New Santa Ana | Category Archives: Crime

Man sentenced for killing a 17-year-old rival in Fountain Valley

Posted on November 9, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in Crime, Fountain Valley, Santa Ana Leave a comment

ORANGE COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY PRESS RELEASE

November 6, 2014

Case # 12WF2176

MAN SENTENCED 18 YEARS TO LIFE IN PRISON FOR SHOOTING-MURDER OF RIVAL 17-YEAR-OLD

SANTA ANA – A man was sentenced yesterday, Nov. 5, 2014, to 18 years to life in state prison for shooting and murdering a 17-year-old rival. Reda Hassan Safieddine, 21, Fountain Valley, was found guilty by a jury Sept. 18, 2014, of one felony count of second degree murder with a sentencing enhancement for the personal discharge of a firearm causing death and one misdemeanor count of brandishing a firearm.

At the time of the crime, Safieddine, then 18-years-old, and the victim had an ongoing rivalry. A few hours before the shooting on Aug. 13, 2012, the defendant encountered the victim and argued with him in a residential neighborhood in Santa Ana. After the verbal confrontation, Safieddine and the victim went separate ways. Continue reading→

Garden Grove church leader charged with lewd acts and having sex with a child

Posted on November 9, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in Churches and Religion, Crime, Garden Grove, OCDA Leave a comment

ORANGE COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY PRESS RELEASE

TONY RACKAUCKAS, District Attorney

Susan Kang Schroeder, Chief of Staff
Office: 714-347-8408
Cell: 714-292-2718

Date: November 6, 2014

LAW ENFORCEMENT SEEKS POTENTIAL ADDITIONAL VICTIMS OF VOLUNTEER CHURCH LEADER CHARGED WITH UNLAWFUL SEXUAL INTERCOURSE AND LEWD ACTS UPON A CHILD

WESTMINSTER – The Orange County District Attorney’s Office and the Garden Grove Police Department (GGPD) are seeking the public’s help identifying potential additional victims of a volunteer church leader who is charged with unlawful sexual intercourse with a child and committing lewd acts upon a child. Vincent Daniel Lavello, 50, Garden Grove, is charged with one felony count of unlawful sexual intercourse with a child at least ten years younger than the defendant and six felony counts of lewd acts upon a child. If convicted, Lavello faces a maximum sentence of five years in jail. The defendant is being held on $50,000 bail. His arraignment is scheduled for Dec. 5, 2014, at 8:30 a.m. in Department W-1, West Justice Center, Westminster.

At the time of the crime, Lavello was a volunteer church leader at Calvary Chapel West Grove in Garden Grove. Continue reading→

Westminster man charged with DUI accident that killed a passenger, who was left in a gutter

Posted on November 9, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in Alcohol, Crime, OCDA, Westminster Leave a comment

ORANGE COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY PRESS RELEASE

Case # 14WF3770

Date: November 7, 2014

DRUNKEN DRIVER TO BE ARRAIGNED FOR MURDER FOR CRASHING INTO BRICK WALL AND REMOVING PASSENGER FROM VEHICLE AND LEAVING VICTIM IN GUTTER

SANTA ANA – A drunken driver is scheduled to be arraigned today for murder for crashing into a brick wall and removing the passenger from the vehicle and leaving the victim in the gutter. Jonathan Samoff, 25, Westminster, is charged with one felony count of murder. If convicted, Samoff faces a maximum sentence of 15 years to life in state prison. Samoff is being held on $1 million bail and is scheduled for continued arraignment today, Nov. 7, 2014, at 9:00 a.m. in Department W-2, West Justice Center, Westminster.

