New Santa Ana | Tag Archives: Crime

Marine to face charges for DUI accident that killed three of his fellow soldiers

Posted on December 4, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in Accidents, Alcohol, Crime, Military, OCDA, Westminster Leave a comment

Sgt. JC Callahan (right) of Chadron and Cpl. Jason Chleborad of Rapid City, S.D. They died in a DUI accident

ORANGE COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY PRESS RELEASE

Case # 12CF1778

Date: December 3, 2014

DRUNKEN-DRIVER MARINE SCHEDULED TO FACE TRIAL FOR KILLING THREE FELLOW MARINES BY CRASHING INTO TREE

WESTMINSTER – A Marine is scheduled to face trial for driving under the influence of alcohol and causing a crash that killed three fellow Marines after crashing into a tree. Jared Ray Hale, 27, is charged with one felony count of driving under the influence causing bodily injury, one felony count of driving with a blood alcohol concentration of .08 percent 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. Opening statements began this morning in Department W-13, West Justice Center, Westminster.

At approximately 10:30 p.m. on Feb. 13, 2012, Hale is accused of arriving 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, Mass., Jeremiah Callahan, 23, Neb., and Jason Chleborad, 22, S.D. Continue reading→

22-year-old Santa Ana man arrested for child molestation

Posted on December 4, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in Crime, Santa Ana Leave a comment

Santa Ana Police Department

Advisory: SAPD Family Crimes Detectives Arrest 22-year-old Man for Child Molestation

Believe Additional Victims May Exsist.

At approximately 12:35 AM on December 3, 2014, Santa Ana Police Family Crimes Detectives arrested 22-year-old Edwin Echeverria for multiple counts of Child Molest.

Echeverria was arrested in Costa Mesa at the 3500 block of South Harbor as he was leaving his place of employment. Echeverria is a Santa Ana resident. Eight male victims have been identified. Through interviews of these victims, detectives have learned about three additional children who might also have been victimized. Detectives are currently working to locate these children so that they can be interviewed. Continue reading→

SAPD seeks witnesses to fatal car accident at Flower and Dyer

Posted on December 2, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in Accidents, Drugs, Public Safety, Santa Ana 1 Comment

Santa Ana Police Department

Advisory: SAPD Traffic Investigators request assistance of possible witnesses to fatal traffic collision

On 11/30/14 at approximately 0318 hours, a 19 year old male was driving alone, north on Flower Street in a 2007 Nissan Murano SUV. At the same time an unidentified male subject was driving alone, east on Dyer Road in a 2002 Chrysler PT Cruiser. The two vehicles collided within the signal controlled intersection at Flower and Dyer.

The impact caused both vehicles to veer toward the northeast corner of the intersection where a traffic signal and a chain link fence were also struck. The Chrysler, driven by the unknown male subject overturned and landed at the bottom of the adjacent storm drainage channel and caught fire. Fire Department Paramedics responded and extinguished the vehicle fire, after which the driver of the Chrysler was pronounced dead at the scene. The Orange County Coroner has not yet positively identified the deceased driver. Continue reading→

OCDA seeks additional victims of former teacher’s aide who had sex with a teen

Posted on November 25, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in Crime, Education, OCDA, Orange Leave a comment

ORANGE COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY PRESS RELEASE

Case # 14NF4345

LAW ENFORCEMENT SEEKS PUBLIC’S HELP IDENTIFYING POTENTIAL ADDITIONAL VICTIMS OF FORMER TEACHER’S AIDE CHARGED WITH ENGAGING IN UNLAWFUL SEXUAL RELATIONSHIP WITH 15-YEAR-OLD GIRL

FULLERTON – The Orange County District Attorney’s Office and the Orange County Sheriff’s Department (OCSD) are seeking the public’s help identifying potential additional victims of a former teacher’s aide charged with engaging in an unlawful sexual relationship with a 15-year-old girl. Richard Nolan Green, 28, Yorba Linda, is charged with one felony count each of unlawful sexual intercourse, lewd act upon a child, and oral copulation of a minor under 16 years old. If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of four years and four months in state prison and mandatory lifetime sex offender registration. He is out of custody on $100,000 bail and is scheduled for continued arraignment on Jan. 6, 2015, at 8:30 a.m. in Department N-3, North Justice Center, Fullerton.

