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Santa Ana's top news & views blog

Tag Archives: Crime

Santa Ana man sentenced to nine years in prison after carving his name in his girlfriend’s chest

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Sergio Joaquin Mendoza, a 27-year-old Santa Ana man, was sentenced to nine years in prison on Friday, after kidnapped his girlfriend,  carved his name into her chest with a razor blade and was convicted of multiple felony counts including criminal threats, false imprisonment and domestic battery, according to the O.C. Register.

Mendoza argued with his girlfriend and punched her on several occasions, according to the OCDA. He even forced her to sit in his car while he was at work and threatened her with violence. He eventually told the woman he would let her leave if she allowed him to carve his name into her chest. Continue reading→

Santa Ana man gets a new longer prison sentence after he sodomized a 3-year old relative

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Kevin Jonas Rojano-Nieto, a 21-year old Santa Ana man, got lucky when County Superior Court Judge M. Marc Kelly sentended him to a 10-year prison sentence on April 3, 2015, after Rojano-Nieto sodomozed a 3-year old relative. Kelly could have sentenced Rojano-Nieto to a state-mandated life term in prison. The outcry after Kelly’s lame sentence led to an aborted attempt to recall the Judge.

On Friday Rojano-Nieto’s luck ran out as the California State Supreme Court rejected a defense appeal, clearing the way for the Fourth Appellate District in San Diego to finalize its reversal of the sentence Friday, according to the O.C. Register. Continue reading→

Tustin woman facing felony charges after filing a fraudulent insurance claim

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ORANGE COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY NEWS RELEASE

Case # 17CF0915

Date: May 11, 2017

MAN AND WOMAN TO BE ARRAIGNED FOR CONSPIRING TO FILE FRAUDULENT INSURANCE CLAIM AND FALSELY ALLEGING POLICE MISCONDUCT

SANTA ANA, Calif. – A man and a woman are scheduled to be arraigned tomorrow for conspiring to file a fraudulent insurance claim and falsely alleging police misconduct when the accident report was not consistent with their untrue statements.

Defendants: 

  • Sylvia Bustillos Camarillo, 31,Tustin
  • Lamont Kenneth Goodwin, 33, Inglewood

Continue reading→

The SAPD is conducting a DUI and Drivers License Checkpoint on Friday night

Posted on by Posted in Alcohol, Crime, Drugs, Santa Ana Leave a comment

Santa Ana Police Department

Advisory: SAPD conducting a DUI/Drivers License checkpoint on Fri, May 12th, 2017, 9:30 PM to 2:30 AM, 1500 E. McFadden Avenue

SANTA ANA POLICE STEP UP DUI ENFORCEMENT

The Santa Ana Police Department will be conducting a DUI / Drivers License checkpoint on Friday, May 12th, 2017. It will begin at 9:30 p.m. and is scheduled to conclude at 2:30 a.m. It will be conducted in the area of 1500 E. McFadden Ave., in the City of Santa Ana.

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→

SAPD police officer recognized for his vehicle theft recovery efforts

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SAPD Office Mike Gibbons

Santa Ana Police Department

Advisory: SAPD Patrol Officer Recognized For His Hard Work And Accomplishments In Vehicle Theft Recovery

Officer Mike Gibbons received his 4th Master and Lifetime Achievement Awards.

In 2016, Officer Gibbons recovered 81 unoccupied stolen vehicles and 48 occupied stolen vehicles resulting in 59 arrests. The total estimated value of those recoveries was $783,600.00.

Officer Gibbons is the first Santa Ana Officer to earn the Lifetime Achievement Award. According to A.T.A.C., “He is the third officer in our Division, which covers Orange, San Diego, Imperial and part of Riverside County. Only two other officers have previously received this award; Officer A. Plata from Indio P.D. in 2016 and Officer J. Quintero from CHP in 1995.” Continue reading→

Man charged with molesting a 9-year old relative in Santa Ana 19 years ago

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Olegario Sigifredo Sorianosantos, a 47-year-old man, was charged Tuesday, May 9, with sexually assaulting a 9-year-old female relative in Santa Ana 19 years ago, according to the O.C. Register.

Sorianosantos is facing felony charges of two counts of lewd or lascivious acts with a minor and two counts of forcible lewd acts on a child, as well as a sentencing enhancement allegation for substantial sexual conduct. Continue reading→

Fontana man charged with pimping a minor in Santa Ana

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ORANGE COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY NEWS RELEASE

May 9, 2017

Case # 17CF1135

FONTANA MAN ARRAIGNED FOR TRAFFICKING MINOR FROM SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY AND PIMPING VICTIM IN SANTA ANA

SANTA ANA, Calif. – A Fontana man was arraigned yesterday for trafficking a minor girl from San Bernardino County and pimping the victim in Santa Ana.

  • Defendant: Armani Montrale Green, 20, Fontana
  • One felony count each of:
    • Human trafficking of a minor
    • Pimping a minor
    • Pandering a minor
  • One misdemeanor count of:
    • Driving without a valid driver license
  • Maximum Sentence: 13 years in state prison
  • Six months in county jail
  • Court Date: Pre-trial hearing: May 16, 2017, 8:30 a.m. at Department C-55, Central Justice Center, Santa Ana

Continue reading→

The City of Santa Ana is spending one million a year to clean up graffiti!

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The city of Santa Ana spends over $1 Million a year removing graffiti in our city. YES ONE MILLION DOLLARS A YEAR to remove graffiti is what our taxpayers are paying.

