Deputy District Attorney Taren Brast of the San Diego DA’s office breaks down her victory in the double murder trial of TikTok star Ali Abulaban.

Facts:

On May 29, 2024, 32 y.o. Ali Abulaban was found guilty of two counts of 1st degree murder for the murders of Ana Abulaban and Rayburn Barron. This was a brutal, tragic murder stemming from domestic violence. The defendant, Abulaban, seemingly had it all as he was a successful social media star called “Jinnkid”.

This trial received a lot of publicity and was prosecuted by our very own Deputy District Attorney Taren Brast of the San Diego DA’s office. You can rewatch part or all of the trial on CourtTV.

If you or someone you know needs assistance, help is available. The National Domestic Violence Hotline is 1-800-799-7233. If you are in San Diego County, you can go to One Safe Place in San Marcos, or the Family Justice Center in downtown San Diego.

Crime or Fiction: Each episode we look at 3 laws on the books: 2 are real, 1 is fake; can you guess which one is the fake?

A. PC538a: It’s illegal to send a “letter to the editor” in another person’s name with the intent to lead the newspaper to believe that such letter was written by that person.

B. PC538b: It’s illegal to wear insignia of a secret society with the intent to deceive and intent to obtain aid within the State.

C. PC538c: It’s illegal to post on social media in another person’s name with the intent to cause social retribution to that person.

Disclaimer: The views expressed on this podcast are solely of the speakers and do not reflect the views of the Deputy DA's Association nor the District Attorney.

Questions and comments can be emailed to crimenewsinsider@gmail.com.

Featured in the Top 100 San Diego Podcasts

Featured in the Top 20 Criminal Law Podcasts

Website: https://sdddaa.net/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SanDiegoDDAs/

Twitter: @CrimeNewsInsidr, @SanDiegoDDAs

Instagram: @sandiegoddas

Music by: The Only Ocean - "Snake"

Image by: Pixabay user Michael Gaida.

Real estate scams are on the rise. Deputy District Attorney John Dunn talks about recent fraud schemes and how to protect yourself.

Recently in San Diego, a couple learned their vacant land parcel that they’ve owned for a decade was sold without them knowing it, in what’s called a seller impersonation fraud.

Bio: John Dunn has been a Deputy District with the San Diego District Attorney’s Office for approximately 12 years. He has been assigned to the El Cajon Branch, the Juvenile Branch, the Family Protection Division, the Major Narcotics Division and is currently assigned to the Real Estate Fraud Unit in the Economic Crimes Division. John has taught within the office and to law enforcement agencies on various topics. John is also a reservist in the United States Marine Corps.

If you live in San Diego County,

• Sign up for alert by clicking here: https://www.sdarcc.gov/OwnerAlert/
• You can report a fraud here: https://www.sdcda.org/preventing/real-estate-fraud/

Crime or Fiction: Each episode we look at the laws on the books and quiz the panelists to see if they can guess which law is fake. 2 are real, 1 is fake--can you guess which one is the fake?

A. In Michigan, restrictive covenants cannot prohibit home brewing of beer.

B. In California, adverse possession is established after 5 years.

C. In Boulder, Colorado, it’s illegal to have upholstered furniture on your porch.

Disclaimer: The views expressed on this podcast are solely of the speakers and do not reflect the views of the Deputy DA's Association nor the District Attorney.

Questions and comments can be emailed to crimenewsinsider@gmail.com.

Featured in the Top 10 San Diego Podcasts!

Featured in the Top 10 Criminal Law Podcasts!

Website: https://sdddaa.net/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SanDiegoDDAs/

Twitter: @CrimeNewsInsidr, @SanDiegoDDAs

Instagram: @sandiegoddas

Music by: The Only Ocean - "Snake"

Image by: Pixabay user Michael Gaida.

On July 21, 2023, 20 year-old Adam Thomas of Sacramento was tried for 1st degree murder for the death of his brother, Trenton Thomas. Trenton was found shot to death by a crossbow in a park in San Diego. Was it an accident or was it a murder? Deputy District Attorney Christina Eastman joined the podcast to discuss this trial.

Facts:

Adam drove from Sacramento to San Diego and told his family he was going to San Diego to visit Trenton for his birthday. Adam and Trenton went to a park in San Diego and Adam blind folded his brother so that he could surprise him with his birthday gift. While blindfolded, Adam went to the trunk, grabbed a crossbow, and shot his brother in the head. Trenton ran over 100 feet but succumbed from his injuries after pulling the arrow from his head. Adam fled the scene and tossed the crossbow into a canyon, which was later found by police. Officers investigated the case and served a search warrant of Adam’s home and car in Sacramento, finding a matching quiver for the crossbow and handwritten directions to the park. Adam admitted everything, except said he was giving his brother the crossbow as a gift and it accidentally discharged.

Deputy District Attorney Christina Eastman prosecuted the case and convinced the jury it was 1st degree murder. Adam Thomas was sentenced to 25 years to life in prison. 

Crime or Fiction: Each episode we look at the laws on the books and quiz the panelists to see if they can guess which law is fake. 2 are real, 1 is fake--can you guess which one is the fake? 

A. In Indiana, it's illegal to sniff model glue with the intent to cause a condition of euphoria. 

B. In New Hampshire, it's illegal to hypnotize a person with the intent for that person to commit a crime. 

C. In Texas, it's illegal to sell or offer to sell your organs.

Disclaimer: The views expressed on this podcast are solely of the speakers and do not reflect the views of the Deputy DA's Association nor the District Attorney.

Questions and comments can be emailed to crimenewsinsider@gmail.com.

Featured in the Top 10 San Diego Podcasts!

Featured in the Top 10 Criminal Law Podcasts!

Website: https://sdddaa.net/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SanDiegoDDAs/

Twitter: @CrimeNewsInsidr, @SanDiegoDDAs

Instagram: @sandiegoddas

Music by: The Only Ocean - "Snake"

Image by: Pixabay user Michael Gaida.