Dear Acting Sheriff Anderson:

My name is Rebecca Olivieri and I am a Senior Deputy District Attorney assigned to the Special Prosecutions Unit in the Orange County District Attorney’s Office.  My purpose in writing to you is to let you know what an outstanding employee you have in Deputy Jason Pitts.

Deputy Pitts proved invaluable recently when he provided crucial interpretation in a kidnap for ransom case which was investigated by the Costa Mesa Police Department.  The victims in our case were Brazilian citizens who spoke only Portuguese.  Due to the unavailability of a Portuguese interpreter during the original investigation, the victims, now living in Florida, were flown out to testify at the preliminary hearing.  Significant issues developed during the hearing, however, when it was discovered that the court assigned interpreter, who was from Portugal, was having difficulty interpreting for the Brazilian witnesses.  Given those issues, we were forced to abort the preliminary hearing midstream.

Having flown the victims in from Florida, we wanted to try to re-interview them using an interpreter who spoke Brazilian Portuguese in order to finish the preliminary hearing with the assigned investigator testifying instead of the victims.  Remembering that years earlier he had met a Deputy Sheriff, Jason Pitts, who spoke Brazilian Portuguese, the District Attorney Investigator Baden Gardner, contacted your department in order to see if Deputy Pitts still worked there.  After learning not only did he still work there, but he was on duty, we were able to get clearance from his superior to have him immediately come to Harbor Court in order to provide translation.

Once Deputy Pitts arrived, he quickly familiarized himself with both the victims and the case.  He proceeded to patiently translate for both victims for nearly five hours, well beyond the time when he was supposed to be off duty.  Afterwards, he accompanied the victims and my investigator to John Wayne Airport to provide interpretation along the way, as well as to ensure that the victims made it onto the flight since the interview ran longer than expected, necessitating a rush to the airport.  Deputy Pitts’ critical participation in the case did not cease there.  Over the course of several months as the investigation continued leading up to the trial, Deputy Pitts would provide assistance whenever necessary to contact the victims.  When the case went to trial this March, Deputy Pitts was there once again to assist in any way possible to ensure the victims understood what was going on at every stage of the trial.

To say Deputy Pitts was invaluable to the case is truly an understatement.  Without his language skills we would have been completely at a loss in communicating with our victims.  Had that been the case, the outcome of the case could well have been different than the jury’s verdict of guilty which was announced last week.

I would also like to commend Lieutenant Janet Lonich for her encouragement and flexibility in allowing Deputy Pitts to assist us whenever necessary.  Your department should be proud to have two such fine, professional employees who exemplify the fact that we are all in this to see that justice is done, no matter which agency we work for.

Sincerely,

Rebecca L. Olivieri
Senior Deputy District Attorney
Special Prosecutions Unit