By Scott Alonso, Public Information Officer, Contra Costa County District Attorney

Last week, Donaciano Rodriguez, a 66-year-old resident of Delano, California, was sentenced to 94 years to life in state prison for sexually abusing a minor in Antioch. His sentence was determined by the Honorable Judge Laurel Brady in Department 31 of the Contra Costa County Superior Court in Martinez.

The jury in this case found Rodriguez guilty of 11 felonies ranging from oral copulation, sexual penetration with a child 10 years old or younger and forced lewd acts upon a child. Deputy District Attorney Bryan Tierney with our Sexual Assault Unit prosecuted the case on behalf of the People. The trial occurred in late June and lasted eight days. Our Office would like to extend gratitude for the Antioch Police Department for their work investigating the case.

“The victim in this case and her family were very cooperative during the investigation and trial. Without their help there would be no justice. The defendant committed heinous crimes against Jane Doe that will forever impact her. I am thankful that the jury followed all the evidence and held the defendant accountable,” DDA Tierney stated.

In 2017, Jane Doe bravely came forward to the police to report the assaults which occurred years earlier. The victim reported that the defendant repeatedly assaulted her and threatened her if she came forward to authorities. Antioch Police continued the investigation and the defendant was eventually arrested later that year in Kern County. He has remained in custody since his arrest.

When the defendant was arrested by police, he admitted he molested the minor multiple times. He even demonstrated to the investigators what he did to Jane Doe. The attacks against Jane Doe occurred in multiple locations in Antioch.

Case information: People v. Donaciano Rodriguez, Docket Number 05-182336-8

Assemblyman Jim Frazier

SACRAMENTO – Last night, Governor Gavin Newsom signed AB 1019 by Assemblymember Jim Frazier (D-Discovery Bay) that would add two additional seats to a statewide advisory committee on apprenticeships and had overwhelming and bi-partisan support in both the Assembly and Senate.

AB 1019 would add both the Director of Rehabilitation and the Executive Director of the State Council on Developmental Disabilities to the Interagency Advisory Committee on Apprenticeships (IACA). This move would be to specifically address job and apprenticeship rates for Californians living with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD) by the creation of a subcommittee with that exact purpose.

“Since 2013, California has had an employment first policy for the IDD community,” Assemblymember Frazier said. “Yet California has seen minimal growth in the employment rate for persons living with disabilities despite continued economic growth since the great recession.”

The American Community Survey reports that in 2017, the employment rate of working age people living with a disability (ages 21 to 64) in California was 36.9 percent compared to the percentage of working age people without a disability which was 77.3, a stark difference of 40.5 percent. Additional data from 2017 shows that 23.1 percent of working age people living with a disability on California are living in poverty.

By Lt. John Fortner, Investigations Bureau, Antioch Police Department

On Wed., July 31, 2019, at approximately 10:20 PM, Antioch police officers were called to the area of Cavallo Road and East 18th Street for a subject who had been shot in the leg. When police arrived, they located a 33-year-old male victim down in the street suffering from a gunshot wound. Officers immediately began providing first aid and called for Contra Costa Fire Department and ambulance paramedics.

The victim was transported to a local area trauma center where he ultimately succumbed to his injuries. Detectives from the Antioch Police Department’s Investigations Bureau responded to the scene. During the investigation, a suspect was identified and later taken into custody for questioning.

Currently, the investigation is still active, and evidence is being collected and processed at this time.

Anyone with information is asked to call Detective Casey Brogdon at (925) 779-6895, or the Antioch Police Department non-emergency line at (925) 778-2441. You may also text-a-tip to 274637 (CRIMES) using the key word ANTIOCH.

See photos of the scene from the KTVU FOX2 news report, here.

Antoine Waller. Photo by Antioch PD.

By Lieutenant Powell Meads #3917, Field Services, Antioch Police Department

On July 29, 2019 at approximately 5:45 PM, the Antioch Police Department began receiving several calls reporting gunshots fired inside of Popeyes, located at 5019 Lone Tree Way. As officers were responding they received additional information that the victim was an employee, and the responsible had fled on foot. When officers arrived on scene, they located the 23-year-old male victim, who was suffering from at least one gunshot wound. It was confirmed the victim was an employee of Popeyes. The victim was transported via medical helicopter to a local hospital, where he was rushed into surgery and is currently in critical condition.

Several witnesses on scene identified the suspect as 22-year-old Antoine Waller. Waller was also an employee of Popeyes and had gone home sick earlier in the day. Officers located a nearby address for Waller in the 5000 block of Catanzaro Way. Officers quickly responded to the address and established a perimeter. Efforts were made to contact Waller, and after a short period of time he exited the home and surrendered.

Evidence linking Waller to the shooting was recovered inside the residence. The firearm believed to be used in the shooting was also located and had previously been reported stolen. Waller is a convicted felon and not able to legally possess a firearm. The motive for the shooting is still under investigation.

Waller was arrested and will be booked into County Jail for a variety of felony charges including attempted murder and weapons violations.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Antioch Police Department non-emergency line at (925) 778-2441. You may also text-a-tip to 274637 (CRIMES) using the key word ANTIOCH.

Simon Mendoza Chavez & Simon Magana Chavez. Photos by Antioch PD.

