Click here to receive APD news updates.
APD Recent Cases
Mary Ellen Attridge represented Jose Compre of Oceanside for his alleged involvement in the officer shooting of Dan Bessant. Mr. Compre was released from custody after his preliminary hearing which showed he was not present at the time of the shooting. News Article-Full Story (4-9-08)
Matthew Mohun represented Jerry Martinez of San Diego for his alleged involvement in the shooting of Armando Espinoza. The shooting of Mr. Espinoza was alleged to have been gang related. Mr. Martinez was released from custody after his preliminary hearing showed he was not involved in the shooting or gang activity. News Article-Related Story (11-28-07)
Local County News
Attorney-client calls from jail recorded: The San Diego Sheriff's Department improperly recorded their privileged conversations with jailed clients, according to defense attorneys. A lawyer for the Sheriff's Department said the recordings ... were made because of an inadvertent glitch in the telephone system. News Article-Full Story (6-21-08) (Added 6-26-08)
Cynthia Sommer was charged with fatally poisoning her Marine husband, Todd Sommer, with arsenic. Ms. Sommer spent two years in custody and was initially found guilty during a jury trial in San Diego. Ms. Sommer was granted a new trial and her husband's tissue was re-tested for arsenic. No arsenic was detected in the newly tested tissue samples. Ms. Sommer was released from custody on April 17, 2007. News Article-Full Story (4-18-08)
Susan Lafavre has been living in Carmel Valley for nearly ten years as Marie Walsh. Ms. Lafavre is charged with heroin sales in Michigan and has eluded law enforcement for thirty two years. Ms. Lafavre is married and has three children. Ms. Lafavre is currently in custody and is being extradited to Michigan. News Article-Full Story (4-30-08)
A recent drug bust at a San Diego State University fraternity house has lead to the arrest of approximately seventy five students. These students have been temporarily suspended from the university. News Article-Full Story (5-6-08)
Related Articles
One in five service members who have returned from Iraq or Afghanistan report symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder or major depression, but little more than half of them have sought mental health treatment, according to an independent study of United States troops. ... This 500-page study is the first exhaustive, private analysis of the psychological and cognitive injuries suffered by service members. News Article-Full Story (4-18-08) (Added 6-26-08)
The New York Times found 121 cases in which veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan committed a killing in this country, or were charged with one, after their return from war. ... The Pentagon was given The Times's roster of homicides. It declined to comment because, a spokesman, Lt.Col. Les Melnyk, said, the Department of Defense could not duplicate the newspaper's research. ... During a military trial at Camp Pendleton, Calif. ... News Article-Full Story (1-13-08) (Added 6-26-08)
North County Times writer Scott Marshall, interviewed and wrote an article regarding defense attorney Wilfred Rumble of the County of San Diego's Multiple Conflicts Office. Mr. Rumble is the defense attorney representing clients on three prominent North County cases, Penifoti Taeotui, Jason Cooper, and Derlyn Threats. News Article-Full Story (1-25-08)
