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Letters
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- Written by: Ron Green
Some think Hopkins prosecuted Dinius to protect Captain Russell Perdock. Although that might have been his motivation at first, once the civil case against Perdock and others was settled, with Perdock’s insurance paying the $300,000 policy limits, the protection factor ended, and the best way for Hopkins to protect Perdock at that point would have been to dismiss the case against Dinius, rather than making a public spectacle of Perdock at the trial. I think that Hopkins’ hardheadedness and extreme tunnel vision led to this embarrassing trial, and prevented him from rationally evaluating the evidence in this case. If he had, he surely would have decided to dismiss the entire case against Dinius. This would also have been in Perdock’s best interest, unless Hopkins decided to prosecute Perdock instead.
Given the facts of this case, and the necessity for all 12 members of the jury to agree in order to convict Dinius, I simply don’t understand how any rational prosecutor could expect to convict Dinius. Hopkins didn’t lose the trial because he is an awful trial lawyer, he lost the trial because it was an unwinnable case that should never have been filed in the first place. His poor judgment in bringing this case led to the unanimous not guilty verdict, not his questionable trial skills. How he expected to convince one jury member to convict, let alone all 12, is beyond my comprehension. Attorneys and laypersons alike could see that this was an unwinnable case, and perhaps the wrong person was on trial, why couldn’t Hopkins?
Hopkins’ lengthy open letter about this case to the county newspapers, on July 17, 2009, as the jury was being picked, was shocking, outrageous and embarrassing, and may have been a violation of the California Bar’s Rules of Professional Conduct. A letter like that on the eve of trial is unheard of in legal circles, and again highlights Hopkins’ extremely poor judgment. It seems that Hopkins, in writing this desperate letter, was much more concerned about his public image and re-election than justice.
We need a district attorney with impeccable judgment. Hopkins has demonstrated that he lacks good judgment and common sense. Who from outside the DA’s Office will come forward and run against Hopkins for district attorney in the next election? Maybe we shouldn’t wait for another election, perhaps the voters of Lake County should immediately wage a recall campaign against Hopkins.
Attorney Ron Green is based in Lower Lake.
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- Written by: Lake Family Resource Center Board of Directors
On behalf of Lake Family Resource Center, the Board of Directors and staff would like to take this opportunity to recognize and express sincere gratitude to Paula Bryant and staff at Umpqua Bank, Lakeport branch.
The bank's support has allowed Lake Family Resource Center to continue to serve members of our community and keep its doors open with the lateness of the state budget and the financial uncertainty that brought.
We have found Umpqua Bank to be responsive, responsible and tremendously supportive of its community. Thank you!
In this challenged and uncertain financial climate, Umpqua Bank continues to support Lake Family Resource Center and its goal of strengthening our community, one family at a time.
The Lake Family Resource Center Board of Directors includes Barbara Breunig, Bill Cornelison, Ilene Dumont, Gloria Flaherty, Kathy Fowler, Barry Parkinson, Christina Roth, John Tomkins and Joanne Van Eck.
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- Written by: Lake County News Reports
Not only will this transaction preserve our signature mountain in its pristine condition forever, it will also provide a recreational resource of inestimable value, thus adding badly needed balance to Lake County’s attraction for visitors.
Use of the lake tends to be highly seasonal, and even in the best years the lake alone cannot support a thriving recreational industry, any more than a single leg can support a stool.
The future welfare of our community requires the development of additional magnets of a sort that that don’t lose their power when the summer is over – and the proposed Konocti parkland, along with parallel conservation initiatives such as the Ridgeline Trail and Berryessa-Snow Mountain National Conservation Area, the recent explosion of first class restaurants proudly serving local food, and our coming of age as a premier wine-growing region, will offer the resources needed for a sustained – and sustainable – prosperity.
Please take a moment to call your supervisor to express your appreciation for the courage, vision and public spirit shown by their unswerving support for a transaction that will bring so many benefits to us all: for more information about Mt Konocti and the purchase, visit www.preservekonocti.org .
And don’t forget to attend the next Master Plan Workshop, which will be held at the Courthouse (255 N. Forbes in Lakeport) at 6 p.m. on Aug. 26, to share your own perspective on the future management of the mountain.
Victoria Brandon is chair of the Sierra Club Lake Group. She lives in Lower Lake.
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- Written by: Lenny Matthews
I moved to Lucerne seven years ago and, quite frankly, this place was a dump in comparison to where I had lived for the past 25 years.
Trash collected around homes, plywood siding, unpainted with windows of newspaper curtains. Individuals appeared to be living in campers next to various homes with extension cords. Illegal dumping flourished in our hillsides. Highway 20 through the town was deplorable.
Seven years later a major facelift has taken place throughout this town that appears to have had a snowball effect. The changes are significant and bright.
This only happened with county employees that did their job and cared in the process of that position and maintained a focus with goals and objectives.
Lenny Matthews lives in Lucerne.