Member Profile: Mark Murphy

Supervising Deputy District Attorney Mark Murphy has been a Deputy District Attorney for approximately 18 years.  The majority of that time he has been assigned to the specialized prosecution of sex crimes and gang crimes.  Currently he is both acting as a supervisor of one of Butte County's four felony prosecution teams while also maintaining his own caseload in the specialized area of gang crimes.

As a supervisor, Mr. Murphy oversees other Deputy District Attorneys in their efforts to prosecute crime in Butte County.  He notes that the public does not necessarily see the time, effort and energy any individual Deputy District Attorney devotes to their cases.  There is a great deal of unpaid, uncompensated overtime and without such dedication and sacrifice, public safety would suffer greatly.

In regards to his own caseload, one of Mr. Murphy's most memorable cases over his tenure has been People v. Santos Zepeda.  In Zepeda, the victims were a father and son whom the defendant believed belonged to a rival gang.  The father was shot in the back by the defendant and was paralyzed as a result.  One witness described the father falling like a duck that had been shot out of the air when the shooting occurred.  While the father was laying on the ground, paralyzed, he watched the defendant shoot and kill his 16 year old son.

With help from his family, the defendant fled the State were he continued to pursue his hobby of writing rap lyrics--many of which were laced with terms specifically used by the gang he belonged to.  These lyrics included phrases that defendant was "still willing to do some killing," it "ain't sh*t to take your life," as well as referenced to an unsolved mystery.

Eventually the unsolved mystery was resolved.  The defendant was convicted of 1st degree murder, attempted murder and multiple firearm enhancements leading to a sentence of multiple life terms.

The California Court of Appeals eventually upheld the conviction in a published case which is now used up and down the State of California by gang prosecutors when using gang rap lyrics to show a particular defendant's motives and intentions.  (People v. Zepeda, (2008) 167 Cal.App.4th 25).

Mr. Murphy excels in his ability to both relate and guide victims of crimes through the court system.  This skill was recognized this year as a recipient of a Victim/Witness Award on April 9, 2014, given in recognition of his efforts made towards crime victims he deals with as part of his criminal caseload.  Mr. Murphy relates that "the most rewarding aspect of the job is working to deliver justice to family members who have lost a loved one to violence.  Murder cases often involve extensive contact with the victim's loved ones from the inception of the case, through trial and beyond.  After developing those relationships with the victim's family, it is always deeply rewarding when a murder victim's loved ones hear the jury announce a guilty verdict."

Mark Murphy after receiving an award from the Butte County Victim/Witness Center for his outstanding work with victims of crime for the 2013 year

Mock Trial Participants Shine in Local Competition*

On February 25, 2014, the Butte County Superior Court hosted the Butte County High School Mock Trial Competition which was sponsored by the Butte County Office of Education. This is a national program and each participating high school is given the same case to take to trial. They play the parts of the defendant and the witnesses as well as the prosecutors and the defense attorneys. They not only have to learn the facts of the case but also have to learn the law that corresponds with the case

 

This year, the case involved the sale of prescription medication, the abuse of which is fast becoming a national as well as a local epidemic. The victim, who suffered from a heart condition, died of cardiac arrest which was brought on by the Adderall (Adderall is amphetamine, a common ADHD prescription medication) the defendant student sold to him. The defendant student was charged with possession of amphetamine for sale and second degree murder.

Las Plumas High School and Pleasant Valley High School competed this year. Each side gave wonderful presentations and the scores were very close. Pleasant Valley edged Las Plumas by only 4 points to win the County title.

I have been a DDA for Butte County for 9 years and was a DDA for Humboldt County for 12 years, and Las Plumas’ attorney coach since 2008-2009 school year. I am so impressed by the teacher coaches who dedicated hundreds of hours of their personal time for this project and by the tremendous amount of work put in by the students. This program improves public speaking, creates good competitors, and teaches the students about our judicial system as well as issues that are important in their lives. It is truly my honor to be a part of this program and helping to guide those who are our future. I am so proud of all my team members for a job well done.

 



BCDDA Mock Trial Assistant Coaches-Matt Taylor (PV High School), Kim McNelis IPV High School) and Elizabeth Norton (LP High School)



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Judge's Panel AM Session-Jessica Miller, Jennifer Bennett and Leah Payne

*Article submitted by Deputy District Attorney Elisabeth Norton currently assigned to felony narcotics with the Butte County District Attorney's Office

 

Meet Our New BCDDAA President

BCDDA President 2014-Matthew Taylor

Matthew Taylor was elected as The Butte County Deputy District Attorneys' Association's President for the 2014 year by our members at a recent member meeting.

Matt has been serving as a Deputy District Attorney in Butte County for approximately two years.  He is currently assigned to prosecute felony economic crime.  Before being officially hired as a prosecutor for our County, Matt worked as an intern for the office.  He also interned at the U.S. Attorney's Office and the California Attorney General's Office.

Matt received his bachelor's degree in History from Southern Virginia University and his J.D. from McGeorge School of Law.  His outstanding law school performance resulted in a graduation "with distinction."  In law school, Matt was also admitted to the Order of the Barrister for his involvement with the Mock Trial Program.

Currently, Matt volunteers as a coach for the Pleasant Valley High School Mock Trial Team and has done so for approximately two years.  In addition, Matt works with the local Boy Scouts of America.  He also spent two years abroad in Poland, engaged in volunteer services for his Church.  In his spare time Matt enjoys improvisational acting, hiking, training his dog, and British History.

Outgoing President, Kurt Worley, had nothing but praise for our new leader, stating, "Matt is a thoughtful and intelligent prosecutor who cares about the direction that justice takes in Butte County and has all the motivation and acumen to fulfill the goals of the BCDDAA."

As our newly elected President, Matt is looking forward to improving our organization's community outreach, especially to victims of crime.  Matt has expressed the following regarding the BCDDAA's future:  "We plan on reviving victim and witness awards each year.  We also plan to highlight the public service our members are currently providing to the Butte County community both as professionals and as citizens.  I also want the organization to promote community investment in public safety.  To this end, the organization will take an active role in endorsing and promoting policies and candidates that we believe will best serve the public."

The BCDDAA will be in good hands in 2014 thanks to our dedicated new leader.  Join me in congratulating Matt Taylor as our new President!

Welcome

Welcome to the Butte County Deputy District Attorneys' Association's (BCDDAA) official blog.  The site is currently under development.  The BCDDAA is comprised of deputy district attorney's working in Butte County.  As a group, we share a common passion of serving our community and ensuring its protection and safety.  As prosecutors, we represent the People in the criminal justice system.  Collectively and individually we take our role as prosecutors seriously and strive to do justice for the citizens of Butte County on a daily basis.
This site will highlight our members, our function as prosecutors in Butte County, as well as the happenings of the BCDDAA in general.
Welcome!