Santa Ana's top news & views blog

Santa Ana's top news & views blog

Category Archives: OCDA

Pomona man convicted of pimping and pandering a woman in Santa Ana

Posted on by Posted in Crime, OCDA, Santa Ana Leave a comment

OCDA Seal

Orange County District Attorney Press Release

For Immediate Release, Case # 13CF2824: December 5, 2013

MAN CONVICTED OF PIMPING AND PANDERING WOMAN

FULLERTON – A man was convicted yesterday of pimping and pandering a woman in Santa Ana. Damion Henri Soul, 39, Pomona, was convicted by a jury yesterday, Dec. 4, 2013, of one felony count of pimping and one felony count of pandering.

The defendant faces sentencing enhancements for two prior strike convictions from 1993 in Los Angeles County for armed robbery, assault with a firearm, and prior prison felony convictions in 1998 for forgery, and possession of a controlled substance in 2003 and 2006. He faces a maximum sentence of 16 years in state prison on Dec. 16, 2013, at 8:30 a.m. in Department N-6, North Justice Center, Fullerton. Continue reading→

Bible study leader convicted of molesting his young relatives

Posted on by Posted in Churches and Religion, Crime, OCDA, Santa Ana, Westminster 1 Comment

OCDA Seal

Orange County District Attorney Press Release

For Immediate Release, Case # 09WF1805: November 27, 2013

SELF-APPOINTED PASTOR/BIBLE STUDY LEADER CONVICTED OF SEXUALLY ASSAULTING TWO YOUNG MALE RELATIVES

WESTMINSTER – A self-appointed pastor who hosted regular “church” meetings and Bible studies in his Westminster home was convicted today of sexually assaulting two young male relatives beginning when the victims were 12 years old.

James Ray Guerrero, 54, Westminster, was found guilty by a jury of eight felony counts of lewd acts upon a child under 14, one felony count of distributing pornography to a minor, and sentencing enhancement allegations for substantial sexual conduct with a child and lewd acts on more than one child. He faces a maximum sentence of 123 years to life in state prison at his sentencing Feb. 14, 2014, at 1:30 p.m. in Department W-16, West Justice Center, Westminster. Continue reading→

Man convicted of embezzling over $110K from a Santa Ana church

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

Fiatala Manu

Orange County District Attorney Press Release

For Immediate Release, Case # 13CF2428: November 22, 2013

TREASURER CONVICTED AND SENTENCED FOR EMBEZZLING OVER $110,000 FROM CHURCH BANK ACCOUNTS

*Defendant laundered money through an Indian gaming casino

SANTA ANA – A treasurer was convicted and sentenced today for embezzling over $110,000 from church bank accounts. Fiatala Manu, 47, Lake Elsinore, pleaded guilty to one felony count each of embezzlement by fiduciary of trust, money laundering, falsifying records, and sentencing enhancements for property loss over $65,000. He was sentenced to one year in jail, two years of mandatory supervision, and was ordered to pay over $113,000 in restitution. Continue reading→

Ex Garden Grove cop convicted of forcibly sodomizing three women he had dated

Posted on by Posted in Crime, Garden Grove, Huntington Beach, OCDA Leave a comment

Jesse Andrew Green

Orange County District Attorney Press Release

For Immediate Release, Case # 10WF2451: November 22, 2013

POLICE OFFICER SENTENCED TO 12 YEARS IN PRISON FOR FORCIBLY SODOMIZING THREE WOMEN, WHOM HE HAD BRIEFLY DATED

SANTA ANA – A police officer was sentenced today to 12 years in state prison and lifetime sex offender registration for forcibly sodomizing three women, all of whom he knew in a dating capacity. Jesse Andrew Green, 36, Huntington Beach, was found guilty by a jury Sept. 6, 2013, of three felony counts of forcible sodomy. The jury was unable to reach a verdict on one felony count of rape.

At the time of the crime, Green had been a police officer with the Garden Grove Police Department since 2006. The defendant also worked for the Calexico Police Department from 2004 to 2006. Continue reading→

OCDA to provide free turkey dinners for at-risk youth on Nov. 20

Posted on by Posted in Charities, Entertainment, Food, Gangs, OCDA, Santa Ana, SAUSD, Working Families, Youth Activities Leave a comment

OCDA Seal

Orange County District Attorney Press Release

For Immediate Release: November 19, 2013

DOUBLE THE THANKS AND DOUBLE THE GIVING

AT-RISK YOUTH EARN 851 TURKEY DINNERS IN 4TH ANNUAL THANKSGIVING GANG PREVENTION INCENTIVE

SANTA ANA – Turkey dinners will be awarded tomorrow to 851 at-risk students who succeeded in Orange County Gang Reduction Intervention Partnership’s (OC GRIP) 4th annual Thanksgiving challenge to improve their attendance, behavior, and grades in time for Thanksgiving.

