FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

03-30-11 830AM

Senate Bill 906 will require that accused and convicted co-conspirators of violent felonies be jailed and prisoned apart.

On Aug. 9, 2009, two assailants brutally attacked and killed 59-year-old Cindy Ramos in her Tracy home. They were acquaintances of Ramos who had gained her trust. The attackers, Robert and Jorge Morgan, were parolees who had previously met in prison and were married. In 2010 both of the attackers plead guilty to the murder of Ramos and were sentenced to life without parole.

After being convicted, Robert Morgan told Kimberly Elisan-McKinney, Ramos’ daughter, that the Morgans had been promised that they would be imprisoned together. The family then began their campaign to make sure that the couple that had murdered their mother would be separated in prison and not housed together. They were surprised that the law allowed for co-conspirators such as the Morgans to be housed together.

They brought this issue to the attention of Sen. Mark DeSaulnier and submitted a formal request for legislation through DeSaulnier’s annual There Ought To Be a Law contest. Today DeSaulnier announced the winner of this contest with the introduction of SB 906, which will assure that no family ever has to fight for separate housing again. This bill will provide that whenever two or more people are convicted of committing a violent felony together, they must be housed in separate prisons.

“This is a common-sense law that should have been law many years prior to my mom’s murder,” said Daniel Martinez of Oakley, son of Ramos. “This law would ensure that no co-conspirators of any violent act are ever housed together.”

“I am absolutely elated that this step is being taken to keep known killers and conspirators apart,” said Christina Barnes of Elk Grove, daughter of Ramos. “This bill will provide for the safety and protection of the family left behind, correctional officers, attorneys, other inmates, or any others who would potentially come into contact with this dangerous duo.”

“My heart goes out to this family,” said DeSaulnier. “My hope is that this law will help protect against future situations where co-conspirators might wind up in the same jail, reception center or prison. There must never again even be a question. Such violent criminals must be kept apart.”

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