when we shot there, robert ayers was san quentin's warden. >> we are grossly overcrowded. which is just totally unacceptable for the inmates, and the staff. >> been here before? >> no. >> all right come over here and stand on the fence right there. >> the incoming population at san quentin was relentless. with staff releasing 150 inmates each week. but welcoming in 350 new ones. >> let's go, gentlemen, let's go, let's go, let's go. clear the door. >> many of them wound up in the gym. which had been converted into a huge, overflow housing unit. >> when i first walked in to the dorm at san quentin, i was taken aback by how many people were packed into this small area. it was very loud. ♪ >> james, report to the office upstairs. >> there's always people talking, people yelling. some people in there were trying to read and some people in there were trying to sleep. so you'll have a big group of people having a conversation over here while a guy's trying to sleep over here. most people would tie towels around their head to try to block out some of this noise. >> officers strive

i just capture a lot of the character of san quentin.eing very ugly. it's like looking at somebody and saying, this ain't the most beautiful person, but this person got character. and to me, if you got character, that creates a beauty in its own. i'm painting what i see, what i go through, where i pass. there's beauty in things that you might not really see. whatever makes you feel better, you have to know how to use that as a tool. whether you're in prison or out of prison, you still got to make due with life. you have to do something to fill up with whatever void you have. >>> in another part of san quentin, joe askey practices his art. and his choice of location just outside death row is no accident. ♪ there's a woman fighting tears back on the table ♪ ♪ doctor's just removed his gloves ♪ ♪ she couldn't bear to have a baby being single ♪ ♪ she couldn't bear to give it up ♪ >> the spot has special significance for askey, who is serving 25 years to life, under california's three strikes law. >> i almost killed somebody during a burglary

it occupy san quentin. people rallied this afternoon outside the prison gates, calling the justest system an injustice system. >> building more schools. >> it is like a cycle. >> reporter: the prison beefed up security today. because there were so many officers out front, the programs and yard activities were canceled. the road into san quentin was closed. residents couldn't leave or come back. >> as long as it remains peaceful i have no problem with people being here. >> reporter: among those here were the three american hikers held in an iranian prison. >> i am here to speak outagainst solitary confinement. >> reporter: officials told us they deny prisoners are treated inhumanely. many here mentioned the hunger strike last year over conditions they called torchious and they say there are too many nonviolent felons locked up. >> looking at all of the thousands of folks that ain't got an act of violence. >> a lot of injustice going on. >> reporter: protesters urged people to contact governor jerry brown's o

. >>> taxpayers shelled out millions for san quentin's new medical center. so why are prisoners even death row inmates being taken to an expensive sleep clinic? >> if that's happening it shouldn't job coming up next. an election year about-facer president obama, ending a fr roups over birth >>> our top story at 6:30 an election year about face for president obama ending a furor from releading edge just groups over birth control. >>> reporter: president obama tried to end the uproar over part of his healthcare law that calls for free contraception, his solution will allow female employees of religious institutions to obtain free birth control but their employers don't pay for it. >> if a woman's employer is a charity or a hospital that has a religious objection to providing contraception as part of their health plan, the insurance company not the hospital, not the charity, will be required to reach out and offer the woman contraception free of charge. >> reporter: the administration originally gave itself a year to work out the details. but when the controver

. >>> at this hour, protesters are converging on san quentin prison. the reason why is our top story. good afternoon. i'm tori campbell. the latest bay area occupy protest is happening today outside of san quentin prison. in fact a rally is getting underway right now. new at noon, tara moriarty is live from the prison to let us know what's happening and why this protest is taking place. >> reporter: we're here at the main gate to the prison. over the past hour or so we've noticed dozens of protesters trickling why. they are playing music, carrying signs and waiting for this rally to get underway. their message, people on the inside of these prison walls experience many of the same injusts that every day americans do. that list includes the denial of good education, decent healthcare and humane conditions. now, protesters are also against the death penalty, they say, life without the possibility of parole, three strikes, solitary confinement and extreme restriction on prisoners with the outside world. >> there's just basic things, the blanket, the food,

