 2024

Oakland Post

To enlarge your view of this issue, use the slider, magnifying glass icon or full page icon in the lower right corner of the browser window.

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Alameda County

DA Pamela Price Stands by Mom Who Lost Son to Gun Violence in Oakland

Last week, The Post published a photo showing Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price with Carol Jones, whose son, Patrick DeMarco Scott, was gunned down by an unknown assailant in 2018.

Published

4 days ago

April 22, 2024

Oakland Post

District Attorney Pamela Price with Carol Jones

Publisher’s note: Last week, The Post published a photo showing Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price with Carol Jones, whose son, Patrick DeMarco Scott, was gunned down by an unknown assailant in 2018. The photo was too small for readers to see where the women were and what they were doing. Here we show Price and Jones as they complete a walk in memory of Scott. For more information and to contribute, please contact Carol Jones at 510-978-5517 at morefoundation.help@gmail.com. Courtesy photo.

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Bay Area

State Controller Malia Cohen Keynote Speaker at S.F. Wealth Conference

California State Controller Malia Cohen delivered the keynote speech to over 50 business women at the Black Wealth Brunch held on March 28 at the War Memorial and Performing Arts Center at 301 Van Ness Ave. in San Francisco. The Enterprising Women Networking SF Chapter of the American Business Women’s Association (ABWA) hosted the Green Room event to launch its platform designed to close the racial wealth gap in Black and Brown communities.

Published

6 days ago

April 20, 2024

Oakland Post

American Business Women’s Association Vice President Velma Landers, left, with California State Controller Malia Cohen (center), and ABWA President LaRonda Smith at the Enterprising Women Networking SF Chapter of the ABWA at the Black Wealth Brunch.

By Carla Thomas

The Enterprising Women Networking SF Chapter of the American Business Women’s Association (ABWA) hosted the Green Room event to launch its platform designed to close the racial wealth gap in Black and Brown communities.

“Our goal is to educate Black and Brown families in the masses about financial wellness, wealth building, and how to protect and preserve wealth,” said ABWA San Francisco Chapter President LaRonda Smith.

ABWA’s mission is to bring together businesswomen of diverse occupations and provide opportunities for them to help themselves and others grow personally and professionally through leadership, education, networking support, and national recognition.

“This day is about recognizing influential women, hearing from an accomplished woman as our keynote speaker and allowing women to come together as powerful people,” said ABWA SF Chapter Vice President Velma Landers.

More than 60 attendees dined on the culinary delights of Chef Sharon Lee of The Spot catering, which included a full soul food brunch of skewered shrimp, chicken, blackened salmon, and mac and cheese.

Cohen discussed the many economic disparities women and people of color face. From pay equity to financial literacy, Cohen shared not only statistics, but was excited about a new solution in motion which entailed partnering with Californians for Financial Education.

“I want everyone to reach their full potential,” she said. “Just a few weeks ago in Sacramento, I partnered with an organization, Californians for Financial Education.

“We gathered 990 signatures and submitted it to the [California] Secretary of State to get an initiative on the ballot that guarantees personal finance courses for every public school kid in the state of California.

“Every California student deserves an equal opportunity to learn about filing taxes, interest rates, budgets, and understanding the impact of credit scores. The way we begin to do that is to teach it,” Cohen said.

By equipping students with information, Cohen hopes to close the financial wealth gap, and give everyone an opportunity to reach their full financial potential. “They have to first be equipped with the information and education is the key. Then all we need are opportunities to step into spaces and places of power.”

Cohen went on to share that in her own upbringing, she was not guided on financial principles that could jump start her finances. “Communities of color don’t have the same information and I don’t know about you, but I did not grow up listening to my parents discussing their assets, their investments, and diversifying their portfolio. This is the kind of nomenclature and language we are trying to introduce to our future generations so we can pivot from a life of poverty so we can pivot away and never return to poverty.”

Cohen urged audience members to pass the initiative on the November 2024 ballot.

“When we come together as women, uplift women, and support women, we all win. By networking and learning together, we can continue to build generational wealth,” said Landers. “Passing a powerful initiative will ensure the next generation of California students will be empowered to make more informed financial decisions, decisions that will last them a lifetime.”