** James Guanti walks up to the witness stand and sits down **
** James Guanti swears under oath to tell the truth and nothing but the truth. **
Q1. Captain Guanti, can you introduce yourself to the court and begin by spelling out your full name?
"J-A-M-E-S G-U-A-N-T-I."
Q2. Captain Guanti, who are you employed by?
"I am currently employed by the Los Santos Sheriff's Department."
Q3. How long have you been an employee of your agency?
"Twenty-five years."
Q4. What position do you hold?
"I'm currently a Captain and Unit Commander of the Special Enforcement Bureau... Our SWAT team."
Q5. In order to obtain this position, can you identify what training, if any, you had to take?
"I currently have an MA in Public Administration. I also was required to enter and pass the Basic Sergeant Supervisory School. I was also sent by my then Captain at the time to the FBI National Academy and graduated from a class which teaches supervisors how to be effective leaders through communication and other general leadership tactics. Within my unit, I was required to pass our SWAT School and our Team Leader school."
Q6. Can you explain the role your rank plays within your agency?
"From a general sense, I am required to assist in department wide recruiting, such as debating with other Captains and Commanders in regard to reinstatement applications, along with Bureau specific administrative tasks. This could be handling administrative requests, promotions, and administrative punishments. I am responsible for all members of the Special Enforcement Bureau, totaling approximately thirty people."
Q7. Have you received any advanced education, whether on the job training or formal education on employee rights due to your position within your agency?
"As stated earlier, I received my Master’s Degree while currently being an employee of the Los Santos Sheriff's Department, along with being sent to and graduating from the FBI National Academy, specializing in leadership."
Q8. Have you ever conducted employee interviews for administrative punishments, or criminal investigations? If so, could you approximate how many you have conducted? Rough estimations are find.
"I have conducted only interviews for administrative punishments. I have conducted approximately twenty-five administrative interviews in my career."
Q9. Do you remember attending an internal affairs investigation with Stefan Castillo?
"Yes, I do."
Q10. During that investigation, do you remember Stefan Castillo being presented with something called a Garrity Warning?
"Yes."
Q11. Did Stefan Castillo sign that warning, and did you review that warning with him before he signed it?
"Yes to both."
Q12. Did you sign the warning yourself?
"I did."
Q13. Can you identify the location of the interrogation?
"It was located in the Hall of Justice, inside the Internal Affairs office."
Q14. How was the room arranged, was Stefan and yourself closer to the door or was the Internal Affairs representatives closest to the door?
"The room had a one-way mirror with a camera. The room was white with no decoration, with a wooden desk located in the center of the room. Myself and Sergeant Castillo were closest to the door."
Q15. How would you, personally in your lay opinion describe the atmosphere of the room.
"Tense. Myself and Sergeant Castillo did not possess his firearm during the interview, as I was instructed to lock my firearm up before entering the office area. The two investigators, however, had their firearms on them the whole time. This made me feel like I had done something illegal and couldn't be trusted, even though I wasn't personally under investigation. It made me feel uneasy."
Q16. In your perspective did you feel that Stefan Castillo as his representative had an opportunity to leave?
"No. Sergeant Castillo asked to speak with me privately during the interview, and the two investigators refused to leave the room. Based on that and both of us not having our firearms, I would say no."
** James Guanti steps down from the witness stand and returns to his seat. **