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The cast of characters in Santana, Vasquez

The bench, the tables, the witness box and the public gallery is packed with attorneys keeping a keen eye on the court proceedings in the matter of People v. Santana and Vasquez.

To help readers grasp the sheer number of attorneys directly concerned by this crucial case, Notable Trials has compiled a cast list of the main characters in this courtroom drama, with a few details added.

The list is not complete. It is expected to lengthen as the names of other attorneys and parties of interest emerge in this mammoth case.

Clicking on their names will take you to the basic career information on each person as provided by the State Bar of California.

The Judge:
John Henry Darlington
Darlington is a former Nevada County District attorney, and retired Nevada County Superior Court judge, now retired and presiding pro tem in various county cases.

The Prosecutors:
Michael Andre Canzoneri
Canzoneri is a supervising deputy attorney general with the California Department of Justice

David Andrew Lowe
Lowe is a deputy attorney general with the California Department of Justice.

The Accused:
Jesse Isaias Santana
Santana is a named partner in the Yuba City law firm of Beauchamp and Santana.

David William Vasquez
Vasquez is a named partner in the Marysville law firm of Vasquez and Vasquez.

The Defenders:
Craig Allan Leri
Leri practices law with offices in Marysville. He represents Jesse Santana.

Michael Robert Barrette
Barrette practices law with offices in Yuba City. He represents David Vasquez.

The Witnesses(so far):
Melanie Kamber Bendorf
Bendorf is a prosecutor with the Yuba County District Attorney’s Office. She and John Vacek pressed the original charges against Santana and Vasquez.

John Riley Vacek
Vacek is a prosecutor with the Yuba County District Attorney’s Office. He and Bendorf pressed the original charges against Santana and Vasquez.

Timothy John Evans
Evans is a former Sutter County Superior Court judge now in private practice with offices in Marysville. He briefly represented Joseph Griesa, during negotiations with "SA" to settle her sex harassment lawsuit.

Charles John (a.k.a., "Chuck") Smith
Smith is an attorney with the Redwood City law firm of Hartnett Smith & Associates. He briefly represented Joseph Griesa, who was convicted of some sex-related charges involving "SA." Other charges remain pending against Griesa.

Kenneth Lloyd Rosenfeld
Rosenfeld is the Sacramento attorney currently representing Joseph Griesa. Technically, Rosenfeld is not himself a witness. Rather, he stands beside Griesa when he is on the witness stand and directs whether Griesa should answer a defense question, or invoke his Fifth Amendment constitutional right against self-incrimination, instead.

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