By Lucy Meinhardt, Marketing Chair, Antioch Historical Society

All are invited to the kickoff event of Antioch’s Sesquicentennial, celebrating the 150th anniversary of the City of Antioch’s incorporation. The BBQ picnic extravaganza will be held on the grounds of the Antioch Historical Society Museum from 11:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, April 2, 2022. Music, food and beverages, and fun are planned.

Local group Vocal-ease and the Boogie Men are the headliners, performing most of the afternoon. Opening is the Antioch High School Jazz Band. Ballet Folklorico from Antioch Middle School will close the day.

Guests are welcome to bring their own picnic. Tables, chairs, and shade canopies will be provided. Tickets to reserve a BBQ meal from Freddy B’s are available for purchase in advance at $25 each by clicking here. You can also purchase the meal at the event. Others may choose to purchase pizza from the Straw Hat Pizza food truck. Sodas, beer, and wine will be for sale.

Fun for children will be plentiful in the Antioch Rec Department Activity Area, with a bouncy house, an inflatable obstacle course, face painting, and Silly Jojo the Clown will entertain with balloon animal creations.

The Museum itself and Sports Legends wing will be open. Winners of an art contest for all middle schoolers in Antioch will be on display in the Museum’s Riverview Room to the accompaniment of live classical piano music played by Alfonso Ochoa. Outdoors guests can view Bay Bombs Classic Car Show, the Museum’s 1926 fire engine, vehicles from the Antioch Police Department, and the Museum’s murals. The McCoy Farm House and the Fire House will both be open.

Sesquicentennial souvenir coins will be available to purchase. Proceeds from the coins and a portion of the price of the BBQ meal will benefit the museum.

The museum is located at 1500 W. 4th Street. To learn more about the Antioch Historical Society and museum visit www.antiochhistoricalmuseum.org or call (925) 757-1326.

To learn more about Antioch’s Sesquicentennial of Cityhood on February 6, 1872 and see all of this year’s events and activities click here and here.

The community’s first honor under Executive Director Alberto Maldonado

Antioch, CA – Agemark Senior Living recently recognized several of the company’s senior living communities as well as individuals from those communities in a company-wide virtual awards ceremony held February 10. TreVista Senior Living and Memory Care in Antioch was recognized as the company’s Rising Star Community of the Year. This award is given to the Agemark community that has shown tremendous improvement and future promise.

Agemark Founder and Managing Partner Richard Westin is impressed with the team at TreVista in Antioch.

“After undergoing a multimillion-dollar renovation, the community has filled nearly all of its available apartments, thanks to the excellent efforts of the entire TreVista team,” he said. “We are so thankful for their commitment to providing excellent care, love and support to all residents of the community.”

TreVista Senior Living and Memory Care in Antioch is under the direction of Executive Director Alberto Maldonado. He began leading the community in August 2020 and says the team is honored to be recognized by Agemark.

“Our community and incredible team embody the values of Agemark proudly and I believe that they are the reason for our tremendous growth, particularly over the last year,” Maldonado stated. “Agemark empowers its leaders and team members to operate as a family, and that’s another reason for our success. We are so thankful for Agemark’s belief in what we do, and we are proud to be the Rising Star recipients.”

TreVista in Antioch offers both Assisted Living and Memory Care in one comfortable and homelike community. Located at 3950 Lone Tree Way in Antioch, the community was acquired by Agemark Senior Living in fall 2017, with management takeover shortly thereafter. In 2020, the community completed an extensive remodel, which improved all common areas and added a bistro, theatre room, in-house beauty salon and manicure station, among other improvements for residents to enjoy. The in-house memory care community, The Villa, was completely redone, and made into a more homelike and comfortable environment for those who live with dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease.

A sister community, TreVista in Concord, is also managed by Agemark Senior Living. To learn more about TreVista, visit trevistaseniorliving.com.

Supports cutting gas taxes, opposes facemask mandates for school children, announces endorsements; district includes all of Antioch

Erik Elness, a 25-year Brentwood resident and business owner, filed paperwork with the Contra Costa County Elections Department on Friday, March 18, 2022, and was certified as an official ‘Write-In Candidate’ for the April 5, 2022 Assembly District 11 Special Election. The AD-11 seat was vacated when former Assemblyman Jim Frazier resigned on December 31st.

