A man has been acquitted after spending nearly a year in San Francisco County Jail, almost eight months past his original trial deadline.
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Christopher Welch was found not guilty by a city jury last week after his public defender Cris Lamb brought forward evidence that disproved initial reports leading to felony assault charges.
"We are grateful that the jury came to the right conclusion in this case, but it is truly shameful that Mr. Welch spent so much time in jail waiting for his trial on charges that could have been avoided if the police had thoroughly investigated the claims from the beginning," Lamb said
Along with the prolonged jail time, Welch and his legal team were also caught in a "vicious cycle" of trying to get him released from jail awaiting his trial, according to Lamb. A judge refused to release Welch without an appropriate program in place, but the program was never made available, she explained.
In April of 2021, Welch was trying to find a safe place to sleep on a public walkway when a security guard began threatening him with insults and pepper spray. In frustration, Welch threw a discarded walker and accidentally hit the security guard where he was standing 15 feet away. The security guard called the police, but refused to share the building's video surveillance, which could have helped exonerate Welch against the guard's claims of assault.
During the trial, Lamb used the full footage of the incident to disprove the security guard's conflicting statements.
This is the second time in less than a month that a person has been acquitted of their charges after spending nearly a year in San Francisco County Jail, eight months past their legal trial date. Isaac Tuialuuluu was found not guilty of a felony assault charge on March 29. He spent 331 days in jail.
"Mr. Welch's case is sadly emblematic of so many of our clients who are living in poverty and met with criminalization and incarceration, rather than support and compassion," said San Francisco Public Defender Mano Raju. "Our defenders fought hard to help clear Mr. Welch's name and restore his liberty. However, to address the systemic issues that led to his unjust arrest and incarceration, we need more resources and treatment for people in need, and more courtrooms for individuals who have been accused to have their cases heard."
Upon Welch’s release from jail, the Public Defender's Office Social Workers will help him replace his ID and get connected to services. The year of incarceration has greatly affected his physical and mental health.
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