A San Francisco jury has acquitted Irie Benson, 48, of attempted murder charges after determining that he shot a knife-wielding stranger to protect himself and his elderly uncle. Jurors deliberated for less than two hours.Read More

A San Francisco jury has acquitted 29-year-old Wyatt Johnson, who was arrested in a multi-agency law enforcement raid at Jefferson Park on Feb. 26. The jury unanimously acquitted him of all charges on Oct. 22.Read More

San Francisco jury verdicts in three cases reveal a troubling pattern: vulnerable San Franciscans are being jailed and prosecuted based on weak or misunderstood evidence, rather than offered help. Juries saw through the flaws in the prosecutions and acquitted individuals who should never have been charged.Read More

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Oct. 31, 2024MEDIA CONTACT: PDR-MediaRelations@sfgov.org | Public Relations Officer Jessie Seyfer | (628) 271-9800 **PRESS RELEASE** Jury Acquits Legally Blind Man for Second Time in Two YearsCharles Underwood, who is unhoused, was arrested after a man kicked the boxes he was sleeping in SAN FRANCISCO — For the second time in two years, a San Francisco...Read More

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Sept. 10, 2024MEDIA CONTACT: Jessie Seyfer, public relations officer | (628) 271-9800 | San Francisco Public Defender’s Office | pdr-mediarelations@sfgov.org  **PRESS RELEASE** SF Jury Acquits Man Who Acted in Self-Defense After Stranger–Unprovoked–Screamed at Him and Trespassed Into His Apartment Stranger also returned to his apartment building and was believed to be armed...Read More

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Aug. 27, 2024MEDIA CONTACT: PDR-MediaRelations@sfgov.org  **PRESS RELEASE** SF Jury Acquits Father of Battery Who Asked Two People to Stop Cutting in Line at Children’s EventOne accuser admitted in court she and her friend made sure their stories matched before talking to police SAN FRANCISCO – On Aug. 13, a San Francisco jury deliberated...Read More

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Aug. 8, 2024MEDIA CONTACT: Jessie Seyfer, public relations officer | (628) 271-9800 | San Francisco Public Defender’s Office | pdr-mediarelations@sfgov.org  **PRESS RELEASE** SF Jury Acquits Man Wrongly Accused of Purposely Running Over Friend’s Foot SAN FRANCISCO — On July 31, a San Francisco jury acquitted Anthony Sonnier, 55, of felony assault charges...Read More