Tag Archives: gangs

Prosecutor reflects on trial, conviction of Joe ‘Fatter’ Blacknell in Richmond gang case

By: Robert Rogers | March 19, 2012 – 3:00 pm

As the jury’s deliberation dragged into a second week, the pressure mounted. Always unflappable in the courtroom, prosecuting attorney Derek Butts nevertheless found himself wracked...

Blacknell convicted in murder of Marcus Russell, other counts

By: Robert Rogers | March 8, 2012 – 6:55 pm

Joe Blacknell III was found guilty Thursday of 20 felony counts, including the first degree murder of Marcus Russell in 2009. Jurors reached their decision...

Blacknell’s mother takes stand in Richmond murder case

By: Robert Rogers | February 23, 2012 – 1:02 pm

Joe Blacknell III’s mother took the stand in his defense Wednesday, testifying that her son is a hip-hop fan and father of three, and not...

Blacknell defense opens case, focuses on science and inconsistent witnesses

By: Robert Rogers | February 22, 2012 – 8:30 am

On the first day of witness testimony for the defense, public defender Diana Garrido spent several hours focused on what may be the prosecution’s biggest...

Spate of city gang violence has deep roots

By: Mark Oltmanns | April 12, 2011 – 10:36 am

Police are saying that some of the violence that has been brewing in the city recently, which has left three dead and four wounded over...

A Richmond activist fights gangs and governors

By: Natalie F. Jones | January 12, 2010 – 6:00 am

It’s not hard to imagine how Barbara Becnel charmed her way into spending more than 12 hours a day with Los Angeles gangsters for a...