MERCED COUNTY GRAND JURY A BIG JOKE

HAVE YOU EVER FELT THE NEED TO FILE A COMPLAINT WITH THE MERCED COUNTY GRAND JURY. DON’T WASTE YOUR TIME THEY ARE A BIG JOKE AND ACCOMPLISH NOTHING OF IMPORTANCE BUT USE UP TAX PAYERS DOLLARS.
I FILED A COMPLAINT WITH THE GRAND JURY A YEAR AGO THIS MONTH. I SENT THE COMPLAINT REGISTERED MAIL JUST SO I WOULD BE SURE THEY GOT THERE.
AFTER A MONTH WENT BY AND I HAD NOT RECEIVED ANY KIND OF A RESPONSE, I SENT AN EMAIL TO THEIR ADDRESS THEY HAVE POSTED ON THEIR WEB SITE.
I RECEIVED A RESPONSE FROM YVETTE BRISCO WHO WAS THE JURY FORE PERSON AT THE TIME. (YOU ALL REMEMBER YVETTE DON’T YOU?? THE SUN STAR DID A STORY ON HER HOW SHE HAD ALL THIS CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION THAT BELONGED TO THE GRAND JURY AT HER HOUSE. NOTHING EVER HAPPENED TO YVETTE, GO FIGURE). ANY WAY IN HER RESPONSE SHE ADVISED ME A LETTER WAS SUPPOSE TO BE SENT TO ME, WHICH NEVER HAPPENED. STRIKE ONE
ANOTHER MONTH GOES BY AND STILL NOTHING, SO I SEND ANOTHER EMAIL ASKING HOW THE SYSTEM WORKS AND WHAT WILL BE DONE WITH MY LETTER.
TWO WEEKS LATER I GET A RESPONSE FROM A COURT EMPLOYEE ADVISING ME THEY ARE IN THE MIDDLE OF CHANGING GRAND JURY MEMBERS AND THAT HAS BEEN THE HOLD UP IN PROCESSING MY COMPLAINT. THIS WAS 7/26/05.
NOW ITS 9/8/2005 AND I HAVE NOT HEARD FROM ANYONE IN OVER A MONTH. I SEND YET ANOTHER EMAIL SAYING THAT I UNDERSTOOD THE CHANGING OF THE JURY BUT THE SITUATION IS STARTING TO GET RIDICULOUS.
ON 9/22/05 AGAIN I GET A RESPONSE FROM THE COURT EMPLOYEE ADVISING ME MY EMAIL HAS BEEN FORWARDED TO THE GRAND JURY WEB SITE AND A SHELENE BERNAL WILL BE CONTACTING ME DIRECTLY (EXACT WORD USED).
ON 10/3/2005 AFTER NOT HEARING DIRECTLY FROM SHELENE BERNAL, I AGAIN EMAIL THE COURT EMPLOYEE ASKING IF THERE IS ANY JUDGE I CAN CONTACT ABOUT HOW MY COMPLAINT IS BEING HANDLED.
ON THE SAME DATE OF 10/3/2005 I SEND AN EMAIL DIRECTLY TO THE GRAND JURY EMAIL ADDRESS THAT AGAIN IS THE ONE FROM THEIR WEB SITE. MY EMAIL ADVISES THEM OF MY FRUSTRATION WITH THEIR SYSTEM.
RESPONSE I RECEIVED FROM SHELENE BERNAL ON THE SAME DAY AS ABOVE 10/3/2005
Dear Mr. Sofranek,First I would like to apologize about the delay in the response from my end. As you know we have started a new term and I am learning and carefully settling into my new responsibilities. I would have to say that it hasn't been the easiest thing. With that said I need to remind you, Mr. Sofranek, that this e-mail or the receipt of this e-mail are to be kept confidential. It is only with strct confidentiality can the lines of communication be kept open.The 2004-2005 Grand Jury did receive your complaint it was voted as to not act on the complaint and to forward to the 2005-2006 Jury. We, the 2005-2006 jury have your complaint and it will be up for discussion sometime during the month of October time permitting. If after discussion the Grand Jury decides to continue with the invetigative process then we will getting in contact with you.If you have any questions feel free to reply to this e-mail.Thank You,Shelene BernalForeperson


NOW ITS 11/25/2005 AND I HAVE NOT HEARD FROM THE GRAND JURY SINCE THE EMAIL FROM SHELENE ON 10/3/2005.
I SEND AN EMAIL TO CHANNEL 47 PROGRAM "ON YOUR SIDE", DETAILING THE PROBLEMS I AM HAVING WITH GETTING ANY PLACE WITH THE MERCED GRAND JURY. I ASK THEM TO CONSIDER DOING A STORY ON THE MERCED GRAND JURY.
