Ogorchock does so, again following release of investigation report by attorney for former healthcare district of sexual harassment claims and Times’ editorial

By Allen D. Payton

In a post on her campaign Facebook page on Sept. 17, former Antioch Councilwoman Joy Motts, who had worked and voted along with Thorpe during her two years on the council and is, again running for the District 1 seat, this year called for his resignation.

She wrote, “I want to share the statement I made yesterday at the League of Women’s Voters/CCTV Forum. ‘I take any accusation of sexual harassment in the workplace or anywhere with the utmost seriousness. And I firmly believe that any man or woman that engages in sexual harassment or is convicted of sexual harassment should not hold public office.’

Information continues to come forward about the Mayor in what seems to be a concerning pattern of behavior, abuse of his position, and his treatment of others. I believe it would be in the best interest of the City of Antioch that the Mayor resign.”

Her alliance with Thorpe, which included the effort for the homeless motel on E. 18th Street and his support for Motts’ efforts for the Rivertown Center project at the former lumber company lot for a park and events, had already broken down, earlier this year over the way Thorpe interfered in the annual Juneteenth celebration, for which the organization she leads, Celebration Antioch Foundation, supported and served as the fiscal agent. (See related article)

Ogorchock Again Calls for Thorpe’s Resignation

Following the publishing on Thursday, Oct. 6, 2022, of an East Bay Times editorial calling on Antioch Mayor Lamar Thorpe to resign over his “intolerable mysogistic behavior”, District 3 Councilwoman Lori Ogorchock, again called on her colleague to resign. The editorial was a result of the release of the investigation report into the sexual harassment claims by two former employees of the now defunct Los Medanos Community Healthcare District against Thorpe while he was executive director. (See related articles here and here and report:

An article by eastcountytoday.net provides details from the redacted investigation report and that “According to the document, all three allegations were sustained. Confidential Investigative Report LMCHD Thorpe 041222-REDACTED

1. One June 11, 2021, Executive Director Lamar Thorpe grabbed Jocelyn Munoz bare leg while they were at a bar, and commented that it was sexual harassment
2. Executive Director Lamar Thorpe made inappropriate comments to Jocelyn Munoz.
3. Executive Director Lamar Thorpe made inappropriate and vulgar comments to Jasmine Cisneros, then grabbed her buttock, while at a work conference in Monterey.

The report further shows, “Thorpe was vague in his responses, and at several points in the interview did not respond to the question asked. Several of his statements were contradicted by other statements and evidence provided, such as the text messages.”

In a post on her official Facebook page Thursday evening Ogorchock wrote, “The Mayor should resign, I can’t say it loud enough!

Sexual harassment, alleged sexual misconduct, drunk driving, are all enough on their own but stacked together, are egregious and shameful. This behavior cannot be ignored nor tolerated. We must not create an environment in which those that are victims of sexual harassment fear to come forward. At NO time should sexual harassment be tolerated by anyone in any circumstances.

For those on council that fail to denounce the Mayor and his conduct are being enablers.  Our community trusts this council to make the tough decisions and to be strong leaders even in the face of taxing times. We should be unified in requesting the resignation from the Mayor.

If not what message are we sending to the victims and our constituents?”

Ogorchock is running for the District 4 council seat up for election next month, after being gerrymandered by the mayor and Councilwomen Monica Wilson and Tamisha Torres-Walker during the redrawing of district lines, earlier this year, moving Ogorchock from her current district into Wilson’s neighboring district.

Thorpe Does Not Respond, Continues to Deny Allegations

Thorpe was asked early Friday morning if he had any response to what is written in the report, the Times’ editorial or the comments by his former and current council colleagues. He did not respond by publication time Friday afternoon.

However, according to a Times article published on Thursday, Oct. 6, “Thorpe has denied the accusations and said the investigation was faulty and failed to include all potential witnesses, including a woman who was with him during one of the alleged incidents. ‘I am denying all the allegations, and the people who were actually there also say it didn’t happen,” he said. ‘I’ll just reiterate that the people corroborating their stories had something financially to gain. No independent witness was used to determine any facts.’”