At approximately 3:15 a.m. on March 8, 2014, Samoff is accused of driving while under the influence of alcohol and speeding in the City of Westminster. Samoff is accused of crashing the vehicle into a brick wall and landing on the sidewalk in front of a light-pole. The defendant is accused of causing the crash that killed 26-year-old passenger Isaias Tang. Samoff is accused of removing Tang from the vehicle and leaving him in the gutter. Continue reading→

15-year-old boy shot in Roman Reyna’s Ward 5

Posted on November 9, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in Crime, Gangs, Roman Reyna, Santa Ana 7 Comments

Police say a 15-year-old boy was hospitalized in critical condition after he was shot in an alleyway Friday night at about 6:40 p.m. in the 400 block of North Laurel Street, according to Cpl. Anthony Bertagna of the Santa Ana Police Department, according to the OC Register.

The boy was shot in City Councilman Roman Reyna’s Ward 5. Reyna lost badly in this year’s Santa Ana Mayoral election after a picture of him with two hard core gang bangers emerged on Facebook. The picture cost Reyna every single law enforcement endorsement and he was hammered with campaign mailers that touted his alleged gang connections. Continue reading→

Funeral and church services set for the three girls killed by a hit and run driver on Halloween

Posted on November 7, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in Accidents, Churches and Religion, Crime, Santa Ana Leave a comment

Funeral and church services for the three girls killed by a hit and run driver in north Santa Ana on Halloween have been set, according to information posted at the makeshift memorial that neighbors and friends and family of the deceased have erected on the 1400 block of East Fairhaven Avenue near Jacaranda Street.

A rosary for Andrea Gonzalez will be held from 5-9 p.m. Friday at Holy Family Cathedral, with services scheduled for 9:30 a.m. Saturday at the church, which is located at 566 S. Glassell St. in Orange. Gonzalez’ family is welcoming all who want to come to the service to attend.

A wake for twin sisters Lexi and Lexandra Perez Huerta, will be held tonight, Friday, from 6-9 p.m., at Funeraria del Angel, which is also known as MacDougall Family Mortuary, located at 1610 E. First St., in Santa Ana, with services scheduled for 8:30 a.m. Saturday at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church, located at 1322 E. Third St., in Santa Ana. Continue reading→

Garden Grove Nail Salon Manager sentenced for pimping out one of her employees

Posted on November 5, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in Crime, Garden Grove Leave a comment

ORANGE COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY PRESS RELEASE

November 4, 2014

Case # 14CF1482

NAIL SALON MANAGER SENTENCED TO TWO YEARS AND TWO MONTHS IN PRISON FOR ATTEMPTED PIMPING OF EMPLOYEE

SANA ANA – A nail salon manager was convicted and sentenced today to two years and two months in state prison for the attempted pimping of an employee. Cam Da Le, 48, Garden Grove, pleaded guilty to two felony counts of attempted pimping.

Circumstances of the Case

On April 30, 2014, Le instructed 25-year-old Jane Doe to perform commercial sex acts on a customer of a nail salon they both worked at. Le collected all of the money the victim earned while performing sex acts and only paid the victim the tips she collected.

The Orange Police Department (OPD) conducted an investigation as to whether the nail salon was acting as a brothel. Le derived support from the earning and proceeds of the prostitution of Jane Doe knowing she was working as a prostitute. The defendant caused, induced, persuaded, and encouraged Jane Doe to prostitute and to agree to engage in commercial sex acts with an OPD undercover officer. Continue reading→

Mother ruled sane when she tried to kill her two kids by stabbing them while they slept

Posted on November 5, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in Crime, OCDA, Westminster Leave a comment

ORANGE COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY PRESS RELEASE

Case # 09WF1952

Date: November 3, 2014

MOTHER FOUND SANE FOR PREMEDITATING AND DELIBERATELY CARRYING OUT ATTEMPTED MURDER OF HER TWO YOUNG CHILDREN BY STABBING THEM WHILE THEY WERE ASLEEP

