Fisherman Off The Hook In Assault Case

DA Decides Against Going To Trial
By: KVTA News
2009-08-20

A San Pedro fisherman arrested on his boat off the Ventura coast will not face trial on those charges. The Ventura County District Attorney's Office has decided against continuing its prosecution of 42-year-old Joe Logrande over a bizarre incident that happened on his fishing vessel in January of this year. Logrande was accused of assaulting his lone crew member, 39-year-old Kevin Frese, on board the boat. Logrande was also accused of causing great bodily injury to Frese as well as false imprisonment. Logrande was ordered by a judge to stand trial on those charges, but after reviewing the case, along with evidence developed by investigators for Logrande' defense attorney Ron Bamieh, the DA's office decided not to proceed with the case and drop the charges. The additional investigation revealed that it was Frese, who had a history of mental health issues, who was acting violently and threatening Logrande on board the boat, and that Logrande' actions were in self defense. It was also determined that Frese may have made up a lot of the allegations he had leveled against Logrande. Frese, who was also jailed after the incident on outstanding warrants, left the jurisdiction after his release and could not be found to testify at a trial anyway.