Please check back later for any updates to this report.

Copy of Antioch Herald, other local newspapers included in new time capsule placed in vault at new county Administration Building

By Contra Costa County Office of Communications & Media

Martinez, CA – On October 4, 2022, the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors opened a 58-year-old time capsule that was buried on September 26, 1964, under the prior Administration Building at 651 Pine Street in Martinez.

“We were excited to see what items were preserved in the old time capsule and to accept materials from all five Board Members as well as County departments for the new Administration Building time capsule,” said Board Chair Supervisor Karen Mitchoff. “The new time capsule will be placed in a vault at 1025 Escobar Street and opened in 2072.”

The 1964 capsule contained a diverse collection of artifacts. Some of the unearthed items included the County’s 1964 annual report, predictions from the City of Martinez, emergency numbers for fire, police, and the County, a picture of the building maintenance staff, a County office telephone directory, directions on how to operate a push-button telephone, a photo of the first Contra Costa Courthouse built in 1855 and demolished in 1903, a copy of the special edition dedication of the Administration Building published in the Morning News-Gazette on September 25, 1964, and a letter from the 1960s County Administrator Joseph P. McBrien. The items will be placed on a history wall in the new Administration Building at 1025 Escobar Street.

At the October 4, 2022, Board of Supervisors meeting, the County Board of Supervisors and departments also included items for the new time capsule to be opened in 50 years.

District 3 Supervisor Diane Burgis said, “This is a moment where you get to talk to people in the future, and it made me philosophical and introspective. The capsule that we are opening today was set up a year before I was born, and so much turbulence was going on in the world at that time, and as much as things have changed, they haven’t.”

She included a letter addressing the current situation in District 3, the County, and the world, background on District 3 and far east County, and the priorities and issues in 2022. Supervisor Burgis added, “I closed the letter with a message to my future loved ones and encouraged people to continue to give and serve to make the world a better place. We must be optimistic and look forward to the progress that has gone on in the world.”

She also included a bio, a photo with her staff, and information from Antioch, Bethel Island, Brentwood, Byron, Discovery Bay, Knightsen, and Oakley. Recent editions of local newspapers including the February 2022 copy of the Antioch Herald which featured the City of Antioch’s yearlong Sesquicentennial Celebration of its 150th anniversary of cityhood, plus brochures of the Future of the Diablo Valley Conference, and the Delta Counties Coalition memorabilia were also included.

Board Vice Chair and District 5 Supervisor Federal Glover said, “This is an opportunity to reflect where the County has been in the last several decades. So, I included some history in terms of myself, in that I am the first African American to be a part of the Board of Supervisors.”

Some items that he included were pins from the cities, brochures, and information on the widening of Highway 4, BART coming into the county system, eBART, community colleges, refineries, the Zero Tolerance initiative against Domestic Violence, electrifying of housing through the Sustainability Committee, the Office of Racial Equity and Social Justice, and the Youth Summits.

District 4 Supervisor Mitchoff included a letter highlighting the significant impacts of the pandemic and commenting: “My hope and wish are that 50 years from now, we will have returned to a time when people are respectful, more courteous, and more understanding of different points of view.” Her letter also identified major issues affecting Contra Costa County including the Delta, transportation, housing, and public service.

Mitchoff included letters from each city in her district and photos of their council members. All cities provided pins, Clayton provided a pen, and Pleasant Hill provided a stamp from this year’s library opening.

District 1 Supervisor John Gioia’s letter to the future indicated, “We faced enormous challenges. We persevered. We had faith in our young people and future leaders to protect and fight for our future. We know you will have the wisdom and the will to continue the fight for our planet and our communities.”