*Previous jury found her guilty of attempted murders

SANTA ANA – A mother was found by a jury Friday to have been sane and had premeditated and deliberately carried out the attempted murder of her two young children by stabbing them while they were asleep. Thuy Thi Le, 43, Westminster, was found guilty by a jury Feb. 4, 2014, of two felony counts each of attempted murder, and child abuse and endangerment with sentencing enhancements for the personal use of a deadly weapon and committing great bodily injury. This case was a retrial of the sentencing enhancement for premeditation and deliberation related to her attempted murder conviction as a former jury was unable to reach a unanimous verdict, finding 11 to one for the sentencing enhancement to be true. A unanimous jury found the sentencing enhancement to be true on Oct. 27, 2014, which makes the punishment an indeterminate “to life” sentence. Le faces a maximum sentence of two life sentences plus five years in state prison at her sentencing Jan. 16, 2015, at 1:30 p.m. in Department C-39, Central Justice Center, Santa Ana. Continue reading→

LAPD officer charged with lewd acts with a girl and exposing himself in Huntington Beach

Posted on November 5, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in Crime, Huntington Beach 1 Comment

ORANGE COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY PRESS RELEASE

November 5, 2014

Case # 14WF4144

LAW ENFORCEMENT SEEKS POTENTIAL ADDITIONAL VICTIMS OF LAPD OFFICER ARRESTED ON CHARGES FOR ATTEMPTED LEWD ACT WITH 12-YEAR-OLD GIRL AND INDECENT EXPOSURE TO FIVE FEMALE VICTIMS

SANTA ANA – The Orange County District Attorney’s Office (OCDA) and the Huntington Beach Police Department (HBPD) are seeking potential additional victims of a Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) officer arrested on charges for attempting to commit a lewd act with a 12-year-old girl and indecent exposure to five female victims in Huntington Beach. Ryan Eric Galliher, 33, Huntington Beach, is charged with one felony count of attempted lewd act upon a child under 14 years old, one felony count of contacting a minor with the intent to commit a lewd act, five misdemeanor counts of indecent exposure, and one misdemeanor count of engaging in lewd conduct. If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of four years in state prison and mandatory lifetime sex offender registration. Galliher is out of custody on $100,000 bail and is scheduled to be arraigned Jan. 5, 2015, at 8:30 a.m. in Department W-2, West Justice Center, Westminster.

At the time of the crimes, Galliher was employed as an officer with the LAPD. Continue reading→

The SAPD is seeking help in identifying man who robbed a Wells Fargo Bank

Posted on November 5, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in Crime, Santa Ana Leave a comment

Santa Ana Police Department

Advisory: SAPD Robbery Detectives Request Public Assistance in Identifying Suspect in Bank Robbery

Location: Wells Fargo Bank 3925 South Bristol Street

Suspect Description: Male, Black, 25-31 years old, 5’7”, wearing a grey beanie and grey sweat pants

Details: On November 5, 2014 at 12:07pm the suspect entered the Wells Fargo Bank at 3925 South Bristol Street. Once inside the suspect handed a note to a teller demanding money from her cash drawer. The teller complied with the suspect’s demand and gave him an undetermined amount of US currency from her cash drawer. The suspect fled the bank on foot. Continue reading→

Halloween hit and run driver is facing only 17 years in prison

Posted on November 4, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in Crime, OCDA, Santa Ana 1 Comment

Jaquinn Bell, 31, Orange, was charged today with three felony counts of vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence, one felony count of hit and run with permanent injury or death, one misdemeanor count of driving on a suspended license, with sentencing enhancements for personally inflicting great bodily injury, and fleeing the scene of a crime after committing a vehicular manslaughter.

