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October 26, 2009

Anyone know a guy from Walnut Creek named Maurice Moyal? He was in jail, he's dead, and I'm interested

Maurice Moyal was a 44-year-old Walnut Creek man, in custody at the Martinez Detention Facility since May 2008 on a robbery charge, according to a report today in the Contra Costa Times.

He suffered some kind of seizure back on Wednesday night. He was transported to the county's Regional Medical Center in Martinez, and was pronounced dead on Saturday morning.

Robbery defendant. Jail inmate. Who cares?

For some reason, I do.

Of course, I'm twisted in that way.

I'm interested in finding out who he was and how he ended up in our county jail on a robbery charge. The Contra Costa Sheriff's Department is said to be investigating the circumstances of his death, as is the District Attorney's Office.

I don't know if he's a long-time resident of our community. I suspect he is. Also, I'm curious that he's a 40something-year-old in custody on a robbery charge. Those kinds of crimes are typical of men 20 years younger. Isn't that correct, students of sociology and criminal justice?

I guess I'm thinking he doesn't fit a stereotype--of a guy in his 40s and from pleasant suburban Walnut Creek. And I'm feeling that there is something about his life--and death--that might speak of a kind of desperation and sadness.

Sorry, but this kind of story interests me. Therefore, I'm interested in why he's in jail on a robbery charge, how he ended up suffering a seizure in his jail cell, and then dead at the age of 44.

13 comments:

Up3rd said...

Guys in their 40's arrested for robbery and held that long are without means to bail themselves out and without friends to do it for them. Sadly, this one sounds like either substance abuse or an action that took the gentleman off the streets and into a [reasonably safe] sheltered, three-a-day environment.

Anonymous said...

OMG I swear he's a family law lawyer

Anonymous said...

Don't think it's the same guy.

Anonymous said...

I bet he's a relative of the family law guy. Age would match up as the family law guy could even be this guy's father.

Anonymous said...

One less loser requiring public support. No sympathy here. Darwin wins again.

Anonymous said...

It is a misperception that people grow out of their criminal habit. Often criminals are repeat offenders. They start at a young age and they keep robbing. It is a vicious cycle of robbery, jail, and robbery again when they get out. Jail is not a place where people learn their lessons. It is a hateful place where people are surrounded by criminality that only reinforces a criminal lifestyle. When people get out of jail, they often can't get jobs and return to a life of crime to support themselves. They also have gained a hatred toward law enforcement for putting them in jail in the first place.

As sad as it seems, there are many people in Walnut Creek that come from poverty or abusive homes. They grow older, but things don't change. Many criminals have drug habits and steal in order to support that drug habit. As they get older, their health often fails due to their drug abuse. Many criminals do suffer from health problems and die at a relatively young age.

Anonymous said...

Dummies. How he ended up there? HE ROBBED SOMEONE!

Anonymous said...

I don't find this unusual for WC, or the area. If it weren't for the seizure (and dying) he wouldn't have made it into the paper. There are plenty of supects and inmates from suburbs here and elsewhere who've committed crimes like robbery. They all have stories of how their lives took that turn.

Anonymous said...

right - how our county works, and how some people are treated one way, and others another is always an interesting story.

Glad you are digging deep into something Soccer Mom. I think our county needs more hard questions asked about how it does things with all that pension double dipping, etc.

Anonymous said...

Drug addict?

Anonymous said...

Read the obituary in today's Times (10/28). It will give you his family's perspective on who he was.

Will this satisfy your prurient interest about a man who you feel "doesn't fit a stereotype"?

Things like this do happen in "pleasant suburban Walnut Creek" and there, but for the Grace of God, go alot of us.

Anonymous said...

Mr Moyal was the son of a very prominent attorney in CoCoCo. Maurice Jr died in an unusual manner his father passed away a few months later, Maurice Sr loved his son and I am sure that his sons death was devistating for him. Please let both father and son rest.

Anonymous said...

The above is correct. RIP, Maurice- An old friend from the late 70's.