. >>> today was occupy san quentin. hundreds of people protested in front of the gates. we will tell you why coming up. >>> we got warmer weather to talk about. you will be surprised how warm it will be in your neighborhood tomorrow. anyone who grows things for a living will tell ya... a plant is only as good as the soil you put it in. look, both these potted plants got the same sun. same water. only difference? this. miracle-gro potting mix. rich organic ingredients with miracle-gro plant food mixed right in. it even feeds plants for six straight months. want this result? gotta start with this soil. miracle-gro potting mix. success starts with the soil. . >>> a man is accused of attacking people at california adventure this weekend. he continued to fight with park security guards even after being hit with pepper spray. several visitors held him down on the ground till police arrived. it is not clear what prompted the attack. >>> the only time there is a demonstration outside san quentin is when someone is being executed. not today. ktvu's rob roth tells us what they wer

they will be part of the occupy san quentin rally this afternoon. activists are holding a national day of solidarity in support of prisoners across the country. parking is restricted near san quentin today. >>> the oldest survivor of the 1906 earthquake has died. rose clibore was 109 years old. born in san francisco in 1902. she was 3 1/2 years old when the quake hit. she lived in a retirement home in santa rosa. she was often a guest at the annual quake anniversary celebration in san francisco. organizers say this year's event will be dedicated to her. >>> three people killed in an avalanche in washington state. the stevens pass ski area had 21 inches of fresh snow at the time. investigators say several groups were out skiing in and out of bounds areas in the backside of the mountain. most were able to free themselves from the snow. >> you're skiing at your own risk. again, i've been told by numerous people, they were all very experienced skiers. they knew what they were doing. the choices that they were making. >> one woman that survived the slide

ktvu allie rasmus is live by san quentin where she man tine is -- shermantine is being held. >> reporter: he is on death row here at san quinn ten where -- san quentin where he has been for the last three decades. the latest was discovered yesterday afternoon. a skull and some bones were unearthed near a well in the town of lynn den. that is located nearstock ton -- near stockton. and bones were also discovered buried in the area. lynn den is where shermantine and his friend brew up. they are us a sus -- they are suspected of having 15-20 victims. the digging in the town of linden is supposed to resume later this morning. bounty hunter agreed to pay shermantine $30,000 on where other victims might be buried. >> i'm glad we found remains. at least that keeps the police department interested. hopefully they will stay out here and check the other wells. >> reporter: he is still on death row. shermantine wants that $30,000 to go toward paying his restitution to buy head stones for his deceased parents and candy bars in prison. he committed suicide shortly after he was patrolled after he hear

hundreds of people marched outside san quentin to demand an end to the death penalty. they argue there are few opportunities for prisoners once they are released. they included the three iranian hikers once they were accused of spying. protesters urged people to contact governor jerry brown's office to allow them to speak with the media. >>> and livermore police are looking for a group of people they say are launching large rocks at homes, cars and mailboxes. so far all the attacks happened in a neighborhood off of south bassco road. lauren returned home to see a hole in the window of her daughter's nursery. a rock punched a hole in her wall and she said if the little girl had not been at her grandparent's house the outcome would have been devastating. >> she would have died, it came in 100 plus miles per hour. >> this is surveillance video from another of the homes a beinged. this white car could be involved in the vandalism. extra patrols are being blamed for that area. they do hope to include it before the next rock hits a person. >>> and on out bail after being arr

officials say the fight is under investigation and san quentin is on a modified program now. prisoners in cells victims' rights groups are outrainled the governor is allowing more convicted murderers to be paroled than previous governors. abc 7's nannette miranda has the story. >> 331 murders released in a year. >> crime victims calling on governor brown to release more detailed information conconvicted killers. the board approved 400 releases and the governor reversed only 71 decisions. that gives governor brown a higher release rate than two predecessors. the rate stands at 80% and governor schwartzeneggar denying freedom near a a quarter of the time and gray davis keeping most behind bars, letting only 2% go. >> under this administration it seems like the flood gates have been opened and just let them go free that. concerns us terribly. >> the rates may be different but result has bnt same. >> the administration points out this governor is only following the law. under the schwartzeneggar administration the court stepped in and let almost all paroled killers go despite wha

. >> protesters planning to occupy san quentin prison. we'll explain why coming up. >> it's a live look outside at the golden gate bridge. do keep in mind it's a holiday so that traffic should be a little smooth. might be a little wet. it is monday, february 20th, "today in the bay." >> good morning. thanks for joining us. 5:29 now. i'm laura garcia-cannon. >> i'm jon kelley. let's check back in with meteorologist christina loren. sounds like the rain has stopped and it's going to be a spectacular week. >> oh, well, depends on what you like but yeah, that about sums it up. the rain is starting to subside. we have spotty showers but the bulk of the moisture has come through. look at the radar. you can see we had a lot of moisture come through. watch out this morning, slick conditions out there. major warm-up headed our way. we're talking about 70s and 80s later on this week. we'll talk about that coming up. mike's got a few things that could slow you down. >> we're talking about slick roadways throughout the bay area, especially in the sou

you were a former warden of san quentin. i wonder if you could share with us your experience at having actually conducted executions? you saw the word from mississippi said that this had a personal effect on him and i wonder if you can address the issue that comes up with the victim's family often get satisfaction of some kind -- some relief because of the person that they understand has committed the crime and they are finally put to death. can you remark on this? >> let me say, i agree with everything that they have talked about. i cannot really speak for the families of the victims, only what i have observed to the execution process. this has an impact on everyone who is involved, including the staff. and of course the inmates' families. and the people who show up to watch this. and the whole show of people who are there for this. you cannot walk away from this without having been impacted. i want to talk about the war and has said, that these executions have been 7-10 years after the crime and we're not executing the sam

