[Nfbc-info] Wheels of Justice

[Bryan Bashin]

Hi folks,

Just an update on the prosecution of Joseph Webb, Diane Starin's 
attacker.  Our efforts to raise the profile of this case are paying 
off.  Today I recieved a call from a senior prosecutor at the 
Sacramento County District Attorney's office.  He told me that he had 
selected a prosecutor in this case who was an office expert in 
prosecuting abuse of so-called vulnerable populations, which includes 
people with disabilities.  Though we may cringe a bit at the 
nomenclature, this is good news, because it means that the DA will do 
the hard work necessary to present to the court a case which would 
include very stiff penalties indeed.

The prosecutor also told me that although the entire criminal history 
of Joseph Webb is not yet in the public record, it wouldn't surprise 
him if Mr. Webb decided to use as a defense his own disabilities and 
possibly substance abuse as well.

On another note, the identity of the good Samaritan who followed the 
attacker and helped get him arrested is not yet public, but the 
prosecutor told me that usually when this information is presented at 
trial we'll be in a position to contact him and perhaps offer a 
thank-you.  I can imagine presenting him with an award or resolution 
at our convention, but my sense is that the trial, and hence his 
identity, won't emerge for many many months.  The prosecutor also 
told me that District Attorney Jan Scully herself has an annual 
heroes award ceremony and that after the trial it's possible he'll 
submit this man's name to be considered for it.

I'll keep everyone posted.

Bryan