After a series win against the New York Mets, the Atlanta Braves are headed to the West Coast to start a long, ten-game road trip that will see them visit San Francisco, Denver, and Los Angeles. The start of the trip features another weekend set against the Giants, from whom the Braves took two of three a few days ago.

A rough August has driven the Giants into a dogfight for the final Wild Card spot in what is a nastily-crowded playoff race. The Giants are half a game out of a playoff spot at present, tied with the division rival Diamondbacks. The thing is, there are six teams within a 4.5-game spread for all three Wild Card spots in the NL at present, so it’s just a mess. The Giants haven’t helped matters, as they’ve gone 5-12 over their last 17 games, turning what looked like a comfortable path to a playoff spot into a sticky situation. On August 3, the Giants sat at 61-49 and just 2.5 games behind the Dodgers, but now any division-related dreams are long gone and a playoff spot is far from a sure thing.

While the Giants have a decent group of position players, they lack the star player that can carry a lineup. The position player leaders in fWAR, Thairo Estrada and Patrick Bailey, are more known for their defense than offense, and Estrada’s xwOBA is under .300. Their two best hitters, meanwhile, have been Wilmer Flores and LaMonte Wade Jr., but both don’t really provide defensive value.

While the Giants have struggled, the Braves have been hot again, going 15-7 in August so far. The pitching has been exceptional this month, with seven shutouts already, including one last night against the Mets. They also shut out the Giants last Friday, the third of three in a row. It’s not like the Braves have really needed the dominant pitching, either, since they have the most position player fWAR in August, but as has been the case for much of the year, there’s just an embarrassment of riches rolling around this roster.

Friday, August 25, 10:15 p.m. ET (Bally Sports Southeast)

Spencer Strider (25 GS, 146.1 IP, 38.2 K%, 7.7 BB%, 34.2 GB%, 3.57 ERA, 2.87 FIP)

After his blowup start in Pittsburgh, Spencer Strider has bounced back brilliantly, delivering 14 scoreless innings in his last two starts. His last start came against these very Giants, where he threw seven scoreless innings while striking out 10 and allowing one hit and one walk. After seven scoreless against the Mets where he did not have his best stuff, Strider had his “A” game against the Giants. He will look to use his overwhelming fastball-slider combo to once again stifle San Francisco. When it comes to getting strikeouts, Strider is the undisputed king, having 32 more strikeouts than any other pitcher in baseball, despite only ranking 21st in innings pitched. His fastball and slider both get exceptional whiff numbers, which puts hitters at his mercy. He has 100 strikeouts on the fastball and 111 strikeouts on his slider. The young right-hander has ten double-digit strikeout games, and eight more where he struck out nine batters.

Logan Webb (26 GS, 169 IP, 24.2 K%, 3.9 BB%, 60.7 GB%, 3.36 ERA, 3.27 FIP)

Logan Webb has had a stellar year, combining very good stats with elite volume, putting together a season that has him in Cy Young contention. (Interestingly, he actually leads baseball in pitching WARP, but isn’t that close to the top in fWAR.) In his start against the Braves last week, he ate six innings, but was not at his best, allowing a homer with a 5/0 K/BB ratio. Webb relies on getting ground balls and avoiding walks, with his 60.7 grounder rate and 3.9 walk rate both among the best in baseball.

Webb’s had a bit of a rough stretch of luck since the All-Star Break: he was at a 74 ERA-, 77 FIP-, and 67 xFIP- through it, and 93/82/unchanged 67 since.

Saturday, August 26, 4:05 p.m. ET (Bally Sports Southeast, FS1)

Max Fried (9 GS, 47.2 IP, 23.2 K%, 4.6 BB%, 61 GB%, 2.83 ERA, 3.10 FIP)

The Giants fared better against Max Fried compared to their hopeless performance against Strider. In his outing against the Giants last week, Fried went 5 2⁄3 innings, allowing three runs on nine hits. It was kind of a weird outing for him, as he allowed two homers for just the 13th multihomer game of his career, but still managed a 6/1 K/BB ratio.

Fried’s stats since returning from the Injured List are pretty much what you’d expect in aggregate (84/74/69), but those are heavily weighted by him dominating the Cubs, as the line changes to 116/96/86 in his last three starts. His contact management (.318 xwOBA-against) in those three starts hasn’t been up to his usual, essentially best-in-class standards, but as you can probably tell, he’s just been victimized by balls in play and his defense, with a .390 wOBA-against in the same span. He’ll be just fine, and it’s actually pretty impressive how he hasn’t missed much of a beat despite the long layoff.

The Giants starter is to be determined but it is likely that they will have a bullpen day, a tactic the Giants use a lot. Sean Manaea, Jakob Junis and Tristan Beck are guys who might see multiple innings in a bullpen game. The Braves saw a fair bit of Junis and Beck in Atlanta, and Manaea’s pitched great since moving to a bulk role.

Sunday, August 27, 7:10 p.m. ET (ESPN)

The Braves starter for Sunday’s game is to be determined. They have a ton of options that have all already drawn starts this year, but it seems like Collin McHugh or Michael Tonkin will probably have a big role in the game as well.

Kyle Harrison (1 GS, 3.1 IP, 31.3 K%, 6.3 BB%, 11.1 GB%, 5.40 ERA, 5.97 FIP)

While it has yet to be announced, Sunday is rookie Kyle Harrison’s spot in the rotation. Harrison is the number one prospect in the Giants organization and has put up obscene strikeout numbers in his minor league career. In 279 1⁄3 minor league innings, Harrison has 452 strikeouts, or 14.6 K/9. He gets those numbers with an elite fastball-slider combo. His mid-90s fastball gets on hitters quickly due to his low arm slot and his low 80s sweeping slider is also a massive whiff generator. He had trouble with control this year in Triple-A, walking 6.6 batters per nine innings, so a patient approach could cause problems for the young pitcher. In his big league debut, Harrison went 3.1 innings against the Phillies, allowing two earned runs while allowing five hits and generating five strikeouts to one walk. He somehow got just one grounder to eight balls in the air in that game, which might make him a fine fit for his home ballpark but is a really dangerous way to try and survive.

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The first year of the DeMeco Ryans era with the Texans officially begins this week, and with it a new NFL season.

vacation is over. There are no more free weeks, except for the open house week. Newcomers and veterans will officially report to training camp on Tuesday, with their first practice session on Wednesday.

