San Francisco, CA – San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins announced today that her office secured a conviction of Russell Yoshida (61), after a trial by jury for a domestic incident with a woman where he brandished a knife and struck a responding officer. Mr. Yoshida was convicted of brandishing a deadly weapon (PC 417(a)(1)) and resisting arrest (PC 148(a)).

“I would like to thank the jury for their service on this trial,” said District Attorney Brooke Jenkins. “My office is committed to fighting for justice on behalf of victims of crime and will continue to do everything we can to ensure that there is justice and accountability in each case. My office is also committed to doing everything we can to help victims and survivors of domestic violence heal from the trauma that they have experienced and move forward.”

According to testimony and other evidence presented at trial, on the evening of August 18, 2024, Mr. Yoshida yelled at the victim and threw her belongings on the floor. Then Mr. Yoshida went into his room and came back out holding a nine-inch knife. When San Francisco Police Department officers arrived, Mr. Yoshida struck Officer Timothy Watts and resisted the officers’ attempts to place him under arrest.

The case against Mr. Yoshida was successfully prosecuted by Assistant District Charles Miller, with assistance from District Attorney Investigators Sammy Kim and Rosanna Figueroa, paralegals Loretta Luu and Lena Ku and IT support from Victor Liu, Ada Yu and Noaeh Pinaire. Victim Advocate Janet Pedroza worked closely with and provided support for the survivor through the pendency of this case.

“I want to thank the jury for their careful attention to the evidence and the law, and I also want to applaud the victim for her bravery,” said Assistant District Attorney Charles Miller. “This result would not have been possible without the hard work of the members of the San Francisco Police Department who worked on this case.”

Mr. Yoshida is currently out of custody. Sentencing is scheduled for October 30, 2024.

If you or a loved one is in need of support, please seek help. In an emergency call 9-1-1.

Below are additional resources for support:
• National Domestic Violence Hotline (text) START to 88788 or call 800.799.7233
• WOMAN, Inc 24/7 Support Line, 877.384.3578
• Cooperative Restraining Order Clinic (CROC) 415.969.6711
• La Casa De Las Madres Crisis text, 415.200.3575
• A Women’s Place 415.487.2140
• Mission Neighborhood Resource Center 415.869.7977
• Asian Women’s Shelter 24/7 crisis line, 877.751.0880

Court Number: 24015244