Letter To The Judge

As the presiding judge of this case, this letter is to share with you and the court, insight as to my character, personality, values, and professional experience.

Throughout the court proceedings, very little has been voiced as to who I am. A gross error on my part by not taking the stand in my own defense. But at this point, I’m weary of writing in my defense. I know that everyone I encounter, responds “I would have reacted in the same manner as you.” Those who know me personally. Intentionally harming another, isn’t my faculty.

I’m from N.Y. (Ground Zero), and my dad, Dr. Robert A. Somerville MD. while in route to his medical center, was involved in a vehicular accident he was stuck by a carjacker. Sadly, he succumbed to his injuries two weeks later. The medical services administered by the NY city fire department afforded me the ability to be at his bedside. The services firefighters perform as first responders are unsurpassed! I hold them in the highest regard of any civil servant! So you might measure; how this truly tragic accident has deeply and profoundly affected me!

My dad, a family doctor, practiced at a time when house calls were common. When “Sickle-cell anemia” was taking the lives of many children of color, often I’d accompany him on these house calls. Some being friends, maybe classmates. He felt my presence manifested a calming air. Knowing I may be the last friend they may see. It was highly uncomfortable for me but I understood, even at such a young age. In college I majored in pre-med but came to realize, I was incapable of developing the emotional disconnect necessary for a physician. I elected to continue my education in the technical field. Working at Connor Hospital as a Biomed tech, afforded my manning equipment (to ensure its operation), critical to performing open heart surgeries. This experience in addition to employment at Alameda County morgue, has greatly enforced my respect for life and its fragility, concepts ingrained into my faculty.  

My professional career- having world various “Fortune 500 companies” as an engineer and manager, allowed extensive travel domestically and internationally as a result I’ve developed a global viewpoint. My experiences have promoted my humanitarianism. This fact can be qualified by the services I’ve offered to the Stockton community and beyond. My company “Capital Concession & Manufacturing” assisted the “Downtown Stockton Alliance” In the development of the farmers market. Designed, built, and serviced restaurants within the city and built many of the concessions (one of the three largest on the West Coast). We have been promoters of concert series as far back as “Jazz on the Waterfront”

The city has called on my company to cater to visiting dignitaries, and entertainers at the “Bob Hope Theatre”, sheriff’s badge & flag day! I’m a professional caterer who has vended high-end concerts and festivals in Frisco, Monterey, Reno, Vegas, Arizona to New Orleans!

My manufacturing business has designed, built, and installed concession trailers for Alameda Pars & Rec, Marin County minor league baseball team, Salinas Rodeo, and five for Home Depot! This is who I am! No frills, no embellishments just facts… I attempted to be concise. But this is a multi-layered situation and each must be addressed. 

I’m a professional who tries to evaluate things logically, not a hothead who goes about shooting firefighters out of garbage dumpsters (still a narrative being propagated). I can understand the seething animosity emitting from the Fortuna family and Vidal’s co-workers. But at the end of the day, the facts have to be realized. As my brother stated; “A calamity of errors accrued that dreaded morning. Had the firefighters exercised one of the many options to make contact with potential occupants, had 911 dispatch informed Ms. Nassar that SFD was already on-site, this could have been diverted. All these factors cannot rest on Mr. Somerville/my shoulders alone. When my intention was only to de-escalate the situation by announcing and firing warning shots. The aftermath confirmed my concerns. In an attempt to protect the business and its contents. My son was robbed at gunpoint and other associates were threatened as well. 

Regardless of “code enforcement” boarding up entryways and the building owner welding doors closed, the building security was continually breached. With the authority’s failure to respond, the business was systematically robbed and looted of the entire contents valued at more than a million dollars. Because of the marginalized area and the proximity to homeless encampments, no renters insurance providers would initiate a policy!

Must be denied fair and unbiased judiciary justice? To satisfy blind animosity, political and other hidden agendas? 

If I’m to be cast onto the sword of injustice, let it stand for something more than just “someone has to pay”. Let these proceedings be a platform for enacting protocol and or training to prevent a similar incident from reoccurring. There hasn’t been much of a whisper in this regard! Allow me to bring into fruition some of the globally impacting products I’ve designed and previously spoken of. 

To be stripped of a lifetime’s worth of possessions, unable to leave a legacy, only to be incarcerated is cruel and unusual punishment. At 70 years of age, 5 years is a life sentence! All because a jury is incapable of recognizing SFD can make mistakes. 

Must we continue to get better & better at getting worse? Unable to focus on what’s right and important?