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Friends of the McLeod family protest outside the #ShastaCounty courtroom of Judge Daniel Flynn.
The judge announced his intent to dismiss the felony manslaughter and reckless arson charges against PG&E for the #ZoggFire. It was set for trial June 6. Hearing is about to start.
8-year-old Feyla McLeod died alongside her mom Alaina trying to escape the #ZoggFire in 2020. Neighbors Karin King and Ken Vossen were also killed.
A federal judge found PG&E in violation, as did CAL FIRE’s arson investigations and the CPUC safety investigation. #california #pge #wildfires #crime #FirePowerMoney
Catch up on the story here: https://www.abc10.com/article/news/local/family-pleads-judge-not-to-dismiss-pges-manslaughter-charges/103-582e9c63-1034-4632-9bef-c3696674c2df
BREAKING: DA Stephanie Bridgett is asking Judge Flynn to take the dismissal of the #ZoggFire case, without prejudice-- pending a CIVIL agreement between the prosecution and PG&E.
This is similar to what happened in the #KincadeFire and #DixieFire last year, when 6 DAs settled their criminal investigations.
A lawyer representing property owners is objecting, arguing the deal affects potential restitution payments to his clients.
Judge Flynn is getting testy with the property owners' attorney, who just made a filing. The judge is reviewing it now.
The attorney, Tyler Lalaguna, has said his clients have not been given property treatment by the DA under the victims bill of rights.
BREAKING: Judge Daniel Flynn dismisses the manslaughter case against PG&E for the 2020 #ZoggFire, pending a civil settlement between the DA and PG&E.
"It's just almost like rubber stamping now," #ZoggFire survivor Kyle Drake tells me at a protest outside of court.
"Eventually the last straw will come around. I don't know what town's gonna get destroyed that's finally the last straw. Maybe somewhere on the coast. Los Gatos. Maybe then someone would pay attention."
We are awaiting a news conference with Shasta County DA Stephanie Bridgett regarding the settlement deal and dropping of #ZoggFire criminal charges against PG&E.
Family members of people killed in the fire are here.
Will provide video later today, meantime I'll post updates here.
DA Bridgett is up. "PG&E's failure to remove a hazard tree that they had marked for removal... fell and caused the devastating #ZoggFire."
She names the 4 people killed.
"PG&E needs to change its practices to save lives... it was my desire to criminally convict PG&E to accomplish this goal."
She praised Judge Boeckman, who bound PG&E over for trial after a preliminary hearing.... and says she disagrees with Judge Flynn who announced his intent to toss the charges.
Bridgett says she's not willing to gamble with the outcome, hence the civil settlement-- which she says will provide tangible changes now.
The deal has PG&E paying $50M, also enforcement/oversight provisions, Bridgett says.
Added weather stations, undergrounding, removal of abandoned lines are all part of the agreement, DA Bridgett says.
Also changes to tree inspection practices, requiring more process/sign-offs to de-list trees (not cut) that are marked as known hazards.
DA Bridgett says she talked to the families, to direct some of this money toward causes that honor the memories of the 4 people killed.
Some $ will go to scholarships, an animal evac center, the Igo-Ono school... which will make a new play structure in memory of 8-year-old Feyla.
There's also "Feyla's fund" to assist families recovering from disasters.
"This resolution... it does not make me happy," Bridgett says.
She wanted to take PG&E to trial, but it wasn't possible in her judgement.
Bridgett says PG&E would have been found guilty if the case was allowed to go before a jury. She says Judge Flynn's plan to toss the case out is the reason that won't happen.