New Santa Ana | Category Archives: OCDA

Man charged with kidnapping and carving his name on his ex-girlfriend’s chest

Posted on March 30, 2015 by Art Pedroza Posted in Crime, OCDA, Santa Ana Leave a comment

ORANGE COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY PRESS RELEASE

Case # 15CF0617

Date: March 30, 2015

MAN ARRAIGNED FOR KIDNAPPING AND THREATENING WOMAN AFTER CARVING HIS NAME ON HER CHEST

SANTA ANA – A man was arraigned today for kidnapping and threatening a woman that he had a romantic relationship with after carving his name on her chest. Sergio Joaquin Mendoza, 39, Santa Ana, is charged with one felony count of kidnapping, one felony count of criminal threats, two felony counts of domestic battery with corporal injury, and a sentencing enhancement for the personal use of a deadly weapon. At the time of the crime Mendoza had a romantic relationship Jane Doe. If convicted he faces a maximum sentence of 11 years and eight months in state prison. He is being held on $100,000 bail and is scheduled for a pre-trial hearing on April 8, 2015, at 8:30 a.m. in Department C-55, Central Justice Center, Santa Ana.

Between March 17, 2015, and March 20, 2015, Mendoza is accused of living in a room in a relative’s house in Santa Ana. During that time, Mendoza is accused of getting into multiple verbal arguments with Jane Doe and punching her on several occasions. The defendant is accused of forcing Jane Doe to sit in his car while he was at work and threatening her with violence in order to keep her from leaving the car. Continue reading→

Santa Ana mother sentenced for murder after drowning her baby

Posted on March 28, 2015 by Art Pedroza Posted in Crime, OCDA, Santa Ana 5 Comments

ORANGE COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY PRESS RELEASE

Case # 12CF1980

Date: March 27, 2015

MOTHER SENTENCED TO 25 YEARS TO LIFE IN PRISON FOR MURDERING 2-MONTH-OLD BABY GIRL BY DROWNING HER IN BATHTUB

SANTA ANA – A mother was sentenced today to 25 years to life in state prison for murdering her 2-month-old baby girl by drowning her in a bathtub. Lucero Carrera, 30, Santa Ana, was found guilty by a jury on Jan. 26, 2015, of one felony count each of first degree murder and assault on a child under 8 years old with force likely to produce great bodily injury resulting in death. On Feb. 9, 2015, the same jury found that Carrera, who had entered pleas of “not guilty” and “not guilty by reason of insanity,” was legally sane at the time of the murder.

In June 2012, Carrera lived in a trailer in Santa Ana with her mother and her 2-month-old baby daughter Kimberly Gutierrez. Continue reading→

Victims denounce the OCDA’s lame response to the Dekraai case

Posted on March 26, 2015 by Art Pedroza Posted in Crime, OCDA, Orange County, Susan Kang Schroeder, Todd Spitzer, Tony Rackauckas 1 Comment

Graphic by Kevin McVeigh, Courtesy of the OC Weekly

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 26, 2015

Victims Denounce District Attorney’s Response to Dekraai Case

Victims Applaud Spitzer for his Support

In honor of the victims: Victoria Buzzo, David Caouette, Laura Elody, Randy Fannin, Michele Fast, Michelle Fournier, Lucia Kondas, Hattie Stretz and Christy Wilson.

(Orange County, CA) — In response to the recent statement made by District Attorney’s Chief of Staff Susan Krang Schroeder that, “Spitzer is running for D.A. on the graves of eight murdered people,” (A Fight They Won’t Take On, Supervisors Hesitant to Act Against D.A. Over Dekraai Case Orange County Register, March 2015) families of Dekraai’s victims stepped forward to denounce the callous and insensitive remarks made on behalf of the District Attorney. Continue reading→

MADD honors 14 OCDA attorneys for exceptional prosecution of DUI cases

Posted on March 25, 2015 by Art Pedroza Posted in Alcohol, Crime, OCDA, Orange County Leave a comment