Here are 11 pressing questions as the Texans get to camp:

As the 49ers’ defensive coordinator, Ryans directed defense plays. As the Texans head coach, he’s more of a supervisor than the everyday guy he was in San Francisco.

This offseason, he’s debated whether to call the plays or have defensive coordinator Matt Burke call them. That requires a certain amount of trust in his first year.

As Ryan’s final season in San Francisco dictated plays, the 49ers finished the second most takeaways (30) and conceded the fewest yards (300.6) and points per game (16.3). It is not uncommon for coaches to announce moves. Lovie Smith was the Texans’ defensive end last year.

Burke was the Dolphins’ defensive coordinator from 2017-2018. Ryans has said he would be confident if Burke called the plays.

Will Kenyon Green be ready?

The sophomore guard missed the entire season break after undergoing arthroscopic knee surgery. The Texans have invested heavily in the former 2022 first-round pick. Last season there were moments when he looked good and moments when he struggled. The fact that he missed the entire offseason doesn’t bode well.

The Texans are hoping Shaq Mason will be a good influence. They joined Mason this season off, extending his contract by three years and $36 million.

Green must have a better year.

What is the tight end depth?

The Texans have signed former cowboy Dalton Schultz as a free agent. It was a good move for a side hungry for close possession. But behind Schultz, the Texans don’t have much depth in the form of the production.

Teagan Quitoriano and Brevin Jordan combined for just 21 catches for 241 yards and two touchdowns in 2022. Both are young so they could improve.

But the Texans should consider adding more competition at training camp.

Who will be the middle linebacker?

Christian Kirksey or Denzel Perryman? That is the question.

After a season in which the Texans finished last in the NFL in rushing yards allowed, the Texans went out and signed Perryman, considered one of the NFL’s best run stoppers. In 2021, he was selected to the Pro Bowl for the first time.

However, the Texans have a choice to make. Downsizing Kirksey could save them $5.2 million in cap space. Or they could keep him and put him or Perryman in the role of an outside linebacker and both start. Kirksey’s whereabouts would give the Texans insurance for Perryman, who has not played a full season in eight years due to injuries.

Are there enough wide receivers?

The Texans have added Noah Brown and Robert Woods to free agency and expect to win back John Metchie III, who was absent last season after being diagnosed with leukemia. They also drafted former UH receiver Tank Dell in the third round.

But do the Texans have enough receiving talent to make a jump? That was one of their problems in 2022.

Your top receiver from last season, Brandin Cooks, has been traded leaving someone else to step in. Will it be Nico Collins? The most important thing for Collins is to make sure he’s healthy. He has missed games in each of his first two seasons, including seven in 2022.

Collins had 37 catches for 481 yards in 10 games last season.

“Being there for the team, playing the ball, making plays,” Collins said when asked what he’s capable of while staying healthy. “That’s definitely my goal. That is the goal of everyone: to stay healthy for 17 years.”

Steven Nelson getting a new contract?

The veteran cornerback, 30, wants a new contract. He fired his longtime agent and recently hired David Mulugheta. Nelson has been vocal about his displeasure on social media, posting memes that appear to be critical of general manager Nick Caserio.

Nelson did not participate in voluntary OTAs but did attend the mandatory mini-camp. He has not spoken to the media this offseason.

It’s unclear how the Texans will handle Nelson’s situation and whether they want to sign him for a longer contract or let him expire.

They’re deep in the roster as a cornerback, especially after signing Shaquill Griffin as free agency to join forces with Derek Stingley, Desmond King, Tavierre Thomas and Nelson. The Texans are also reportedly coaching veteran cornerback Ronald Darby.

Nelson, who played 16 of 17 games in 2022, is in the final season of a two-year, $9 million contract. His $4.5 million average ranks 39th among NFL corners.

Why isn’t CJ Stroud signed?

Stroud is the only Texas rookie not to sign his rookie contract. And unlike minicamps and OTAs, CBA rules don’t allow newcomers to attend camp until their contracts are complete. Stroud is one of seven NFL rookies drafted in the first round who have not signed their contracts. The others include Anthony Richardson and Devon Witherspoon.

The first round contract bonus, total value, and guarantee are already set aside for draft picks, but agents can still negotiate when a player will receive their contract bonuses. That’s what’s probably holding things up.

Last season, Stingley was paid 80 percent of his contract bonus within 15 days of signing. The other 20 percent was paid on or before December 15, according to a source.

Both sides would like to reach an agreement before the start of the training camp. According to Spotrac, Stroud’s deal is said to be a four-year, $36.279 million contract with a $23.38 million signing bonus. He is expected to hit a $6.6 million salary cap for the 2023 season.

The Texans freshmen are expected to arrive Tuesday, the same day as the veterans. The first training starts on Wednesday. A deal could happen at any time.

Will Stroud be the starter?

The rookie quarterback will go into camp tied with Davis Mills for the starting spot. The expectation is that Stroud will win.

He was impressive at minicamp and OTAs. His teammates were impressed with his leadership and preparation. They say he plays confidently. Stroud recently hosted receivers and tight ends in California for a throwing session. They got to know each other better and worked on their timing.

The biggest question is how soon the Texans would name Stroud the starter. You want him to deserve the job. Stroud wants to earn it too.

The first few pre-season games will probably decide a lot. But the sooner his teammates know and he snaps most first-team snaps, the better. It’s up to Stroud to set himself apart from Mills.

Who starts in the middle?

The Texans drafted their future center, Juice Scruggs, in the second round of the 2023 draft.

He will battle for a starting position with the experienced Scott Quessenberry, who started all but one game last season after Justin Britt took a leave of absence.

Quessenberry took the most first-team snaps at minicamp. That doesn’t mean he’ll be in the starting XI, but it seems that trend has started before the break.

Can Scruggs outrun him?

What will Bobby Slowik’s offensive look like?

It’s going to be very similar to what the 49ers are doing. A lot of power when running and playful passes.

Slowik learned his offensive philosophy from mentor Mike Shanahan and through working with Shanahan’s son Kyle. But Slowik will have its own twist.

As Collins described it, “I feel like this offense gives everyone an opportunity to touch the ball and make plays. When your number is called, make a game. You know, Coach Bobby, he tells us, “If you’ve got the ball in your hands, go score.”

