Solano County Court: Alexander Leatham Charges Consolidation Approved

• A Solano County Superior Court judge approved the consolidation of an attempted escape charge with Alexander Leatham's existing murder case, despite defense objections.
• Leatham, a Zizian murder suspect, is charged with the 2022 attempted murder of her landlord and the murder of a fellow Zizian member.
• Judge John Ellis ruled that the escape attempts were of the same class of crimes and not prejudicial, though the defense plans to file a motion to sever.
• Leatham interrupted her attorney during the hearing, stating that no one should enter a plea on her behalf, leading to a closed court session.
• The Zizians are an anti-AI, radical vegan group linked to multiple homicides, with their trial tentatively set for January 26, 2027.

The procedural challenges and strategic considerations involved in consolidating multiple charges, particularly when a defendant's behavior or the nature of the alleged crimes could prejudice a jury, are clearly illustrated in this case.

A Solano County Superior Court judge recently approved the consolidation of an attempted escape charge with existing criminal proceedings against Alexander Jeffrey Leatham, a move that significantly impacts the upcoming Alexander Jeffrey Leatham trial. During a hearing in Solano County Superior Court, Judge John Ellis sided with prosecutors who argued that Leatham's third attempt to escape from county jail, which occurred earlier this year, should be joined with the primary case. This decision follows the prior consolidation of two earlier escape attempts with the initial murder charges, establishing a pattern in the charge consolidation criminal case.

Leatham's defense attorney, Allison Margolin, representing her client via Zoom, voiced strong opposition to the consolidation. Margolin contended that the latest escape attempt was too distant in time and nature from the previous incidents to be fairly tried alongside them. Despite these arguments, Judge Ellis found no prejudicial impact, stating that the escape attempts constituted the "same class of crimes." Margolin indicated her intention to file a motion to sever the escape charge, citing concerns about potential prejudice to the jury. The procedural challenges and strategic considerations involved in consolidating multiple charges, particularly when a defendant's behavior or the nature of the alleged crimes could prejudice a jury, are clearly illustrated in this case.

The court proceedings were marked by an unexpected interruption from Leatham, a 30-year-old transgender woman. As her attorney, Emily Chrim, began to enter a "not guilty" plea for the newly added escape charge, Leatham interjected, stating, "If anyone enters any plea on my behalf at all, they are saying something false." This outburst, not the first for Leatham in court, prompted Judge Ellis and the attorneys, including Deputy District Attorney Ilana Shapiro, to move into a closed session after Leatham and co-defendant Suri Dao were escorted from the courtroom. Both defendants appeared in court shackled and in prison attire.

Alexander Leatham faces charges including the 2022 attempted murder of her landlord, Curtis Lind, and is also implicated in the murder of Emma Borhanian, another member of the Zizians. Leatham and Suri Dao Zizians are both charged with Borhanian's murder and aggravated mayhem. The initial incident involved Lind suffering a fractured skull and being stabbed in the chest with a samurai sword. During the altercation, Lind fatally shot Borhanian and wounded Leatham, leading to Leatham's first escape attempt while in custody at the hospital.

Leatham and Dao are associated with the Zizians, an anti-AI group suspected of involvement in multiple homicides across the country. Leatham, who has been imprisoned for four years, vocally claimed upon leaving the courtroom that her incarceration had caused her to "forcibly detransition" due to denied access to hormones. The long-delayed trial for Leatham and Dao is tentatively scheduled to commence on January 26, 2027, following a readiness conference set for November 13. Delays in the case have included Dao's institutionalization for catatonia and anorexia, as well as Leatham's retention of new legal counsel.

The Zizians are described as a loosely organized, cult-like collective of radical vegans who believe artificial intelligence poses an existential threat to humanity. They are among approximately ten known followers of Jack "Ziz" LaSota, a 35-year-old transgender woman and blogger who relocated to the San Francisco Bay Area in 2016. LaSota, a former aspiring tech worker, initially moved to the region to research AI risks, eventually gaining a following among AI theorists and tech bloggers for her extreme views on AI, veganism, and gender identity.

The group has been linked to at least six killings nationwide, including the death of Curtis Lind. Fellow Zizian Maximilian Snyder is accused of fatally stabbing Lind in Vallejo on January 17, 2025, just before Lind was slated to testify in the case against Dao and Leatham. Snyder has entered a not guilty plea, with a preliminary hearing scheduled for November 4. LaSota herself faked her death and disappeared in August 2022, only to be arrested in Maryland in February 2025 on charges of trespassing and handgun possession. Another Zizian member, accused of killing a U.S. Border Patrol agent, has also pleaded not guilty, with prosecutors seeking the death penalty in that separate case.

This case illustrates the procedural challenges and strategic considerations involved in consolidating multiple charges, particularly when a defendant's behavior or the nature of the alleged crimes (e.g., escape attempts) could prejudice a jury. Lawyers should note the judge's reasoning for consolidation and the defense's likely motion to sever, which are key tactical decisions in complex criminal litigation.

Source: Original reporting via Courthouse News