Todd Spitzer with Julie Schilling and Dave Doucette of the California Office of Traffic Safety at the MADD Luncheon

ORANGE COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY PRESS RELEASE

Date: March 25, 2015

MADD HONORS 14 OCDA ATTORNEYS FOR EXCEPTIONAL PROSECUTION OF DRUNKEN DRIVING CASES

SANTA ANA – The Orange County chapter of Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) honored 14 Orange County deputy district attorneys today for their time and effort in prosecuting driving under the influence (DUI) cases in 2014. MADD hosted the 28th Annual Law Enforcement and Prosecutor Recognition Luncheon today, March 25, 2015, to honor Orange County prosecutors and police officers for their outstanding contributions to the prosecution of DUI cases. The luncheon was held at the Richard Nixon Library and Birthplace in Yorba Linda.

At the luncheon, six Orange County District Attorney (OCDA) prosecutors including Senior Deputy District Attorney Jennifer Walker and Deputy District Attorneys Jim Bilek, Devin Campbell, Stephen Cornwell, Anna McIntire, Devin Campbell, and Nick Miller, received the 2015 Diligent Prosecutor Award to recognize their support to victims and their families and diligent efforts in criminal prosecution of DUI defendants. Each was nominated by their OCDA supervisor or a MADD victim advocate. The recipients were verbally recognized and received a plaque at the luncheon. Continue reading→

Charges filed after a waitress is assaulted by dine and dash crew from Long Beach

Posted on March 24, 2015 by Art Pedroza Posted in Anaheim, Crime, OCDA 2 Comments

ORANGE COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY PRESS RELEASE

Case # 15NF0756

Date: March 24, 2015

MEDIA ADVISORY: Charges filed after a waitress is assaulted by diners who did not pay for their meal

WHO: Rowshaid Cordell Pellum, 24, Cerritos, and Santeea Munay Ralph, 23, Long Beach

WHAT: Were both charged today for not paying their bill at the Mexico Lindo Restaurant in unincorporated Anahiem and assaulting a waitress with a vehicle. Pellum was charged today with one felony count of aggravated assault, one felony count hit and run with injury, and one misdemeanor count of defrauding an innkeeper. If convicted, Pellum faces a maximum sentence of four years and eight months in state prison. The People will request Pellum be held on $50,000 bail at his arraignment today. Ralph is charged with one misdemeanor count of defrauding an innkeeper. She faces a maximum sentence of six months in the Orange County Jail. Continue reading→

Contractor convicted for stealing from public works contracts and burglary

Posted on March 23, 2015 by Art Pedroza Posted in Costa Mesa, Crime, irvine, Newport Beach, OCDA, Santa Ana Leave a comment

ORANGE COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY PRESS RELEASE

Case # 13CF3959

Date: March 23, 2015

CONSTRUCTION COMPANY FOREMAN SENTENCED FOR DEFRAUDING EMPLOYEES BY TAKING $330,000 IN WAGES FROM TWO PUBLIC WORKS CONTRACTS AND BURGLARIZING NEIGHBOR’S HOME

*Co-defendant in this case is scheduled for a preliminary hearing tomorrow

SANTA ANA – A construction company foreman was convicted and sentenced Friday for defrauding employees of $330,000 in wages and keeping the money for himself from two public works contract. Antonio Naranjo Jr., 41, Costa Mesa, pleaded guilty Friday, March 20, 2015, to 11 felony counts of taking and receiving a portion of a worker’s wage on public works project and two felony counts of recording a false and forged instrument. He was sentenced to four years and six months in state prison. Naranjo Jr. is currently serving two years and eight months in state prison for a residential burglary conviction in 2012 (Case #12HF3186) and will now serve seven years and four months in state prison.