ON 1/4/2006 I CONTACT A LAWYER BY THE NAME OF JACK ZEPP. I FOUND HIS NAME ON THE INTERNET FROM AN ARTICLE ABOUT CALIFORNIA GRAND JURIES. I ASK HIM IF THERE IS A STATE AGENCY THAT I CAN CONTACT ABOUT MY PROBLEM OF NO RESPONSE FROM THE LOCAL GRAND JURY ON MY COMPLAINT. HE ADVISES ME THAT EACH LOCAL GRAND JURY COMES UNDER THE JURISDICTION OF THE LOCAL COURTS. ITS NOW BEEN OVER SIX MONTHS SINCE I SENT MY COMPLAINT TO THE GRAND JURY.
NOW ITS ABOUT THE MIDDLE OF JANUARY AND I RECEIVE A CALL FROM A GRAND JURY MEMBER. THEY WANT TO SET UP A MEETING. I TELL THEM JUST NAME THE PLACE AND TIME AND I WILL BE THERE.
WE MEET IN THE NEXT FEW DAYS AND WE TALK FOR A COUPLE OF HOURS. I BRING TO THEIR ATTENTION SOME OTHER PROBLEMS FOR THEM TO ADDRESS BESIDES MY ORIGINAL COMPLAINT AND PRESENT THEM WITH DOCUMENTS THAT TOOK ME TWO DAYS TO PUT TOGETHER. AT THE END OF THE MEETING I AM TOLD THEY WILL CHECK INTO MY COMPLAINT AND WRITE ME A RESPONSE BUT THIS COULD TAKE 6 TO 8 WEEKS.
I FIGURE BY THE END ON MARCH I SHOULD GET A REPORT. MARCH COMES AND GOES AND NO CONTACT FROM THE GRAND JURY.
NOW ON 4/11/2006, I LEAVE A MESSAGE ON THE PHONE NUMBER THAT IS LISTED ON THE GRAND JURY WEB SITE. I FIGURED I SENT ALL THESE EMAILS AND NOTHING SO LETS TRY LEAVING A PHONE MESSAGE. AS USUAL NOTHING.
THE NEXT DAY 4/12/2006 I SEND ANOTHER EMAIL TO THEIR OFFICIAL EMAIL ADDRESS. YOU GUESS IT NO RESPONSE.
AS OF TODAY 5/21/2006 I HAVE STILL NOT HEARD OR RECEIVED ANYTHING ABOUT THE INVESTIGATION THEY DID ABOUT MY COMPLAINT. IT IS NOW A YEAR.
I HAVE NOTHING BUT DISGUST WITH THE PRESENT MERCED COUNTY GRAND JURY AND THE WHOLE SYSTEM. THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO EXCUSE FOR THE WAY THIS GRAND JURY HAS TREATED MY COMPLAINT. I ONLY WONDER IF OTHERS HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEMS AS I. I ESPECIALLY HOLD RESPONSIBLE THE THREE MEMBERS I SPOKE TO.
I SPENT ALMOST 28 YEARS WORKING THE CORRECTIONS DIVISION FOR THE MERCED COUNTY SHERIFFS DEPARTMENT. I REMEMBER AS A NEW OFFICER BEING TOLD THAT THE GRAND JURY WAS COMING FOR THEIR ANNUAL TOUR OF THE JAIL. WE SPENT DAYS CLEANING AND MAKING SURE EVERYTHING WAS IN ORDER.
OVER THE YEARS I REALIZED THAT THE GRAND JURY SYSTEM IS ONE BIG JOKE AND THEY HAVE NO REAL AUTHORITY TO ENFORCE ANY SUGGESTIONS OR COMMENTS THEY MAKE. AFTER BEING PROMOTED I REALIZED THAT THE SHERIFFS ADMINISTRATION DIDN’T TAKE THE GRAND JURY SERIOUSLY BUT JUST PLAYED THE GAME WHEN THEY CAME AROUND ASKING QUESTIONS. THEY ALSO KNEW THE GRAND JURY HAS NO REAL AUTHORITY OR ELSE THE PROBLEMS THEY BROUGHT UP TWO YEARS IN A ROW WOULD HAVE BEEN TAKEN CARE OF.
I RECALL ONE PARTICULAR GRAND JURY REPORT, WHEN THE ONLY THING THEY COULD FIND TO COMMENT ON ABOUT THE SANDY MUSH JAIL FACILITY WAS THAT THE WHITE CANVAS LAUNDRY CARTS WE USED HAD RUST MARKS ON THEM. IF YOU GO TO THEIR WEB SITE YOU CAN BRING UP PAST GRAND JURY REPORTS, I JUST DON’T REMEMBER THE YEAR. WITH ALL THE PROBLEMS IN THE CORRECTIONS DIVISION THEY ZOOM IN ON RUSTY LAUNDRY CARTS.
WHAT IT COMES DOWN TO IS DEPARTMENT HEADS APPEASE THE GRAND JURY MEMBERS WHEN THEY COME AROUND BECAUSE THEY KNOW THE SYSTEM IS A JOKE AND ISN’T TAKEN SERIOUSLY.
NOW I KNOW THE SAME THING ABOUT THE GRAND JURY WHEN YOU FILE A COMPLAINT WITH THEM.
IF ANYONE HAS HAD ANY EXPERIENCE WITH THE GRAND JURY I SURE WOULD LIKE TO HEAR FROM YOU.