On March 20, 2022, the Mayor of Antioch, Lamar Thorpe, was arrested for Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol (DUI). The agency responsible for prosecuting the life-threatening transgression is the Contra Costa County District Attorney Diana Becton. Will she prosecute the case, highly unlikely.
Becton has repeatedly demonstrated she prefers to empower privilege. Examples of such are allowing Joe Canciamilla, former Contra Costa County Clerk-Recorder, to serve a sentence to jail for one year under “house arrest” in a luxury home by the ocean in Kauai. Mr. Canciamilla was convicted of nine counts of perjury and grand theft for the personal use of campaign funds, felonies in the State of California.
Another example is Becton having a lavish backyard wedding at her home during the Summer of 2020. The wedding was at the height of the Pandemic when such events were canceled, even in churches, because of COVID-19. Hundreds, if not thousands, of young couples in Contra Costa withdrew their wedding plans during this time or performed virtual ceremonies. Becton demonstrated she perceived herself as an elite and privileged, above the law regarding such restrictions. So, my thoughts are Becton will perceive Thorpe as an elite and privileged person and excuse his indiscretion.
Contra Costa County needs Mary Knox to be the new district attorney.
George Fuller, MPA, MA
City Councilmember, City of Oakley, CA