Co-defendant and construction company owner Mustafa Mohamed Bdaiwi, 43, Irvine, is charged with 11 felony counts of taking and receiving a portion of a worker’s wage on public works project, 10 felony counts of willful failure to pay tax, four felony counts of misrepresenting facts to state compensation insurance fund, two felony counts of recording a false and forged instrument, and sentencing enhancements for property loss over $200,000. If convicted on all counts, he faces a maximum sentence of 21 years in state prison. He is out of custody on $2 million bail and is scheduled for a preliminary hearing tomorrow, March 24, 2015, at 8:30 a.m. in Department C-55.

Naranjo Jr. was convicted of and Bdaiwi is accused of committing the following crimes: Continue reading→

Man charged with attempted murder after he repeatedly stabbed a female jogger

Posted on March 23, 2015 by Art Pedroza Posted in Crime, OCDA, Orange County Leave a comment

ORANGE COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY PRESS RELEASE

Case # 12WF2895

Date: March 23, 2015

MAN TO FACE TRIAL FOR ATTEMPTED MURDER OF FEMALE JOGGER BY STABBING HER MULTIPLE TIMES

WESTMINSTER – A man is expected to face trial tomorrow for the attempted murder of a female jogger by stabbing her multiple times. James Anthony Rivas, 20, Rossmoor, is charged with one felony count each of attempted murder, assault with a deadly weapon, and mayhem, with sentencing enhancements for premeditation and deliberation for the attempted murder, great bodily injury and personal use of a deadly weapon. If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of 11 yearsto lifein state prison. Opening statements are expected to begin tomorrow, Tuesday, March 24, 2015 in Department W-9, West Justice Center, Westminster. The time is to be determined.

At approximately 9:00 p.m. on Oct. 23, 2012, Rivas, then 18 years old, is accused of approaching 27-year-old Jane Doe, who was jogging through a residential neighborhood in Rossmoor. Continue reading→

Santa Ana man and his girlfriend convicted after fatal hit and run of little girl

Posted on March 22, 2015 by Art Pedroza Posted in Accidents, Anaheim, Crime, OCDA, Santa Ana Leave a comment

Rebecca Beltran, a Santa Ana resident, was sentenced on Friday, by O.C. Superior Court Judge Gregg L. Prickett, to a year in jail for lying to police in order to protect her boyfriend, Carlos Parra. He fled after he ran over a mother, Lady Audree Rebecca Hernandez, and her 3-year-old daughter, Miranda Palacios, with his car, in Anaheim. The little girl was killed in that accident and her mother was injured, according to the O.C. Register.

Beltran, 27, was also placed on five years of formal probation, according to Senior Deputy District Attorney Jennifer Walker. A nearly four- year prison sentence was suspended so long as Beltran does not violate probation, the prosecutor said, according to My News LA. Continue reading→

Man convicted for hit and run murder of three Santa Ana girls last Halloween

Posted on March 20, 2015 by Art Pedroza Posted in Accidents, Crime, OCDA, Santa Ana Leave a comment

ORANGE COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY PRESS RELEASE

Case # 14CF3723

Date: March 20, 2015

MAN CONVICTED OF HIT AND RUN AND MANSLAUGHTER FOR KILLING THREE TEENS ON HALLOWEEN

SANTA ANA – A man was convicted today of hit and run and manslaughter for killing three teens on Halloween night. Jaquinn Ramone Bell, 32, Orange, pleaded guilty today to 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, and sentencing enhancement allegations for fleeing the scene of a crime after committing vehicular manslaughter. He faces a maximum sentence of 13 years and eight months in state prison at his sentencing May 21, 2015, at 9:00 a.m. in Department C-55, Central Justice Center, Santa Ana.