Ralphs/Food 4 Less and Saddleback Church donated double the number of turkey dinners, over 850 this year compared to 400 in years past, as part of the ongoing OC GRIP gang prevention effort to keep kids in school and out of gangs. The total donation is valued at over $25,000. OC GRIP extended the incentive to twice as many students at 43 schools this year compared to the previously-participating 23 schools. Continue reading→

Villa Park wrestling coach facing felony count of child abuse and battery

Posted on by Posted in Crime, OCDA, Orange, Santa Ana, Sports Leave a comment

Emmanuel Hugo Hernandez

Orange County District Attorney Media Advisory

For Immediate Release, Case # TBA: November 15, 2013

WHO: Emmanuel Hugo Hernandez, 26, Orange

WHAT: Will be arraigned today on one felony count each of child abuse and battery causing serious bodily injury. The defendant is accused of being a walk-on wrestling coach at Villa Park High School and putting a 17-year-old student in a wrestling choke hold, causing the victim to go unconscious. Hernandez is accused of punching the unconscious victim twice in the side of the head and then fleeing the scene. If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of six years in state prison. He is being held on $100,000 bail. Continue reading→

Doctor to be charged with felonies for crash that killed two Santa Ana men

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Dr. Robert McFarland Pettis

Orange County District Attorney Press Release

For Immediate Release, Case # 13HF3347: November 15, 2013

DOCTOR TO BE ARRAIGNED FOR KILLING TWO MEN IN CRASH BY DRIVING INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC AT HIGH RATE OF SPEED ON HIGHWAY

NEWPORT BEACH – A doctor is scheduled to be arraigned Monday for killing two men in a high-speed crash while driving into oncoming traffic on the highway. Robert McFarland Pettis, 48, Laguna Beach, is charged with two felony counts of vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence, one felony count of driving the wrong way on a divided highway causing death, and sentencing enhancements for inflicting great bodily harm. If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of nine years and eight months in state prison. He is scheduled to be arraigned Monday, Nov. 18, 2013, at 8:30 a.m. in Department H-1, Harbor Justice Center, Newport Beach. Continue reading→

Youth soccer referree from Anaheim gets prison for having sex with boys

Posted on by Posted in Anaheim, Crime, Huntington Beach, OCDA Leave a comment

Jorge Diosdado Serafin

Orange County District Attorney Press Release

For Immediate Release, Case # 13NF0202: November 15, 2013

YOUTH SOCCER REFEREE SENTENCED TO FIVE YEARS IN PRISON FOR ORAL COPULATION WITH UNDERAGE TEENAGE BOY AND LEWD ACTS ON TWO ADDITIONAL BOYS

FULLERTON – A youth soccer referee was sentenced today to five years in state prison and lifetime sex offender registration for engaging in oral copulation with a teenage boy and molesting two additional boys. Jorge Diosdado Serafin, 31, Anaheim, pleaded guilty Oct. 15, 2013, to three felony counts of oral copulation of a minor under 16 years old, one felony count of lewd act on a child, and one felony count of lewd act on a child under 14 years old. Continue reading→

Defendants facing felony counts for sexual mutilation of a pot dispensary owner

Posted on by Posted in Crime, Marijuana, Newport Beach, OCDA, Santa Ana Leave a comment

OCDA Seal

Orange County District Attorney Media Advisory

For Immediate Release, Case # TBA: November 12, 2013

WHO: Ryan Anthony Kevorkian, 34, and Naomi Josette Kevorkian, 33

WHAT: Are scheduled to be arraigned tomorrow for their role in the kidnapping, torturing, and sexual mutilation of a marijuana dispensary owner whom they believed to be burying large amounts of cash in the desert. The defendants are each charged with two felony counts of kidnapping for ransom and one felony count each of aggravated mayhem, torture, and first degree residential burglary, with a sentencing enhancement for inflicting great bodily injury. If convicted, they each face a maximum sentence of life in state prison without the possibility of parole. Continue reading→

Snowboarder Bandit convicted of robbing ten Orange County banks

Posted on by Posted in Anaheim, Banking, Crime, irvine, OCDA, Santa Ana Leave a comment

Michael Brandon Franks

Orange County District Attorney Press Release

For Immediate Release, Case # 12HF1290: November 7, 2013

MAN DUBBED “SNOWBOARDER BANDIT” CONVICTED OF COMMITTING ROBBERIES IN 10 ORANGE COUNTY BANKS

SANTA ANA – A man dubbed the “Snowboarder Bandit” was convicted today of committing robberies in 10 Orange County banks. Michael Brandon Franks, 30, Riverside, pleaded guilty to a court offer today to 10 felony counts of second degree robbery and two felony counts of attempted second degree robbery. He faces a maximum sentence of 10 years and six months in state prison at his sentencing, Jan. 17, 2014, at 8:30 a.m. in Department C-34, Central Justice Center, Santa Ana. Continue reading→

