Wednesday, August 28, 2013

2 suspects brutally beat, strip, Redding California homeless man, ‘Let’s burn him.’




Jeffrey Lee Fecht, 19 and Brandon Eudean Sposito, 26, shown in Shasta County Superior Court.



"2 suspects brutally beat, strip, homeless man ‘Let’s burn him.’"
Duo sentenced for their role in 'deplorable' beating of homeless man
• By Jim Schultz
Record Searchlight
•Posted August 27, 2013 at 4:18 p.m.

"Two Redding men who saw their negotiated plea bargains fall through earlier this month in connection with the near fatal beating of a homeless man were both sentenced Monday to 10 years in prison under a new pact.

Jeffrey Lee Fecht, 19, and Brandon Eudean Sposito, 26, were sentenced after Superior Court Judge Dan Flynn had rejected on Aug. 7 plea bargains that called for only six-year sentences.

Shasta County Deputy District Attorney Toby Powell said today that Flynn accepted the 10-year sentences for both men.

“I think 10 years was the right resolution,” he said, adding that both men pleaded out to attempted murder charges. Fecht also admitted to a separate and unrelated misdemeanor sexual battery charge upon a homeless woman, Powell said.

Fecht and Sposito were both arrested in June and charged with attempted murder and other crimes in connection with the vicious beating of Christopher S. Avery, 48.

Avery was found badly beaten and unconscious early on June 24 behind a building across Cypress Avenue from Redding City Hall.

Powell, who said Fecht and Sposito will be eligible for parole after they complete 85 percent of their sentences, called the savage attack upon Avery “deplorable.”

“It makes your stomach curl,” he said.

A 13-year-old boy also arrested in the attack told investigators Avery was kicked, punched and head-butted before being stripped naked and left for dead, according to a police report filed in Superior Court.

That report says officers later found Sposito near the Redding Library after identifying him from surveillance video from the Safeway store on Pine Street.

The 13-year-old told police that Sposito and Fecht repeatedly punched, kicked and head-butted Avery, even after he was on the ground and eventually they threw his badly beaten body into a nearby trash bin.

“(The boy) told me Sposito used a large boulder to try and break the victim’s knees by dropping it on the victim,” RPD investigator Will Williams wrote in a separate police report. “(The boy) told me after the victim was beaten, the suspects took the victim’s clothes off and then said, ‘Let’s burn him.’”

Powell said he did not know whether the teen is still being prosecuted in Juvenile Court for his role in the crime.

Meanwhile, Avery is continuing to recover from his serious injuries and was set to leave a Redding rehabilitation hospital on Tuesday to stay with relatives in northern Idaho.

Avery’s sister, Laura Woods, said in a telephone conversation today that Fecht and Sposito deserved prison time.

“We’re glad that they got what they got,” she said, describing them as “pure animals.”
Woods said her brother is recovering from his injuries and is doing well.

“They broke his body, but they didn’t break his spirit,” she said,

Saturday, August 24, 2013

Sacramento State Capital Safe Ground Rally - Non Violent Civil Disobedience


In April of 2006 Loaves & Fishes, Francis House, SHOC, Homeless Advocates, and the homeless rallied at the California State Capital to urge the City, County, and State to create a Safe Ground where the homeless can camp at night.
Homeless Advocates from Modesto to Redding were prepared to be arrested as it is against the law to have a sleeping bag anywhere on State Capital property as homeless advocates block the south state capital entrance  practicing non violent civil disobedience as they dare California State Highway patrol officers to arrest them !


.

"The Rally at the California State Capitol for "Safe Ground," the legalization of homelessness begins at Loaves and Fishes with 300 homeless folks getting on the bus and rallying for their cause. Watch the enthusiasm build as they are dropped off at the Capitol steps!"

(Part 2) Sister Libby of Sacramento Loaves and Fishes at the non violent civil disobedience rally at the California State Capitol for "Safe Ground," the legalization of homelessness heats up on the steps of the Capitol. Watch as powerful speakers make their case to the public, officials and the media.



(Part 3)
The Rally at the California State Capitol for "Safe Ground," the legalization of homelessness develops into an emotional plea for justice and humanity on the steps of the Capitol. Watch as homeless folks and advocates express their heartfelt vision


Sister Libby director of Sacramento Loaves and Fishes calls fellow homeless advocates for a photo opportunity and sleeping bags as they prepare to be arrested for act of non violent civil disobedience!

