My name is Terronda Epps. I am the mother of Donté Epps who was arrested October 4 during a mental breakdown.

During this breakdown which had escalated over a few months, Donté felt someone was following him. He attempted to protect his roommate and her mother from whomever was out to hurt him. The police were called and his roommate was injured with a one centimeter, non life threatening laceration.

Donte' is being held in Theo Lacy Detention Center in Orange California with a million dollar bond in a COVID positive facility. He has no criminal record (not even a simple speeding ticket) He is 29 years old and is a licensed insurance agent, real estate agent, and car salesman in the state of California.

Clearly this case is assault but not attempted or premeditated murder. Donté was clearly over-charged. The police report from the defendant states that she (who is Caucasian) was aware he was having a mental breakdown in which he thought he was protecting them. (Documented in the police report) The D.A. assigned to this case is John Sinclair.

As a mother I’m very disappointed in this justice system in America. Racial Profiling, and Racism continue to escalate in our land. As a citizen I’m concerned about the law as it applies to mental health. My family wants laws in place for family members who have have relatives with mental health, who could be placed in a situation similiar to this.
As of today we have launched the #MentalHealthMatters campaign.

Donté has been in jail since last October. His charges are premeditated murder, attempted murder, and several others. He is scheduled for court July 8, 2020 at the North Justice Center in Fullerton, CA. He is represented by Attorney Christian Kim. His entire family from VA will be present to provide mental a and spiritual support. We have contacted the DA on this case Mr John Sinclair (Orange County) California Attorney General, the California NAACP, SCLC, area newspapers and radio stations. There is an online and paper petition as well.