Four San Diego County residents who faced down danger to protect others, pursue justice, and stand up for what is right were celebrated Friday at the 36th annual Citizens of Courage Awards. The event, hosted by the District Attorney's Office at the Liberty Station Conference Centre, recognized ordinary people who displayed extraordinary strength and bravery when confronted with crime.
In front of a crowd of 350 people, District Attorney Summer Stephan lauded the recipients for their bravery, emphasizing the vital role such actions play in the community. "They are all tied together by the same word: courage," Stephan said. "You have to stand up, or else we all lose this sense of justice and safety. And that’s what they share, and it’s an incredible value that is critical to humanity and dignity.”
The four citizens honoured were Alyssa Amador, a young woman who spoke out against her abuser years after the crime; Marcus Long, who stopped a violent road-rage assault; Linda Marshall, who relentlessly pursued a fraudulent contractor; and Harmeena Omoto, a school principal who protected her students from a terrifying threat.
A voice for the voiceless
Among those honoured was Alyssa Amador, now 20, who recounted the harrowing experience of being sexually assaulted at age 15 by her choir leader at Victory Outreach San Ysidro. She said she felt isolated and afraid but chose to report the crime, which had occurred five years earlier, to stand up not just for herself, but for others who might have suffered in silence.
Amador first reported the abuse to her church leadership just three days after it happened. Instead of finding support, she was removed from the worship team, and her family was ostracized by their faith community. The abuse and subsequent shunning took a heavy toll, leading her to drop out of school and contemplate suicide. "I felt just kind of stuck and felt like the only way I could breathe was to tell someone," she recalled. At 17, she found the strength to speak with law enforcement.
Her courage led to the conviction of her abuser, Rafael Valentin Magana, who pleaded guilty to a felony count of a lewd act upon a child. He was sentenced to two years in state prison and is required to register as a sex offender. The church pastor to whom Amador initially reported the assault was sentenced to one year of probation for failing to report the suspected abuse. "This case is an example of a young woman who stood up against her abuser and the church that tried to cover it up," said Deputy District Attorney Kristi Gill.
Heroes in the face of danger
The awards also recognized Marcus Long for his quick thinking and bravery during a brutal attack in Escondido on June 16, 2024. A man was walking with his wife when he was nearly hit by a car driving in reverse. The driver then got out and began viciously beating the man. Long, who was driving by, was flagged down by a witness and didn’t hesitate to intervene, restraining the assailant until he fled. Long also had the presence of mind to take photos of the attacker, which proved crucial in his later arrest.
“Had it not been for Marcus not only intervening there, but also being willing to come to the court process to testify… I don’t think this case would have been resolved,” said Deputy District Attorney Isaac Hendren. The attacker later pleaded guilty to misdemeanour battery.
The importance of citizen intervention is especially critical as public safety resources are debated. The San Diego city budget has recently included proposals to change road safety teams, making civilian courage like Long's all the more significant.
Principal Harmeena Omoto of Shoal Creek Elementary was honoured for her leadership during a crisis on Dec. 1, 2023. The school received threats from a man who said he would bring guns to the campus and attack students and staff. Omoto worked swiftly with the San Diego Police Department to manage the threat while maintaining a calm environment, avoiding a full lockdown. The man was arrested at his home nearby within hours. “I had to put that fear aside and really step up to make sure that our community was safe,” Omoto stated. Her powerful testimony not only helped convict the suspect, who sent 400 threatening emails, but her advocacy also helped change state law to better enforce threats against schools.
A legacy of honouring courage
The Citizens of Courage Awards have been a cornerstone of the District Attorney’s community outreach for over three decades. First established during National Crime Victims’ Rights Week, the ceremony has a long history of spotlighting residents who have shown immense bravery, often at great personal risk. The awards from previous years, such as in 2019 when a baseball coach who fought off a kidnapper was honoured, highlight a continuing tradition of celebrating civilian heroism, mirroring the jury award to LAPD officers for retaliation.
The San Diego County District Attorney's Office itself has a storied history, evolving from its early days of frontier justice to a modern institution focused on community safety and victims' rights. The awards reflect this evolution, underscoring the partnership between law enforcement and the public a theme echoed in community initiatives across the country, like a recent forum in Brampton that blended sports with life skills.
This year's event recognized that persistence is its own form of courage. Fallbrook resident Linda Marshall was honoured for her determination in seeking justice after being scammed by a contractor in March 2020. She paid the contractor $13,000 a month for a mobile home project that never started. After six months, the contractor fled the state, leaving Marshall and five other victims without their homes and savings. Marshall was forced to live in a small shed with no heat, water, or power, and even suffered a stroke during the ordeal. Despite these hardships, she worked tirelessly with investigators to track down the fraudster, who was eventually extradited from Texas. This March, she received $96,094 in restitution. “I think Linda Marshall is a citizen of courage because of her persistence and the amount she suffered at the hands of this fraudster,” said Deputy District Attorney Lisa Stark.
The stories of this year's honourees serve as a powerful testament to the impact one person can have. From intervening in a violent crime to demanding accountability from institutions, their actions have not only brought criminals to justice but have also inspired their communities and, in one case, even changed state law. For more information on the District Attorney's work, visit their official website.
