RON FREITAS
District Attorney
Office of the District Attorney
Protecting our community for 175 Years
Protecting our community for 175 Years
Ronald J. Freitas is the 42nd District Attorney to lead San Joaquin County’s chief law enforcement agency. This administration maintains a zero-tolerance approach to prosecuting criminals, working with local, state, and federal partners to create a safe and secure San Joaquin County for everyone.
"The mission of the District Attorney's Office is to bring justice and closure to victims of crime."
“True public safety requires a collaboration
between law enforcement and the community.” - Betsy Hodges
District Attorney Freitas announced today that on June 25, 2026, a local jury found defendant Paul Thomas guilty of multiple felony narcotics charges, including the operation of an active drug manufacturing laboratory.
The conviction follows a thorough investigation initiated on July 10, 2024, when agents from the Metropolitan Narcotics Task Force served a search warrant at 4460 Cotton Court, Apt. 4. Upon entering the residence, agents discovered that Thomas was utilizing the apartment as a narcotics stash house and processing facility to convert cocaine hydrochloride into cocaine base ("crack" cocaine).
Thomas was apprehended by agents inside a locked bedroom. In that room, law enforcement seized:
Following a trial before the Honorable Judge Lance Jacot, the jury returned guilty verdicts on all counts, including manufacturing a controlled substance, possession of cocaine base for sale, possession of cocaine for sale, possession of methamphetamine for sale, possession of heroin for sale, and possession of fentanyl for sale.
"This verdict sends a clear message that the manufacturing and distribution of poison in our neighborhoods will not be tolerated," said District Attorney Freitas. "Thanks to the seamless collaboration between our dedicated prosecutors and law enforcement partners, a dangerous repeat offender is off our streets. We remain committed to holding those who traffic deadly substances accountable to the fullest extent of the law."
The prosecution was led by Deputy District Attorney Jocelyn Weisbrich. The District Attorney’s Office extends its sincere gratitude to DDA Weisbrich for her exceptional work in securing this conviction, as well as Metropolitan Narcotics Task Force Agents Matthew Felber and Justin Maggio for their diligent, thorough investigation of this case.
Due to a prior "strike" conviction on March 20, 1997, for a violation of Penal Code section 288.5(a) (continuous sexual abuse of a child), Thomas faces a maximum exposure of 23 years and 4 months in state prison.
Sentencing is officially scheduled for August 17, 2026, at 9:00 a.m. in Department 7A.
A Family Justice Center is a collaborative model of service delivery that brings together a range of resources and support services under one roof to better serve victims of Domestic Violence, Human Trafficking, Sexual Assault, Elder Abuse, Child Abuse, and Stalking.
The goal of a Family Justice Center is to provide comprehensive and coordinated support to individuals and families affected by abuse, helping them to feel safe and supported as they navigate the process of seeking help and rebuilding their lives.
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