>>mark: protesters are planning and occupy san quentin event. main street will be closed to traffic and parts of sir francis drake boulevard will be no parking signs. this event is scheduled for noon and will go on until 3:00 p.m. outside of san quentin's east gate as a part of the demonstration and a national occupy day in support of prisoners. >>justine: in syria, the red cross says they are negotiating with all parties to broker a net but ceasefire. rebels say they will fight until the last person. >>mark: the first phase of a fuel removal from a capsized cruise ship off the coast of italy is done. the concordia had around a half-million gallons of fuel and capsized near the tuscan islands in january. >>mark: we will be right back as the kron4 news continues after the break. a live look outside on this gloomy morning. >>mark: we're getting word that rule a tariff -- military officials have said a u.s. recognizance plane has crashed in africa killing four. the crash occurred saturday evening. the initial indication was that the plane did not c

. >>> the occupy movement came to the front gate of san quentin today. three of the protesters who showed up today recently made national headlines. hundreds of prison reformed activists merged with occupy oakland to occupy san quentin. people here demanded an end to the death penalty and complained that far more poor people are looked away than those with money. they also say there's few opportunities for those who come out. >> look on your application, convicted of a felony. you think they'll give me a job. you think they put that down so i can make sure i get housing. >> among those here, the two former prisoners held in iran. >> i know what that life is like. i know what it is like not to have control. and it's a terrible life. >> reporter: police were in position in case any protesters tried to the áf go through the gates. the roads in and around quintin were closed. people could not drive in and out. >> i interrupted my day, my day off of work. but it's making me pay attention to what's going on. >> reporter: the protesters also urged the public to

the occupy san quentin demonstration will take place at the east gate of the prison from noon to 3:00. it's part after day in support of inmates condemning what they call the destructive impact of imprisonment. because of today's rally san quentin's village's main street will be closed to traffic and there will be no parking along east sir francis drake and east francisco boulevard. >> a controversial new program has parents feeling upset. it allows kids as young as 12 to get free condoms in the mail. the program is available to kids between 12 and 19 who live in alameda county and parts of san francisco. it's supposed to -- it's supported by public health officials and is partly funded with federal money. each teen that applies gets ten condoms in a nondescript envelope and information about sexually transmitted diseases and teen pregnancy. critics say it encourages kids to have sex. >> the young adults, and responsibility for children should be on the parents. >> kids are going to have sex regardless, and i would rather see them do it with condoms than doing it recklessly without pr

they will be outside the east gate of san quentin prison from noon to 3:00.py san quentin demonstration is part after national day in support of inmates. because of today's protest san quentin village's main street will be closed to traffic and no parking along east sir francis drake and east francisco boulevards. >> 6:23. a bay area soldier waking up at home with his family. sergeant william sanchez jr. of gilroy got a round of well deserved hugs from friends and family yesterday. he currently is stationed in afghanistan where he is serving his second tour of duty. his first tour was in iraq from 2008-2009. sanchez will celebrate his 29th birthday with his family before heading back to afghanistan. >> what a great birthday gift. the the markets closed for the holiday. scott says lousy timing. >> i think the financial world would like to be in a position to better react to the situation particularly greece. the markets are closed for washington's birthday. note i didn't say presidents day. on wall street they don't recognize presidents day but recognize washi

. >>> the occupy movement came to the front gate of san quentin today. three of the protesters who showed up today recently made national headlines. hundreds of prison reformed activists merged with occupy oakland to occupy san quentin. people here demanded an end to the death penalty and complained that far more poor people are looked away than those with money. they also say there's few opportunities for those who come out. >> look on your application, convicted of a felony. you think they'll give me a job. you think they put that down so i can make sure i get housing. >> among those here, the two former prisoners held in iran. >> i know what that life is like. i know what it is like not to have control. and it's a terrible life. >> reporter: police were in position in case any protesters tried to the áf go through the gates. the roads in and around quintin were closed. people could not drive in and out. >> i interrupted my day, my day off of work. but it's making me pay attention to what's going on. >> reporter: the protesters also urged the public to

