Advertisement Santa Cruz DA begins pilot program to tackle repeat offenders Share Shares Copy Link Copy

Santa Cruz County District Attorney Bob Lee revealed on Monday a new specialized court process his office developed to tackle a problem that has plagued Santa Cruz for years: repeat offenders.Lee said "vertical prosecution" will put an intense spotlight on Pacific Avenue, providing chronic criminals who commit low-level misdemeanors with social services, and locking up those who refuse to clean up their act even after receiving help."Vertical prosecution" got its first test on Tuesday, when five people who have bounced in and out of the Santa Cruz County Jail were arraigned in court and assigned to the new system. The five are:Christina Foster -- arrested 56 times Antonio Mendonsa -- arrested 33 times Peter Birmingham -- arrested 30 times Joel Zimmerman -- arrested 19 times Christopher Kopel -- arrested 10 times MUG SHOTS: Here are their many mug shotsKopel, 50, was arrested as recently as Sunday, Birmingham, 59, on Saturday, and Zimmerman, 64, on Friday.Lee held a press conference on Pacific Avenue Monday with Police Chief Kevin Vogel, judges, the mayor, mental health providers, and prosecutors. Homeless advocates interrupted the press conference to accuse Lee of unfairly targeting homeless men and women."All we're asking is that they stop repeating their behavior. If they are homeless, then we're going to try to give them the assistance they need to stop repeating their behavior," Lee said.VIDEO: How Santa Cruz will take aim at repeat offendersVogel said the five serial criminals will be a litmus test for Lee's 8-month pilot program."It may be a while before we know the true effectiveness of the program," Vogel said.Lee said Superior Court Judge Denine Guy will be the sole judge who presides over the program and Chief Deputy District Attorney Jeff Rosell will serve as a prosecutor.Judge Paul Marigonda said history has shown when just one judge is at the forefront, it makes a huge difference."The ability to fashion the right kinds sentence, the right kind of punishment, or the right kind of rehabilitation, is enhanced when that judge has a history with that person," Marigonda said.Lee said all agencies who are participating in the program sacrificed one person from their department who will work in a new Pacific Avenue Repeat Offender Accountability Office downtown. Mayor Lynn Robinson said she thinks Lee's program will be a game changer."This is the first time I've seen everyone come to the table together, that's the game-changer," Robinson said."We're not guaranteeing a safer Santa Cruz," Lee said. "What we are guaranteeing is, we're all in."