On Saturday, the recall Contra Costa County District Attorney Diana Becton proponents gathered to begin collecting signatures in the City of Oakley.
The group held a press conference on the first day of signing at the Alexis Gabe Memorial Bench where it began collecting signatures. While the goal is to collect more than 100,000 signatures of Contra Costa County residents, they officially need 72,556 valid signatures within the next 160 days.
On Saturday, Gwyn Gabe said it was a monumental day, and the public must begin to take steps to shape the future
“We seek accountability and justice for our families. Along with safety and security for everyone who lives and works in Contra Costa County. The time for change is now,” said Gabe. “It is Diana Becton’s failures that have created this unprecedented movement to remove her from office…it’s a classic Dave vs. Goliath scenario with Becton funded by her billionaire benefactor George Soros and his PACs but with truth and justice on our side we have no doubt we will emerge victoriously.”
Gabe added that never in Contra Costa County has an elected official been recalled, but also never in its history has an elected official failed to do her job and engaged the citizens she took an oath to protect.
At the press conference, another family shared their story of how DA Becton was not doing her job with justice not served.
Josie Martinez spoke about how her son, Otilio “Nico” Martinez, was shot by multiple rounds of gunfire as he was walking home in the City of Richmond. Martinez was shot 72 times and not one person was prosecuted or went to jail for it.
Here is the raw video from the press conference:
Becton Opposed Prop 36
As for Prop 36, Gabe said it passed in Contra Costa County by over 70% which demonstrated how out of touch Diana Becton is as she opposed it.
“Diana Becton publicly declared her opposition to Prop 36 and continuing to support her failed policies which have increased crime and endangered Contra Costa County residents,” explained Gabe. “Therefore, we want to emphasize to everyone who supported Prop 36, that Diana Becton beliefs do not align with yours. Contra Costa County residents spoke very clearly that its time to reverse crime and hold criminals accountable,”
Becton Claims Special Interest Behind Recall
This week, DA Becton kicked off her campaign to have residents in Contra Costa County not sign the recall calling it “politically motivated” and by “special interest”.
“But now, special interests want to roll back our progress with a wasteful, misguided recall. They are weaponizing fear, distorting facts and exploiting victims—not to serve our community, but to push their own agenda,” said Becton in a statement.
However, Gabe, father of Alexis Gabe, took issue with the comment noting he is a democrat and once voted for Becton, but the recall comes down to Becton’s job performance and her not doing her job to protect victims, but instead protecting criminals and not holding people accountable.
“On Thursday, Diana Becton launched her campaign against the recall and solicited donations. She accused us of weaponizing fear, distorting facts and exploiting victims,” said Gabe. “We challenge Diana Becton to confront us directly. How can we exploit the victims when we are the victims ourselves?”
He added, many families of crime victims and sexual assault survivors have reached out in support. Many business owners also support the recall but are too afraid to get involved and want to protect their businesses.
For any questions or further information, feel free to contact [email protected] or [email protected] . You may also visit the website: www.recalldianabecton.org
Previous
- April 24 – DA Becton Makes Case Against Recall Effort
- April 19: RECALL DIANA BECTON GROUP GIVEN APPROVAL TO COLLECT SIGNATURES
- April 16 – Recall Effort to Remove District Attorney Diana Becton “Not Politically Motivated”
- March 24 – Video: Recall District Attorney Diana Becton Press Conference
- March 18 – Contra Costa District Attorney Diana Becton Served With Notice of Intent to Recall
- Jan 23, 2025 – DA Concludes Investigation into Accessory After the Fact Charge in the Alexis Gabe Case
- July 23, 2023 – Contra Costa District Attorney Recall Effort Set to Begin?
- Dec 30, 2023 – Letter: DA Becton, Marsy’s Law and Alexandrea Sweitzer
- Dec 8, 2023 – Recall District Attorney Diana Becton Group Launched
Stories of why there is a recall from previous press conference in March, 2025:
Gwyn Gabe – Father of Alexis Gabe
“I am here to express my family’s full support for this recall initiative and I am one of the organizes and proponents of this initiative,” said Gabe calling himself a temporary spokesperson of the group.
He shared the process started about a year ago and the families began getting to know one another and decided to pursue the recall of Becton. He also shared a recall expert said the group needed a $1 million donor to support the effort or they wont be successful, they should reconsider.
“This response was disheartening and made us question whether our plans could succeed without significant financial backing,” shared Gabe. “However, our commitment to continue stems from our determination to prevent other families from experiencing what we endured under District Attorney Diana Becton. It’s crucial we take a stand and tell her that her time in office has come to an end.”
Gabe admits they do not have $1 million for the initiative or another $2 million for signature gatherers but they have their families, community, and volunteers who are frustrated with the current situation.
“We have 160 days ahead of us to gather than over 70,000 signatures required. While it might seem improbable to understand this without financial resources, we are confident that the necessary funds with materialize,” said Gabe. “I want to emphasize we are ordinary people and lack the expertise necessary to navigate this recall effectively. Additionally, we are unable to afford legal representation or specialists for assistance. I ask for your understanding and patience as we proceed. It’s also important to clarify that our actions are not motivated by any personal grievances against Diana Becton, although we did not achieve justice through her decision not to pursue charges against Alicia Coleman-Clark, her recall serves as a significant step towards justice. This action not only seeks to rectify the situation, but also aims to protect other families from being victimized by someone who should be safeguarding victims rather than criminals.”
Carol Ann Sherman – Granddaughter of Carmen Vasquez
“I stand here with my fellow victims, for my family, and all of Contra Costa County for justice,” said Sherman who shared her 82-year-old grandmother was robbed, raped, and beaten to death by Freddie Lee Taylor.
Sherman shared he was apprehended after other crimes and convicted by a jury. After 33-years, a 2017 appeal the DA was given the choice to re-try or release.