“I decided to run as a write-in candidate, because I wanted to give the hard-working voters of our Contra Costa and Solano district a choice of who they want to vote for in this special election,” Elness stated. “Government has grown bigger and more controlling, and individual liberty has been gradually taken from us.”

A Republican, he is challenging Democrat Suisun City Mayor Lori Wilson who is the only candidate to file in the race. While her name will appear on the ballot, voters must write in Elness’ name to vote for him.  The winner will serve out the remainder of the term through the end of the year, in the current district which includes Antioch, Brentwood, Oakley, Discovery Bay, Bethel Island, Byron, Knightsen and portions of Pittsburg in the Contra Costa County part of the district.

Within several days of announcing his candidacy, Elness was unanimously endorsed by the Solano County Republican Central Committee and endorsed by CD-8 Congressional Candidate, Major Rudy Recile (U.S. Army, retired), former CD-9 Congressional candidate Antonio Amador, and former AD-11 Assembly candidate Dave Miller. In addition, former AD-11 candidate Lisa Romero has endorsed him, as well.

Elness said he was shocked to learn the Assembly Democrats recently voted against temporarily suspending 50 cents per gallon off the state gasoline taxes. He agreed with the bill to cut state gas prices, adding, “the people of California need relief, now from increasing gas prices, impacting their budgets and our economy. That bill was one simple way to help accomplish that.”

Elness also stated, “I’m ‘pro-choice’ when it comes to COVID vaccines and masks. I don’t believe our children should be forced to wear masks at school.”

“Sacramento politicians are out of touch with the needs of the people who live and work in our neighborhoods. I worked corporate jobs for 23 years and I’ve been a small business owner for nearly 13 years, running a successful family business with my wife,” Elness shared. “We deserve a representative in Sacramento in tune with the issues, concerns, and challenges facing families in our community.”

“I support equal opportunity in education, with every child in every neighborhood receiving a quality education,” he stated. “I applaud successful public schools (my kids had a lot of great teachers in public schools.) But I believe families should have choices when it comes to home school, private or charter schools.’

“I strongly support the U.S. Constitution and I will strongly oppose any new State laws that infringe on our Civil Rights, including our Second Amendment right to bear arms,” Elness continued. “I support our firefighters, local law enforcement officers and deputy district attorneys who work tirelessly to protect our Constitutional liberty and keep our neighborhoods safe.”

To learn more follow his campaign on Facebook at Erik Elness for CA Assembly, District 11 and Instagram at erikelnessforassembly.

To vote for Elness in the April 5 Special Election, simply fill in the ‘bubble’ in the write in section and neatly print his name, “Erik Elness” on the write in line.

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.

 

Wins for Wagner, Miramontez, Enos, too

By Don Martin II, DCRR Racing Media

Antioch CA…March 26…Ken Johns won the 25 lap Pacific Coast General Engineering Hobby Stock Main Event Saturday night at Antioch Speedway. Johns was rebounding from a night of mechanical issues at the opener for the class a couple of weeks ago, and he benefited from the misfortune of Brad Coelho and Grayson Baca.

Breck Smith led the opening lap before pushing high in Turn 2 and surrendering the point to Coelho. Reigning champion Larry McKinzie Jr took up pursuit of Coelo early on, but it was Baca taking the runner up spot on Lap 12. A Lap 13 restart provided Baca the opportunity to steal the lead from Coelho. Coelho stayed tough in the battle, but things got a bit wild on Lap 18 when contact sent Coelho and Baca spinning. Johns suddenly found himself leading Angela Brown on the restart, and they ran that way until Coelho made a low pass in Turn 4 on Lap 24 to gain second. However, Coelho ran out of time as Johns brought it home a happy winner. Brown settled for her best ever finish in third, followed by Michaela Taylor and Baca.