If convicted Bell faces a maximum sentence of only 17 years in prison. The People will request today that he be held on $1 million dollars bail at his arraignment today. Continue reading→

SAPD police officers chase a homicide suspect who ends up crashing in Anaheim

Posted on November 4, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in Accidents, Anaheim, Crime, Santa Ana, Tustin Leave a comment

NEWS, FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contacts: Lt. Jeff Hallock, 714.904.7042, JHallock@ocsd.org

Homicide Investigation Leads to Pursuit and Fiery Crash

TUSTIN, Calif. – (November 4, 2014) – On Monday, November 3, 2014 at approximately 7:00 p.m., Orange County Sheriff’s deputies responded to a residence in the 18400 block of Warren Avenue for a report of a shooting. Deputies arrived and discovered a female adult, suffering from a gunshot wound. The female victim was transported to a local hospital and later pronounced deceased. Homicide investigators responded and initiated an investigation of the incident.

During the preliminary stages of the homicide investigation, information was learned involving a white SUV vehicle that may have been related to the shooting. Information about the vehicle, license plate and connection to the homicide, was provided to neighboring law enforcement agencies. The Santa Ana Police Department located and attempted a traffic stop of the vehicle. The vehicle failed to yield and a pursuit ensued, terminating with a single vehicle collision with a wall on North Rio Vista Street at East Frontera Street in the city of Anaheim. The vehicle erupted into flames on impact with the wall, killing the driver and sole occupant of the vehicle. Continue reading→

Jaquinn Ramone Bell arrested for the death of three girls in a hit and run accident

Posted on November 3, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in Crime, Santa Ana 2 Comments

Jaquinn Ramone Bell was arrested at a motel in Stanton, where he was taken into custody with two other adults and two teenage children, 17 and 14 years old, Santa Ana Police Chief Carlos Rojas said at a news conference Monday morning, according to KPCC.

The two unidentified adults were later released and the children were handed over to a legal guardian., according to CBS News.

The chief said the Orange County district attorney’s office was reviewing the case, according to ABC News. Continue reading→

Memorial funds set up for the three little girls killed in a Halloween hit and run

Posted on November 2, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in Charities, Crime, Santa Ana Leave a comment

The family of twins Alexandra and Lexi Perez Huerta, who died tragically this Halloween when they were struck by a hit and run driver in north Santa Ana, has set up a Memorial Fund to help pay for the girls’ funeral and to raise awareness.

Over $22,000 had been donated to the Perez Huerta family as of Sunday afternoon. The stated goal was $10,000.

Dr. Jim D’Agostino, the principal of Santiago Charter Middle School, where the other victim, Andrea Gonzalez, was an eighth grader, established a separate GoFundMe account for the young girl’s family. Over $12,000 has been donated, of the $15,000 goal, as of Sunday evening. Continue reading→

Arrests made in connection to hit and run death of three girls on Halloween

Posted on November 2, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in Crime, Santa Ana 2 Comments

As of today at 11:30 am, there have been multiple arrests made in connection to the hit and run deaths of three 13 year old girls that occurred in the 1400 block of E. Fairhaven on Friday October 31, 2014 at 6:45 pm, according to the Santa Ana Police Department.

Santa Ana Mayor Miguel Pulido later said five people had been arrested, according to KTLA.

There will be a press conference tomorrow, Monday November 3, 2014 at 11:00 am at Santa Ana Police Department in the Community Room. There will be NO further information released until the press conference tomorrow. Continue reading→

Three trick or treaters killed by hit and run driver in north Santa Ana

Posted on October 31, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in Crime, Santa Ana 9 Comments

Authorities say three teenage girls have died after being struck in a suspected hit-and-run crash in Orange County, according to CBS. Two of the girls were twins and the third was a friend of theirs. The vehicle was traveling at a “high rate of speed” when the crash occurred, according to NBC.

The accident happened about 6:45 p.m. 1400 block of East Fairhaven, near the intersection of North Jacaranda Street and Fairhaven Avenue, Orange County Fire Authority Capt. Steve Concialdi said, according to the OC Register.

The children were hit by Fairhaven Elementary School not far from Fairhaven Apartment Homes.

This sort of thing never used to happen in North Santa Ana. But already this year we have reported to drive by shootings in the area – and now this. Continue reading→