We probably won’t know the depth of the plan until we practice alongside the Dolphins and Saints.

How good can the line of defense be?

The Texans rushed for 2,894 yards in 17 games last season. It was the sixth-most allowed rushing yards in NFL history.

One of Ryans’ top priorities was strengthening the defensive line. He did.

The Texans gave up a lot to pick Will Anderson Jr. as the No. 3 draft pick, but he could be an immediate starter and hitter. They also signed defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins, renewed defensive tackle Malik Collins and added a few more plays for depth.

With Jerry Hughes back and a healthy Jonathan Greenard, the Texans are a lot better this year than they were last year. How much better remains to be seen.

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The freeways of San Mateo County Highway 101 from Whipple Avenue in Redwood City to Interstate 380 in South San Francisco will open to all FasTrak users on Friday.

The lane was softly opened in October when no charges were collected during the testing period, but lanes are open for testing to 3+ HOV users and commuter buses.

Friday is the first loading day for anyone with a FasTrak transponder. There will be dynamic pricing along the entire 22-mile corridor in both directions, using the same rules as the southern section of the 101 Express lanes. Dynamic pricing means that the price to use the lane increases or decreases depending on congestion. A system monitors tolls and increases or decreases them to keep traffic flowing. According to SamTrans spokesman Mahmoud Abunie, the highest prices depend on how far people travel and how busy the traffic is. He also pointed out that an average toll isn’t always an accurate way to predict prices, but the average southbound toll was $3 in November.

A FasTrak or FasTrak Flex is required to use the express lanes, with drivers only requiring a toll tag in the vehicle. Carpools of more than 3 people, van pools, buses, and motorcycles can use the lane for free with a FasTrak Flex or FasTrak CAV toll tag. Two-person carpools and drivers of clean air vehicles can receive a 50% toll reduction. Single drivers pay the full toll.

The San Mateo County express lanes operate Monday through Friday from 5 a.m. to 8 p.m. Outside these times, the lanes are accessible to all drivers free of charge. Anyone entering the fast lane during operating hours without FasTrak will receive a Violation Alert at the address of the registered vehicle.

The project created 22 miles of freeways in San Mateo County off Highway 101 to connect to freeways in Santa Clara County. Caltrans added one lane in both directions on Highway 101 from Whipple Avenue to Interstate 380 in South San Francisco, the northern section, with the left-most lanes converted to express lanes. Construction of the northern section began in February 2020. A southern section runs from the San Mateo County and Santa Clara County lines to Whipple Avenue in Redwood City and is complete. For the past few months, Caltrans teams have been testing toll devices and signals in the northern section of the borough in preparation for the opening.

The freeways are managed by the San Mateo County Express Lanes Joint Powers Authority. The six-member Joint Powers Authority consists of three board members from the San Mateo County Transportation Authority and three board members from the San Mateo County City/County Association of Governments.

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Also some info on Anthony DeSclafani’s toe.

• From
  
  Bryan Murphy
  

• on May 14, 2023 11:15 am

A few minutes ago, the San Francisco Giants announced that after yesterday’s game, David Villar was selected for the Triple-A Sacramento to activate Brandon Crawford for tonight’s finals in Arizona.

Not at all surprising — Susan Slusser interviewed him in an article published May 10, in which even he knew the signs were up — but another step that shows the Giants are walking a tightrope in rebuilding and developing . Gabe Kapler says in the Slusser article I wanted to write here:

“The only thing I still want to be very clear about is that David has only had 100 record appearances,” said Kapler. “It’s a really quick look and given his track record you know he’s a good hitter. I didn’t even pay a moment’s attention to the traditional line stats. Underneath, there were enough hard shots and consistent enough balls in the air that you feel like he’s going to get some good results in the end.

Villar’s 50% ball rate is exactly 100 PA and his 14.3% FB/HR rate is almost exactly the same as the team’s overall rate of 17.4% (second best in MLB). However, the 30% strikeout rate is a real disappointment – he just doesn’t put a lot of balls in play. Statcast likes his defense and we saw him do well on second base after JD Davis’ glove on third base was so surprising that it overpowered him.

At the end of last year I raised my flag at Villar:

Villar’s success doesn’t seem to me to be a coincidence. Those 47 home runs come with a .275/.388/.555 line in 812 plate appearances. He carried this over to a .231/.332/.455 line in 181 major league plate appearances.

[…]

FanGraphs’ Steamer predictions rate Davis and Villar similarly and not in a way that suggests they will be key players — .325 woBA for both, with Villar ahead in fWAR and homers: 1.5 to 1.1 13 to 11 respectively. I’m not smart enough to refute predictions, I can only assume what I’ve seen after four years of the Zaidi era, and that’s how they were able to figure out a usage model that maximizes players’ skills. Most of these skills are reflected in publicly available statistics, but not all.

The Giants both have no glaring need that would compel them to be patient for Villar to “complete his development at the major league level” (an expression we’ve heard before when talking about certain prospects in certain situations goes). Let’s hope he can triple-A and retain those lessons when he comes back.

I have a feeling they will need David Villar’s racquet at some point this season.

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Meanwhile, the return of Brandon Crawford means Casey Schmitt will be pushed throughout infield if he doesn’t spell the 36-year-old. This will be another important moment for Crawford as – like Villar – there are some signs hanging on the wall. We all know this is Crawford’s final season in the Giants jersey. It could be his last season in Major League Baseball. The 36-year-old midfielder’s story doesn’t point to a triumphant ending. However, it’s still worth introducing him as a starter to see where he lands on the spectrum of prepared and playable characters, and it will be a good test of Schmitt’s versatility.

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Luke Jackson will be an important name to remember as we near the end of the month. As Alex Pavlovic notes, he is eligible to complete the 60-day IL (in which he rehabilitated after Tommy John’s surgery) on May 29.

Back in January I wrote about the Jackson acquisition – which is still sort of one of Zaidi’s biggest moves as a POBO – and called it John Brebbia 2.0. In 2021, he pitched in 11 of Atlanta’s 16 postseason games, but also saw his slider spin rate drop after the league began cracking down on sticky players. And then he had TJ surgery last year.