Danny Wagner won the 20 lap Delta Dwarf Car Main Event. This was the second-straight win for the two-time division champion. David Rosa took the early lead ahead of Eric Weisler. Chance Russell slipped past Weisler for second on Lap 3, but he surrendered the position to Wagner on a Lap 6 restart. Wagner chased Rosa until a Lap 10 restart gave him an opportunity to take the lead. Devan Kammermann followed Wagner into second, but he lost that position to Jack Haverty on a Lap 12 restart. Once Wagner got the lead, nobody was going to stop him as he won ahead Haverty, who barely held of Weisler for the second position. Russell and Kammermann completed the Top 5.

Petaluma Speedway Super Stock champion Randy Miramontez won the 20 lap Mini Stock Main Event. Miramontez started out running Mini Stocks at Petaluma Speedway before moving up to Super Stocks, and this was his return.

Dana Gardner jumped into the early lead in the race that was destined to go non-stop. Reigning Antioch and Petaluma champion Tom Brown settled into second on Lap 2 and made an inside move on the back stretch on Lap 5 to take the lead from Gardner. Miramontez found his way into second on Lap 9 and quickly started pressuring Brown. A low pass in Turn 2 of the 13th lap gained Miramontez the lead. The lead duo had to split a lapped car in the middle at that point, but everybody made it safely. Despite a scary incident in traffic with two laps to go, Miramontez kept his cool and held off Brown for the win. Gardner ended up third, followed by Shan Titman and Eddie Humphrey III.

Mitch Enos won the 15 lap California Sharp Mini Late Model Main Event. This was the debut for the class at Antioch. Matt Malcolm jumped into the lead at the start ahead of Enos. Malcolm pulled away a little bit for the first few laps, but Enos closed in by the midway point of the race. A low pass in Turn 4 on Lap 12 put Enos into the lead, and Malcolm spun in the same turn a lap later for a yellow flag. Enos led the restart, and Malcolm spun again in Turn 4 trying to make a pass. Enos won ahead of DJ Saenz and Malcolm.

Racing resumes next Saturday night with IMCA Modifieds back in action along with IMCA Sport Modifieds, Pacific Coast General Engineering Hobby Stocks and Super Stocks. For further information, go to www.antiochspeedway.com.

Antioch Speedway Unofficial Race Results  – March 26, 2022

Hobby Stocks

Heat Winners (8 laps) – Larry McKinzie Jr, Charlie Bryant, Breck Smith, Brad Coelho. Main Event (25 laps) – Ken Johns, Brad Coelho, Angela Brown, Michaela Taylor, Grayson Baca, Gavin Griffiths, Taylor DeCarlo, Jess Paladino, Gene Haney, Shelby Asher.

Delta Dwarf Cars

Heat Winners (8 laps) – Jack Haverty, Ellie Russo, Danny Wagner. Main Event (20 laps) Danny Wagner, Jack Haverty, Eric Weisler, Chance Russell, Devan Kammermann, Ellie Russo, David Michael Rosa, Barry Waddell, Sean Catucci, David Rosa.

Mini Stocks

Heat Winners (8 laps) – Randy Miramontez, Tom Brown. Main Event (20 laps) – Randy Miramontez, Tom Brown, Dana Gardner, Shan Titman, Eddie Humphrey III, Daisy Eszler, Laina Bales, Ryan Graham, Dan Abitz DNS.

California Sharp Mini Late Models

Heat Winner (6 laps) – Matt Malcolm. Main Event (15 laps) – Mitch Enos, DJ Saenz, Matt Malcolm.

 

By Allen D. Payton

PACIFIC OCEAN (Mar. 23, 2022) Aviation Maintenance Administrationman Second Class Alex Le, from Antioch, Calif., preps rig for box fan during a general quarters drill on the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68). Nimitz is currently underway conducting routine operations.

According to the Naval Air Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet website the USS Nimitz is a supercarrier and the lead ship of the Nimitz-class nuclear-powered aircraft carriers and is named in honor of Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz. Its mission is to conduct carrier air warfare operations and assist in the planning, control, coordination and integration of air wing squadrons in support of carrier air warfare.

