New Santa Ana | Tag Archives: Crime

Man convicted for stealing Oakley sunglasses meant for the U.S. Military

Posted on February 2, 2015 by Art Pedroza Posted in buena park, Crime, OCDA, Orange County Leave a comment

ORANGE COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY PRESS RELEASE

Case # 14NF4930

Date: February 2, 2015

CONTRACT TRUCK DRIVER CONVICTED OF ILLEGALLY SELLING OAKLEY EYEWEAR INTENDED FOR SOLDIERS IN U.S. MILITARY ON EBAY AFTER REPEATEDLY STEALING SHIPMENTS FROM DHL PROCESSING CENTERS

FULLERTON – A contract truck driver was convicted today of illegally selling Oakley eyewear intended for soldiers in the U.S. Military on eBay after repeatedly stealing shipments from DHL processing centers. Luis Albert Quintanilla, 47, Buena Park, pleaded guilty to 10 felony counts of grand theft with sentencing enhancements for aggravated white collar crime over $100,000 and property loss over $200,000. Quintanilla is expected to be sentenced to three years and four months in state prison, $299,000 restitution, and pay a $580,000 fine at his sentencing May 4, 2015, at 8:30 a.m. in Department N-12, North Justice Center, Fullerton.

At the time of the crimes, Quintanilla worked as an independent contract truck driver for DHL. Between October 2012 and May 2013, Quintanilla stole 10 shipments of Oakley eyewear from DHL processing centers intended for delivery to appropriate United States Postal Service facilities. He auctioned the eyewear on eBay from his home under the name “havetime2sell” by posting photos of the merchandise with the packaging box to emphasize their authenticity. Continue reading→

Marine sentenced to prison for DUI accident that killed his friends

Posted on February 1, 2015 by Art Pedroza Posted in Alcohol, Crime, Military, Orange County Leave a comment

ORANGE COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY PRESS RELEASE

Case # 12CF1778

Date: January 30, 2015

DRUNKEN-DRIVER MARINE SERGEANT SENTENCED TO 11YEARS IN PRISON FOR KILLING THREE FELLOW MARINES BY CRASHING INTO TREE

SANTA ANA – A former Marine sergeant was sentenced to 11 yearsin state prison today for killing three friends and fellow Marines by crashing into a tree while driving under the influence of alcohol. Jared Ray Hale, 28, was found guilty by a jury on Dec. 10, 2014, of one felony count each of driving under the influence causing body injury and driving with a blood alcohol of .08% or more causing bodily injury with sentencing enhancements and allegations for driving with a blood alcohol level over .15 percent and causing great bodily injury.

At approximately 10:30 p.m. on Feb. 13, 2012, Hale arrived at Hennessey’s Tavern in Dana Point with three friends. The defendant and his friends were all Marines stationed at Marine Corp Base Camp Pendleton. The friends included Christopher Arzola, 21, of Mass., Jeremiah Callahan, 23, of Neb., and Jason Chleborad, 22, of S.D. Continue reading→

Suspect arrested in Anaheim Hills residential burglary

Posted on January 30, 2015 by Art Pedroza Posted in Anaheim, Crime Leave a comment

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 30, 2014

Released by: Lt. Bob Dunn

Contact: (714) 497-6330

Subject: Suspect Arrested in Anaheim Hills Residential Burglary

On January 21, 2014 at 10:30 p.m. Anaheim Police were called to an Anaheim Hills home to investigate a residential burglary. The victims, a family of four, reported a male suspect had broken into their home while they were getting ready for bed. The male homeowner confronted the suspect, who then ran from the home. The homeowner gave chase and caught up to the suspect in the front yard. After a brief struggle, the suspect was able to get away. Continue reading→

O.C. cab driver to be charged with hit and run death of a pedestrian

Posted on January 30, 2015 by Art Pedroza Posted in Crime, Newport Beach, OCTA, Orange County Leave a comment