You want money for youth programs in our city? Here’s an idea, tell the gangbangers and taggers to stop vandalizing our city with their moronic graffiti! Continue reading→

Woman convicted of facilitating communication between a convicted rapist and her daughter

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ORANGE COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY NEWS RELEASE

Case # 17WM01500

Date: May 8, 2017

WOMAN CONVICTED OF VIOLATING PROTECTIVE ORDER BY FACILITATING COMMUNICATION BETWEEN CHILD RAPE VICTIM AND THE PERPETRATOR

WESTMINSTER, Calif. – A woman was convicted of violating a protective order by facilitating communication between a child rape victim and the perpetrator.

Defendant/Charges/Sentence

  • Jessica Lee Pearles, 37, Garden Grove
  • Pleaded guilty on May 5, 2017, to one misdemeanor count of violation of a protective order
  • Court offer:
    • 30 days in county jail
    • 30 days of community service
    • Three years of informal probation

Continue reading→

The SAPD is searching for two suspects who scammed elderly victims at local banks

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Santa Ana Elderly Scammer and his car

Santa Ana Police Department

Advisory: Detectives From Santa Ana & Costa Mesa PDs Asking For Assistance In Identifying Suspects In An Elderly Scam

On 04/11/2017 at approximately 1:20 pm, an elderly 84 year-old victim was approached by two suspects on the street, convinced to go to the bank and withdraw money from his account, which was eventually taken by the waiting suspects. A similar crime was reported to the Costa Mesa PD on 04/28/2017 at 1030 a.m. These suspects are known to loiter around banks and bus stops near banks. Continue reading→

Santa Ana man charged with bringing a gun to a school and having sex with a minor

Posted on by Posted in Crime, OCDA, Orange, Santa Ana 1 Comment

From Michael James Snitzler’s Facebook page

ORANGE COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY NEWS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Date: May 3, 2017

Case #17CF1017

VARSITY FOOTBALL COACH FACING CHARGES FOR INITIATING 10-HOUR STANDOFF WITH POLICE AT EL MODENA HIGH SCHOOL

*Defendant is facing additional charges for engaging in a sexual relationship with a minor student

SANTA ANA, Calif. – Michael James Snitzler, a varsity football coach is facing charges for initiating a 10-hour standoff with police and engaging in a sexual relationship with a minor student at El Modena High School (EMHS).

Defendant/Charges: Continue reading→

An SAPD police officer was injured today while pursuing an auto theft suspect

Posted on by Posted in Crime, Santa Ana, Vince Sarmiento Leave a comment

Los Cristales Bar

An unidentified man led SAPD police officers on a short car chase today after he fled from a traffic stop, in a stolen pickup truck, at 5:50 p.m., at McFadden and Grand Ave., according to the O.C. Register.

During the police pursuit the suspect intentionally rammed the pickup truck into a police cruiser. He then fled from the truck on foot and ran from  the police for a few blocks. Continue reading→

Santa Ana man convicted of molesting little girls he met at a local church

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

Jose Luis Aguilera

Jose Luis Aguilera, a 42, a Santa Ana man, was convicted today of several felony counts for molesting young girls that he met through his Jehovah’s Witness congregation, according to the O.C. Register.

Aguilera was convicted on four counts of lewd acts on a child younger than 14, but charges of kidnapping for child molesting and four counts of lewd acts on a child younger than 14 did not stick because the jury deadlocked. He was also acquitted of another count of lewd acts on a child younger than 14, according to court records. Continue reading→

Orange County curfew sweep resulted in the arrest of 15 minors last night

Posted on by Posted in Crime, OCDA, Santa Ana 3 Comments

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 28, 2017

LAW ENFORCEMENT NETS 15 MINORS IN 7TH OC GRIP CURFEW SWEEP

ORANGE COUNTY, Calif. – Orange County Gang Reduction and Intervention Partnership (OC GRIP) partnered with 13 law enforcement agencies to conduct a curfew sweep in the county. Last night, 130 officers patrolled the cities and unincorporated areas of Orange County and detained 15 minors who were out past curfew and in violation of city laws. This annual event is hosted by the Orange County District Attorney’s Office (OCDA), organized by OC GRIP, and works to heighten parental awareness and prevent local youth from joining or participating in gang activity.

The 15 minors were taken by police car to the Orange County Sheriff’s Department (OCSD) until their parents arrived and picked them up. Before releasing the youths, OCDA and OC GRIP representatives and officers met with the detained minors’ parents and discuss the dangers and legal consequences involved for those who violate curfew. Legal ramifications could include misdemeanor criminal prosecution with penalties ranging from fines up to six months in jail for the parent, or juvenile hall for the child, plus the associated financial costs. Parents and children also met with probation officers who provided helpful resources for substance abuse treatment, parenting classes, and family therapy. Continue reading→

Deputy Chief Jim Schnabl, an H.R. guy, is the new Acting Police Chief of the SAPD

Posted on by Posted in Carlos Rojas, Crime, David Benavides, Doug McGeachy, Jim Schnabl, Michele Martinez, Robert Cortez, Sal Tinajero, Santa Ana, Vince Sarmiento 2 Comments

Jim Schnabl

Deputy Chief Jim Schnabl has been selected as the new Acting Police Chief of the SAPD, according to a message sent to SAPD employees by outgoing Chief Carlos Rojas, who resigned when he was hired to serve as the new Chief of the BART Police in San Francisco.

Schnabl has been running the SAPD’s Administrative Bureau, which oversees Human Resources, Training, Information Services, and the Central Distribution Center (CDC). The Bureau is also responsible for the Communications Center which is often a point of first contact with the community in providing emergency and non-emergency services. Continue reading→