Making music at the Barstow courthouse

BARSTOW • Visitors to the Barstow courthouse are bound to see judges, attorneys and police officers, but the thing most people never notice are the musicians.

Every line of work has its share of people that moonlight as musicians, but the Barstow courthouse is full of them. The District Attorney’s office of the courthouse alone has two guitarists. Deputy district attorney Rick Golden is an accomplished jazz guitarist and often plays with the Barstow Community College bands, according to fellow attorney and guitarist Sean Daugherty.

Daugherty said his musical style leans more towards rock ‘n’ roll. Daugherty plays music with his drummer, Barstow Police Department Sgt. Andrew Espinoza Jr. The pair play everything from Credence Clearwater Revival to Nirvana, according to Espinoza. Espinoza said he started his musical career on alto sax in school, but always wanted to be a drummer, and he bought his first drum kit when he got his first job.

“I came from a kind of musical family,” Espinoza said. “There was someone who could play trumpet, someone on saxophone and maybe someone on guitar. I just kind of picked up my love of music from them.”

Espinoza’s musical background also touches other courthouse employees. Espinoza said his aunt played in a band with attorney Jon Mahlum and he said he often gets tips and lessons from John Gibson. Gibson and Mahlum play in a band called the Boogeymen.

“I’m always trying to learn new songs and wanting new drum kits,” Espinoza said. “Sometimes I’ll be getting a warrant signed by Judge Gibson in his chambers and he’ll teach me something here or there.”

Espinoza said he thinks that music and bands provide a release and bonding experience for people that work together at the courthouse.

“For me music has always been something to work at to help clear my mind,” Espinoza said. “I think it is a form of camaraderie for people who work in a similar field to get together outside of work. Everyone loves music.”

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(760) 256-4126 or dheldreth@desertdispatch.com