ORANGE COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY PRESS RELEASE

Case # 15HF006

Date: January 30, 2015

TAXI CAB DRIVER TO BE ARRAIGNED FOR HIT-AND-RUN CRASH THAT KILLED PEDESTRIAN IN NEWPORT BEACH

NEWPORT BEACH – A taxi cab driver is scheduled to be arraigned Monday for crashing into a pedestrian, resulting in the victim’s death, and driving away from the scene. Ronald Aviles, 56, San Clemente, is charged with one felony count of hit and run with permanent injury or death. If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of four years in state prison. Aviles is out of custody on $50,000 bail and is scheduled to be arraigned Monday, Feb. 2, 2015, at 8:30 a.m. in Department H-1, Harbor Justice Center, Newport Beach.

At approximately 3:00 a.m. on Jan. 1, 2015, Aviles is accused of driving his taxi van southbound on East Coast Highway. He is accused of crashing into 23-year-old Travis Marton, as the victim was crossing East Coast Highway westbound at the intersection of Newport Coast Drive in Newport Beach. Aviles is accused of unlawfully failing to stop his vehicle and failing to render assistance to the injured victim. The victim was pronounced dead at the scene. Continue reading→

O.C. law enforcement will be looking for DUI drivers on Super Bowl Sunday

Posted on January 30, 2015 by Art Pedroza Posted in Alcohol, Crime, Orange County, Public Safety, Santa Ana Leave a comment

NEWS, FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contacts: Lt. Jeff Hallock, 714.904.7042, JHallock@ocsd.org; Emily Osterberg, 714.647.1840, EOsterberg@ocsd.org

GAME PLAN FOR SUPERBOWL SUNDAY: ARE YOU DRINKING AND DRIVING?

Fans Don’t Let Fans Drive Drunk

SANTA ANA, Calif. (January 30, 2015) – On Super Bowl Sunday, February 1, 2015, there will be lots of game day socializing that may include drinking. The California Office of Traffic Safety, Sheriff, Police and the CHP are urging football fans to choose sides now: drinking OR driving. If you plan on drinking on Super Bowl Sunday, designate a sober driver to get you home safely.

The Fans Don’t Let Fans Drive Drunk campaign encourages people to make plans ahead of time that will prevent them from getting behind the wheel of a vehicle after drinking. Everyone should be mindful that if you’re taking medication, whether prescription or over-the-counter, drinking even small amounts of alcohol can greatly intensify the impairment effects. Driving impaired could result in injury or death for you or others on the road. Continue reading→

Man shot at the Park Terrace Mobile Home Park, in Ward 6

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

A man was shot at around 4 pm in the driveway of the Park Terrace Mobile Home Park on Wednesday afternoon, at 4080 W. 1st St., in Santa Ana, according to the O.C. Register.

SAPD police officers detained five passengers in a gray vehicle near the scene of the shooting for questioning but the victim, who has not been identified, has not been questioned yet. He is listed in critical but stable condition. Continue reading→

Irvine man charged with felony manslaughter after woman dies in DUI accident

Posted on January 29, 2015 by Art Pedroza Posted in Alcohol, Crime, irvine, OCDA Leave a comment

ORANGE COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY PRESS RELEASE

Case # 15HF0110

Date: January 29, 2015

DRUNKEN DRIVER CHARGED FOR KILLING PASSENGER BY LOSING CONTROL OF VEHICLE AND CAUSING ROLLOVER CRASH

SANTA ANA – A drunken driver was charged today for killing a passenger by losing control of his vehicle and causing a rollover crash. Colin Michael Selsted, 27, Irvine, is charged with one felony count each of vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence while intoxicated, driving under the influence of alcohol causing bodily injury, driving with a blood alcohol concentration of .08 percent or more causing bodily injury, and sentencing enhancement allegations for driving with a blood alcohol level of .15 percent or more, and inflicting great bodily injury. If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in state prison. He is being held on $100,000 bail. The defendant was arraigned in court today and is scheduled for pre-trial hearing on Feb. 20, 2015, at 8:30 a.m., in Department H-1, Harbor Justice Center, Newport Beach.