The Giants will need a fresher version of John Brebbia to get through the rest of the season. The one they have now is showing signs of wear and tear from last season’s overuse, and if the Rays’ model of treating pitchers like chewing gum has now become the industry norm, the Giants are going to need a new stick of spearmint here soon. The bullpen is still wobbly.

Of course, the rotation is looking a little shaky at the moment due to Anthony DeSclafani’s toe issue. We found out yesterday that a piano bench fell on his toe the other day and it’s still causing him problems. Everyone I know who has had a fracture or other toe injury has never fully recovered from it. He needs to get a special shoe or something. We hope he doesn’t miss any time. The Giants really need his arm…and they have to hope he doesn’t overcompensate to the point of increasing the risk of an arm injury.

Continue reading

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A new program by the City of San Francisco to revitalize the empty downtown area to provide free rents and grant money for pop-up shops was launched Monday. Applications are now available.

Since 2020, around the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, San Francisco has seen a major loss of storefronts and retail locations in the city. High crime rates, overt drug use, and record numbers of homeless vagrants in neighborhoods are all major contributors to this loss. Additionally, high rents, a huge drop in foot traffic caused by businesses migrating from the city center, and many businesses relocating out of town to be closer to where owners and employees live have contributed . As a result, both chain stores and independent companies have left San Francisco, leaving a large number of vacancies.

With nearly a third of all downtown office and retail space now vacant, and similar rates elsewhere in the city, San Francisco has tried numerous schemes in recent years without success. In her State of the City in February, Mayor London Breed highlighted many areas to focus on to bring businesses back to the city centre, including improving safety and cleanliness, attracting and retaining a wide range of industries and employers, finding new uses and flexibility in vacant buildings, making it easier to start a business, increasing the workforce, making downtown a cultural and entertainment center, improving public spaces, improving transportation and focusing on the positives of the city to attract new residents and businesses.

Specifically, as part of this plan, the mayor is calling for lowering permitting costs, suspending tax hikes for businesses remaining in the city, and offering three-year tax breaks to new businesses. For the development of downtown into an entertainment hub, Mayor Breed even proposed passing legislation allowing outdoor drinking.

However, the situation has not improved. While the summer tourist season may bring more potential customers to these stores, many are still staying away due to the whole array of issues mentioned earlier. Needing more ways to attract businesses, San Francisco decided to focus on pop-up stores or short-term retail and arts locations that typically last less than a few months by launching a new program Monday.

Accepted pop-up stores, known as Vacant to Vibrant, will receive three months of free rent plus an additional subsidy of $3,000 to $8,000 to help cover relocation costs. Interested companies must first fill out an application. Once accepted, a committee will rank each one, with the highest-ranking interested property owners being cheered. Owners must apply themselves to be considered to host such a business, with areas under 5,000 square feet being preferred first. The must-haves for interested landlords include available WiFi, at least one bathroom and a ground floor apartment.

The city will foot the bill itself, with $710,000 provided by the Office of Economic and Workforce Development and nonprofit group SF New Deal.

“Vacant to Vibrant is a city-funded program aimed at revitalizing the economic heart of San Francisco (aka “Downtown”) by helping small businesses, entrepreneurs, artists, and cultural organizations activate vacant storefronts, to revitalize the area and promote economic recovery,” the Vacant says on Vibrant’s website. “As part of the larger vision of Mayor Breed’s Roadmap to Downtown San Francisco, Vacant to Vibrant will provide a glimpse of what the future of downtown with public participation can look like – innovative, creative, vibrant and diverse.”

While the program has been praised by some in the city, many others have serious doubts as to whether the pop-up locations will have any success.

“It’s not going to be successful,” Michelle Duggan, a building occupancy researcher, told the Globe on Monday. “Cities in the Bay Area have literally been trying to launch pop-up stores for years, but to no avail. The city lures them in, they stay there for 3-4 months, then they leave. Not many business cycles go through and few people benefit. Some of the better known ones, like San FranDisco, had a good couple of early days but quickly fell by the wayside as the city’s troubles crept in.”

“It’s good that the city is still trying, but it’s ignoring the incentives that are proven to work, like tax breaks and city programs to reduce crime and other related issues, to make them stay.” We know how to get business back, but San Francisco seems to be trying everything except the obvious solutions for long-term retail and other leases.”

Applications for the Vacant to Vibrant program are open until June 1st.

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By Sean Emery
The Orange County Registry

ORANGE COUNTY, Calif. — More than six years after three men brazenly escaped from an Orange County jail, the trial of the accused mastermind of the prison break: a Newport Beach cannabis grower and former international fugitive who has since been convicted and to was sentenced to life imprisonment for kidnapping and torture in prison.

Hossein Nayeri listens to opening statements at the Supreme Court in Santa Ana, CA. Nayeri is accused of kidnapping and vehicle theft following his escape from an Orange County jail in 2016. (Paul Bersebach, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Hossein Nayeri, 44, has previously publicly admitted taking part in the 2016 escape from Santa Ana’s Central Jail Complex, even recording the escape on a contraband cell phone. An intensive week-long manhunt ended with Nayeri and his fellow fugitives being re-arrested.

On Monday, as Nayeri’s final trial began in a Santa Ana courtroom less than a block from the scene of the prison break, his defense attorney dismissed prosecutor’s claims that Nayeri was also involved in kidnapping a taxi driver or stealing a van, according to the headline-grabbing Escape.

At the time of the escape, Nayeri — whom prosecutors had previously likened to the fictional Hannibal Lecter and described as a “psychopath” and a “truly diabolical criminal” — was already accused of orchestrating one of Orange County’s most violent and shocking crimes in recent memory.

In 2012, Nayeri and two high school friends kidnapped and tortured a marijuana dispensary owner who they mistakenly believed had a non-existent million dollars buried in the Mojave Desert. The pharmacy’s owner was beaten with plastic tubing, shocked with a taser and burned with a blowtorch before his penis was cut off and he was left tied up in the desert.

A woman who was kidnapped along with the owner of the pharmacy managed to escape and waved for help. The missing body part was never found.

Nayeri quickly fled the country and traveled to his native Iran before being identified as a suspect in the kidnapping and torture.

Unbeknownst to Nayeri, his then-wife agreed to work with law enforcement to persuade him to travel to another country, where he was arrested and extradited to the United States.

