New Santa Ana | Tag Archives: murder

Gangbanger convicted of killing one woman and attempted murder of another

Posted on September 29, 2015 by Art Pedroza Posted in Crime, Gangs, Santa Ana 8 Comments

Irvin Tellez

ORANGE COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY PRESS RELEASE

Case # 13HF2731 & 13CF2980

Date: September 29, 2015

GANG MEMBER CONVICTED OF MURDERING ONE WOMAN AND ATTEMPTED MURDER OF FEMALE BYSTANDER

SANTA ANA, Calif. – A gang member was convicted today of the murder of one woman and attempted murder of a female bystander. Irvin Tellez, 27, Garden Grove, was found guilty by a jury of one felony count each of first degree murder, attempted murder, and street terrorism with sentencing enhancements for the personal discharge of a firearm causing death, personal discharge of a firearm causing great bodily injury, criminal street gang activity, and great bodily injury. Tellez faces a maximum sentence of 112 years and eight months to life in state prison at his sentencing, Nov. 20, 2015, at 9:00 a.m. in Department C-30, Central Justice Center, Santa Ana.

Co-defendant Jaime Prieto Rocha, 42, Santa Ana, pleaded guilty Sept. 4, 2015, to one felony count of voluntary manslaughter with a sentencing enhancement for criminal street gang activity. Rocha is scheduled to be sentenced on Oct. 30, 2015, at 8:30 a.m. in Department H-1, Harbor Justice Center, Newport Beach. Continue reading→

Transient convicted of murdering a woman in a brutal sexual assault at a Motel 6

Posted on September 15, 2015 by Art Pedroza Posted in Crime, OCDA, Stanton 1 Comment

ORANGE COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY PRESS RELEASE

Case # 13ZF0161

Date: September 15, 2015

REGISTERED SEX OFFENDER CONVICTED OF SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES MURDER OF 29-YEAR-OLD WOMAN IN THE COURSE OF SEXUAL ASSAULT IN MOTEL ROOM

SANTA ANA, Calif. – A registered sex offender was convicted today for the special circumstances murder of a 29-year-old woman in the course of sexually assaulting her in a Stanton motel room. Charles Patrick Drew, 65, transient, was found guilty by a jury of one felony count of special circumstances murder in the commission of rape, sodomy, oral copulation, and sexual penetration by foreign object, one felony count each of rape of an unconscious person, sodomy of unconscious victim, oral copulation of unconscious person, sexual penetration by foreign object of unconscious victim, and aggravated assault. Drew faces a minimum sentence of life in state prison without the possibility of parole. The court will also hear a bifurcated trial on the defendant’s two prior strike convictions for forcible rape and assault with a deadly weapon in Orange County in 1995 at his sentencing on Oct. 23, 2015, at 9:00 a.m. in Department C-28, Central Justice Center, Santa Ana. Continue reading→

Gangbanger charged with murdering one Santa Ana woman and trying to murder another one

Posted on September 14, 2015 by Art Pedroza Posted in Crime, Gangs, Garden Grove, OCDA, Santa Ana Leave a comment

Irvin Tellez

ORANGE COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY PRESS RELEASE

Case # 13HF2731 & 13CF2980

Date: September 14, 2015

MAN TO FACE TRIAL FOR THE MURDER OF ONE WOMAN AND THE ATTEMPTED MURDER OF FEMALE BYSTANDER

SANTA ANA, Calif. – A man is scheduled to face trial tomorrow for the murder of one woman and attempted murder of a female bystander. Co-defendant Irvin Tellez, 27, Garden Grove, is charged with one felony count each of murder and attempted murder, with sentencing enhancements for the personal discharge of a firearm causing death, personal discharge of a firearm causing great bodily injury, and great bodily injury. If convicted, Tellez faces a maximum sentence of life in state prison. Opening statements are scheduled to begin tomorrow, Sept. 15, 2015, at 9:00 a.m. in Department C-30, Central Justice Center, Santa Ana.

Murder suspect arrested in Westminster

Posted on September 11, 2015 by Art Pedroza Posted in Crime, Orange County, Westminster 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

Murder Suspect Arrested

WESTMINSTER, Calif. (September 11, 2015) – On Friday, September 11, 2015, Orange County Sheriff’s Department Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) deputies arrested Craig Tanber, 37, Dana Point, wanted in connection with the stabbing homicide that occurred last Monday, September 7, 2015 in front of the Patsy’s Irish Pub in the City of Laguna Niguel. Tanber was taken into custody without incident or injuries.