“Our family didn’t know about this, we found out about this through a newspaper article,” shared Sherman. “The DA’s Office didn’t make any contact with us. Becton did a plea deal on a lesser charge of manslaughter. She released a career criminal with no probation. Our family was heartbroken that we had to find all this out later figuring he would be in jail the rest of his life.
According to Sherman, Taylor traveled to Oklahoma and re-offended at least three times, one brutally. She says they asked to meet with Becton where they received no answers—and left more discouraged and concerned for the communities Taylor would prey on, from elderly and weak.
“Smugly, we were told we were only one case,” explained Sherman. “All of us are victim of her total disregard for safety and justice. She let out a brutal attacker who has continued in his ways. We want to prevent that from happening in the future.”
Stephen Arellano – Father of Thomas Arellano
“If Joe Delgado, a known violent criminal murdered your child, Diana Becton would have treated you the same the way she treated my family,” explained Arellano.
He shared the story of how his son, Thomas Arellano, was supposed to go to work with him on January 22, 2022, but left him home sleeping. Later in the day, Joe Delgado stabbed his son six times, killing him. The next day is when he found out his son was murdered—he said in 2015, Delgado also pulled a knife on an Antioch Police officer.
“To this day, no one has questioned me. The judge and DA did a plea deal without talking to any witness or family, the DA and superior court are a legalized crime operation,” stated Arellano stating there had been a breach of trust by the District Attorney’s Office of Contra Costa County who should be safeguarding the community.
Erica Esperanza Cano – Ex-Wife of Anthony Hernandez
Hernandez was killed during a birthday party in the City of Oakley in November of 2021. When two people were asked to leave, they opened fire on the party. Hernandez was gunned down in front of his kids and family.
“Many victims, assailants and witnesses have either faced charges or been released with reduced sentences. Our family like so many others are left without justice because Diana Becton is failing to do our job. She does not hold offenders accountable, allowing them a second chance for serious crimes while all loved ones never get that opportunity. Diana Becton released the assailant after just 3 days in jail claiming that since his brother was killed in self defense that night, it was a case of 1 for 1, therefore, no charges would be filed,” explained Esperanza Cano. “Meanwhile, the assailant continues to live freely while his mother taunts us daily on her YouTube channel and my family lives in constant fear. Its time for a change. That is why I have joined the recall effort.”
Kimberely Banks – Mother of Stacy Dewayne Corley Jr.
Corely was murdered while Door Dashing in Walnut Creek. He was shot 9 times after a road rage incident.
“I was assured by the Contra Costa DA’s office that they would do everything in their power to fight for my sons life as if he was their own child. But all I received in return was the most disrespectful, disgusting, abominable act of nothingness in the form of no fight, no trial, no true charge of murder without the possibility of parole and no true accountability that directly resulted in the diminishment and the value of my sons life that turned into a façade of courtroom circus and plea deal that was not forewarned or agreed to by me or my family,” said Banks. “They might as at that point issued the death penalty to me since they chose this murders life in their decision headed by Diana Becton. This legal comedy show presented as a victim statement hearing was a life planning event for the murder of my one and only child.”
She continued.
“Diana Becton’s actions and final decisions to allow this uncensored plea deal for this monster to be afforded the ability to choose life with the potential to prosper in ways that my son will never be allowed or afforded to live out his life’s dream and goal and carry out on a legacy in his name,” said Banks. “My life now consists of memories, pictures, videos and memorabilia to keep his existence alive each and every day so that he is not forgotten after being throw away not only by this murder, but Contra Costa County Courts and the District Attorneys Office. I live with the torture of his last and final moments in life and what was he thinking and why wasn’t I there to uphold my God-given promise to protect him. And now my care for him has transformed to caring for a slab of stone where my son’s lifeless body now rests 6-feet deep and I now count the days to join because life no longer carries the same meaning without the one person I had to live for besides God.”
She stated, “this has far surpassed what is fair as it relates to the judicial system, its inhumane and unjust and at some point integrity, morality, safety and accountability must come to the forefront and it begins with the leader of Contra Costa County’s organized mafia, the District Attorney’s office to come to an end.”
Kelly Milton – Aunt of Allie Sweitzer
Sweitzer was 20 years old when she was gunned down in a park in the City of Richmond.
“Since her death, it feels like Diana Becton has made it her personal mission to sabotage Allie’s case by withholding files so the attorney had to go into court without them and do it by memory, made the hearing calendar unavailable to victim advocates, which is a Marcy’s Law violation, withheld hearing notices while the assigned attorney was out of the country knowing this, she has had a different attorney for every hearing over the past 6 years, withheld Allie’s mom’s order for restitution for the past 4 years.” explained Milton who continued. “She lied under oath about our case, she recommended early release for Allie’s killer, despite him beating up younger juveniles, doing drugs and actively participating in the Manor Boy gang while in custody when by law she could have held him until he was 25, she chose not to.”
Milton added, she believed it was a “personal choice” for Becton.
“I often wonder if this is because Diana’s husband has family ties to the Richmond gangs. Becton told Allie’s mom that her case is just one case and there is nothing she can do for her with a grin on her face,” said Milton. “We have since found out that we are one more family that she has victimized, one more family she has continuously revictimized with her criminal like activities. All of the cases you are hearing today, are not just devastating to the families, they’re devastating to our community, it effects our children and our children’s children. With her being soft on crime, it effects everyone in Contra Costa County. We need to stand up and take our community back and stop allowing her to destroy our county. The only way we can do this is by signing the recall. Becton ran her campaign on transparency, then putting a gag order on all the attorneys making it so they couldn’t get community support via media for any of our cases. This has to end. We have to take back our county and get her out of office. The only way to do that is to sign this recall.”