One of the largest warships in the world, she was laid down, launched and commissioned as CVAN 68 but was later re-designated CVN 68 (nuclear-powered multi-mission aircraft carrier) on June 30, 1975 as part of the fleet realignment. Nimitz was homeported at Naval Station Norfolk until 1987, when she was relocated to Naval Station Bremerton in Washington State (now part of Naval Base Kitsap).

Following her Refueling and Complex Overhaul in 2001, her homeport was changed to Naval Air Station North Island in San Diego. The homeport of Nimitz was again moved to Naval Station Everett in Washington State in 2012. In January 2015, Nimitz changed homeport from Everett back to Naval Base Kitsap. Nimitz is now the oldest American aircraft carrier in active service.

Carrier Air Wing CVW-17 is attached to Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 11 and flagship USS Nimitz (CVN 68) and consists of nine squadrons flying F/A-18C/E/F Super Hornets, EA-18G Growlers, E-2C Hawkeyes, C-2A Greyhounds and MH-60R/S Sea Hawks.

The carrier air wing’s mission includes the interception and destruction of enemy aircraft and missiles in all-weather conditions to establish and maintain local air superiority; all-weather offensive air-to-surface attacks, detection, localization, and destruction of enemy ships and submarines to establish and maintain local sea control; aerial photographic, sighting, and electronic intelligence for naval and joint operations; airborne early warning service to fleet forces and shore warning nets; airborne electronic countermeasures; in-flight refueling operations to extend the range and the endurance of air wing aircraft, and search and rescue operations.

The air wing is currently attached to USS Nimitz, Strike Group (CSG-11), and is based out of NAS Lemoore in Lemoore, CA. Learn more about the history of CVW-17 dating back to World War II.

Rick Burke, Public Affairs Specialist, Media Outreach Dept., Navy Office of Community Outreach contributed to this report

Before new chief on staff leaving city without a police chief during that time; violated Morefield’s rights as a city employee and police officer; still police chief as of Friday, March 25

By Allen D. Payton

It was reported earlier this month by multiple sources who all chose to not be identified, and now confirmed with copies received anonymously on Thursday, March 24, 2022, that on Thursday, February 24, 2022, at 8:49 AM, Interim Antioch City Manager Con Johnson sent a letter by email to current Interim Police Chief Tony Morefield, that Morefield had been terminated. Johnson copied all five city council members, plus City Attorney Thomas Lloyd Smith, the president of the Antioch Police Officers Association Corporal Steve Aiello and Dr. Steve Ford.

It was the day after Mayor Lamar Thorpe announced the hiring of Ford as the city’s new interim police chief, but who was not on city staff at the time, as he had not yet passed his background check. That left the city without a police chief for a little more than an hour and possibly longer as it’s been reported that Johnson met with Morefield earlier that morning to inform him of the decision. (See related article)

According to the reports, immediately after receiving the email, Smith went to Johnson’s office and told him he needed to retract it. That is assumed what Johnson did in a following email at 10:05 AM the same day. But it is unclear because in that second email the interim city manager wrote he was “tracking” the letter of termination, not retracting it.

Because Johnson included Ford in the emails, they no longer have protection as a personnel matter according to an outside attorney consulted by the Herald. Yet, Smith has refused to release them to the media, even after multiple Public Records Act requests were submitted.

Also, according to the reports, the announcement of Morefield’s termination quickly spread throughout the Antioch Police Department and had also been previously announced to other department heads by Johnson.

Questions for Johnson Go Unanswered

An email was sent on Monday, March 7, 2022, to Johnson, copying the city council members, City Attorney, Morefield, Assistant City Manager Roseanna Bayon Moore and city Public Information Officer Rolando Bonilla with the following: “I’ve been informed that an email was sent out by you, as the interim city manager to council members and city staff in which you announced you had fired Interim Police Chief Tony Morefield and a follow up email in which you wrote that you were tracking those emails. Please provide copies of those emails.

Did that mean you’re tracking where those emails are sent and to whom by those who received it? Or did you intend to write that you’re ‘retracting’ the previous email? If the latter, was your action retracted? If not, what day did you fire the interim chief? (That last question has been answered as Morefield continued in his position as of Thursday, March 24).