Tanber was arrested at approximately 6:15 a.m. this morning after investigators obtained information he was staying at the Motel 6 at 13100 Goldenwest Street., Westminster. SWAT operators made entry into the motel room and safely took Tanber into custody. Continue reading→

Third-striker charged with stabbing Robert Carranza to death at Frontier Park in Tustin

Posted on September 1, 2015 by Art Pedroza Posted in Crime, OCDA, Tustin Leave a comment

Robert Daniel Carranza

ORANGE COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY PRESS RELEASE

Case # 15CF1967

Date: September 1, 2015

THIRD-STRIKER CHARGED FOR STABBING-MURDER OF MAN IN TUSTIN

SANTA ANA, Calif. – A third-striker was charged today for stabbing and murdering a man at a park in Tustin. Robert Jesus Wilson, 51, is charged with one felony count of murder with a sentencing enhancement for the personal use of a deadly weapon and prior strike convictions for assault with a deadly weapon on a peace officer in 1998 and making criminal threats in 2014. If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of 85 years to life in state prison. He is being held on $1 million bail. The scheduled arraignment was continued in court today to Sept. 18, 2015, at 10:00 a.m. in Department CJ-1, Central Jail, Santa Ana. Continue reading→

Death penalty sentence for murderer who was a Vietnamese criminal street gang member upheld

Posted on August 18, 2015 by Art Pedroza Posted in Crime, Garden Grove, Little Saigon, OCDA, Stanton, Vietnamese, Westminster 4 Comments

Lam Thanh Nguyen

ORANGE COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY PRESS RELEASE

Case # 95WF0682

MEDIA ADVISORY: August 13, 2015

WHO: Supreme Court of California

WHAT: Affirmed the death penalty sentence of Lam Thanh Nguyen who was found guilty by a jury on July 6, 1998, of two felony counts of murder with special circumstances for committing multiple murders, two felony counts of attempted murder, three felony counts of street terrorism, with sentencing enhancements for inflicting great bodily injury, using a firearm in the commission of murder and attempted murder, and vicariously armed with a firearm in committing an attempted murder.

In 1994 and 1995, Nguyen was a member of a Vietnamese criminal street gang and was involved in several shootings and violent crimes against a rival Vietnamese criminal street gang. On July 21, 1994, Nguyen was involved in a drive-by shooting where a rival gang member was shot, paralyzing him from the neck down. Continue reading→

Woman charged with shooting and killing her boyfriend outside a Garden Grove mobile home

Posted on August 9, 2015 by Art Pedroza Posted in Crime, Garden Grove, OCDA Leave a comment

ORANGE COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY PRESS RELEASE

Case # 15WF1727

Date: August 7, 2015

WOMAN TO BE ARRAIGNED FOR SHOOTING AND KILLING BOYFRIEND OUTSIDE MOBILE HOME IN GARDEN GROVE

SANTA ANA, Calif. – A woman is scheduled to be arraigned today for shooting and killing her boyfriend outside their mobile home in Garden Grove. Arlene Kathyrn Bautista, 20, Garden Grove, is charged with one felony count of involuntary manslaughter by lawful act in an unlawful manner with a sentencing enhancement for the personal use of a firearm. If convicted, she faces a maximum sentence of 14 years in state prison. The People will request she be held on $80,000 bail at her arraignment this afternoon in Department CJ-1, Central Jail, Santa Ana. The time is to be determined.

At approximately 3:35 p.m. on Aug. 5, 2015, Bautista is accused of shooting her boyfriend, 25-year-old Luis Vidal, while they were outside their mobile home in Garden Grove. The victim died as a result of the gunshot wound. Continue reading→

Man charged with stabbing his stepbrother to death, in Garden Grove

Posted on August 5, 2015 by Art Pedroza Posted in Crime, Garden Grove, OCDA Leave a comment

Andres Adolfo Serrat

ORANGE COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY PRESS RELEASE

Case # 15WF1708

Date: August 5, 2015

MAN TO BE ARRAIGNED FOR STABBING-MURDER OF STEPBROTHER IN GARDEN GROVE HOME

SANTA ANA, Calif. – A man is scheduled to be arraigned this afternoon for the stabbing murder of his stepbrother in their Garden Grove home. Andres Adolfo Serrat, 25, is charged with one felony count of murder with a sentencing enhancement for the personal use of a knife. If convicted, Serrat faces a maximum sentence of 26 years to life in state prison. The defendant is being held on $1 million bail and is scheduled to be arraigned today, Aug. 5, 2015, in Department CJ-1, Central Jail, Santa Ana. The time is to be determined.

At the time of the crime, the defendant lived with his stepbrother, 20-year-old Donte Barcelona and other family members. Continue reading→

Toxicology results show that Erica Alonso had a lethal dose of GHB and alcohol in her system

Posted on July 22, 2015 by Art Pedroza Posted in Crime, Drugs, Orange County 2 Comments

Erica Alonso pic

NEWS, FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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

Erica Alonso Death Investigation

UPDATE: Toxicology Results & Cause of Death

SANTA ANA, Calif. – (July 22, 2015) – On Tuesday, July 21, 2015, Orange County Sheriff’s Department investigators obtained results of toxicology tests performed on Erica Alonso, 28, Laguna Hills. The results indicate Ms. Alonso had varying levels of alcohol and Gamma Hydroxybutyrate (GHB) in her system at the time of her death.

