Apartheid in California - Lion's Peak Wines

The former owner of Lion's Peak Vineyards emailed us his story. We were horrified. He asked that we spread the word. Though we love the wine, we have cancelled our membership. We will not support what Jennifer Soni-Arant has done.



Dear Mr. Spence, I write to you as a last resort having read much of what You Stand For. This is a " brief broad brush " of my life's circumstance. I am " An American Citizen " currently living in exile for my personal safety. I have been hand cuffed, chained, dragged in the dirt face down, on my Ranch, and severely beaten by six (6) Police Men. Arrested again and jailed for " Trespassing " on My Own Personal Vineyard Home..........??? Having fled South Africa in the Mid Seventies after my best friend and I, were detained and interrogated simultaneously and he was Tortured to Death, I eventually landed in New York City. This was the period when Nelson Mandella was sent to Robbin Island and there was great paranoia in the Security Police of the Apartheid Regime. My friend Dr.Haffagee and I were detained and Interrogated following a phone conversation that was being tapped. The conversation went somewhat like this ; Ring Ring..'.Hello, Hi Ken , are we all set for Friday Night ? Yes, the equipment is ready and all we need is about twenty feet of # sixteen wire to have a " Blast ". OK, I'll get the wire and will see you then'. Unfortunately for us a power station was blown up on that Friday Evening. Our phone conversation was regarding a "Stereo System" that was for my friends house warming. After landing in New York, believing that the U.S. was the Land of Liberty, Freedom and Justice for all, I began to rebuild my life working several jobs for a few dollars an hour. I enrolled in Dental School and became successful in an area of Cosmetic Dentistry. Moved to California in the mid-eighties, bought a house in Long Beach and continued in my career. Life was starting to feel good having worked extremely hard, and I had savings of approximately 250,000 dollars in Home Savings of America. On 16, June 1988, I met Jennifer Duncan Miller from Texas. A few months later, on my 40th Birthday she wanted me to have sex with her and provided a condom from her handbag, saying it was perfectly 'safe'. Two weeks later she requested a temporary place to live. She moved in on Friday evening with a few suitcases. The next morning she announced that she was pregnant and would be rejected by the Baptist Parents who had adopted her. At the time she was 39 , divorced, with an 18yr old son. I did the honorable and we married on 10, Dec., 88. after we both agreed on a Premarital Contract. Laura Michelle was born, I continued to work harder than ever to provide and build for the family, regardless of doubts whether the baby was actually mine. In 1991 , I came across a beautiful 120 acre Ranch with a Victorian Home and approx 40 acres of Vineyards , located in the Paso Robles region. I purchased the property. Jennifer did not want Laura to school in Long Beach claiming there were many Hispanics, Asians, Blacks etc in Southern California. She moved to The Ranch in 93 and started her Interior Decorating Business. I continued working in Long Beach. to pay the mortgages / expenses of approx. 10,000 a month. Commuted weekly, some times twice to take care of the farming operation, a four hour drive each way. Made Award Winning Wines and in 1994, I founded Lions Peak. Wife insisted that it be in-corp-orated and had her attorney draw up the articles. I was appointed President, CEO, CFO, while she became Vice President, Secretary retaining 50% of the shares without investing a dime. Her Lawyer said " It was Normal in a California Family Business ". I went along as Family was priority, not having a crystal ball, not looking at the pre-nup, and never dreaming what was ahead. 1998, I purchased a Commercial Property in Paso Robles with a Bank Building on it, to house the Interior Decorating and Wine Sales business. 1999, Jennifer got into a conflict with the neighbouring Restuarant over parking spaces. They sued for ' Quiet Title' and six easements. a four year litigation costing me 350,000 dlrs. Spring 2004. I discovered large quantities of Wine were shipped to Ambassador Brands in Texas without my knowledge. The company was set up by Jennifer's Son, and the Wines were never paid for. She wrote herself several large checks as " Owner Capital ". Summer 04, All Lions Peak accounting records and computers mysteriously disappeared along with Jennifer. I Later learned they were in the home of Rosemary Anderson, Jennifer's close friend and bookeeper / accountant. Fall 04. Sold my house in Long Beach to pay litigation costs for Paso Robles and a string of creditors for Lions Peak. Dec. 04,04. Family conflict at the dinner table. She called the Sheriff and an army of them surrounded the place. I was arrested and handcuffed. I asked the reason for being arrested and the deputy replied " For Terrorist Activities ". I had a flashback of the interrogation, lost my senses with fright and a scuffle ensued. I was chained, dragged in the dirt, pepper sprayed and beaten with flashlights, batons etc. until I was motionless. The police of course, charged me for beating up all six of them along with a string of domestic violation allegations and wrote the most amazingly horrific report imagineable. A few days later, I was served with Divorce Papers and her attorney demanded I hand over Lions Peak, claiming I would be imprisoned for a long time. A few months later, she wanted to reconcile, and we did. Restraining orders were lifted. Early 06, I settled the Criminal Charges to avoid publicity for Lions Peak and the possible loss of its licenses. Spring 07, I discovered more monies being siphoned and e-mails to a new Lawyer with plans to have me arrested again on allegations. She wrote him to wait until the new Cambria location for Lions Peak was established, before he contacted the DA. ? I filed for divorce to protect myself, while staying mostly in Solvang where I managed the Lions Peak Wine Tasting Room. I periodically visited her at The Vineyard to help out and also in attempts for a peaceful dissolution. August 07, Family dinner at the Vineyard. She starts to verbally abuse me again while intoxicated. Being taught at an early age " To be as Humble as the Grass and as Tolerant as the Trees " I had endured the abuse for many many years. This time I decided to leave for my safety. The next day She stopped in Solvang on her way to New York. A few days later, I drove to the Vineyard with my assistant. We went to the home and location of Lions Peak Coperate Office. The alarm beeped as usual, I punched in the code, It refused to dis-arm. We noticed all office computers and files were gone. No contact from the alarm company, instead we were surrounded by Police with Attack Rifles. I identified myself. They talked to Jennifer and arrested me for " Trespassing " . My Lawyer said not to worry as their records were not updated regarding the restraining order from Dec 04, and, as Property Owner and President of Lions Peak, the charges could not stick. The DA , with allegations from Jennifer added a host of other charges claiming I went to The Vineyard to " Harrass Her " even though she was 3,000 miles away. In court, Linda Stermer, an Accountant friend of Jennifer, testified " Jennifer had taken the computers etc. to her house " . Jennifer testified that " Linda Stermer had removed them from the Coperate Office " and , also " A Stereo was moved " . Mysteriously, without any evidence or proof, amongst other allegations, Judge Ginger Garrett found me " Guilty of moving The Stereo ", which we never saw, let alone touch. A seasoned Los Angeles Judge commented that he knew I would be " A Cooked Goose " having to face a Female White Accusor, a Female White Prosecutor and a Female White Judge, being a man of color. Sentencing was on June 9th, I have been given Jail Time, along with all kinds of fancy bail amounts and warrants for my arrest ? Clearly, this was a trap set by Jennifer who has always received the full support of the system. The latest move is a motion filed by Jennifer, to be heard on Aug. 12th , 08, asking the Court to grant her the sole ownership of Lions Peak. I believe my Civil Rights have been violated on several occasions, making it difficult if not impossible, to defend and protect my interests in the State of California which had a market value of 4.75 million a year ago. My Personal Safety, Freedom and Material Wealth is but a small part of the equation, It may be a start. The Big Question being, what can we do for those less fortunate who have been wrongfully convicted.? Respectfully, Ken Soni.