a convicted killer at san quentin says he knows information that could lead investigators to the girl's body. nbc bay area's kris sanchez joins us live from hayward with more. kris, do investigators and family members believe he's telling the truth? >> reporter: you know, i talked to michaela garecht's mother this afternoon. she steadfastly refuses to believe her daughter is not alive anymore. as for the death row inmate's claim, she says it's not the first time she's heard someone make a claim about her daughter that in her heart she doesn't believe is true. michaela garecht was 9 years old when snatched from this hayward parking lot 23 years ago. her friend saw the whole thing happen. this is the sketch police came up with using her description. wesley shermanine, a serial killer on san quentin's death row says a man in the picture looks a lot like his childhood friend loren herzog. the duo, herzog's confession was found allegedly coerced. shermantine senset a five page letter to a newspaper claiming where to find the remains of the victims. he said to look at the resemblance between

. >> this is california's san quentin state prison, one of the first prisons ever profiled on "lockup." >> for a photographer, san quentin was a really interesting place to shoot because it's the old-style tiers and the big exercise yard and there's a lot of corners and shadows and things to attract your lens. so it was just as a photographer, it was really an interesting place to shoot. it can be a very dangerous place because it's got incredibly dangerous or infamous history as a dangerous place. >> on our first day of shooting here, we got a stark introduction to the constant security threats posed by gang warfare. >> we're basically getting ready to feed the level four, which are the maximum security inmates. tonight we're expecting some type of problems possibly. so we have extra coverage tonight to provide security. >> let's go. >> the correctional staff received a tip that a gang-related attack might occur at dinner. >> hispanic inmates, the gang members specifically, are doing what is called cleaning house. anyone that does not want to participate in their gang activity, if th

. >> if i could add on to what you just stated, i worked at san quentin for 27 years, and i feel like i grew up with a lot of the inmates that were there, just coming out of college, so i saw a lot of them change, including inmates who had been on death row prior to the supreme court overturning capital punishment. many of them were off of death row and sentenced to seven to life, and some of those individuals were paroled and have done very well out in society. i remember one who worked with the catholic church and worked through the restorative justice program to meet with surviving family members. it was actually televised. that is how much that individual changed. then he went on to have a very successful career and retired on a golf course in florida, as a matter of fact. they were debating the death penalty at the country club one day, and he said in two weeks, he would bring its former death row inmate. two weeks later, he walked in the room. he said that he immediately changed the minds of those arguing for the death penalty. that is just one powerful case, but there are many

i started at san quentin in 1978, after graduating. i went there, a small number of us had college degrees. the old guard would say, everyone will tell you that they're innocent. and in my 26 years, i never had anyone say that they were innocent. including the jewish chaplains clerk. i think 17 or 18 years -- he wasn't tolerated. santa then you learn that many more innocent people have been found around the country, and this really should cause all of us to rethink in criminal justice what we think that we know. there is science out there that is not known to us that will prove that we have been wrong about many things. the death penalty is still final. this man is trying to struggle with the fact that he probably executed an innocent person. we should not ask this of anyone in our society. [applause] >> i want to say one other thing. how have your former colleagues handled your conversion on this issue? has this been greeted with support? >> i have received much support, and nothing that has been negative. having spent 30 years in cri

into this and as soon as they are done with their investigation layward police are going out to san quentinnd conduct their own jail house interview. back to you. >> christie, thank you. a san francisco prep school will be closed this week because of a stomach virus. sain it.gnatious closed after 5 students called in sick and 90 sent home. the campuses that undergone cleaning and the department of public health says that everything is okay to open up the school. but the administrators still want to give the students and stf until monday to heal up. >> 6:52. the man accused of stock piling guns in his south bay home is expected in court. mark saidlof was arrested after police found weapons in his house. they were forced to dig a hole in the yard to detonate the explosive. >> 27-year-old alejandro gonzalez allegedly rammed four police cruisers in january. police say he stole the car that he crashed. all of the officers are okay. gonzalez is expected to enter a plea. >> a tragic accident, is 7-year-old boy falls from a ski lift and dies. tonight in a report, are chair lift safety standards str

they plan to protest prisons all over tomorrow including san quentin. >> reporter: the no parking signs mark the day, tomorrow. >> the occupy movement throughout the country, throughout the world and here locally needs to know about the conditions of confinement inside these cages. >> reporter: rallies outside san quentin are routine when there's a scheduled execution. katy says it's just part of life when you live right outside the gates. parking restrictions will be in place on east san francisco boulevard and east san francis drake boulevard. >> hopefully there's going to be a another place where we can park so we can come in and out. >> reporter: extra officers will be in place. protesters will have to walk underneath the interstate two and from prison gates. as for the neighbors many will be stuck on a closed door and spend the holiday at home. >> it's okay i have home work. >> reporter: when we see protests around a scheduled institution, the county and local taxpayers will flip the bill. >>> for the past week, occupy protesters have set up tents overnight. >> we have an instituti

