Dear Readers:

This is a case of injustice of two decades in the making, and you can help us to make the difference.

                     PETITION

To The Honorable Gavin C. Newsom, Governor of The State of California.

Dear Mr. Newsom :

Wrongful convictions in the United States of America, have stolen at least 20,000 years from innocent defendants. Also, in California over the past 24 years, wrongful convictions cost taxpayers $282 million.

My brother Jorge Armando Covarrubias, CDCR T23089, was wrongfully convicted and sentenced to 30 years to life under the terms of an unknowing and involuntary plea bargain.

Please follow the links:

https://drive.google.com/folderview?id=1q2Dsvap_HEcPV-FIlPMKFEa59x_PqWiZ

At the time of his arrest and court proceedings,  my brother neither spoke nor understood any English, and had NO prior criminal record in the United States and Mexico. Not even a traffic ticket.

https://drive.google.com/folderview?id=1zOR-OCtTAFh8Vd2kMJlTe_DIZ-Y0XEWY

On October 08, 2000, he was arrested and booked for Assault with a Deadly Weapon,  (PC 245 (A) (1)). Court records clearly shows that during a court hearing at the Downey, California Court, Jorge declined a plea bargain of 12 years while being represented by the  Angeles Public Defender Craig Purcell and assisted by the court interpreter Lucia Daley; However few days later at the Superior Court of Norwalk California, while being represented by Jon A. Divens, SB 145549, (DISBARRED BY THE SUPREME COURT OF CALIFORNIA), and assisted by the Court Interpreter Cecilia Alcaraz, he supposedly agree to enter into a plea deal of 30 years to life.

The court's proceedings were inaccurately translated by the court interpreter Alcaraz.

Jorge was convicted and sentenced by the Hon. John Torribio, under the terms of an unknowing, unintelligent and involuntary plea agreement for the charges of Second Degree Attempted Murder PC 664/187 (5 years) plus a gun enhancement, 12022.53 (d) (25 years too life). For a total of 30 years to life. 

https://drive.google.com/folderview?id=1sUfPL9NGABQDXXcErqvVdXpkYmWCNBDL

Jon A. Divens my brother's trial counsel (DISBARRED) just admitted he used my brother's inability to understand English to improperly advised him to enter into a plea bargain of 30 years to life, for a crime he did NOT commit.

https://drive.google.com/folderview?id=1EPBvvmLeAAZgAPBM7Ey5dY_A3dwZB0HG​

https://drive.google.com/folderview?id=1jfJMP8x8yKKAfWN8cxXvPnlNs4kH_gro​

http://members.calbar.ca.gov/fal/Member/Detail/145549​

http://www.thestarpress.com/story/news/local/2016/08/05/prosecutor-closes-book-bsu-investment-scam/87968326/

The Honorable Lillian Vega Jacobs, (Appointed by former Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr.), former District Attorney who prosecuted the case, presented an affidavit stating that she observed my brother hesitant and reluctant to enter into a plea of guilty, and that she did not believe that Jorge would accept such plea, because that is not a plea bargain at all. 

https://drive.google.com/folderview?id=1Fzn5eBY82UaCAUqgshgV4uwsq2Z7f7VJ

My brother attests that the court intérpreter Alcaraz never explained to him the truth in Spanish about court proceedings nor about such plea bargain. He was unable to understand because at that time he was complete iliterate in writing and speaking English.

As a simple matter of humans my brother deserved more than to stare in total incomprehension as he was wrongfully sentenced to spend his life in prison for a crime that he didn't commit, as a result of an illegal plea of guilty.

To declare that my brother, an immigrant functionally illiterate in English, that received a false translation of court's hearings and represented by an incompetent counsel, should be in prison serving a 30 years to life in silence,  IS NOT ONLY PATENTLY UNCONSTITUTIONAL, BUT IS A CLEAR INJUSTICE, not only for him, but on the fairness, integrity and public reputation of the state and national systems of justice as a whole.

Thank you for your time,

Sincerely, 

Jose Covarrubias