[EARLIER: Calif. officials: Staffing issues aided inmates escape]

While at the local jail, Nayeri reportedly teamed up with two other inmates — Bac Tien Duong and Jonathan Tieu — and spent months cutting half-inch steel bars to gain access to plumbing tunnels inside the central prison complex.

During a visit to the prison, Duong Loc provided Nguyen, an old friend, with a list of items needed for the escape, including cell phones, rope, a utility knife, and civilian clothes.

During Monday’s testimony, Nguyen said he agreed to bring the items “out of fear.” He described walking out of the prison twice in the early hours of the morning, where he attached backpacks filled with the items to ropes with hooks, which inmates apparently used to pull the bags onto the prison roof.

“What did you think the items would be used for?” Assistant District Attorney David McMurrin asked Nguyen.

“Definitely wanted to use it to try to escape from prison,” Nguyen replied, adding that Duong once mentioned meeting another inmate who had “this fantastic plan” for a prison break.

On January 22, 2016, Nayeri, Duong and Tieu allegedly climbed rungs in the installation tunnels to get to the roof of the prison, where they rappel five stories down the side of the building using a makeshift rope made of bed sheets. Nguyen admitted picking up the three men not far away and driving them to a residence in Westminster.

Prosecutors said the three men were in high spirits after their escape.

“They laughed, they said they were famous that Mr. Nayeri planned this for seven and a half months,” McMurrin told jurors.

According to prosecutors, the men then contacted Long Ma, an allegedly unsuspecting independent taxi driver who advertised in local Vietnamese newspapers. Ma picked the men up and drove them to Rosemead, where he said they had a gun pointed at him.

“He didn’t want to be there,” McMurrin said of the cab driver. “He was afraid for his life”

The three escapees and Ma – who said he was being held against his will – spent several nights in hotels around Rosemead while a massive law enforcement trawl searched for them. The fugitives then stole a van in Los Angeles and drove to San Jose, according to prosecutors.

Prosecutors have previously claimed that the “honeymoon phase” between the Bay Area fugitives had gone “sour,” culminating in Nayeri and Duong falling out during a heated argument in a hotel room over what to do with the cab driver. bumped into each other. Nayeri wanted to kill Ma, prosecutors claim, while the taxi driver said Duong fought to keep him alive.

Nayeri and Tieu eventually left the hotel room, McMurrin told jurors, and Duong decided to go with Ma and drive back to Santa Ana, where Duong turned himself in to authorities. Nayeri and Tieu were found in San Francisco a day later, ending the week-long manhunt.

During a previous trial, Duong’s lawyer framed Nayeri as the mastermind behind the escape, arguing that Duong simply wanted to get out of prison, meet some women, and then flee to Vietnam. The taxi driver credited Duong with saving his life and asked a judge for clemency. Duong was sentenced to 20 years in prison last year for both escaping prison and the attempted murder case that landed him behind bars in the first place.

Nayeri, in his own testimony during the 2019 torture and kidnapping trial, admitted to escaping prison and stated that he felt he was being followed by law enforcement.

“Mr. Nayeri accepts responsibility for the escape,” defense attorney Michael Goldfeder told the jury Monday.

Goldfeder described Duong, not Nayeri, as the actual mastermind behind the escape and said Nayeri was not present when Duong stole the van in Los Angeles.

Defense attorneys also claimed that Ma was not kidnapped, arguing that the cab driver would be paid $10,000 for his role in escaping the manhunt. The defense attorney said Ma took remittances for the fugitives and checked them into motel rooms. He also showed the jury pictures of a smiling Ma and Tieu standing on a Northern California pier amid the manhunt.

“Mr. Ma is a willing, consenting participant in moving these people around,” Goldfeder said. “It’s just four people working together in unison.”

Tieu will be tried separately for his alleged role in the escape.

Nayeri is already serving two consecutive life sentences without the possibility of parole for the kidnapping and torture case, regardless of the outcome of the prison escape trial.

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BEFORE: A year later, escaping from a California prison remains a fresh wound

The post Trial begins for alleged mastermind behind Calif. jail escape appeared first on DAILY SAN FRANCISCO BAY NEWS.

A 44-year-old man directed a daring Orange County jail escape seven years ago, holding a cab driver against his will for about a week as the fugitives remained at large in a stolen van, a prosecutor told jurors Monday The defendant’s attorney admitted his client got away but insisted the driver had willingly gone with him.

Hossein Nayeri, 44, is charged with escaping custody, stealing a car and kidnapping for stealing a car, all felonies. A charge of kidnapping for robbery was dismissed, according to court documents.

Co-defendant Bac Tien Duong, 50, was sentenced to 20 years in prison in July. Duong, who was in custody for attempted murder at the time of the escape, also solved that case when he was convicted.

Duong was convicted of escaping in April 2021. He was acquitted of the crime of kidnapping for robbery but convicted on the lesser charge of simple kidnapping. A mistrial was declared when the jury failed to reach a verdict on the theft car.

Co-defendant Jonathan Tieu, 27, is awaiting trial.

The trio’s daring escape from the Santa Ana Central Men’s Prison on January 22, 2016 was made possible when they obtained cutting tools to saw through metal gates and then used contraband cellphones to communicate with co-conspirators outside the prison. They were free for a week before authorities caught up with Nayeri.

“This escape wasn’t just jumping out of a van,” Assistant District Attorney David McMurrin said.

They cut through air vents” while using plumbing tunnels and “makeshift pulleys” and ropes to “come down from the third floor roof,” the prosecutor added.

“The defendant planned this for 7 1/2 months,” McMurrin said. “And everything had to be perfect, but they couldn’t do it alone.”

Duong contacted an old friend for help in escaping. Loc Ba Nguyen, Duong’s friend, was the first witness in Nayeri’s trial. He said he suffered a stroke that affected his memory, so McMurrin had to show him parts of his earlier testimony to refresh his memory.

Nguyen said he met Duong about 20 years ago when he hired him to help out at a furniture store he opened and they stayed in touch over the years, occasionally meeting up for lunch. He said he later heard that Duong was in prison and went to see him.

During the January 9, 2016 visit, Duong pulled a piece of paper from under his shirt and pressed it against the plexiglass between them. The note, written in English, included a list of items Duong said he needed and a map of the prison district, Nguyen said.

Nguyen “guessed” someone else had written the note because Duong had trouble speaking and writing English.

