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STATE
ATTORNEY'S OFFICE NEWSLETTER
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I
am excited to take part in the Advisory Board of the Institute for
Innovation in Prosecution (IIP), a pioneering new project intended to
support the development of the next generation of ideas in the field of
prosecution.
To
achieve this goal, the IIP will reunite prosecutors, academics, law
enforcement officials and other leaders to address the existing and
emerging criminal justice challenges in our society.
This
initiative along with many other achievements will surely elevate
the role and voice of District Attorneys in addressing these critical
national issues; promote intelligence-driven prosecution, and enhance the
public's trust in the criminal justice system.
The
need to address issues of fairness and effectiveness in the criminal
justice system prompted us, as prosecutors and leaders from around
the country, to form this broad coalition.
I
will continue to work with our partners from around the country
to address these issues and others that may arise with the intent of
ensuring the well-being of all of our communities.
Sincerely,
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State Attorney at National Human Trafficking
Summit
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State
Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle at Human Trafficking Summit
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State
Attorney with Florida delegation at the Human Trafficking summit
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State
Attorney at the summit with George Sheldon, former Florida Secretary
of the Department of Children and Families
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State
Attorney alongside Cook County, Illinois State Attorney Anita Alvarez
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State
Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle attended The National Summit on Human
Trafficking in New York City, an event organized jointly by the State
Justice Institute, the Office of Court Administration, the New York State
Bar Association, the Conference of Chief Judges, the Conference of State
Court Administrators and the National Center for State Courts.
The
summit brought together more than 300 judges, court administrators,
prosecutors, legislators, and academics from 46 states in a continued
effort to identify issues and propose solutions to combat this heinous
crime that affects so many young and promising lives.
Attendees
agreed that although Human Trafficking Awareness has increased and new
legislation to combat the crime has come about, there is still plenty of
work to be done to change the way the justice system treats sex
trafficking victims.
"It's
a long road to recovery," commented State Attorney Fernandez Rundle.
"It's our moral and legal responsibility to stop this modern-day
form of slavery. We must rescue these girls, help them with their
recovery and remain committed in our efforts to prosecute their
predators."
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Adult Education Principal Facing Felony Charges
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Source: Miami-Dade Corrections
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As
the result of a joint collaborative investigation by the Miami-Dade State
Attorney's Office Public Corruption Task Force, the Miami-Dade County
Office of the Inspector General, the Miami-Dade Schools Police, and the
City of Miami Police Department, the Principal of the North Miami Adult
Education Center (NMAE Center), Jean C. Ridore was arrested and charged,
with Unlawful Compensation, Official Misconduct, and Grand Theft. All of
these charges are felonies.
Acting
on various anonymous complaints about Ridore's hiring and employment
practices at NMAE, an undercover officer met with Ridore to discuss
employment. The undercover officer had been posing as a handyman looking
for a school position. Ridore accepted $1000 in cash in exchange for
hiring him as a Community Schools Activity Leader III at the NMAE Center.
Ridore not only took the cash for the job but also arranged a
"kickback" of his new employee's salary. Ridore agreed that the
handyman would be a "ghost employee", therefore did not need to
show up for work, as long as Ridore received 50% of his
salary. Ridore, as Principal, approved 40 hours of work for
the undercover who never reported to work at NMAE Center.
Ridore
had been the NMAE Center Principal since July 2005. The NMAE Center,
while housed within North Miami Senior High School is an afternoon and
night school entity administratively separate from North Miami Senior
High School.
"Thinking
that you can use government money to benefit yourself is the mentality of
a thief, not a public servant," commented State Attorney Katherine
Fernandez Rundle. "Each educational dollar is intended to better
individuals and our community, not someone who can manipulate the system.
I am proud that this multi-agency law enforcement effort has been able to
end such financial abuse. This kind of collaborative Public Schools and
law enforcement anti-corruption investigation is one of the strengths of
our local community."
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State Attorney's Office Alumni Profile
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Joseph Frederick, Assistant
District Attorney, Travis County, Texas
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Travis
County Assistant District Attorney Joseph Frederick has had an
interesting career path. He went from horse trainer to prosecutor. His
early life was spent like that of the children's book character Eloise
who lived in a hotel.
