In a recent verdict that has resonated throughout San Francisco, Dereck Ardis, a 54-year-old man, has been convicted on multiple charges, including domestic violence and illegal firearm possession. San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins announced, confirming that a jury found Ardis guilty of a series of crimes. Among them were possession of a firearm by a felon and domestic violence battery, as reported by the San Francisco District Attorney's Office.
"I would like to thank the jury for their service in this trial," said District Attorney Brooke Jenkins, as per the San Francisco District Attorney's Office. "My office takes these cases seriously and will always fight for justice in the courtroom to make sure that there is accountability." The convictions include serious penalties, such as possession of a loaded firearm by a prohibited person, possession of a concealed weapon in a vehicle by a prohibited person, and possession of a firearm by a felon convicted of a violent offense in addition to trespass. The weight of these charges culminates in a stark reminder of the consequences awaiting those who transgress against society's legal boundaries.
The litigation stemmed from an incident in which the victim, Ardis' ex-girlfriend, reported a break-in and theft, including two loaded firearms. This escalated to a broader investigation and prosecution, handled by Assistant District Attorney Alice Wong and others. According to evidence presented at trial, prior unreported incidents of domestic violence came to light, which, along with the burglary, painted a troubling picture of the accused's activities. The San Francisco Police Department's Crime Gun Investigations Center played an integral role in the case development, which led to the seizure of a loaded firearm concealed under the driver's seat of a vehicle associated with Ardis.
Assistant District Attorney Alice Wong commended the jury, stating, per the San Francisco District Attorney's Office, "I want to thank the jury for their thoughtfulness and careful review of the evidence in arriving at their verdict". Wong's team approached the prosecution with a trauma-informed strategy, which proved effective even without the survivor's testimony at trial. This technique underscores an evolving understanding of how the justice system interacts with the personal anguish of domestic violence. Ardis, currently held in custody, awaits sentencing scheduled for September 19.