Why did you believe it was necessary to send out such an email? Had Dr. Ford already passed his background check by then? Or were your emails sent out prior to Lamar making the announcement of Dr. Ford’s hiring at the press conference, to which at least three of the other four council members weren’t invited and who also knew nothing about the appointment? (It wasn’t clear at the time if Johnson’s emails were sent on Feb. 23 or 24).

Is that the normal procedure and standard practice for how things were handled in the City of San Francisco and/or in the SFPD while you worked there? Send out an email blast announcing an interim department head has been fired?

Why did you retract it, assuming that’s what you intended to write in your second email? Was it because it wasn’t true? Or because you had changed your mind? Did someone ask or tell you to do that?

If Dr. Ford hadn’t yet passed his background check by then, has he passed it, yet? If so, when is his start date? Also, won’t Interim Chief Morefield simply return to his role and title as a captain within the department once Dr. Ford starts?

If one of you doesn’t provide copies of the emails to me by Tuesday, March 8, 2022, at noon, please consider this is a formal Public Records Act request for copies of the two emails.

Then once I receive them, I’m sure I will have more questions.

Thomas, did Con violate personnel protections for Tony by sending out that email to others on city staff and Dr. Ford who was not yet on staff at that time?  Are you the one who directed Con to retract his first email?

How could Tony be fired without due process? Isn’t he protected by the Peace Officer Bill of Rights and as a city employee? AB301

Con, shouldn’t you have known that as a former police manager? When did you inform Tony of your decision to terminate him? Was it before you sent out the email? At what time was his termination effective? Was it announced to anyone else prior to the first email being sent out? Was another leader in the APD given the position of interim police chief between the time of the first email and the second one retracting the first? If so, when did that occur? Who was assigned that role? Was it Captain Trevor Schnitzius?”

No responses were received as of Friday, March 25 at 5:00 p.m.

Outside Attorney Says Emails Are Not Privileged

The Herald sought legal advice on the matter from an attorney who wrote the following, which was also shared via email with City Attorney Smith, Johnson, the city council members, Morefield, Bayon Moore and Bonilla shortly after 5:00 p.m. Thursday, March 17:

“In a case entitled City of San Jose v. Superior Court (2017) 2 Ccal.th 608, the California Supreme Court said that emails sent by City Officials (in that case, they were emails generated by City Council members) which relate in any way to ‘the conduct of public business’ are required to be disclosed under the Public Records Act (specifically, Government Code Section 6252(e)) even if they are sent from the public official’s personal cell phone.  There is no doubt that the email to Acting Chief Morefield from the Interim City Manager Con Johnson concerned ‘the conduct of public business.’  Moreover, there cannot possibly be a privilege attached to the email, as it was not sent to seek advice from the City Attorney, but was essentially ‘blasted’ to a bunch of people, including the person who was supposedly replacing Morefield, who was not even a City employee at the time, and others, who had no legal right to know about this ‘personnel matter’ which should have been confidential under penal code section 832.7.  Since Johnson sent it to people with whom he shared no legal privilege of confidentiality, and who otherwise had no legal right to know what was happening to Morefield, any claim that the email was ‘privileged’ is total nonsense.”

The Herald wrote smith that the emails were expected to be received on Friday, March 18. They were not.

City Attorney Fails to Respond to PRA Request Within 10-Day Legal Limit

Government agencies are required to respond to Public Records Act requests within 10 business days. The city attorney was required to respond to the Herald’s PRA request dated March 8 by Tuesday, March 23. But no response was received from Smith even as of Friday afternoon at close of business.

Councilmembers Refuse to Share Letter, Email

Mayor Pro Tem Mike Barbanica and District 3 Councilwoman Lori Ogorchock each said they would not release the emails to the Herald. However, earlier this week, Barbanica posted a video about Johnson’s letter and email. But that has since been removed.

Copies of Letter and Email Received by Herald March 24

On Thursday afternoon, March 24 copies of Johnson’s letter and his follow up email were received by the Herald from someone who chose to remain anonymous. The letter reads as follows:

“To: Tony Morefield

Captain of Police

FR: Cornelius H. Johnson

Interim City Manager

Date: February 24, 2022

Subject: Letter of Termination

Confidential

Captain Morefield,

Effective immediately, your employment with the Antioch Police Department as the Interim Chief of Police has been terminated. Please cease and desists [sic] with any further duties or responsibilities that are associated with the Interim Chief of Police position.