Three arrested for kidnapping, torture and mutiliation of pot dispensary owner

Posted on by Posted in Crime, Marijuana, Newport Beach, OCDA, Orange County Leave a comment

OCDA Seal

Orange County District Attorney Press Release

For Immediate Release, Case # TBA: November 8, 2013

THREE DEFENDANTS ARRESTED FOR KIDNAPPING, TORTURE, AND SEXUAL MUTILATION OF MARIJUANA DISPENSARY OWNER

*One defendant fled to Iran and was arrested while traveling to Spain; a fourth man was charged in 2012 in this case

SANTA ANA – Three defendants have been arrested, including one who had fled to Iran, for the kidnapping, torture, and sexual mutilation of a marijuana dispensary owner whom they believed to be burying large amounts of cash in the desert. Continue reading→

Did Irvine man flee after his girlfriend and daughter fell out of his truck?

Posted on by Posted in Crime, irvine, OCDA, Santa Ana Leave a comment

Jane Doe

Orange County District Attorney Press Release

For Immediate Release, Case # 13CF3484: November 5, 2013

MAN TO BE ARRAIGNED TODAY FOR FLEEING THE SCENE OF AN ACCIDENT ON HALLOWEEN NIGHT LEADING TO DEATH OF HIS GIRLFRIEND AND ENDANGERING 13-MONTH-OLD GIRL

SANTA ANA – A man is scheduled to be arraigned today for fleeing the scene of an accident which led to the death of his girlfriend on Halloween night and endangering a 13-month-old girl. Francisco Javier Montano, 21, Irvine, is charged with one felony count of hit and run with permanent injury or death, one felony count of child abuse and endangerment, and one misdemeanor count of driving without a valid license. If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of seven years in state prison and six months in jail. He is being held on $200,000 bail and is scheduled to be arraigned this afternoon in Department CJ-1, Central Jail, Santa Ana. The time is to be determined.

At approximately 8:00 p.m. on Oct 31, 2013, Montano is accused of driving a Toyota RAV4 eastbound near 1600 West Edinger Avenue in Santa Ana with his 21-year-old girlfriend Gloria Sanchez and 13-month-old Jane Doe. Continue reading→

Third striker convicted for causing explosion that burned his motel room

Posted on by Posted in Crime, Fountain Valley, OCDA, Santa Ana Leave a comment

Thanh Van Quang

Orange County District Attorney Press Release

For Immediate Release, Case # 12CF3471: October 30, 2013

THIRD STRIKER CONVICTED OF CAUSING EXPLOSION THAT STARTED FIRE INSIDE HIS MOTEL ROOM

SANTA ANA – A third striker was convicted today of causing an explosion that started a fire inside his motel room. Thanh Van Quang, 39, Fountain Valley, was found guilty by a jury today of one felony count each of arson of an inhabited property and possession of a flammable material with sentencing enhancements for arson with use of an accelerant. Continue reading→

Former OCTA bus driver to be charged with felony possession of child porn

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

OCDA Seal

Orange County District Attorney Press Release

For Immediate Release, Case # 13WF3001: October 29, 2013

FORMER OCTA BUS DRIVER TO BE ARRAIGNED FOR POSSESSING CHILD PORNOGRAPHY AND STORING IT ON HOME COMPUTER AND WORK LOCKER

WESMINSTER – A former Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) bus driver is scheduled to be arraigned tomorrow for possessing hundreds of graphic images and videos of child pornography. Richard Raoul Contreras, 63, Garden Grove, is charged with one felony count of possession and control of child pornography. If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of three years in state prison and mandatory lifetime sex offender registration. The defendant is out of custody on $20,000 bail. Contreras is scheduled to be arraigned tomorrow, Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2013, at 8:30 a.m. in Department W-1, West Justice Center, Westminster. Continue reading→

OCTA bus driver faces felony charge for possessing child pornography

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

OCDA Seal

Orange County District Attorney Press Release

For Immediate Release,  Case # 13WF3001: October 29, 2013

OCTA BUS DRIVER TO BE ARRAIGNED FOR POSSESSING CHILD PORNOGRAPHY AND STORING IT ON HOME COMPUTER AND WORK LOCKER

WESMINSTER – An Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) bus driver is scheduled to be arraigned tomorrow for possessing hundreds of graphic images and videos of child pornography. Richard Raoul Contreras, 63, Garden Grove, is charged with one felony count of possession and control of child pornography. If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of three years in state prison and mandatory lifetime sex offender registration. The defendant is out of custody on $20,000 bail. Contreras is scheduled to be arraigned tomorrow, Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2013, at 8:30 a.m. in Department W-1, West Justice Center, Westminster. Continue reading→