People v. Silas

Filed 9/17/21 CERTIFIED FOR PUBLICATION IN THE COURT OF APPEAL OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA FIRST APPELLATE DISTRICT DIVISION ONE THE PEOPLE, Plaintiff and Respondent, A150512 v. SHELDON VAUGHN SILAS et al., (Contra Costa County Super. Ct. No. 5-140709-7) Defendants and Appellants. Defendants Sheldon Silas, Reginald Whitley, Lamar Michaels, and Linda Chaney, all of whom are Black, were tried for various crimes related to the murders of Christopher Zinn and Brieanna Dow, who were also Black. During jury selection, defendants brought Batson/Wheeler1 motions to challenge the prosecutor’s exercise…