At the time of the crime, Green was a teacher’s aide for troubled youth in the Orange Unified School District. The victim in this case was not a student in the class where Green was teaching. Continue reading→

Liquor store clerk arrested for selling losing lottery scratchers and cashing in the winners

Posted on November 25, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in Crime, OCDA, Santa Ana 1 Comment

ORANGE COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY PRESS RELEASE

Case # 14CF3866

Date: November 25, 2014

LIQUOR STORE CLERK ARRESTED FOR ILLEGALLY REDEEMING WINNING LOTTERY SCRATCHER TICKETS AND KNOWINGLY RESELLING LOSING TICKETS TO UNSUSPECTING CUSTOMERS

SANTA ANA – A liquor store clerk was arrested today and will be arraigned for illegally redeeming winning scratcher lottery tickets and knowingly reselling losing tickets to unsuspecting customers. Francis Bou Karam, 34, Newport Beach, is charged with one felony count of grand theft, one felony count of computer access fraud, and 23 felony counts of forgery with sentencing enhancements for aggravated white collar crime over $100,000 and loss over $65,000. If convicted, Karam faces a maximum sentence of 18 years and four months in state prison. Karam is being held on $150,000 bail and must prove that the money is from a legal and legitimate source before posting bond. The arraignment date and time is to be determined.

Between Jan. 1, 2013, and Nov. 13, 2014, Karam worked as a clerk at Craig Liquor in Santa Ana. At the time of the crimes, Karam is accused of scratching off a small portion of lottery ticket scratchers, without purchasing them, to determine if they were winning tickets. This type of fraud is known as “pinning.” He is accused of redeeming the winning tickets for cash from California State Lottery (CSL) and reselling the losing tickets back to customers. Karam is accused of redeeming $50,000 in cash from winning lottery tickets and defrauding the CSL and unsuspecting customers of $100,000, which represents the combined retail value of the winning and losing lottery ticket scratchers. Continue reading→

Man convicted of stabbing his ex-girlfriend to death in a Santa Ana alley

Posted on November 25, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in Crime, OCDA, Santa Ana Leave a comment

ORANGE COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY PRESS RELEASE

Case # 12CF3351

Date: November 24, 2014

MAN CONVICTED OF SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES STABBING-MURDER OF FORMER GIRLFRIEND IN SANTA ANA ALLEYWAY

SANTA ANA – A man was convicted today of stabbing and murdering his former girlfriend in a Santa Ana alleyway. Luis Antonio Garcia Morales, 26, Santa Ana, was found guilty by a jury of one felony count of special circumstance murder by lying in wait. The sentencing enhancement for the personal use of a deadly weapon was found true. Morales faces a sentence of life in state prison without the possibility of parole at his sentencing Jan. 23, 2015, at 9:00 a.m. in Department C-35, Central Justice Center, Santa Ana.

On the evening of Nov. 13, 2012, Morales arranged to meet with 21-year-old Maria Isabel Cerrillo, with whom he had a previous romantic relationship, by pretending to be someone else. The defendant met his ex-girlfriend in an alleyway in Santa Ana, murdered her by stabbing her repeatedly, and then fled the scene. The victim died from multiple stab wounds. Continue reading→

Two young men shot in broad daylight in Councilwoman Martinez’ Ward

Posted on November 24, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in Crime, Gangs, Michele Martinez, Santa Ana 11 Comments

Two men, both 18, were shot in the upper torso, on Friday in Santa Ana, at around 12:45 p.m. in the 700 block of East Chestnut Avenue, according to the O.C. Register. The men were transported to a local hospital with non-life threatening injuries, and they are expected to survive, Santa Ana police Cpl. Anthony Bertagna said.

The shooting happened on the north side of the campus of Roosevelt Elementary School. It is highly disturbing that the incident occurred at mid-day. The area in question is in Councilwoman Michele Martinez’ Ward 2. She has previously admitted to selling drugs when she was a teenager and the local law enforcement associations opposed her reelection campaign this year. Continue reading→

SAPD homicide detectives are investigating the death of a two-year-old child

Posted on November 22, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in Crime, Santa Ana Leave a comment

Santa Ana Police Department

Advisory: Santa Ana PD homicide detectives investigating death of 2 year old child

On 11/22/2014 at 1:45am officers responded to a medical aid call in the 2500 block of S. Linda Way.

The 2 year old boy was not breathing and pronounced dead at the scene. Homicide detectives were called to the scene and are currently investigating the circumstances. Continue reading→

SAPD DUI checkpoint set for 11/21 at 1400 S. Bristol

Posted on November 21, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in Alcohol, Crime, Santa Ana 2 Comments

Santa Ana Police Department

Advisory: SAPD conducting a DUI/Drivers License checkpoint Fri, Nov 21st, 2014, 9:00 PM-3:00 AM in the area of 1400 S. Bristol St.

