Santa Ana's top news & views blog

Santa Ana's top news & views blog

Category Archives: Crime

Man convicted of sexually assaulting five females including two minors

Posted on by Posted in Courts, Crime, Garden Grove, OCDA, Orange, Santa Ana Leave a comment

Max Danilo Martinez

Orange County District Attorney Press Release

For Immediate Release, Case # 09CF2979: August 5, 2013

MAN CONVICTED OF SEXUALLY ASSAULTING FIVE FEMALES, INCLUDING RAPING TWO MINORS, AFTER GIVING THEM ALCOHOL

SANTA ANA – A man was convicted today of sexually assaulting five females, including raping a 14-year-old and 17-year-old girl, after giving them alcohol. Max Danilo Martinez, 33, Corona, was found guilty by a jury of three felony counts of forcible rape, one felony count of sexual penetration by foreign object by force, one felony count of rape of an unconscious person, and sentencing enhancement allegations for sexual crimes against multiple victims. He faces a minimum sentence of 63 years to life in state prison and a maximum sentence of 68 years to life in state prison at his sentencing. The sentencing date is to be determined and will be set at a hearing Aug. 16, 2013, in Department C-43, Central Justice Center, Santa Ana. Continue reading→

Santa Ana man convicted for beating an 18-month old toddler to death

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Juan Carlos Aguilar

Orange County District Attorney Press Release

For Immediate Release, Case # 11ZF0117: August 5, 2013

MAN CONVICTED OF BEATING-MURDER OF 18-MONTH-OLD TODDLER AND SIMILAR 2009 CHILD ABUSE OF 3-MONTH-OLD RELATIVE

SANTA ANA – A man was convicted today of the beating-murder of his girlfriend’s sister’s 18-month-old daughter and abusing another child in a similar way in 2009. Juan Carlos Aguilar, 27, Santa Ana, was found guilty by a jury of one felony count of murder, one felony count of assault on a child with force likely to produce great bodily injury resulting in death, and two felony counts of child abuse. He faces a maximum sentence of 31 years to life in state prison at his sentencing Oct. 4, 2013, at 9:00 a.m. in Department C-29, Central Justice Center, Santa Ana. Continue reading→

OCDA to host 14th Annual Summer Youth Law Enforcement Education Conference

Posted on by Posted in Crime, Education, OCDA, Santa Ana

OCDA Seal

Orange County District Attorney  Press Release

For Immediate Release: August 2, 2013

OCDA HOSTS 14TH ANNUAL SUMMER YOUTH EDUCATION CONFERENCE FOR STUDENTS INTERESTED IN LAW ENFORCEMENT

SANTA ANA – Orange County high school students will have the opportunity next week to get a behind-the-scenes look at what it’s like to be a prosecutor, police detective, and judge during the 14th annual Summer Youth Education Conference. This weeklong program will begin on Monday, Aug. 5, 2013, at 8:30 a.m. and will include 35 to 40 hours of hands-on-activities, culminating in a mock trial and graduation ceremony on Friday, Aug. 9, 2013.

“This program is a great way for young people in our community to learn about the criminal justice system,” said District Attorney Tony Rackauckas. “Working with local teens is extremely important in helping these kids choose a positive path. Some of these students may serve our community and become the next generation of prosecutors, police officers, and judges.” Continue reading→

Two more pimps busted for trafficking minors in Santa Ana

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OCDA Seal

Orange County District Attorney  Press Release

For Immediate Release,  Case # TBA: August 2, 2013

TWO MEN TO BE ARRAIGNED ON CHARGES OF SEX TRAFFICKING TWO FEMALE MINORS UNDER PRETENSE OF TAKING ROAD TRIP

SANTA ANA – Two men will be arraigned today on charges of sex trafficking two minor girls under the pretense of taking a road trip. Michael Wayne Greer, 24, and Jaylin Juwan Marshall, 20, both of Sacramento, are each charged with two felony counts of human trafficking, two felony counts of pandering a minor over 16 years old by procuring, one felony count of pimping a minor for Jane Doe #1, and one felony count of attempting to pimp a minor for Jane Doe #2, with a sentencing enhancement for human trafficking by coercion, deceit and fear. Marshall has a prior conviction for a 2011 residential burglary in Sacramento County. If convicted on all counts, Greer faces a maximum sentence of 30 years to life in state prison, and Marshall faces a maximum sentence of 60 years to life in state prison. The People will be requesting $1 million bail for both defendants at their arraignment scheduled today, Aug. 2, 2013, in Department CJ-1, Central Jail, Santa Ana. The time is to be determined. Continue reading→

Dana Point man sentenced for killing a man at a New Year’s Eve Party

Posted on by Posted in Costa Mesa, Crime, Orange County, Santa Ana Leave a comment

Adam Randy Baker, 26, Dana Point

Orange County District Attorney Press Release

For Immediate Release, Case # 11ZF0104: August 2, 2013

MAN SENTENCED TO 18 YEARS AND EIGHT MONTHS TO LIFE IN PRISON FOR STABBING AND MURDERING ONE AND INJURING ANOTHER AFTER NEW YEAR’S EVE HOTEL PARTY

SANTA ANA – A man was sentenced today to 18 years and eight months to life in state prison for murdering one man and injuring his friend by stabbing the victims after a New Year’s Eve hotel party. Adam Randy Baker, 26, Dana Point, was found guilty by a jury Dec. 12, 2012, of one felony count each of second degree murder and attempted murder with a sentencing enhancement for the personal use of a deadly weapon.