I want to thank you for your service while serving as the City of Antioch Interim Chief of Police. I wish you the best in your future professional endeavors.”

Johnson’s Follow-Up Email “Tracking” Termination Letter

In an email to Morefield, copying the same individuals, received at 10:05 a.m. the same day Johnson wrote:

“Subject: Letter of Termination

To All concern [sic]

Due to the personnel sensitivity, I am immediately tracking the letter of termination to Captain Tony Morefield.

Cornelius H. Johnson

Interim City Manager

Morefield Still Interim Chief

Asked Friday, March 25 if he was still Antioch’s interim police chief, Morefield said, “I am still the interim chief of police until such time as the city manager hires a new one.”

“conduct that shocks the public conscience, or which does not fall within the moral standards held by the community” – LegalDictionary.com

Will evaluate whether cases involving officers are now compromised

UPDATE: Pittsburg PD issues statement, 3 officers placed on paid leave

By Allen D. Payton

Late Friday afternoon, the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office announced that on Wednesday, March 23, 2022, the FBI and the DA’s Office conducted court-authorized law enforcement activity at multiple locations. The criminal investigation pertains to sworn law enforcement officers from the Antioch Police Department and Pittsburg Police Department.

The broad range of offenses under investigation involve crimes of moral turpitude. A review of both active and closed cases involving these officers will be necessary to evaluate whether those cases are now compromised. Due to the ongoing nature of the investigation, no additional details will be released at this time.

The involved police departments and cities have cooperated with the investigation to ensure minimal disruption to their respective communities. The District Attorney’s Office will continue to work in conjunction with federal authorities along with the cities of Antioch and Pittsburg to ensure public trust and public safety.

According to LegalDictionary.com moral turpitude means, “Conduct that is believed to be contrary to community standards of honesty, good morals, or justice.” In addition, that website reads, “Moral turpitude is a legal concept that refers to any conduct that is believed to be contrary to the community standards of honesty, justice, or good moral values. While there is no one exact definition of acts that are considered under moral turpitude, they are typically described as any acts of vileness or depravity, or of sexual immorality, whether in a private or social context.  The word turpitude is defined as a shameful, vile, or corrupt character or acts. Moral turpitude refers to conduct that shocks the public conscience, or which does not fall within the moral standards held by the community. The law concerning moral turpitude is constantly changing and evolving, as the moral standards of society in general change.”

UPDATE: Pittsburg PD Places 3 Officers on Paid Leave

The Pittsburg PD issued the following statement on their social media accounts early Friday evening:

“The Pittsburg Police Department is aware of a joint criminal investigation being conducted by the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office along with the FBI. The investigation involves several local police officers, including three current Pittsburg Police Officers. Anytime there is any allegation of criminal misconduct, that is something our organization takes extremely seriously.

In September of 2021, the department received information that a Pittsburg Officer was involved in illegal activity. The tip also indicated that other law enforcement officers were involved, but did not go into further details. When we learned of the allegations, we immediately contacted the District Attorney’s Office and asked them to conduct an independent criminal investigation.

This past Wednesday, the FBI and the District Attorney’s Office met with three current Pittsburg Police Officers as part of this investigation. After the meetings, all three Pittsburg Police Officers were placed on paid administrative leave. This is still an active criminal investigation being conducted by two outside law enforcement agencies, so we do not have further details into the alleged misconduct. The Pittsburg Police Department will continue to cooperate with the DA’s Office and the FBI. We will also be conducting our own internal investigation that will be completed by an independent, outside investigator.

Please know that the women and men at our Department remain committed to serving our community. Any officer who has violated their oath of office by engaging in illegal or unethical conduct will be held accountable.”

No Response from City of Antioch, Yet

A copy of the DA’s release was sent, Friday at 4:36 p.m., to Interim Antioch Police Chief Tony Morefield, copying Captain Trevor Schnitzius asking if they can provide any information about the investigation. Morefield said any inquiries about the matter must be made to the City of Antioch public information officer (PIO).