By Lt. John Fortner – Investigations, Antioch Police Department

On June 13, 2019, members of the Antioch Police Department began investigating an extensive sexual abuse case. The abuse involved several minors that were victimized by a father and son who provided foster care for the children from 2011 through 2017. (See related article)

Earlier this month, Antioch detectives from the Investigations Bureau arrested 64-year-old Simon Mendoza Chavez, and his son 31-year-old Simon Magana Chavez, in connection with these crimes. Both father and son were charged with the sexual abuse of multiple children, unlawfully having sex with a minor, and lewd acts with a child.

Currently, detectives assigned to the Investigation Bureau’s Sex Crimes Unit are working with the District Attorney’s office as the case is ongoing and active. Members of the public with information about the case are asked to call Detective Kelly Inabnett at (925) 779-6932.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Antioch Police Department non-emergency line at (925) 778-2441. You may also text-a-tip to 274637 (CRIMES) using the key word ANTIOCH.

By Scott Alonso, Public Information Office, Contra Costa District Attorney

Earlier this month, the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office charged defendant Simon Chavez, a 64-year-old resident of Antioch, California and his son Simon Magana Chavez, 31-year-old resident of Atwater, California for the sexual abuse of multiple children and unlawfully having sex with a minor.

The elder Chavez was a foster father at his home in Antioch with Contra Costa County’s Children and Family Services. Overall, he fostered young children under his care for at least 18 years.

Simon Chavez entered a not guilty plea to the 63 felonies on July 16 in the Pittsburg Superior Court before the Honorable Leonard Marquez. Chavez is in custody at the Martinez Detention Facility and his bail is $31.5 million.

Chavez’s son, Simon Magana Chavez was arraigned this past Friday in the Pittsburg Superior Court. He pleaded not guilty to the complaint. The younger Chavez is charged with multiple felonies and misdemeanors related for crimes against two children, including lewd acts against a child and unlawful sex. As recently as 2018, Simon Magana Chavez was a correctional officer with the state of California. The bail for Simon Magana Chavez is $1.23 million.

Both cases are assigned to Deputy District Attorney Diana Weiss with our Office’s Sexual Assault Unit.

Our Office does not release how a victim may know a defendant in a sexual assault case as well as the age or name of a victim to protect their confidentiality.

The investigation is ongoing and active. Members of the public with information about the case should call Antioch Police Detective Kelly Inabnett at 925-779-6932.

Case information: People v. Simon Chavez, Docket Number 04-197245-4; People v. Simon Magana Chavez, Docket Number 04-197264-5.

By Sergeant Rick Hoffman #4515, Antioch Police Field Services Bureau

On Thursday, July 25, 2019, at approximately 10:30 pm, Antioch Police Department officers were dispatched to the area of East 18th Street and Phillips Lane for a report of a major injury motorcycle collision. Upon arrival, officers located the motorcycle at the north curb line of East 18th Street just west of Phillips Lane with extensive damage. Officers located an unoccupied passenger vehicle in a nearby parking lot. The passenger vehicle also had extensive damage, which appeared to be as a result of a collision with the motorcycle. Officers found the motorcycle rider had been ejected from the motorcycle and was suffering from serious injuries. The 34-year-old motorcycle rider was transported to a local hospital where he is listed in critical condition. The driver of the passenger vehicle was not located.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Antioch Police Department non-emergency line at (925) 778-2441 or You may also text-a-tip to 274637 (CRIMES) using the key word ANTIOCH.

Suspects from Antioch, Bay Point

By Jimmy Lee, Director of Public Affairs, Contra Costa County Office of the Sheriff

Two suspects involved in a homicide and assault with a deadly weapon case in Bay Point that occurred on Thursday, July 18, 2019 have been formally charged with murder by the Contra Costa D.A.’s Office. Detectives from the Contra Costa County Office of the Sheriff Investigation Division presented their case to the D.A.’s Office on Thursday, July 25, 2019.

Both suspects remain in custody at the Martinez Detention Facility. 20-year-old Abel Garcia of Antioch, who was arrested on July 18, 2019, is held being held on murder, conspiracy, assault with a deadly weapon, and robbery charges. 24-year-old Erick Ruiz of Bay Point was arrested Friday, July 19, 2019. He is being held on the same charges. Both are being held without bail.

On Thursday, July 18, 2019, at about 9:09 PM, Muir Station Deputy Sheriffs were dispatched to a suspicious circumstance in the area of Riverside Drive and Mariners Cove in Bay Point. The caller stated that there was a man who appeared to be beaten in the street. Deputies arrived and found an unresponsive man in front of a home on the 200 block of Riverside Drive. The victim was taken to a local hospital where he was later pronounced deceased. He is identified as 38-year-old Johnny Burns of Bay Point. Later at about 9:21 PM, Deputy Sheriffs responded to a report of an assault with a deadly weapon on the 2700 block of Willow Pass Road in Bay Point. The victim was later treated and released from a local hospital.

The suspect vehicle and suspect descriptions were broadcast to law enforcement agencies in the area. The Concord Police Department later located the vehicle. Deputies responded to that location and took custody of Abel. An arrest warrant was issued for the Ruiz, who was arrested the next day.

The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with any information on this case is asked to contact the Office of the Sheriff at (925) 646-2441 or Investigation Division at (925) 313-2600. For any tips, email: tips@so.cccounty.us or call (866) 846-3592 to leave an anonymous voice message.