"My
dad was Senior Vice President at Hilton Hotels, so we lived in hotels all
over the country," He explains. "Eventually, we moved to
Chicago and I went to high school there."
Joseph
attended the University of Illinois, where he was the student body president.
He later earned his Juris Doctorate at William Mitchell College of Law in
St. Paul, Minnesota. Joe also clerked for the county's District Attorney.
"I always had an affinity for logic and doing the right thing. I am
very altruistic and that is why I became a lawyer. The funny thing is
that I don't like to argue!" he said laughingly.
"After
law school, I was staying with my sister in Las Vegas. She was a horse
trainer and while I was there I helped her with her business."
It
was his sister who suggested that he apply at Miami-Dade State Attorney's
Office. So the young man that "did not like to argue" ended up
applying to be a prosecutor in a very trial active jurisdiction.
"I
came down to interview with State Attorney's Office when the World Series
was going on in Miami. I stayed at the Holiday Inn on Le Jeune Road in
Coral Gables...Is it still there?" he asked.
"I
had my first two interviews in one day. I then interviewed with State
Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle. She gave me tough hypotheticals and
asked me who my favorite Supreme Court Justice was," he explained.
"We also talked about my first Cuban meal which I had eaten just
before the interview. I ate at La Esquina de Tejas on Flagler Street. I
had my first of many Cuban coffees that day."
"Joe
always had a real passion for the work we do here at the State Attorney's
Office," commented State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle.
"He was always highly charged with enthusiastic energy. Most
importantly, he embraced our ethical philosophy of always doing the right
thing and serving justice."
Frederick
began at SAO in 1998 and found himself immersed in the New Lawyer
Training Program for 4-6 weeks. "We really learned the law. It was
the equivalent of a medical residency program at a hospital."
"I
will never forget my first trial because something really crazy happened.
I made sure that I looked good. I wore a brand new dark suit to properly
impress my jurors. As soon as I walked in, an elderly lady came right up
to me and clapped her hands in my face. As she did this, a white powder
shot out from her hands and went everywhere, especially on my new suit.
That is how my first trial began," he recalled. "That was my
first experience with a uniquely Miami courtroom event. I quickly learned
that people who practice the Afro- Cuban religion of Santeria will
sometimes try to influence the outcome of a case by rituals that may
involve powder and other materials." He chuckled. "That was my
welcome to trial work."
Joe's
first year and a half at the SAO were filled with long hours, gaining
valuable courtroom and investigative experience intermingled with lots of
fun. During this time, he met colleagues that would become lifelong
friends. One even became the best man at his wedding. Joseph started in
the County Court Domestic Violence Unit. He went through the Juvenile
division and moved up the ranks in the Felony division.
"One
of the cases that I remember most was a Domestic Violence case where a
stepfather attacked his stepdaughter. When it was the victim's turn to
testify, she was hiding in the bathroom crying. Her mother had called and
threatened her." Emotions ran high in that trial."
"The
stepfather testified on direct examination that he couldn't have stepped
on and kicked the victim because he needed a cane to walk. After he left
the stand, I called him back. As he walked over to the witness stand he
did not use a cane. I asked the court to note that the witness did not
need a cane to walk as he had previously testified. It was my Perry Mason
courtroom moment."
Assistant
District Attorney Frederick credits his time as an Assistant State
Attorney at the Miami SAO with his learning how to effectively conduct
direct and cross examination. "I've taken what I have learned at the
Miami SAO to the private sector and back to the public sector. In Miami,
you certainly learn how to be a trial attorney."
After
several years as a prosecutor, Frederick went over to the criminal
defense side. "It took me about a year to get into the flow of criminal
defense work. I realized that the criminal defense side is all about
holding the State's feet to the fire and making sure that they have proof
beyond a reasonable doubt."
He
met his wife while he was a criminal defense attorney in Miami. She was
an Assistant State Attorney. "We had a case opposite each other. My
client ended up accepting a plea offer. In my opinion, I won the case but
I don't know if she would agree," he chuckled.