An email was then sent to Antioch’s PIO Rolando Bonilla after business hours on Friday asking for the response from the city.

A question was also sent to Assistant DA Simon O’Connell after hours Friday asking for his office’s legal definition of “crimes of moral turpitude”.

Please check back later for any updates to this report.

LIFETIME CHANNEL PREMIERE

Film Title: The Lost Girls

Date: Saturday, March 26, 2022

Time: 8pm EST / 5pm PST (Check your local listing for times)

Movie trailer for “The Lost Girls” – https://play.mylifetime.com/movies/the-lost-girls/preview-the-lost-girls

HOLLYWOOD, CA, March 25, 2022: Veteran movie Producer Julia Verdin announced today that the Lifetime Channel premiere of her film “The Lost Girls” will be on Saturday, March 26, 2022 at 8pm EST. The film shows the harrowing story of 17-year-old Angie who was befriended by a good looking teen new to her area promising to help her music career and lured into a sex trafficked ring.

Verdin, owner of www.RoughDiamondProductions.net is known for successful films such as “The Merchant Of Venice”, “Stander”, and “2 Jacks”, studded with Academy Award Winning actors as well as producing a host of other great films, directed and wrote “The Lost Girls”.

After volunteering at a runaway children’s shelter and meeting many teenage survivors of trafficking, Verdin became emotionally connected to the cause of fighting for justice for them. This drove her passion to produce, direct and write the film in hopes of making a difference.

“Church groups do a lot to help survivors of trafficking,” stated Verdin.  “When I was doing my research and talking to trafficking survivors, many of them told me that a big turning point in their recovery was reconnecting with their faith.”

Verdin, who is also the President and founder of www.ArtistsForChange.org, says that her hope is that if teenagers, parents and those working with youth can start to understand the signs of a teen being groomed by a trafficker, that teens could be saved from years of hell and trauma. To Verdin, education and awareness is everything. These traffickers prey on innocence and vulnerability. Verdin says they must be stopped.

For more information, please contact Julia Verdin at Julia.Verdin@Artists4Change.org or by phone at (323)848-2900.

About Julia Verdin

Long time filmmaker Julia Verdin is known as an accomplished producer, award-winning Director and screenwriter. Having been in the film business for over 30 years, Julia has established herself as one of Hollywood’s leading independent producers. She has over 36 critically acclaimed feature films under her belt with several currently in the pipeline. She is the founder and owner of Rough Diamond Productions since 1995 and president and founder of Artists For Change plus many other resume accolades. For more information you can visit: www.RoughDiamondProductions.net/julia-verdin or www.imdb.com/name/nm0893845.

Local Organization Works to End Trafficking in Contra Costa County

Pillars of Hope based in Contra Costa County, has been helping trafficking victims since the organization was founded on Sept. 17, 2010.

“We just helped, last night, paying for a room for a victim who was testifying against her trafficker,” said Debra Brown, Executive Director. “The DA reached out to us. We’ll continue to do that until we get our house. There are several we help out, each month, with victim assistance and street outreach.

About the movie she said, “it’s typical of what happens.” She encouraged everyone to watch to see what’s happening in our county and across the country.

“We help women everywhere. We get calls directly from victims, from the Contra Costa and Alameda DA’s offices,” Brown shared. “We had one victim get a tattoo of her trafficker’s name on her chest removed. We do whatever they need. Sometimes it’s a ticket home. Sometimes it’s dental work, or even transportation to and from doctor’s appointments.”

“We have a lot of resources on our website and online training, too for those who want to get involved help end what’s happening in our own community,” she stated. “It’s happening in every community across America and that’s what’s sad.”

“They need to go after the demand side and that’s how they’ll end it,” said Brown. “If you get caught buying a kid, your face and name should be on a billboard and in newspapers in your town. There should also be astronomical fines.”

“They’re already doing heavier prison terms for traffickers. But until they deal with the ‘Johns’ on the demand side, it’s not going to stop,” she added.

To learn more and to help in Contra Costa County visit www.pillarsofhope.us.