El Dorado County District Attorney

08/29/2026

We stand alongside our partners at the El Dorado Sheriff and our entire community in mourning the tragic loss of Correctional Officer Ryan Marietti. We extend our deepest condolences to Ryan’s family, friends, colleagues, and all who knew and served alongside him. His commitment to serving our community will not be forgotten.

Ryan Marietti, J2258. Always speak his name.

08/29/2026

Our hearts are with the El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office and our entire community as we mourn the tragic loss of Correctional Officer Ryan Marietti. We extend our deepest condolences to Ryan’s family, friends, colleagues, and all who knew and served alongside him. His commitment to serving our community will not be forgotten.

Ryan Marietti, J2258. Always speak his name.

It is with profound sadness that the El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office informs our community of the loss of Correctional Officer Ryan Marietti.

In the early morning hours of August 28, 2026, Ryan was involved in a solo-vehicle accident on Highway 50 near Strawberry, CA. This tragic accident took the life of a member of our Sheriff’s Office family and a valued member of our community.

Ryan began his career with the Sheriff’s Office in December of 2024, serving at both the Placerville and South Lake Tahoe Jails. Among his many attributes, Ryan demonstrated a strong work ethic, professionalism, and a genuine desire to grow within the Sheriff’s Office. He had set his sights on advancing through the ranks and building a career in service to our community.

Prior to his employment with the Sheriff’s Office, Ryan was a member of the El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office Explorer Post 457, where he excelled and proudly represented the Post as a member of its competition team. Ryan was also an alumnus of Ponderosa High School, graduating in 2023.

Ryan will be greatly missed—not only by his family and friends, but by his EDSO family and the community he proudly chose to serve.

Ryan Marietti, J2258, always speak his name.

08/26/2026

Today, the El Dorado County District Attorney’s Office reflects on the anniversary of the day Jaycee Lee Dugard was found after 18 years in captivity.

On June 10, 1991, 11-year-old Jaycee was abducted while walking to her school bus stop in South Lake Tahoe by Philip and Nancy Garrido. She was held at their home in Antioch, California until she was discovered in 2009.

On August 26, 2009, two UC Berkeley campus officers encountered Jaycee and her two daughters, leading to their discovery and bringing nearly two decades of captivity to an end.

Our office prosecuted both offenders. Philip Garrido was sentenced to 431 years to life in prison, and Nancy Garrido was sentenced to 36 years in prison for her role in these crimes.

As we mark this anniversary, we continue to recognize Jaycee’s extraordinary strength and resilience. We wish Jaycee and her daughters' peace, healing, and continued strength.

08/25/2026

𝐂𝐎𝐋𝐋𝐄𝐆𝐄 𝐈𝐍𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐍 𝐒𝐏𝐎𝐓𝐋𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐓: 𝐙𝐎𝐈𝐄 𝐁𝐀𝐍𝐍𝐄𝐑

This summer, the El Dorado County District Attorney’s Office had the pleasure of welcoming Zoie Banner, a Criminal Justice student at Grand Canyon University, as a college intern.

During her internship, Zoie gained a firsthand look at the many moving parts of a District Attorney’s Office. She observed court proceedings, worked with our investigators, and had the opportunity to speak with deputy district attorneys and investigators about their roles and experiences.

One of the most valuable parts of her internship was sitting in on court proceedings and seeing how the different stages of a trial come together. She also said she was surprised by just how many people work collaboratively behind the scenes to move cases forward.

The experience has helped Zoie narrow down her future career goals. After completing her undergraduate degree, she plans to pursue a master’s degree in forensic psychology, with the goal of eventually working in investigations or crime analysis.

Her advice to other college students considering an internship with our office?
“Go for it. It helped a lot in narrowing down a career choice, and it was a very cool experience.”

Thank you, Zoie, for spending your summer with our office. We wish you continued success as you begin your master’s program and pursue a career in the criminal justice field.

08/19/2026

Placerville, Calif. – Before the summer season winds down, the El Dorado County District Attorney’s Office wants everyone to kick off their Labor Day festivities with safety at the forefront. Make the decision that saves lives. Choose safety every time you get behind the wheel and never drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

To help keep our community safe, local law enforcement agencies will have additional officers on patrol Aug. 19 through Labor Day (Sept. 7) looking for drivers suspected of driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs. The additional efforts to prevent impaired driving are part of a national enforcement campaign, Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over.

“Enjoying the last days of summer should be all about fun and that starts with making safe choices before making plans,” El Dorado County District Attorney, Vern Pierson said. “Everyone deserves to get home safely, and it starts with your everyday actions.”

Visit www.gosafelyca.org for more traffic safety information.

Funding for this program is provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

08/18/2026

𝐄𝐥 𝐃𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐝𝐨 𝐂𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐲 𝐖𝐨𝐦𝐚𝐧 𝐒𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐝 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐄𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐳𝐳𝐥𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐌𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐧 $𝟑𝟒𝟏,𝟎𝟎𝟎 𝐅𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐅𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐲 𝐓𝐫𝐮𝐬𝐭

PLACERVILLE, Calif. — El Dorado County resident Teresa Piper was sentenced on July 31, 2026, after pleading guilty to embezzling more than $341,000 from a family trust for which she served as successor trustee.

Piper pleaded guilty to one felony count of embezzlement in violation of California Penal Code section 503. As part of her sentence, she was ordered to serve 120 days in custody, placed on two years of formal probation, and ordered to pay $341,962.71 in restitution to the trust.

The case stemmed from a decade-long pattern of financial misconduct involving the misappropriation of trust assets. Court records showed that Piper improperly accessed equity in a property owned by the trust and used trust income for personal expenditures.