He included a CD about the Contra Costa Historical Society, a COVID home test kit, an N-95 mask, a San Francisco Bay Trail Map with a note hoping the trail would be fully built, a T-Shirt from the 5th annual Richmond Indigenous Peoples Walk to show respect for our native inhabitants, a T-Shirt from a recent Coastal Clean-Up Day, a “Racism is a Public Health Crisis” lapel pin, and a lapel pin of the original El Cerrito High School which Gioia attended.

District 2 Supervisor Candace Andersen’s items included letters from Danville, Lafayette, Moraga, Orinda and San Ramon. She also wrote a letter describing her role as County Supervisor, as well as the priorities and issues confronting District 2. Supervisor Andersen included a Blackhawk Bulletin, photos of the Alamo Municipal Advisory Council, and a PowerPoint presentation about District 2.

“I also included our holiday card, which is a picture of my staff because they are an integral part of what we do in serving the community,” she added.

To see all the items the Board of Supervisors placed in the new time capsule and opened from the 58-year-old time capsule, visit  https://www.contracosta.ca.gov/8735/Contra-Costa-County-Time-Capsule. The new time capsule is scheduled to be buried at 1025 Escobar Street and opened in 2072. Watch the video of the presentation and ceremony. For more information, you can visit https://www.contracosta.ca.gov/.

Bayh-Dole Act for intellectual property licensing designed to stimulate economic growth under attack

By Lita Nelsen

When I was a student at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology decades ago, Cambridge’s Kendall Square was a grubby, run-down warehouse district. Today, it’s known as the most innovative square mile on the planet.

The secret? The Bayh-Dole Act, or Trademark Law Amendments Act, a landmark piece of legislation passed in 1980 that allowed universities to keep the patents to any inventions they made. That meant that they could license these inventions to private companies, who would turn the new scientific knowledge into innovative products.

That one forward-looking law attracted hundreds of biotechnology companies to MIT’s backyard, helping to breathe new life into Kendall Square and revitalize Massachusetts’s economy. Cambridge, Mass., of course, wasn’t the only university community to thrive because of Bayh-Dole. Cities and towns surrounding hundreds of universities have prospered as a result.

Nevertheless, Bayh-Dole has recently come under attack by lawmakers who want to use the law as a mechanism to cut drug prices. Their goal of lowering drug prices for patients is admirable — but twisting the Bayh-Dole Act to use it as a price control tool would have disastrous consequences for America’s research universities, as well as U.S. consumers and patients, who will suffer as a result of any reduced investment in life sciences.

In a recent letter in support of this idea, lawmakers urged administrators at the Department of Health and Human Services to use Bayh-Dole to “march-in” and take away drug companies’ licenses to certain patents that stemmed from taxpayer-funded research. HHS could then relicense those drug patents to generic pharmaceutical companies that could create cheaper versions of the medicines.

That’s certain to make biotech investors and companies less willing to invest in university research. Why would any firm — small companies and startups especially — assume the risk of developing a new drug when the government could seize its patent rights if federal officials don’t like the price of the final product?

Lawmakers would do well to remember that Bayh-Dole fundamentally changed the research and development landscape in the United States for the better.

I should know. As the head of MIT’s Technology Licensing Office for almost three decades, I helped license thousands of technologies to the innovative companies that sprung up around campus.

Before Bayh-Dole, the government retained patent rights to any academic discoveries supported by public money and licensed just 5% of the nearly 30,000 patents it held. Consequently, while this pre-Bayh-Dole system worked to advance basic research, it failed to turn scientific advancement into usable, commercial products.

Bayh-Dole shifted that paradigm, providing a mechanism to translate academic research results into new technologies ranging from high-definition television and the page-rank algorithm that would become Google to FluMist® and CAR T-cell therapy. Companies exploiting Bayh-Dole inventions have contributed up to $1.9 trillion to the U.S. gross industrial output and up to $1 trillion to our GDP. They have supported nearly 6.5 million jobs and led to the creation of over 15,000 startups.

