NEWS AFFAIRS 7 : WHERE EVERY STORY HAS IT'S AFFAIR!
Lionel Rubalcava, a San Jose resident, will receive a $12 million settlement from the city after being wrongfully imprisoned for 17 years for a drive-by shooting he did not commit. The San José City Council approved the payout with an 8-1 vote, marking one of the largest police misconduct settlements in the city’s history.
Rubalcava, now 46, was exonerated in 2019 through the efforts of the Northern California Innocence Project at Santa Clara University School of Law. The organization found that unreliable eyewitness identifications led to his wrongful conviction. Later that year, the Santa Clara County Superior Court declared him “factually innocent.”
Rubalcava’s conviction was based on pressured and coerced eyewitness testimonies, as revealed by his attorneys. They argued that San José police officers had fabricated reports and forced witnesses, including the shooting victim, to identify Rubalcava falsely. Despite his strong alibi, supported by cell phone data showing he was on his way to a date in Hollister, he was convicted of the 2002 shooting that left a man paralyzed.
Rubalcava expressed his relief and gratitude in a statement, saying, “We are supposed to be able to trust police officers for our protection and safety. In my case, the San José Police Department singled me out and framed me for a crime I didn’t commit. My family and I are grateful we can now put this nightmare behind us.”
His attorney, Nick Brustin, praised Rubalcava’s resilience and ability to rebuild his life post-incarceration. “With all the things that he has been through, a lot of people would have lost hope and would be angry. He’s none of those things,” Brustin said. “He’s got two businesses, he’s rebuilding his family, and he’s taking care of his parents.”
The city’s attempts to dismiss the case were overruled by a federal judge in March, allowing the lawsuit against the officers involved to proceed. U.S. District Court Judge Beth Labson Freeman noted, “A jury reasonably could infer that Perez, Fonua, and Spillman falsified the police reports for the purpose of depriving Rubalcava of constitutional rights.”
San José City Attorney Nora Frimann defended the officers’ actions, stating, “The city strongly believes the officers who investigated this case did so objectively and fairly.” However, she acknowledged the financial impact such cases can have on city budgets and the importance of managing these claims prudently.
The Northern California Innocence Project’s co-founder, Linda Starr, expressed her happiness for Rubalcava’s resolution. “It’s time for him to be able to just live his life,” she said, though noting that no monetary compensation can fully make up for the lost years.
Rubalcava’s settlement sends a powerful message about the importance of justice and accountability in the legal system, urging San José to review and improve its investigative practices to prevent future injustices.
Supporting Lionel Rubalcava
Lionel Rubalcava’s case highlights the significant impact of wrongful convictions and the need for systemic reform to ensure justice for all. The $12 million settlement provides Rubalcava with the means to rebuild his life while emphasizing the importance of accountability and the role of organizations like the Northern California Innocence Project in fighting for the wrongfully convicted.
The San José community and broader public must continue to support efforts to address and rectify wrongful convictions, ensuring that justice prevails for all.