The items included a “cell phone, utility knife, rope, clothes, shoes” and a map of 10th Street and Olive Street near the jail, Nguyen said.

“All he told me was to look at (the note) and just leave the stuff there,” Nguyen said.

A few days later, Duong Nguyen called from prison.

“He mentioned did I get the items?” Nguyen said. “I told him I bought the stuff. At one point he gave me instructions to put things in a bag and attach the bag to a hanging rope.”

Nguyen did as he was told and “turned and left,” he said. Nguyen said he helped Duong “out of fear” because he was “contacted by another” man who “made sure what Mr. Duong told me” to do.

Nguyen understood that he was supporting a prison break.

Duong told Nguyen he “met someone who had an escape plan.” This man went by the name “Adam,” a nickname for the defendant, Nguyen said.

Nguyen then received another call – this time from the smuggled cell phone – and Adam requested another cell phone, Nguyen testified.

“I remember buying another used phone,” he testified.

He was also told to bring more rope and a hoodie, Nguyen said.

Nguyen returned with another bag containing a phone, which this time had a charger because the other phone didn’t have a charger, Nguyen said.

Nguyen made a trip to Palm Springs and received another call from one of the smuggling phones, and this time he was asked about an old white work van that he no longer had, Nguyen said.

“He asked me how to transfer money from Iran or Iraq to America,” Nguyen said.

Nguyen recommended calling a friend of his from Lebanon, he said.

Nguyen, who was living in Costa Mesa at the time, drove to the jail early on the day of the escape to pick her up, but when no one showed up after a while, he returned home, he said.

Duong called again around 4 or 4:30 and “He said please come back to that corner,” Nguyen said.

“I said no, I can’t come back,” he testified. “But he was kind of begging and crying, so I went back.”

Nguyen parked his pickup truck in a cul-de-sac around 4:30 a.m. and “waited like 40 minutes, 30 minutes,” he said.

Then the three “very lucky” trios got in the pickup and it drove off, he said.

Duong told him to drive through the “very, very foggy” night to Westminster, “where his aunt lived,” Nguyen said.

Duong led Nguyen to the home of Tung Nguyen, who in November 2018 pleaded guilty to being an accomplice and was sentenced to 40 hours of community service. Tung Nguyen is not related to Loc Nguyen.

When they arrived, the three removed their orange prison overalls and threw the uniforms in a trash can on the street since it was trash day, Nguyen said.

“I told (Duong) I was going and he told me to wait,” Nguyen said.

Nguyen waited with Nayeri and Tieu for about half an hour, and Duong “came back with a few bottles of beer. I wasn’t drinking, so I said no, I don’t need to,” Nguyen said. “He had some cash with him, so I said, ‘Okay, I’m going.’ ”

McMurrin told jurors in his opening statement that the trio “needed more help, and that’s where Long Ma comes in.”

Ma was an unlicensed taxi driver whom the trio hired to transport them, prosecutors said. Ma drove them to a Walmart in Santa Ana and they asked him to drive them to Rosemead for $100, McMurrin said.

Ma was told the three wanted to “borrow” Mas’ car, and when he refused, they “pulled a gun” on him and demanded his phone, wallet and keys, McMurrin said.

“He’s not the driver anymore,” McMurrin said. “He wasn’t free to go.”

The fugitives needed Ma to register at motels and help them retrieve cash from Nayeri’s mother, McMurrin said.

They later responded to an ad for a GMC van for sale in Los Angeles and stole the man’s vehicle while Duong was test driving it, McMurrin said. They drove on with the two vehicles, the prosecutor said.

When the three arrived in San Jose, an argument broke out between Duong and Nayeri over what to do with Ma, McMurrin said. Duong wanted to protect Ma, so he got into a fight with Nayeri, McMurrin said.

Duong and Ma drove back to Orange County, where Duong surrendered Jan. 28, McMurrin said.

Nayeri and Tieu were arrested in San Francisco the next day when a passerby who recognized them stopped passing officers, McMurrin said. Tieu was caught in the van they were living in and Nayeri tried to run away but was tracked down. Police found $601 in cash in the van with multiple phones, McMurrin said.

Nayeri’s attorney, Michael Goldfeder, said: “We wouldn’t be here today if it were just about the escape charge. He was open to taking responsibility for it.”

Nayeri is only questioning the kidnapping and auto theft charges, he said.

Nayeri was not with Duong when the van was stolen, Goldfeder said.

“Mr. Duong is the mastermind behind the prison,” Goldfeder said.

He said it was unclear whether Duong and Ma knew each other before the escape.

“Bac Duong and Mr. Ma made a financial deal” to help escape, Goldfeder said.

Ma should be paid $10,000 for transportation, Goldfeder said.

“Mr. Ma willingly participates in moving these people around,” the defense attorney said.

Ma was paid about $500 for trips to Walmart and the Target store in Rosemead, Goldfeder said.

Goldfeder also pointed out how Ma, Tieu, and Nayeri went to the Santa Cruz pier to flee when he showed jurors a photo of Tieu with his arm around Ma’s shoulder.

“There’s a lot more where that came from,” Goldfeder said of the evidence.

Nayeri was in custody at the time awaiting trial for sexually mutilating a marijuana dispensary owner as part of a kidnapping and extortion plot. Nayeri was convicted in that case in August 2019 and sentenced to life in prison without parole in October 2020.

Nguyen pleaded guilty in June 2017 and was sentenced to a year in prison but was serving his time under house arrest because he said he suffered a stroke on the day of sentencing.

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Hossein Nayeri listens to opening statements in the Supreme Court in Santa Ana, California on Monday, March 6, 2023. Nayeri is accused of kidnapping and vehicle theft following his escape from an Orange County jail in 2016. At the time, he was awaiting trial for the kidnapping and torture of a marijuana dispensary owner, for which he has since been convicted and sentenced to multiple life sentences. (Photo by Paul Bersebach, Orange County Register/SCNG)

More than six years after three men brazenly escaped from an Orange County jail, the trial of the accused mastermind of the prison break, a Newport Beach marijuana grower and former international fugitive who has since been sentenced to life in prison for kidnapping and torture, began Monday became .

Hossein Nayeri, 44, has previously publicly admitted taking part in the 2016 escape from Santa Ana’s Central Jail Complex, even recording the escape on a contraband cell phone. An intensive week-long manhunt ended with Nayeri and his fellow fugitives being re-arrested.