The Santa Ana Police Department will be conducting a DUI/Drivers License checkpoint on Friday, November 21st, 2014. It will begin at 9:00PM and is scheduled to conclude at 3:00AM. It will be conducted in the area of 1400 S. Bristol 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→

Seven AK-47’s found during traffic stop lead to two arrests

Posted on November 20, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in Crime, Newport Beach, Orange County 2 Comments

Newport Beach Police Department

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, PRESS RELEASE #111814

Subject: Two Arrested for Firearms Charges

Contact : Jennifer Manzella, Press Information Officer, 949-644-3662, jmanzella@nbpd.org

On Friday, November 14, 2014 at approximately 8:48 pm, a Newport Beach Police Department Officer observed a green Dodge Caravan leaving a gas station near the intersection of Bristol Street South and Irvine Avenue with expired registration and an equipment violation. The officer conducted a vehicle stop for the listed violations, and contacted the two occupants of the vehicle (Cardiel and Gurule, listed above). The officer determined that Cardiel was driving on a suspended license and that Gurule was on probation. While being questioned, both suspects appeared extremely nervous.

Continue reading→

The OC Superior Court rejects the proposed Townsend Street gang injunction

Posted on November 20, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in Crime, Gangs, OCDA, Santa Ana Leave a comment

An Orange County Superior Court judge on Wednesday rejected an effort by District Attorney Tony Rackauckas to enforce a preliminary gang injunction in Santa Ana’s Townsend Street neighborhood against a group of individuals who are contesting their inclusion in the action, according to the Voice of OC.

Attorneys defending these individuals – a group of 14 adults and minors – praised Judge Franz E. Miller for ensuring that this group’s freedom of movement and liberties aren’t restricted until they have an opportunity to challenge the DA’s allegations of their active gang participation. Continue reading→

Poll – should the OCDA post pictures of men arrested for trying to hire prostitutes?

Posted on November 20, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in Crime, OCDA, Orange County, Santa Ana 2 Comments

Orange County prosecutors are taking the tactic to another level: Asking every police agency in the county to hand over photographs of offenders so that they can be posted on the district attorney’s website under the heading “Sex Purchasers,” according to the L.A. Times.

Emma Andersson, staff attorney with the ACLU’s Criminal Law Reform Project, said that the aim of the criminal justice system should be rehabilitation, rather than “the banishment and isolation of individuals from a community.” Continue reading→

At-risk students earn over $25K in turkey dinners from the OCDA

Posted on November 18, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in Crime, Gangs, Santa Ana, Youth Activities Leave a comment

ORANGE COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY PRESS RELEASE

Date: November 18, 2014

AT-RISK STUDENTS EARN OVER $25,000 IN TURKEY DINNERS IN 5TH ANNUAL THANKSGIVING GANG PREVENTION INCENTIVE

SANTA ANA – Turkey dinners will be awarded tomorrow, Wednesday, Nov. 19, 2014, to 855 at-risk students who succeeded in the Orange County Gang Reduction Intervention Partnership’s (OC GRIP) 5th annual Thanksgiving challenge to improve student attendance, behavior, and grades.

The dinners will include a full Thanksgiving dinner, complete with side dishes, to feed a family of 10 and will be delivered to participating OC GRIP schools for the successful students and their families to pick up on Wednesday, Nov. 19, 2014, starting at 4:00 p.m. Orange County District Attorney (OCDA) Tony Rackauckas will be at Viejo Elementary in Mission Viejo to personally greet the students and their families. Media interested in attending may contact the OCDA Public Affairs Unit at (714) 347-8408. Continue reading→

Victim in fatal stabbing identified

Posted on November 17, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in Anaheim, Crime, Garden Grove Leave a comment

NEWS, FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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

Victim in Fatal Stabbing Identified

ANAHEIM, Calif. – (November 17, 2014) – On Sunday, November 16, 2014, Orange County Sheriff’s Department homicide investigators initiated an investigation following discovery of a male adult lying in the street suffering from multiple stab wounds. Ruben Martinez, 27, Anaheim, was detained at the scene and later arrested in connection with the fatal stabbing.

The victim, Maximino Fuentes Clara, 52, Garden Grove, was stabbed multiple times during a physical altercation with Martinez. Clara had a dating relationship with Martinez’ mother; however, investigators have yet to determine a motive for the attack. The investigation is ongoing. Continue reading→

Women sentenced for beating a woman to death in Downtown Santa Ana

Posted on November 14, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in Crime, Santa Ana 7 Comments

Vanesa Tapia Zavala, 26, and Candace Marie Brito, 27, were convicted of voluntary manslaughter in the beating death of a 23-year-old woman outside a Santa Ana nightclub were each sentenced to to six years in state prison Friday in an Orange County courtroom, according to NBC News.

They were earlier found guilty of voluntary manslaughter and assault in the death of Annie Kim Pham, an aspiring writer who died two days after the January fight when she was taken off life support, according to the Press Telegram.

Witnesses testified that Pham and her group of 11 friends were waiting in line to get into The Crosby, a downtown Santa Ana bar and restaurant, as Brito, Zavala and several of their friends were exiting. At some point, the groups bumped into each other and Brito and Zavala’s friend exchanged words with Pham. The friend was not charged in the case, according to ABC News. Continue reading→