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

Public Defenders tried to get the man into a Mental Health Diversion Program, but the District Attorney’s Office objected. Instead, the case went to trial where a jury fully acquitted him.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: June 3, 2025 MEDIA CONTACT: PDR-MediaRelations@sfgov.org  **PRESS RELEASE** S.F. Man Shot by Police with Projectiles from a ‘Modified Grenade Launcher’ Acquitted of Felony Charges SAN FRANCISCO —  A San Francisco jury has acquitted Bryan Soper, 50, of felony charges that stemmed from SFPD officers’ rush to use force on him.  On July...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. 24, 2024 CONTACT: SF Public Defender Public Defender’s Office | PubDef-MediaRelations@sfgov.org   **PRESS RELEASE** SF Public Defender’s Office Celebrates Acquittal for Labor Trafficking Survivor The Public Defender’s Office and Community Leaders Demand that the District Attorney’s Office Stop Colluding With Feds and Provide Support to Labor Trafficking Survivors SAN FRANCISCO — Today, the...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

This press release was updated at 1:39pm on 5/15/24. FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 15, 2024 MEDIA CONTACT: PDR-MediaRelations@sfgov.org  **PRESS RELEASE** SF Jury Acquits Man Wrongly Charged in Castro Incidents Muhammed Abdullah spent 340 days in jail and was acquitted of all charges SAN FRANCISCO – On May 9, a San Francisco jury acquitted Muhammed Abdullah,...Read More