At approximately 3:00 p.m. on Jan. 26, 2015, Selsted is accused of drinking with a group of friends at a restaurant. The defendant is accused of traveling to a friend’s home and continuing to drink with the group. Later in the evening, the defendant is accused of leaving the home and driving in his Volkswagen Golf GTI with 23-year-old Devon Williams seated in the passenger seat. Continue reading→

Man arrested for felony DUI hit and run that killed a female pedestrian

Posted on January 29, 2015 by Art Pedroza Posted in Accidents, Alcohol, Crime, Santa Ana 8 Comments

Santa Ana Police Department

Advisory: SAPD arrests suspect in fatal collision for Felony Hit and Run, and Second Degree Murder.

Arrested: Dallas Frank Reichstein III (45) Santa Ana

On 1/28/2015, officers responded to the scene of a traffic collision involving an SUV that struck a pedestrian, Pearleen Hopkins, 59, in the area of 1100 W. MacArthur Boulevard and fled the scene.

At about 2210 hours, a 2002 Nissan Xterra driven by a male adult was traveling west on MacArthur and struck a female adult pedestrian crossing the street mid-block outside of any crosswalk. The Nissan, driven by Dallas Frank Reichstein III, continued driving making no attempt to stop or check on the pedestrian. Continue reading→

Newport Beach man charged with murdering his wife and dumping her body

Posted on January 28, 2015 by Art Pedroza Posted in Crime, Newport Beach, OCDA, Orange County 1 Comment

ORANGE COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY PRESS RELEASE

Case # 12HF2960

Date: January 28, 2015

WANTED BY LAW ENFORCEMENT: NEWPORT BEACH MAN CHARGED WITH MURDERING WIFE AND DISPOSING OF BODY IN UNKNOWN LOCATION

*Defendant out of custody on bail was scheduled to appear for a scheduled pre-trial hearing today

NEWPORT BEACH – A Newport Beach man is wanted by law enforcement after failing to appear for a scheduled court hearing today on a charge for murdering his wife in their Newport Beach home. Peter Gregory Chadwick, 50, is charged with one felony count of murder faces a maximum sentence of 25 years to life in state prison if convicted. The defendant was out of custody after posting $1 million bail on Dec. 21, 2012, and failed to appear for a scheduled pre-trial hearing today.

On the morning of Oct. 10, 2012, Chadwick is accused of murdering his wife, Quee Chadwick, in their Newport Beach home over a dispute regarding a possible divorce and related financial issues. He is accused of then disposing of the victim’s body in an unknown location. Continue reading→

Mother is going to prison for stabbing her kids while they slept

Posted on January 26, 2015 by Art Pedroza Posted in Crime, OCDA, Westminster Leave a comment

ORANGE COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY PRESS RELEASE

Case # 09WF1952

Date: January 26, 2015

MOTHER SENTENCED TO 11 YEARS TO LIFE IN PRISON FOR ATTEMPTING TO MURDER HER TWO CHILDREN BY STABBING THEM WHILE THEY WERE ASLEEP

SANTA ANA – A mother was sentenced Friday, Jan. 23, 2015, to 11 years to life in state prison for attempting to murder 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. On Oct. 27, 2014, a unanimous jury found the sentencing enhancement for premeditation and deliberation for the attempted murder charge to be true following a retrial of the sentencing enhancement as a former jury was unable to reach a unanimous verdict, finding 11 to one for the sentencing enhancement to be true. The defendant, who entered pleas of “not guilty” and “not guilty by reason of insanity,” was found to be legally sane at the time of the murder by the jury on Oct. 31, 2014. Continue reading→

Man shot in Santa Ana’s Ward 1 on Sunday

Posted on January 26, 2015 by Art Pedroza Posted in Crime, Public Safety, Santa Ana, Vince Sarmiento 2 Comments

A man in his 20’s was shot on Sunday, in Santa Ana, at a residential apartment complex located at the 1800 block of Evergreen Street, at 3:24 p.m., according to the O.C. Register.