On Monday, as Nayeri’s final trial began in a Santa Ana courtroom less than a block from the scene of the prison break, his defense attorney dismissed prosecutor’s claims that Nayeri was also involved in kidnapping a taxi driver or stealing a van, according to the headline-grabbing Escape.

• Assistant District Attorney David McMurrin delivers his opening statement at Hossein Nayeri’s trial in Superior Court in Santa Ana, California on Monday, March 6, 2023. Nayeri is accused of kidnapping and vehicle theft following his escape from an Orange County jail in 2016, following Bac Duong and Jonathan Tieu. Also pictured is her accomplice Loc Nguyen, below. At the time, he was awaiting trial for kidnapping and torturing a marijuana dispensary owner, for which he has since been convicted and sentenced to multiple life sentences. (Photo by Paul Bersebach, Orange County Register/SCNG)

• Hossein Nayeri’s attorney, Michael Goldfeder, shows the jury a photo during opening remarks in the Supreme Court on Monday, March 6, 2023 in Santa Ana, California. Nayeri is accused of kidnapping and vehicle theft after escaping an Orange County jail in 2016. For a time, he awaited trial for kidnapping and torturing a marijuana dispensary owner, for which he has since been convicted and sentenced to multiple life sentences. (Photo by Paul Bersebach, Orange County Register/SCNG)

• Hossein Nayeri appears before the Supreme Court on Monday, March 6, 2023 in Santa Ana, CA. Nayeri is accused of kidnapping and vehicle theft following his escape from an Orange County jail in 2016. At that point, he was awaiting trial for kidnapping and torturing a marijuana pharmacist, for which he has since been convicted and sentenced to multiple life sentences. (Photo by Paul Bersebach, Orange County Register/SCNG)

• Judge Larry Yellin addresses the jury Monday, March 6, 2023 before the trial for Hossein Nayeri in the Superior Court in Santa Ana, California. Nayeri is accused of kidnapping and vehicle theft following his escape from an Orange County jail in 2016. At the time he was awaiting trial for kidnapping and torturing a marijuana dispensary owner, for which he has since been convicted and sentenced to multiple life sentences. (Photo by Paul Bersebach, Orange County Register/SCNG)

• Hossein Nayeri listens to opening statements in the Supreme Court in Santa Ana, California on Monday, March 6, 2023. Nayeri is accused of kidnapping and vehicle theft following his escape from an Orange County jail in 2016. At the time, he was awaiting trial for the kidnapping and torture of a marijuana dispensary owner, for which he has since been convicted and sentenced to multiple life sentences. (Photo by Paul Bersebach, Orange County Register/SCNG)

At the time of the escape, Nayeri — whom prosecutors had previously likened to the fictional Hannibal Lecter and described as a “psychopath” and a “truly diabolical criminal” — was already accused of orchestrating one of Orange County’s most violent and shocking crimes in recent memory.

In 2012, Nayeri and two high school friends kidnapped and tortured a marijuana dispensary owner who they mistakenly believed had a non-existent million dollars buried in the Mojave Desert. The pharmacy’s owner was beaten with plastic tubing, shocked with a taser and burned with a blowtorch before his penis was cut off and he was left tied up in the desert.

A woman who was kidnapped along with the owner of the pharmacy managed to escape and waved for help. The missing body part was never found.

Nayeri quickly fled the country and traveled to his native Iran before being identified as a suspect in the kidnapping and torture.

Unbeknownst to Nayeri, his then-wife agreed to work with law enforcement to persuade him to travel to another country, where he was arrested and extradited to the United States.

While at the local jail, Nayeri reportedly teamed up with two other inmates — Bac Tien Duong and Jonathan Tieu — and spent months cutting half-inch steel bars to gain access to plumbing tunnels inside the central prison complex.

During a visit to the prison, Duong Loc provided Nguyen, an old friend, with a list of items needed for the escape, including cell phones, rope, a utility knife, and civilian clothes.

During Monday’s testimony, Nguyen said he agreed to bring the items “out of fear.” He described walking out of the prison twice in the early hours of the morning, where he attached backpacks filled with the items to ropes with hooks, which inmates apparently used to pull the bags onto the prison roof.

“What did you think the items would be used for?” Assistant District Attorney David McMurrin asked Nguyen.

“Definitely wanted to use it to try to escape from prison,” Nguyen replied, adding that Duong once mentioned meeting another inmate who had “this fantastic plan” for a prison break.

On January 22, 2016, Nayeri, Duong and Tieu allegedly climbed rungs in the installation tunnels to get to the roof of the prison, where they rappeled five stories down the side of the building using a makeshift rope made of bed sheets. Nguyen admitted picking up the three men not far away and driving them to a residence in Westminster.

Prosecutors said the three men were in high spirits after their escape.

“They laughed, they said they were famous that Mr. Nayeri planned this for seven and a half months,” McMurrin told jurors.

According to prosecutors, the men then contacted Long Ma, an allegedly unsuspecting independent taxi driver who advertised in local Vietnamese newspapers. Ma picked the men up and drove them to Rosemead, where he said they had a gun pointed at him.

“He didn’t want to be there,” McMurrin said of the cab driver. “He was afraid for his life”

The three fugitives and Ma – who said he was being held against his will – spent several nights in hotels around Rosemead while a massive law enforcement trawl searched for them. The fugitives then stole a van in Los Angeles and drove to San Jose, according to prosecutors.

Prosecutors have previously claimed that the “honeymoon phase” between the Bay Area fugitives had gone “sour,” culminating in Nayeri and Duong falling out during a heated argument in a hotel room over what to do with the cab driver, bumped into each other. Nayeri wanted to kill Ma, prosecutors claim, while the taxi driver said Duong fought to keep him alive.

Nayeri and Tieu eventually left the hotel room, McMurrin told jurors, and Duong decided to go with Ma and drive back to Santa Ana, where Duong turned himself in to authorities. Nayeri and Tieu were found in San Francisco a day later, ending the week-long manhunt.

During a previous trial, Duong’s lawyer framed Nayeri as the mastermind behind the escape, arguing that Duong simply wanted to get out of prison, meet some women, and then flee to Vietnam. The taxi driver credited Duong with saving his life and asked a judge for clemency. Duong was sentenced to 20 years in prison last year for both escaping prison and the attempted murder case that landed him behind bars in the first place.

