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A Pleasanton couple who were robbed at gunpoint outside their home in 2021 said they were disheartened by how the Alameda County District Attorney’s Office reduced the charges against two of the suspects and never even told them about it, the husband and wife told the Weekly.
“We’re pretty disappointed,” the husband said. “We feel the justice system is broken. It’s not on the people’s side … they care more about the criminals than the law-abiding citizens.”
The couple spoke to the Weekly on condition of anonymity for privacy reasons as victims of a serious crime.
They also gave an interview to the Weekly in the days after the robbery in 2021, saying at the time they were left bruised, “frightened” and wondering whether the culprits targeted them because they were Asian American – in addition to praising Pleasanton and San Ramon police for “a job well done, for catching the robbers in only a couple of hours”.
On April 10, 2021 they were pulling into their driveway at their home in Pleasanton after an afternoon of shopping when, according to the police report from that day, they were robbed by two Black men.
One of the culprits was holding a gun and telling the husband to give up his wallet while the other grabbed the wife by the arm as she stood outside the back passenger seat, according to a probable cause statement written by Officer Rudy Granados.
“That was a very, very scary moment for my wife,” the husband said.
The two male robbers stole a wallet containing cash and credit cards as well as a smartwatch, jacket and their shopping bags, according to Granados, before running to a nearby getaway vehicle where a third individual was waiting.
Police later located the prime suspects after they allegedly used the couple’s credit cards at a Target in San Ramon, and officers reportedly found the victims’ belongings in the getaway vehicle along with a firearm in plain view that was fully loaded and had serial numbers partially scratched out.
Michael Walker III of Richmond; and Raymond Davis III of San Pablo — who were 18 and 19, respectively, at the time — were arrested and originally charged on counts of second-degree robbery and firearm-related charges.
But as court documents show, those felony charges for both Davis and Walker were significantly reduced and the case ultimately settled by the DA’s office in 2023. When contacted by the Weekly last week, the couple said they were never informed about the plea deal.
“The Alameda County District Attorney’s Office takes its obligation under Marsy’s Law very seriously. The supervising attorney will reach out to the family regarding their concerns,” office spokesperson Haaziq Madyun told the Weekly. “We have initiated a review of our procedures to ensure that this does not happen again.”
In those court documents detailing the case over the past couple of years, Davis was established as the getaway driver and not one of the two who robbed the victims. Walker was also never tied to the gun.
Hearing transcripts and documents indicate the third individual involved was a juvenile and never charged at the time. The then-17-year-old was alleged to be one of the robbers and the initial police investigation said Walker was holding the gun, but that was never proven in court.
According to a change of plea disposition from Oct. 31, 2023, based on their young age, the circumstances and this being their first offense, the two young men were given the chance to enter into what is called a “deferred entry of judgment” program.
Alameda County Superior Court Judge Paul Delucchi said that sentencing and any judgment regarding their case is deferred on the condition that for a year, the two had to complete the “Transitional Age Youth” program, according to the hearing transcript.
According to court documents, the program is meant to help the young men “get life skills and learn how to effectively stay away from the criminal justice system” as well as teach them job skills and require them to find employment.
“If you guys comply with all this stuff, then this goes away, which is a tremendous boon for you and your lives,” Delucchi said at the hearing. If the two failed to complete the program, that’s when prison time would come into play.
The two agreed to the program and pleaded no contest to the reduced charge of felony grand theft and admitted to having used a high degree of violence and cruelty while committing the crime.
The charges against Davis were dropped this past July after he successfully completed the diversion program. Walker was due in court on the matter this week, but, according to court documents, the county’s probation department is recommending he be dismissed from the program after successfully completing it.
“Our client worked very hard to successfully complete the TAY program, and we’re pleased his case will be dismissed,” deputy public defender Jeff Chorney told the Weekly on Wednesday.
“Jail destabilizes every aspect of a person’s life and often further exposes them to trauma and violence,” Chorney added. “When our clients are eventually released, if we haven’t addressed their needs, then they could end up back in the criminal legal system. Programs like TAY are alternatives to that and are designed to connect our clients with services, including employment, housing and mentorship. That’s better for our clients and for society.”
The ending of the case was all news to the victims, who said that the DA’s office never told them about the plea deal and that they were shocked to hear the outcome from the Weekly.
“Twenty years ago if you had an armed robbery you’re probably sitting in jail for more than a decade,” the husband said.
He said the couple have since lost their sense of security and safety and that while they understand giving people a chance to reform themselves, lenient sentences like this could lead criminals to think there are no consequences for their crimes.
His wife also did not appreciate the lack of communication from the DA’s office and wished they were represented as well as the defense attorneys had represented their clients. She said the last time they heard from anyone was early in October 2023 — before the plea change hearing.
“In this case we got no calls. We got nothing,” she said.