At approximately 2:00 a.m. on Jan. 1, 2011, Baker was sitting on a bench near the valet parking area at the Hilton Hotel in Costa Mesa after attending a New Year’s Eve party at the hotel. When a group of men exited the hotel, Baker flicked his cigarette at them and started a verbal argument as he approached one of the men. Another man in the group, 27-year-old Robert Sickles, stepped in between his brother and the defendant to prevent the situation from escalating into a fight. Continue reading→

O.C. Sheriff’s Deputy accused of pepper spraying a teen’s pizza

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Tabasco pizza

Orange County District Attorney  Press Release

For Immediate Release, Case # 13HM05257: August 2, 2013

ORANGE COUNTY SHERIFF’S DEPUTY TO BE ARRAIGNED FOR PEPPER SPRAYING TEEN’S PIZZA DURING TRAFFIC STOP

NEWPORT BEACH – An Orange County Sheriff’s Department (OCSD) deputy will be arraigned Monday for pepper spraying a teen’s pizza during a routine traffic stop. Juan Tavera, 30, is charged with one misdemeanor count of assault or battery by a public officer and faces a maximum sentence of one year in jail if convicted. Tavera is scheduled to be arraigned Monday, Aug. 5, 2013, at 8:30 a.m. in Department H-8, Harbor Justice Center, Newport Beach.

At the time of the crime, Tavera was a 6-year veteran of the OCSD assigned to the South Operations Division/Contract City of Laguna Hills. Tavera is currently on paid administrative leave.

On Sept. 8, 2012, the defendant is accused of arriving on-scene after 19-year-old John Doe was pulled over by a different officer for a traffic infraction in Laguna Hills. Upon arriving, the defendant is accused of finding a pizza on the backseat of the victim’s car and pepper spraying the pizza without the victim’s knowledge. Continue reading→

Three DUIs among 27 new crimes reported in Santa Ana on Saturday, August 3

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Drunk Cop

There were 27 new crimes reported in Santa Ana on Saturday, August 3, 2013, by our friends at CrimeMapping.  These included three more DUIs and several acts of Domestic Violence.  Remember that our City Council recently voted to make it easier to permit more bars in Santa Ana.

Here is our latest Daily Santa Ana Crime Report: Continue reading→

Treasurer charged with embezzling from a Samoan Church in Santa Ana

Posted on by Posted in Churches and Religion, Crime, Santa Ana Leave a comment

OCDA Seal

Orange County District Attorney  Press Release

For Immediate Release,  Case # 13CF2428: August 1, 2013

TREASURER SCHEDULED TO BE ARRAIGNED FOR EMBEZZLING OVER $110,000 FROM CHURCH BANK ACCOUNTS

*Defendant is accused of laundering money through an Indian gaming casino

SANTA ANA – A treasurer is scheduled to be arraigned tomorrow for embezzling over $110,000 from church bank accounts. Fiatala Manu, 46, Lake Elsinore, is charged with four felony counts of money laundering, seven felony counts of falsifying records, one felony count of embezzlement by fiduciary of trust, one felony count of grand theft with sentencing enhancements for committing an aggravated white collar crime over $100,000, and property damage over $65,000. If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of 11 years and four months in state prison. He is being held on $100,000 bail and is scheduled to be arraigned tomorrow, Friday, Aug. 2, 2013, at 10:00 a.m. in Department CJ-1, Central Jail, Santa Ana. Continue reading→

SAPD DUI checkpoint set for Friday at 2100 N. Main

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SAPD DUI Checkpoint

SAPD Advisory: Police conducting DUI/Drivers License checkpoint Friday, August 2, 7:30PM -1:30AM, 2100 N. Main

SANTA ANA POLICE STEP UP DUI ENFORCEMENT

The Santa Ana Police Department will be conducting a DUI/Drivers License checkpoint on Friday, August 2nd, 2013. It will begin at 7:30PM and is scheduled to conclude at 1:30AM. It will be conducted in the area of 2100 N. Main Street, Santa Ana, CA.
Continue reading→

Santa Ana man convicted for collecting his dead dad’s Social Security payments

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Larry Thomas Dominguez

Press Release, For Immediate Release,  Case # 13CF0284: July 31, 2013

MAN CONVICTED AND SENTENCED FOR FRAUDULENTLY COLLECTING OVER $100,000 IN DECEASED FATHER’S SOCIAL SECURITY AND PENSION BENEFITS

*Defendant was identified as part of investigation into human bones found in Santa Ana backyard

SANTA ANA – A man was convicted and sentenced today to six years in state prison for fraudulently collecting his deceased father’s social security and pension benefits after being identified by detectives investigating human bones found in a Santa Ana backyard. Larry Thomas Dominguez, 66, Santa Ana, pleaded guilty to two felony counts of grand theft by embezzlement, one felony count of forgery, two felony counts of identity theft, two felony counts of forging an access cardholder’s signature, and sentencing enhancements for aggravated white collar crime over $100,000 and property loss over $65,000. In addition to his prison sentence, Dominguez is ordered to pay over $97,000 in restitution. Continue reading→