A man charged with murdering Sophia Mason the 8-year-old Hayward girl whose gruesome death nearly four years ago highlighted numerous failings in Alameda County's child safety net accepted a plea deal earlier this month and was released from jail. Dhante Jackson was released from jail in Merced County on Oct. 6 after pleading guilty to an accessory charge in Sophia's death, his attorney and the Merced County District Attorney's Office confirmed this week.
There is a dangerous myth that drug addiction only has a single victim - the drug addict. Sadly, today's new case and new charges demonstrate there are many victims, including those who never intentionally ingest an opioid.