When Bell was first charged on Nov. 4, 2014, he was also facing sentencing enhancement allegations for personally inflicting great bodily injury and a maximum sentence of 17 years in state prison. In February 2015, the California Supreme Court ruled that a great bodily injury enhancement could not attach to any manslaughter charge under any circumstance. As a result, an amended complaint was filed today, March 20, 2015, excluding the sentencing enhancement allegation for personally inflicting great bodily injury. Continue reading→

Local DMV employee arrested for taking bribes in return for driver’s licenses

Posted on March 19, 2015 by Art Pedroza Posted in Crime, OCDA, Westminster Leave a comment

ORANGE COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY PRESS RELEASE

Case # 15WF0525

Date: March 19, 2015

DMV EMPLOYEE ARRESTED AND CHARGED FOR TAKING BRIBES TO OBTAIN DRIVER’S LICENSES FOR TWO APPLICANTS

WESTMINSTER – A Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) employee was arrested and charged today for accepting bribes from customers in exchange for providing California driver’s licenses (CDL). Jose Alberto Carrillo, 47, Fresno, is charged with two felony counts of altering public documents and two felony counts of computer access and fraud. If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of five years in jail. He was arrested today in Fresno and is out of custody on $20,000 bail. He is scheduled to appear for arraignment on April 20, 2015, at the North Justice Center, Fullerton. The time and department are to be determined.

At the time of the crimes, Carrillo worked as a Motor Vehicle Representative at the Westminster DMV Office. Continue reading→

Man on the SAPD’s Most Wanted List convicted of killing his boss

Posted on March 18, 2015 by Art Pedroza Posted in Crime, OCDA, Santa Ana Leave a comment

ORANGE COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY PRESS RELEASE

Case # 11CF3436

Date: March 17, 2015

MAN FORMERLY ON SAPD’S MOST WANTED LIST CONVICTED OF MURDERING EMPLOYER IN 2009

SANTA ANA – A man who was on the Santa Ana Police Department’s (SAPD) most wanted list was convicted today of murdering his employer. Gerald Guy Byrne, 54, was convicted of one felony count of second degree murder. The defendant has two prior strike convictions for robbery in 1986 and arson in 1993. The Court will hear a bifurcated trial on the defendant’s prior strike convictions on April 10, 2015, at 9:00 a.m., in Department C-41, Central Justice Center, Santa Ana. Byrne faces a maximum sentence of 55 years to life in state prison if convicted of the prior strike offenses.

At the time of the crime, Byrne was working for 69-year-old Charles Samo. Continue reading→

Nephew with criminal history charged with killing his uncle at a birthday party

Posted on March 16, 2015 by Art Pedroza Posted in Crime, OCDA, Westminster Leave a comment

Daniel Lee Duvall and Tina Arbogast

ORANGE COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY PRESS RELEASE

Case # 15WF0501

Date: March 13, 2015

NEPHEW TO BE ARRAIGNED FOR SHOOTING-MURDER OF UNCLE AFTER ARGUMENT AT BIRTHDAY PARTY

*Co-defendant girlfriend is charged as an accessory after the fact in this case

WESTMINSTER – A nephew is scheduled to be arraigned today for the shooting murder of his uncle. Daniel Lee Duvall, 37, Westminster, is charged with one felony count of murder with sentencing enhancements for personal discharge of a firearm causing death, three sentencing enhancements for crime-bail-crime, prior felony convictions for residential burglary in 1996, possession of a firearm by a felon in 2002, possession of a firearm by a felon in 2008, and possession of a controlled substance with intent to sell in 2010. Co-defendant Tina Pauline Arbogast, 48, Westminster, is charged with one felony count of accessory after the fact.

If convicted, Daniel Duvall faces a maximum sentence of 85 years to life in state prison. Arbogast faces a maximum sentence of three years in state prison. Both defendants are scheduled to be arraigned today, March 13, 2015, in Department W-12, West Justice Center, Westminster. The time is to be determined. Continue reading→

Insurance agent busted for massive fraud committed in Orange County

Posted on March 7, 2015 by Art Pedroza Posted in Brea, Crime, Insurance, OCDA, Orange County Leave a comment

ORANGE COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY PRESS RELEASE

Case # 14CF1518

Date: March 6, 2015

FORMER INSURANCE AGENT SENTENCED TO SEVEN YEARS IN STATE PRISON FOR RECEIVING OVER $900,000 COMMISSION AND PREMIUM PAYMENTS FROM FRAUDULENT INSURANCE POLICIES