Following the death of her parents, Piper was appointed successor trustee and entrusted with managing the trust’s assets on behalf of six named beneficiaries. Instead, investigators determined that trust funds intended to benefit all beneficiaries were diverted for unauthorized personal use.

The investigation was conducted by El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office Detective Matthew French in collaboration with the El Dorado County District Attorney’s Office. The case was prosecuted by the District Attorney’s Office Special Prosecutions Unit, which is responsible for investigating and prosecuting complex, financially motivated crimes.

The El Dorado County District Attorney’s Office remains committed to protecting victims of financial crimes and holding individuals accountable for violating positions of trust.

08/03/2026

🚓🚒🚑 𝐉𝐨𝐢𝐧 𝐮𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐍𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐎𝐮𝐭!

The El Dorado County District Attorney's Office is proud to join the Placerville Police Department for this year's National Night Out—an annual event that brings neighbors, law enforcement, first responders, and community organizations together to strengthen relationships and promote safer communities.

Whether you're stopping by to meet your local first responders, learn about public safety resources, or simply enjoy an evening with family and friends, we hope to see you there!

📍 Tuesday, August 4
Hangtown Village Square(Starbucks)
🕕 6:00–8:00 p.m.

For more information, visit placervillepd.com.

07/31/2026

𝐇𝐎𝐍𝐎𝐑𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐎𝐅𝐅𝐈𝐂𝐄𝐑 𝐃𝐎𝐔𝐆𝐋𝐀𝐒 "𝐒𝐂𝐎𝐓𝐓" 𝐑𝐔𝐒𝐒𝐄𝐋𝐋

Today marks 19 years since CHP Officer Douglas "Scott" Russell made the ultimate sacrifice while serving in the line of duty. A 22-year veteran of the California Highway Patrol, Officer Russell was struck and killed as he deployed spike strips to stop a fleeing suspect.

The pursuit began in Rancho Cordova after the suspect intentionally swerved at an oncoming patrol vehicle driven by a Sacramento County Sheriff's deputy. As the pursuit continued toward El Dorado Hills Boulevard on Highway 50, the suspect once again deliberately veered his vehicle—this time toward a CHP officer.

Officer Russell knew the suspect was fleeing, but he did not know the suspect had already attempted to kill two other law enforcement officers. As he deployed the spike strip from the highway median, the suspect intentionally drove off the roadway and accelerated into Officer Russell before continuing to flee. The pursuit ultimately ended when a Sacramento County Sheriff's deputy successfully used a PIT maneuver to stop the suspect.

Today, we honor Officer Russell's extraordinary courage, selfless service, and ultimate sacrifice. We will never forget his commitment to protecting others or the legacy he leaves behind.

07/29/2026

𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐰𝐢𝐝𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐔𝐫𝐠𝐞𝐬 𝐋𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐬𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐑𝐞𝐣𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐀𝐁 𝟐𝟏𝟎𝟖, 𝐃𝐞𝐟𝐞𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐖𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐨𝐟 𝐂𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐚 𝐕𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬

PLACERVILLE, Calif. — July 29, 2026 — California law enforcement leaders, district attorneys, business leaders, crime victims, and community advocates from across the state joined together Tuesday for a statewide virtual press conference urging lawmakers to reject AB 2108, legislation that would undermine Proposition 36—the voter-approved initiative approved by nearly 70 percent of California voters, including 65% of Democratic voters.

Representing organizations from across California, speakers delivered a unified message: Proposition 36 reflected the clear will of California voters, and any effort to weaken its accountability provisions undermines both public safety and the integrity of the initiative process.

“As one of the principal architects of Proposition 36, I can say with certainty that California voters approved a carefully balanced measure that restored accountability for repeat offenders while preserving opportunities for treatment and rehabilitation,” said El Dorado County District Attorney Vern Pierson. “AB 2108 threatens to unravel that balance by weakening the very repeat-offender provisions voters overwhelmingly approved. This is about more than public safety—it is about respecting the democratic process.”

Throughout the press conference, speakers emphasized that Proposition 36 represents one of the clearest public safety mandates delivered by California voters in recent years. They expressed concern that AB 2108 would weaken the accountability framework established by Proposition 36 by expanding diversion opportunities for repeat theft offenders, undermining the intent of the voter-approved initiative and diminishing the voice of California voters.

The coalition encouraged Californians to contact their state legislators and urge them to reject AB 2108, preserve Proposition 36, and honor the overwhelming mandate delivered by nearly 70 percent of California voters.

07/15/2026

⚖️ 𝐌𝐚𝐱𝐢𝐦𝐮𝐦 𝐒𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐈𝐦𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐧 𝐂𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐝 𝐒𝐞𝐱𝐮𝐚𝐥 𝐀𝐛𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐌𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐂𝐚𝐬𝐞

On July 13, 2026, in Department 2 of the El Dorado County Superior Court, the Honorable Judge Mark A. Ralphs sentenced Robert Eakin to the maximum sentence permitted by law, 5 years in California State Prison.

On June 11, 2026, an El Dorado County jury found Eakin guilty of possessing child sexual abuse material (CSAM). The jury determined that Eakin possessed more than 600 images of child sexual abuse material, including more than 10 images depicting children under the age of 12.

In addition to the guilty verdict, the jury found that Eakin possessed a large quantity of child sexual abuse material and that his actions involved planning, sophistication, and professionalism. These findings are aggravating factors under California law and were considered by the court at sentencing.

Evidence presented at trial showed that investigators recovered a cellular phone belonging to Eakin containing approximately 2,900 images of child sexual abuse material.

Every image of child sexual abuse material represents the exploitation of a real child. The El Dorado County District Attorney's Office will continue to aggressively prosecute those who perpetuate these crimes and will use every available legal avenue to protect children and hold offenders accountable.