Stockton councilman files restraining order against 209 Times founder, cites threats, harassment
A temporary restraining order has been granted protecting Stockton Councilman Brando Villapdua, who accused the 209 Times founder, Motecuzoma Sanchez, of threatening and harassing the lawmaker.
Court documents filed by Villapudua state that Sanchez harassed and threatened the councilman into supporting the removal of City Manager Harry Black “and others.”
Black, who declined to speak about the restraining order, was up for a performance review at a March 1 Stockton City Council special meeting in closed session. In court filings, Villapudua alleges Sanchez tried to influence his decision on Black’s performance review, sending texts before and during the meeting to Villapudua.
After the meeting, Villapudua said he went to Valley Brew on the Miracle Mile. Villapudua alleges that Sanchez rushed in behind him, approached him “aggressively,” recording with his phone, and yelled about closed session items.
In his plea for protection, Villapudua stated that Sanchez knew confidential information about a closed session item, leading him to believe that someone on the city council had violated the Brown Act to leak the information to Sanchez.
The Brown Act prohibits disclosing certain information stemming from closed-session meetings to protect the integrity of the decision-making process. The topics are typically limited to legal, real estate and personnel matters.
Sanchez began verbally attacking and threatening Villapudua, and became “physically aggressive in such a quick manner” that the 209 founder had to be physically restrained at Valley Brew, according to court documents.
In the restraining order request, Villapudua describes several threats Sanchez allegedly made at Valley Brew on March 1, including saying Villapudua was “the fourth vote” to fire Stockton’s city manager. The Record has chosen not to print Villapudua’s descriptions because they could not be confirmed. The Record could not corroborate Villapudua’s description of his interaction with Sanchez at Valley Brew.
Villapudua refused an interview with The Record. Sanchez did not respond to multiple requests for comment through contacting his business, the 209 Times.
Campaign finance documents show Villapudua paid $3,500 to Tecuani, LLC, Sanchez’s political consulting firm, for services during his 2022 campaign that landed Villapudua the Stockton City Council District 5 seat by a landslide 70.56% of votes.
Sanchez's six-figure job as director of family resource center at Stockton Unified School District was cut at a March 7 SUSD Board of Trustees meeting. Sanchez had been on paid personal leave since Feb. 14, school district officials said.
He continues to run the 209 Times.
More:Stockton Unified OKs layoffs for 5 directors, other jobs tied to one-time federal funds
Sanchez was ordered not to harass or threaten Villapudua or to take any action to obtain his address or location.
The court denied a "stay-away" order until a scheduled court hearing on May 4, when the temporary restraining order is set to expire. In his court statement, Villapudua said he believes he is now being followed by Sanchez.
This article originally appeared on The Record: Stockton councilmember granted restraining order against 209 Times founder for threats, harassment
