Backer of controversial Thornton State Beach fence suffers legal setback

Judge orders case transferred to San Mateo County, denies contempt motion over fence removal

Mar. 12, 2026 at 10:52pm by Ben Kaplan

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A San Francisco judge declined to consider a motion filed by Yitong Wen, an associate of convicted fraudster Luke Brugnara, seeking to hold Daly City in contempt for removing a controversial fence that had restricted public access to Thornton State Beach. The judge ordered the case to be transferred to San Mateo County, where Daly City is located.

Why it matters

The fence dispute has sparked outrage among residents who have long used the footpaths to access the beach, and has also led to criminal charges against Brugnara and Wen. The case highlights ongoing tensions over public access to coastal areas and the legal battles that can arise when private interests clash with community interests.

The details

Wen, who court documents describe as Brugnara's girlfriend, claimed she owned the land where the fence was built through her company Olympic Way LLC. However, a Chronicle investigation found that the land is actually owned by at least seven people, many of them elderly relatives who have owned the property for decades. Daly City removed the entire fence in February, restoring access to the beach.

  • On Feb. 13, a San Francisco Superior Court judge denied Wen's request for a temporary restraining order to prevent the fence removal.
  • On Feb. 20, construction workers removed the entire barrier, restoring the land used by residents and visitors for decades.
  • Last month, the San Mateo County District Attorney's Office charged Brugnara and Wen in connection with a Jan. 21 incident near the fence.

The players

Yitong Wen

A 26-year-old woman who court documents describe as the girlfriend of convicted fraudster Luke Brugnara. Wen claimed she owned the land where the controversial fence was built through her company Olympic Way LLC.

Luke Brugnara

A 62-year-old once-wealthy San Francisco real estate investor who was convicted of federal fraud in 2015 and is currently out on bond while awaiting trial in another fraud case. Brugnara ordered the fence to be built along the Thornton State Beach property.

Daly City

The city that removed the controversial fence blocking public access to Thornton State Beach, despite efforts by Wen to hold the city in contempt.

Bruce Norton

A Utah resident who owns the largest share of the land where the fence was built, according to his lawyer Stephen Rose.

Paul Nagy

One of the elderly relatives who owns a portion of the land, and who previously said he did not agree to transfer his siblings' shares to Olympic Way LLC as part of a handwritten deed.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“I'm basically being mistreated. I won't get a fair hearing down in San Mateo due to the defendants already violated the court authority to went down there and took down my fence.”

— Yitong Wen (San Francisco Chronicle)

“Technically the lawsuit is still alive, it's just in purgatory. Only when it gets to San Mateo can there be any other order.”

— Steve Ngo, Attorney for Daly City (San Francisco Chronicle)

What’s next

The judge ordered the case to be transferred to San Mateo County, where Wen can refile her contempt motion. Brugnara also faces criminal charges related to the fence dispute and is awaiting trial in a separate federal fraud case.

The takeaway

This case highlights the ongoing tensions over public access to coastal areas and the legal battles that can arise when private interests clash with community interests. It also raises questions about the role of local governments in enforcing public access and the challenges of resolving complex property disputes.