Nayeri, in his own testimony during the 2019 torture and kidnapping trial, admitted to escaping prison and stated that he felt he was being followed by law enforcement.

“Mr. Nayeri accepts responsibility for the escape,” defense attorney Michael Goldfeder told the jury Monday.

Goldfeder described Duong, not Nayeri, as the actual mastermind behind the escape and said Nayeri was not present when Duong stole the van in Los Angeles.

Defense attorneys also claimed that Ma was not kidnapped, arguing that the cab driver would be paid $10,000 for his role in escaping the manhunt. The defense attorney said Ma took remittances for the fugitives and checked them into motel rooms. He also showed the jury pictures of a smiling Ma and Tieu standing on a Northern California pier amid the manhunt.

“Mr. Ma is a willing, consenting participant in moving these people around,” Goldfeder said. “It’s just four people working together in unison.”

Tieu will be tried separately for his alleged role in the escape.

Nayeri is already serving two consecutive life sentences without the possibility of parole for the kidnapping and torture case, regardless of the outcome of the prison escape trial.

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Richie Greenbergchairman of the Yes on Recall Chesa Boudin Committee explains:

“Chesa Boudin has a dismal track record leading the District Attorney’s office; it’s a farce, with no improvement on the horizon. He’s had no previous experience of prosecuting crime, and it clearly shows. While crime continues its grip on san francisco hitting residents, businesses and tourists, Boudin books TV and radio interviews and personal appearances; he’s bought television and social media ads to counter the recall message with his mass disinformation campaign.”

“Boudin feebly attempts to refute allegations of misconduct, his lack of fitness for the job and his giving cover to drug dealers. He’s facing heavy criticism from his former colleagues. He fabricates and manipulates statistics, cites recent, trite accomplishments as if a major breakthrough As expected, he labels those critical of him “liars” and “racists”, smears and slanders the recall effort’s proponents and major donors San Francisco’s farthest left-wing organizations and public officials. The deep chasm between Chesa Boudin’s leadership and the vast majority of radical voters has been exposed.”

The recall of Chesa Boudin has been designated as “Proposition H” on this June 7th ballot. The committee’s website is RecallChesaBoudin.org

Press Contact: Richie Greenberg
Twitter: @richieSF2016
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: RecallChesaBoudin.org

SOURCE Stop the Injustice

The post RECALL VOTING IN SAN FRANCISCO BEGINS appeared first on DAILY SAN FRANCISCO BAY NEWS.

The federal trial will examine the role of opioid manufacturers Allergan and Teva, distributor Anda, and Walgreens pharmacy in fueling the opioid epidemic in the City and County of san francisco

SAN FRANCISCO, April 25, 2022 /PRNewswire/ — Today, trial begins with the People of the State of Californiaacting by and through san francisco City Attorney David Chiu, against opioid manufacturers Allergan and Teva, distributor Anda, and Walgreens pharmacy. The bench trial will take place before the US District Court for the Northern District of California with Judge Charles R Breyer presiding

Brought on behalf of the people of the State of California, the lawsuit alleges that opioid manufacturers Allergan and Teva engaged in deceptive marketing practices that misrepresented the dangers of their pills and that all defendants, including Anda and Walgreens, failed to identify, divert, and report suspicious orders as required by law. Walgreens pharmacy is also accused of over-dispensing opioids without proper due diligence against fraud and diversion.

The people allege that these corporate practices fueled a widespread surge of opioid-related addiction and overdose in san francisco, thereby creating an ongoing public nuisance in the region. From 2006 to 2014, San Francisco County saw 163,645,704 opioids distributed, enough for 22 pills per person per year. Between 2015 and 2020, san francisco saw a 478% increase in opioid-related overdose deaths, and in a typical day at the Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital (ZSFG) Emergency Department, approximately 25 percent of visits are opioid-related. The lawsuit seeks funds to abate the public nuisance, as well as injunctive relief and civil penalties to repair the damage caused from the opioid epidemic and prevent such practices in the future.

“This trial will give voice to the tragic experiences and ongoing needs of our community on the front lines of the opioid epidemic,” said san francisco City Attorney David Chiu. “For too long, the people of san francisco have had to shoulder the burden of the opioid epidemic. It’s time for these companies to pay for the crisis they created. We look forward to presenting our case and securing the funds we need to heal.”

This trial is the fourth bellwether case in the federal opioid litigation proceeding involving more than 3,000 American cities, towns, and counties, bringing opioid manufacturers, distributors, and pharmacy chains to court for fueling the opioid epidemic. This case will serve as a test trial to help reach resolutions and seek accountability for the destruction these companies caused. for san francisco and communities around the country decimated by the opioid epidemic, litigation is a vital tool to secure the resources they need now to implement specific programs required at the local level and sustain the costly, decades-long recovery process ahead.

In a joint statement, National Prescription Opiate Litigation MDL Plaintiffs’ Executive Committee co-leads Paul T Farrell Jr of Farrell & Fuller Law LLC, Jayne Conroy of Simmons Hanley Conroyand joe rice of Motley Rice LLC, said:

“The manufacturers’ false marketing campaigns and Walgreens’ failure to report and prevent suspicious opioid orders has led to an unprecedented, unyielding public health crisis in san francisco and across the United States. The federal opioid litigation exists to facilitate the long overdue process of corporate accountability we have seen occur in courts across the country over the past several months. We look forward to seeing the same process unfold in san francisco in the days to come. This trial serves as an opportunity to provide financial relief to support local recovery efforts while shedding light on the defendants’ concerted efforts to sidestep their obligations under law.”

This trial follows a jury verdict from November 23, 2021 in the federal trial in the Northern District of Ohio that found CVS, Walgreens, and Walmart liable for fueling the opioid crisis in Lake County other Trumbull County of Ohio. A judge will determine the value of the opioid epidemic abatement funds owed by pharmacy chains to these communities in May of 2022.

The general public and members of the media can find information about how to listen to the proceedings here.

The case is City and County of san francisco, et al., v. Purdue Pharma LP, et al., Defendants (Case No. 3:18-cv-07591-CRB).

Contact: [email protected]

SOURCE National Prescription Opiate Litigation

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