we met christopher carrillo inside a heavily graded cell at san quentin. >> you give respect, you get respect. a lot of people say these guys don't treat us right. at times they don't, but it's hard when you've got a lot of people in here. can't be happy too much in prison. it's not disney land. >> but another inmate at another california prison had a harsher view the cos. >> i hate cops. they're diabolical. they're petty. they present to the public that they're law and order, this and that but in here they'll stab you in the back. they write false write-ups. they got a hidden agenda. they want to keep us locked up in here so they make money. you know, this is a prison industrial complex. it's all about money. >> there is one place, however, where trust is put to the ultimate test. it's the prison kitchen. >> everything back here could be made into a potential weapon. those sheet pans are very thin and they're sharp on the edges. it only takes one of these guys to pick one of those up and they could almost cut my head off. >> we met officer epperson at the kern valley state prison in

and occupy oakland protestors marched to san quentin today demanding change to the penal system. hundreds stood near the east gate and morning them, as abc 7 reports those three hikers once imprisoned in iran. the exit on highway 580 were block bid deputies and chp officers, protesters had to park and walk. no one was able to get close. and correctional officers stood behind the gate. still, hundreds gathered to talk about how the prison system failed many. dan segal is a well known attorney in oakland standing behind the movement. >> california african americans are less than 10% of the population now. yet, 50% of those in prison. 50% of those on death row. >> these brought the prison rights movement and occupy oakland together standing with those inside. together they vowed to push for reforms within the prison system. >> prison should not be a place to be abused and exploited. to be tortured that. is not what prison should be that. should change. >> among speakers were three hikers imprisoned in iran. they joined the movement. >> occupy movement will be beginning to gain stren

. >>> convicted serial killer wesley sherantine is speak out from san quentin death-row. in it he claims there are two sites where the bodies of more victims were dumped by he and his accomplish police leon herzog. authorities are still searching a farm near linden in san joaquin county for more human remains. >>> family, friends and fans parked a new jersey church today to say goodbye telexedry singer whitney houston. as chris knowles reports the celebration of her life was full of song and some controversy. >> reporter: about 11500 friends and relatives of whitney houston gathered for a final farewell at the church where she sang as a child. >> what i know about her is that she loved the lord. and if that was a grace that carried her all the way through, it was the same grace that carried her home. >> reporter: tyler perry celebrated houston's faith while "the bodyguard" co-starve kevin costner spoke of houston's courage when she wasn't sure she was good enough for the film. >> i held her hand and told she looked beautiful and told her i would be with her every step of

lee looks at how a convicted killer will profit from his crimes, amber. >> reporter: julie, at san quentin death row inmate shermantine is now waiting for the $33,000 he was promised in exchange for telling where he buried his victims. we wanted to find out how that was possible. san francisco has a son of sam's law. >> he could sell a $5 million book. what it would be up to is the victim's family one of them saying, this is wrong. suing him then attaching that money and taking it away from him. >> reporter: the law does work despite laying the burden on the victim's family. >> they shouldn't have to do that. that's another revictimmization. >> reporter: mark class who's own daughter was kidnapped and killed says the law has been flawed. he says he's been following the shermantine case. he's opposed to any death row inmate profiting from his crime, but shermantine being made is a unique situation. >> so many families will find resolution from this that it's an investment that's well worth the cause. >> i spoke to the families of wheeler and vandeheiden they both say their loved ones bodies

. >> and guards at san quentin kept watch on dozens of occupy protestors today. abc 7 is live this afternoon. >> this is a staging area for -- way from the gates of san quentin, security was tight. both exits or blocked, closed so, anyone driving had to walk, drive and park miles way and walk hire, occupy oakland protestors gathered at the street and there is a podium for speakers. no one was able to get near the gate of the prison, security was extremely tight, with dozens of officers carrying weapons. today's protest was a marriage, if you will between the prison rights movement and occupy oakland. they wanted to stand in solidarity with people inside of the prison, one organizer told me they want to end a message to the governor and legislature to push reforms. >> this should children be tried as adults? i would say no. and why that says you don't believe there is a chance a person can change. >> and the sheriff's office says there were between 300 to 500 people in the area of the east gate. i counted closer to maybe 250 people. now, according to the sure's of