The Santa Rosa side case has been mostly resolved, with one defendant remaining

Santa Rosa has reached a partial agreement on a civil lawsuit against 13 residents accused of organizing illegal street races in the city in July 2022, a move aimed at curbing sideshows that local advocates deemed “unusual.”

On September 19, the city filed a motion to dismiss the case against the 12 defendants named in the lawsuit, provided, among other things, that: each of them pay a fine and take up volunteering.

City Attorney Teresa Stricker presented the terms of the settlement during the Oct. 22 City Council meeting.

It states that each defendant will pay the city $500 for property damage, perform volunteer work for 12 months and join a 20-hour rehabilitation program run by the nonprofit Restorative Resources.

If the conditions are not met, they will have to pay the city an additional $15,000, Stricker told city officials last week.

The lawsuit names the 12 defendants as:

Jorge Calderon-Caballero from Santa Rosa,
Jesus Calderon Avalos of Santa Rosa,
George Patino Flores of Santa Rosa,
Alexys Aguirre-Serrano from Santa Rosa,
Emiliano Bautista Rodriguez from Santa Rosa,
Daniel Nunez Serna of Santa Rosa,
Rodrigo Lopez-Tapia from Santa Rosa,
Richard Murillo of Rohnert Park,
Joel Vasquez Cortez of Rohnert Park,
Neri Orea-Vasquez of Rohnert Park,
Manuel Garfia of Rohnert Park,
Roberto Carrillo of Petaluma.

The sole remaining defendant was identified in court records as Santa Rosa resident Jersain Lezama Meza, who is being held at the Sonoma County Jail on an unrelated matter.

They were all accused of organizing an accompanying event on the weekend of July 9–10, 2022.

Sideshows are defined as unsanctioned vehicle displays in which drivers perform various tricks on streets and parking lots near crowds. They have been reported across California, forcing local and state lawmakers to take additional and unexpected steps to curb them.

In October 2021, Governor Gavin Newsom signed the bipartisan bill which defines sideshows as an event involving two or more vehicles that obstructs traffic for the purpose of performing stunts, speed contests, or reckless driving in front of the public.

The city’s lawsuit, filed July 7, 2023, in Sonoma County Superior Court, charged 13 defendants with causing a public nuisance through civil conspiracy and willful misconduct and polluting local waterways with tire debris – in violation of California Fish and Wildlife regulations.

They were all scheduled to appear for a hearing on January 17, but the proceedings have now been canceled. The next hearing in this case is scheduled for May 22.

Everyone was represented by Nicole Jaffee, who on September 26 requested that the trial continue on behalf of Meza. In a court filing, she said he is involved in a criminal case that “will likely prevent Mr. Meza from complying with the terms of (the plea agreement) and could result in a prison sentence, which would prevent the defendant from filing a lawsuit and/or participating in the current trial date.”

Meza he was arrested on June 30 in connection with a pursuit and collision in Santa Rosa.

The Sonoma County District Attorney’s Office charged him July 1 with evading police, hit-and-run, driving with a suspended license and possession of a firearm and ammunition.

Meza is scheduled to have a preliminary hearing on December 12 before Sonoma County Judge Mark Urioste. His lawyer, Heather Wise, said Meza had pleaded not guilty to the charges and declined to comment further.

In the past, California cities have sought restraining orders for criminal conduct in cases involving other crimes, such as gang activity.

But Santa Rosa defense attorney Roy Miller last year called the city’s civil suit unusual. He told The Press Democrat that in 30 years of practicing law, he couldn’t recall a similar approach.

“I think they’re trying to send a message throughout Northern California to discourage, if not intimidate, people from doing this (sideshow),” said Miller, who previously represented a client accused in a sideshow trial.

Santa Rosa Police Chief John Cregan said preventing collateral crimes was one of his priorities when he took over the department and he was “proud” of working with the city attorney’s office to take legal action against all those involved.

“I will use every tool at our disposal to show that these side events will not be tolerated in Santa Rosa,” the Democrat previously told The Press.

Press Democrat reporter Paulina Pineda contributed to this story

Staff Writer Colin Atagi can be reached at [email protected]. On Twitter @colin_atagi