Frederick
and his wife, Julie Stone, moved to Austin in 2007, where he is currently
a Travis County Assistant District Attorney. "I am now a Court Chief
and help with the staff training in our office."
Federick's
advice to young ASA's is to know your judge and your evidence; know your
motions. In his mind, it's all about teamwork with your investigators and
officers.
When
asked why he left the field of criminal defense and went back to the
prosecution side he said, "I missed being a prosecutor because you
are a minister of justice. You get to do the right thing even though
sometimes it can be hard," he explained. "Without the
Miami-Dade SAO, I wouldn't have my present career. The Miami-Dade SAO
taught me to be a litigator. That experience has been invaluable."
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Courthouse Highlights
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 Division Chief (DC) Lara
Penn and Assistant Chief Denise Georges obtained a guilty verdict on two
counts of DUI Manslaughter and two counts of Vehicular Manslaughter in
front of Judge Miguel de la O.
DC
Christine Hernandez Baldwin and DC Joe Mansfield got a Second Degree
Murder with a Deadly Weapon conviction before Judge Teresa Pooler.
DC
Annette Del Aguila and fellow DC Christine Hernandez Baldwin obtained a
conviction on a First Degree Murder case in front of Judge Miguel De La
O.
DC
Katheline Cortes, Assistant State Attorney Josh Weintraub, and
Assistant Chief of Legal Unit Fariba Komeily were successful in obtaining
convictions for First Degree Murder and Five Counts of Attempted Murder.
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REPORT PUBLIC CORRUPTION !
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Don't
Allow the Public's Trust to be Jeopardized.
Hotline:
305-547-3300
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Grand Jury Reports
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Need the latest
Grand Jury Report or any other Grand Jury Report dating back to 1965? Click Here
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Our Community Outreach Events
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November 3 -
Citizens Advisory Committee Meeting, Doral Police Department, 9101 NW 25
Street Doral, FL, 33172, 6:30PM - 8:30PM
November 4 -
Citizens Crime Watch of Miami-Dade Meeting, 1515 NW 79 Avenue, Doral, FL,
33126, 9:30AM - 12:00PM
November 5 -
Sealing & Expungement Event, Phicol Williams Community Center, 951 SW
4 Street, Homestead, FL, 33030, 4:00PM - 7:00PM
November 7 -
Coconut Grove Ministerial Alliance, Greater St Paul AME Church,
3680 Thomas Avenue, Miami, FL, 33133, 8:00AM - 10:30AM
November 7 -
Health & Resource Fair, The Bethel Church, 14440 Lincoln Blvd, Miami,
FL, 33176, 8:00AM - 1:00PM
November 7 -
Connect Familias 9th Annual Caring for the Kids Event, Miami-Dade College
Interamerican Campus, 627 SW 27 Avenue, Miami, FL, 33135, 10:30AM -
2:00PM
November 9 -
Walking One Stop at Miami Gardens, Miami Gardens Police Station, 1020 NW
163 Drive, Miami Gardens, FL, 33169, 9:30AM - 12:00PM
November 10 -
Coconut Grove Crime Watch, Greater St Paul AME Church, 3680 Thomas
Avenue, Miami, FL, 33133, 6:30PM - 8:30PM
November 13 -
Career Awareness Month, Carrie Meek Westview K-8 Center, 2101 NW 127
Street, Miami, FL, 33167, 8:30AM - 1:00PM
November 19 -
Lindsey Hopkins 7th Annual Career & Wellness Fair, Lindsey Hopkins
Tech College, 750 NW 20 Street, Miami, FL, 33127, 8:30AM - 12:00PM
November 21 -
Compassion Project, Gangs Alternative Inc, 6620 North Miami Avenue,
Miami, FL, 33150, 9:00AM - 2:00PM
November 21 -
South Kendall Community Church 10th Annual Community Picnic, South
Kendall Community Church, 16550 SW 147 Avenue, Miami, FL, 33187, 10:00AM
- 2:00PM
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