Police officers were called and when they arrived they found an approximately 25-year-old unconscious man with a gunshot wound to the upper toro, according to the SAPD. Continue reading→

An SAPD police dog helps to capture a suspected car thief in Ward 1

Posted on January 23, 2015 by Art Pedroza Posted in Crime, Santa Ana, Vince Sarmiento Leave a comment

A 33-year-old man, identified as Richard Molina, was suspected of driving a stolen 1997 gray, four-door Honda Civic ran when a Santa Ana police officer became suspicious of a parked vehicle at around 7:40 pm, on Thursday night, in a parking lot near South Main Street and East Dyer Road, according to the O.C. Register.

Molina noticed that an SAPD police car was watching him and he attempted to flee, according to officials. He drove drove a half-mile north on South Main Street where he crashed into a car near West Warner Avenue. Molina then fled on foot. Continue reading→

Man with shotgun threatens women at the 1200 block of N. Harbor Bl.

Posted on January 23, 2015 by Art Pedroza Posted in Angelica Amezcua, Crime, Guns, Santa Ana Leave a comment

A man was reportedly running around at around 7 pm, with a shotgun in the 1200 block of North Harbor Boulevard, in Santa Ana, on Thursday, threatening at least two women, police said, according to the O.C. Register.

One woman told the police that she was approached by a man who pointed a shotgun at her, in the 1300 block of North Bewley Street – he ran away after she screamed loudly.

Later a man who was at the 1200 block of North Harbor Boulevard told the SAPD that he saw a fellow with a shotgun pursuing another woman into a business parking lot. Continue reading→

Five charged with operating a fraudulent loan mod scheme that targeted Latinos

Posted on January 22, 2015 by Art Pedroza Posted in Anaheim, Crime, OCDA 1 Comment

ORANGE COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY PRESS RELEASE

Case # 14CF4090

January 21, 2015

THREE MEN AND TWO WOMEN CHARGED WITH OPERATING FAMILY RUN LOAN MODIFICATION FRAUD RING AND TARGETING HISPANIC VICTIMS

SANTA ANA – Three men and two women have been charged with committing loan modification fraud by targeting Hispanic victims throughout Southern California. Three of the defendants are family members and are charged with leading a family-run home loan modification ring and illegally charging victims for services that they did not provide.

Four of the defendants have been taken into custody and one defendant remains a fugitive. In addition to the charges below, each of the defendants face sentencing enhancements for aggravated white collar crime over $100,000 under $500,000, taking funds exceeding $50,000 and theft exceeding $150,000. The defendants’ sentences range from eight years and four months to 77 years in state prison if convicted, and each must prove that the money comes from a legal and legitimate source before they are released on bond. Continue reading→

SAPD conducting a DUI/Drivers License checkpoint on 1/23 at 500 W. 1st St.

Posted on January 22, 2015 by Art Pedroza Posted in Alcohol, Crime, Public Safety, Santa Ana Leave a comment

Santa Ana Police Department

Advisory: SAPD conducting a DUI/Drivers License checkpoint on Fri, January 23rd, 2015, 9:00 PM to 3:00 AM, at 500 W. First Street

SANTA ANA POLICE STEP UP DUI ENFORCEMENT

The Santa Ana Police Department will be conducting a DUI/Drivers License checkpoint on Friday, January 23rd, 2015. It will begin at 9:00PM and is scheduled to conclude at 3:00AM. It will be conducted in the area of 500 W. First Street, Santa Ana, CA.

The primary purpose of a DUI Checkpoint is to deter impaired driving, not to increase arrests. All too often, members of our community are senselessly injured or killed on local roadways by impaired drivers. This DUI/Drivers License checkpoint is an effort to reduce those tragedies, as well as ensuring drivers have a valid driver’s license. The DMV reports that unlicensed drivers are 4.9 times more likely to cause a fatal crash than a licensed driver. Continue reading→