SANTA ANA – A former insurance agent was convicted and sentenced today to seven years in state prison for receiving over $900,000 in commission and premium payments from fraudulent insurance policies. Jacob Richard Bonzer, 28, Chicago, Ill. pleaded guilty today to 49 felony counts of grand theft, one felony count of forging a false Department of Insurance report of examination, one felony count of transacting insurance business without certificate of authority, 45 felony counts of insurance fraud, with sentencing enhancements for aggravated white collar crime over $500,000, and a taking over $200,000. He was also ordered to pay $918,302 restitution to the victims.

Circumstances of the Case

Between 2009 and 2013, Bonzer committed three separate crimes. A joint investigation was conducted by the Brea Police Department, California Department of Insurance (CDI) and the Orange County District Attorney’s Office. Continue reading→

Wrong way DUI driver convicted after fatal crash on the 91 Freeway

Posted on March 7, 2015 by Art Pedroza Posted in Accidents, Alcohol, Anaheim, Crime, Newport Beach, OCDA, Orange County Leave a comment

ORANGE COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY PRESS RELEASE

Case # 12NF0309

Date: March 6, 2015

DRUNKEN WRONG-WAY FREEWAY DRIVER SENTENCED TO 15 YEARS TO LIFE IN PRISON FOR MURDERING ONE AND INJURING TWO OTHERS IN HEAD-ON CRASH

SANTA ANA – A drunken driver was sentenced today to 15 years to life in state prison for murdering one and injuring two others in a head-on crash after driving the wrong way into oncoming traffic on two separate Orange County freeways. Ruben Gurrola, 26, Pomona, was found guilty by a jury on Nov. 14, 2014, of one felony count each of murder, driving under the influence causing bodily injury, driving with a blood alcohol level .08 percent or more causing injury, and a sentencing enhancement for causing great bodily injury.

Late on the night of Jan. 28, 2012, Gurrola left a Newport Beach bar with his then 24-year-old girlfriend Allison Poon after several hours of drinking alcohol with friends. The defendant took a cab with Poon to a friend’s house. After arriving at the home, Gurrola got into the driver’s seat of a Honda sedan and drove away with Poon in the passenger seat. At approximately 1:40 a.m., the defendant drove under the influence of alcohol on the wrong side of the freeway into oncoming traffic, heading northbound in the southbound lanes of the 241 toll road. Several motorists called 911 and had to swerve to avoid being hit by the defendant. Continue reading→

Santa Ana man pleads guilty to hit and run death of a 3-year old girl

Posted on March 6, 2015 by Art Pedroza Posted in Accidents, Crime, OCDA, Santa Ana, Westminster Leave a comment

ORANGE COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY PRESS RELEASE

Case # 12CF1494

Date: March 6, 2015

MAN SENTENCED TO NINE YEARS IN PRISON FOR KILLING 3-YEAR-OLD AND INJURING MOTHER IN HIT-AND-RUN IN SCHOOL CROSSWALK

*Defendant’s girlfriend helped him cover his crime by filing false police report

SANTA ANA – A man was sentenced to nine years in state prison yesterday for killing a 3-year-old girl and severely injuring the child’s mother by crashing his girlfriend’s car into them as they passed through a crosswalk and then fleeing the scene. Carlos Antonio Parra, 23, Santa Ana, pleaded guilty yesterday, March 5, 2015, to one felony count each of vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence, two felony counts of hit and run with permanent injury or death, and one misdemeanor count of possession of a controlled substance.

Parra’s girlfriend Rebeca Beltran, 27, Santa Ana, pleaded guilty on Aug. 16, 2013, to one felony count each of accessory after the fact and possession of a controlled substance. She faces a maximum sentence of three years and eight months in state prison at her sentencing on March 20, 2015, at 9:00 a.m. in Department C-41, Central Justice Center, Santa Ana. Continue reading→