 (Part 4) The Rally at the California State Capitol for "Safe Ground," the legalization of homelessness moves into a stand-off between advocates and the police. One homeless advocate lays his sleeping bag right out in the middle of the sidewalk ! Watch what transpires as the evening wears on !

Thursday, August 22, 2013

World Homeless Action Day 10/10/13



*UPDATE
PROTEST Destruction of Redding California Homeless Camps - World Homeless Action Day Event

Homeless Advocates ...

PROTEST - BRING YOUR CAMERA - INVITE YOUR FRIENDS !

https://www.facebook.com/events/167654713435278/

___________


Unfortunately it seems like homeless hatred is on the rise in Redding California and abroad.  Homeless folks are rapidly loosing their civil and constitutional rights. Police chase and evict homeless from their camps, some taking and throwing away their necessary survival gear and personal possessions in a cruel and unusual game of cat and mouse. One city has now set up a hotline to remove homeless people from its no homeless allowed downtown business district. Local businesses and residents can report the location and offensive presence of  homeless person to police on sight making homelessness once again a crime.





World Homeless Action Day is a global worldwide collaborative effort that is held on the 10th day of October every year.

• Schools • Churches • Service Clubs • Individuals • Businesses


What are you doing for World Homeless Action Day ?

What should or could be done on this day? The day is there for you and your community to use to create change and make a difference in the lives of people who are experiencing homelessness in your local area.
 




Food Drives ... Fundraisers... Candlelight Vigil ... Awareness Protest March or Rally... Use the day in any way you want

YOU CHOOSE THE EVENT !

Please help get the word out ... benefit homeless people locally and in different countries around the globe and make a difference during World Homeless Action Day !




With the recent persecution and indifference of homeless folks in Redding and Shasta County California by local government officials what better time than now to create an event and support the less fortunate !

What are you doing for World Homeless Action Day 10/10/13 ?


Redding Coalition for the Homeless
 


Sunday, August 18, 2013

Redding California Homeless - Searching for SAFE GROUND



On October 17, 2006 the Redding California Police Chief, the Fire Chief , and Dave Honey of the Good News Rescue Mission all spoke in favor of at the City of Redding Council meeting amending Redding Municipal Code Chapter 10-40 Unlawful Camping making it a possible misdemeanor punishable by up to a 1000 dollar fine and/or 6 months in jail for the homeless crime of sleeping or keeping warm by a campfire anywhere in the city limits effectively criminalizing homelessness.

 Why do homeless need SAFE GROUND ?


Sacramento Attorney Mark Merin advocates for "safe ground" and the human right to a safe place to sleep.

Fast forward to 8/17/2013  to a Record Searchlight article "Homeless encampments, natural features create perfect storm for Market Street fires" and we know now that due to the criminalization of homelessness and the dynamics of fear created homeless are camping and hiding   not only deeper in the steep canyons and brush behind Market St.  BUT IN ALL brush and canyons surrounding most of Redding due to short sighted past local government management.





But what is SAFE GROUND ?




Filmmaker Costa Mantis moved into tent city and lived in a tent to give the homeless people of Sacramento California a voice.

We at the Redding Coalition for the Homeless also are against practices and laws that unfairly single out homeless people and criminalize them for everyday living and life-sustaining activities and quite possibly violate their civil and constitutional rights. California needs safe “legalized” campgrounds with clean water, bathrooms, and trash services until Redding, Shasta County, and the State of California is willing and able to provide adequate shelters and affordable housing for the growing numbers of homeless folks free of homeless camping tickets, criminalization and evictions.


Safe Ground Rally California State Capital

April 22, 2009



Loaves & Fishes, Francis House, SHOC, Homeless Advocates, and the homeless rallied at the California State Capital to urge the City, County, and State to create a Safe Ground where the homeless can camp at night.



SEARCHING FOR SAFE GROUND
is ready for it's West Coast World Premiere at the AOF IX International Film Festival on Thursday August 22nd 2013 at 8PM at the Krikorian Theatre on 410 South Myrtle Ave. in Monrovia.

Safe Ground Sacramento - "Protecting the human rights of homeless people."