The bipartisan Bayh-Dole Act, as its authors clearly stated, was never meant to be a price-control mechanism. The law outlines four clearly defined instances where its march-in provisions can be exercised. Controlling prices is not one of them.

What today’s lawmakers don’t seem to grasp is that the unintended consequences of meddling with Bayh-Dole will outweigh any wished-for benefits.

Lita Nelsen retired from the Technology Licensing Office at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology after 30 years in the office. She was director of MIT TLO from 1992 to 2016. This op-ed originally ran in the Boston Herald.

Lamar and Kenry Young face life sentences

ANTIOCH, CA – On Monday, September 26, 2022, a jury of Kenry Lee Young and Lamar Young’s peers returned with a guilty verdict after a five-week trial. The brothers were convicted of California Penal Code Section 289 (sexual penetration by a foreign object), PC 287 (oral copulation), and two counts of PC 211 (robbery) for the numerous crimes they committed on October 17, 2020. (See related article)

While we regret these crimes took place, we would like to commend the bravery of the victims for coming forward and assisting with the prosecution of these two men. Because of their efforts, the Young brothers will never be able to victimize anyone else.

Additionally, we would like to thank Deputy District Attorney Jessica Murad and everyone else involved for their hard work during this lengthy trial.

The Antioch Police Department would like to thank the members of the community who assisted us with this investigation, in addition to the Contra Costa Sheriff’s Office Crime Lab, Serological Research Institute, FBI – Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Stockton Police Department.

Lastly, we would like to recognize the tireless efforts of Antioch PD Detective Kelly Inabnett, who was the lead investigator on this case. His extensive work and dedication to bringing justice to the victims led to the identification, arrest, and successful prosecution of this case.

Face Life Sentences

UPDATE: According to the Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office, Lamar and Kenry Young, the two brothers who callously committed a sexual assault and robbed two foreign national students in Antioch, are facing life sentences.

35-year-old Lamar Lee Young of Stockton and 33-year-old Kenry Lee Young of Antioch attacked a couple on October 16, 2020, before midnight in the Palms Parking Lot near G Street in Antioch. The victims traveled to Antioch from the South Bay to go fishing at a pier on the Delta. When the victims returned to their vehicle, Lamar and Kenry approached them on foot with handguns drawn while the couple were seated in their car. The Youngs then proceeded to use their firearms as blunt force weapons on both individuals, carried out sexual acts on the female victim, and robbed them of their valuables — including an ATM card.

Members of the Antioch Police Investigations Bureau took the lead in reviewing a large amount of video evidence – including areas near the scene of the crime and a bank’s security camera footage where Kenry Young attempted to use the stolen ATM cards to withdraw cash. Investigators also used a DNA sample from Kenry Young to compare it to forensic evidence from the scene of the crime – which resulted in a positive match.

On October 22, 2020, members of the Antioch Police Special Operations and Problem Oriented Policing Units arrested Kenry Young at his residence in Antioch, which was only a few blocks from the crime scene. Lamar Young, identified as the second suspect, was arrested in Stockton on October 29, 2020.

After the Youngs were booked into the Martinez Detention Facility, the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office filed a six-count felony complaint on November 2nd against Kenry and Lamar Young.

On September 26^th, 2022, a jury found both men guilty of forcible oral copulation and sexual penetration by a foreign object with enhancements for use of a dangerous or deadly weapon, as well as second-degree robbery and assault.  Each faces a minimum of 30 years to life. A sentencing date has been set for December 16^th, 2022, in Martinez in front of Judge Rebecca Hardie.

Deputy District Attorney Jessica Murad – who prosecuted the case for The People — said she’s thankful to the victims for coming forward and “having the courage to testify against these men for these truly horrific crimes. By doing so they have ensured no one else will ever be victimized by these brothers again.”

Antioch Police Detective Kelly Inabnett said in a statement: “I am sorry I met the victims during one of the most traumatic moments of their lives, but I am grateful and inspired by the strength they showed when testifying against their perpetrators. I am grateful the jury decided to hold the Young brothers accountable for their actions.”

The Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office and the Antioch Police Department would like to thank the Contra Costa Sheriff’s Office Crime Lab, Serological Research Institute, Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Stockton Police Department, the CCCDAO’s Sexual Assault Unit, Legal Assistants, Victim Support, and the members of the community who helped in the investigation and prosecution of this case.

Original Antioch Police News Release

ANTIOCH, CA. On Saturday, October 17, 2020, at about 1:00 am, Antioch Police patrol officers were notified of a brutal sexual assault that occurred in the Palms Parking Lot (near the Foot of G Street). Officers learned two victims were fishing at the San Joaquin River and returned to their vehicle at about 11:50 pm the previous evening. They were approached by two male suspects who were armed with handguns. The suspects robbed and pistol whipped both victims. After doing so, both suspects forced the female victim to perform sexual acts on them. The suspects left the scene in a vehicle – and minutes later – attempted to use a credit card stolen in the incident at an ATM.

Members of the Antioch Police Investigations Bureau took over the investigation and performed an extensive collection of video evidence. This included areas near the scene of the crime and the ATM that was used. From this video collection, investigators developed a suspect, 31-year-old KENRY LEE YOUNG of Antioch. A reference sample of his DNA was compared to forensic evidence from the scene of the crime, resulting in a positive match. On October 22, 2020, members of the Antioch Police Special Operations and Problem Oriented Policing Units arrested Kenry Lee Young at his residence, which was only a few blocks from the crime scene.

Detectives conducted additional investigation and learned the second suspect was Kenry Young’s brother, 33-year-old LAMAR YOUNG of Stockton. On October 29, 2020, members of the Special Operations and Problem Oriented Policing Units placed Lamar Young under arrest in Stockton.

On Monday, November 2, 2020, the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office charged both Kenry and Lamar Young with multiple felonies, including oral copulation by force, sodomy by force, sexual penetration by force, aggravated assault with a firearm, and two counts of

robbery. Both remain in-custody at the Martinez Detention Facility awaiting trial and their bail was set at $3,450,000.

The Antioch Police Department would like to thank the members of the community who assisted us with this investigation, in addition to the Contra Costa Sheriff’s Office Crime Lab, Serological Research Institute, FBI – Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Stockton Police Department.

Additional inquiries or information can be directed to Antioch Police Detective Inabnett at (925) 779-6932 or by emailing kinabnett@antiochca.gov. Anonymous tips or information about this – or any other incident – can be sent via text to 274637 (CRIMES) with the keyword ANTIOCH.

SEATS ARE GOING FAST!!!!! YOU DONT WANT TO MISS THIS!!!!!
Join the Antioch Chamber of Commerce and Pacific Gas & Electric Company for the 2022 State of Business Luncheon- RSVP Required at www.AntiochChamber.com.

The East County Branch would like to invite you to its Candidate Forums in October. The Pittsburg City Council Candidate Forum will be held, tonight, Wednesday, Oct. 5 from 6-8 p.m. in the East County Branch office at 186 E. Leland Road, Pittsburg. The Antioch City Council Districts 1 and 4 Candidate Forum will be held Thursday, Oct. 6 from 6-8 p.m. in the Antioch Council Chambers at 200 H Street.

Please join us either in person or virtually where you will have the opportunity to meet the candidates and hear their positions on vital issues affecting our community. The format includes the opportunity for the candidates to ask each other questions and offer rebuttals to their answers.

Additional forums are scheduled for Pittsburg and Antioch school board candidates on Oct. 19 and 20, respectively.

For more information contact info@eastcountynaacp.org or (925) 439-5099 or visit us at www.eastcountynaacp.org

Because District 1 Antioch Councilwoman Tamisha Torres-Walker chose not to attend the Antioch Police Community Forum previously scheduled for Sept. 21st from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m., it was postponed until Wednesday, Oct. 5 at 4:30 to 6:00 p.m., instead, at her request. (See related article)