Based on the Ms. Alonso’s blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .22 and the amount of GHB found in her system, the Coroner Division has determined the combination and amounts were lethal. The Coroner Division has determined the cause of death to be an overdose; however, the manner remains undetermined. Continue reading→

SAPD arrests a father suspected of assaulting his infant, who may not survive

Posted on July 18, 2015 by Art Pedroza Posted in Crime, Santa Ana 2 Comments

Santa Ana Police Department

Advisory: SAPD Detectives Investigate Possible Child Homicide

On Friday, 07-17-15, at approximately 8:42 pm, Santa Ana police officers were dispatched to the 800 block of W. Stevens in reference to a baby not breathing. When officers arrived, they confirmed the 3-month old infant was not breathing. Officers and OCFA personnel performed CPR on the infant and he was subsequently transported to CHOC in critical condition.

CHOC medical staff observed signs of physical trauma on the infant. The infant is currently on life support and is not expected to survive. Homicide detectives responded to handle the investigation. Continue reading→

55-year-old man dies after a fight at a Santa Ana 4th of July block party

Posted on July 5, 2015 by Art Pedroza Posted in Crime, Santa Ana Leave a comment

Santa Ana Police Department

Advisory: SAPD Homicide Detectives Investigate Man’s Death During July 4th Block Party

On 7-4-15, at approximately 9:40 p.m. Officers responded to 2500 Block of North Linwood Avenue (just south of Fairhaven Elementary School and West of Fairhaven Memorial Park and Mortuary) to assist OCFA personnel with a man identified as William Branch III, who was unresponsive in the street. Officers arrived to find OCFA personnel performing CPR on a 55 year old male. Branch was transported to Western Medical Center-Santa Ana where he was pronounced dead. Homicide detectives responded to the scene and are currently investigating the incident.

A preliminary investigation found that a fight occurred during a large neighborhood Fourth of July party. Branch was a participant in the fight. It is unclear if he sustained an injury from an assault or died of a medical condition. The cause of death is undetermined pending autopsy. Continue reading→

Santa Ana woman arrested as an accessory to the murder of a Costa Mesa man

Posted on June 25, 2015 by Art Pedroza Posted in Costa Mesa, Crime, Santa Ana Leave a comment

Maricella Raye Gomez-Lee, 50, a resident of Santa Ana, was arrested on Wednesday this week on suspicion of being an accesory to murder in the May 30 stabbing death of Floriberto Villasenor Cortes, a resident of Costa Mesa, who was found bleeding at the 2900 block of Peppertree Lane in Costa Mesa, at around 4:30 p.m. according to the O.C. Register.

Gomez-Lee was arrested at a home in Lake Elsinore. Continue reading→

SAPD officer and a police dog help to catch Anaheim murder suspect in Fountain Valley

Posted on June 23, 2015 by Art Pedroza Posted in Anaheim, Crime, Fountain Valley, Santa Ana Leave a comment

By: Fountain Valley Police Department

On Tuesday, June 23, 2015 at approximately 3:30 AM, a security guard working at Fountain Valley Regional Hospital observed a suspect and vehicle answering the description of Kwame Carpenter, wanted in the city of Anaheim in connection with the deaths of two people.

The security guard alerted a Santa Ana police officer, who was at the hospital on an unrelated matter.

The Santa Ana officer, in conjunction with Fountain Valley officers, went to the location in the southeast portion of the hospital campus and contacted Carpenter, who was inside his parked 2001 Lincoln Town Car. When officers attempted to take Carpenter into custody, he refused to surrender and drove his car into a Santa Ana police car, damaging it. Carpenter then drove into an unrelated parked vehicle in an attempt to escape; that vehicle suffered significant damage as well. At that point a Fountain Valley officer fired two rounds at Carpenter as he fled the scene in his car. No one was injured as a result of the shooting. Continue reading→

Florida man charged with 1986 cold case murder of a Santa Ana dentist

Posted on June 3, 2015 by Art Pedroza Posted in Crime, OCDA, Santa Ana Leave a comment

ORANGE COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY PRESS RELEASE

June 3, 2015

Case # 15CF1206

MAN CHARGED FOR 1986 COLD CASE SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES MURDER OF BUSINESS ASSOCIATE

*Defendant was previously convicted by a jury of murdering a second business associate in Florida in 1987

SANTA ANA – A man was charged today for the 1986 cold case special circumstances murder of a business associate in Orange County. Steven Wyvern White, 65, was charged today with one felony count of murder with special circumstances for a prior first degree murder conviction in Florida in 1987. If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of life in state prison without the possibility of parole. He is currently awaiting extradition to Orange County from a Florida prison facility. The date, time, and location of his arraignment are to be determined.

In 1986, White, then 29 years old, is accused of befriending 79-year-old Cedric Horn, a semi-retired dentist. White is accused of persuading Horn to enter into business dealings with him. White is accused of gaining access to the victim’s bank accounts and fraudulently transferring funds from the victim’s account into the defendant’s personal account. Continue reading→

SAPD reopens cold case involving a decapitated woman found in Santiago Park in 1988

Posted on April 30, 2015 by Art Pedroza Posted in Crime, Santa Ana 1 Comment

Santa Ana Police Department detectives reopened a 27-year-old case in the hopes of finding the killer who left a woman’s headless body in a dry creek bed, according to ABC News.

They are trying to find the killer and identify the victim, who was found by a man walking his dog at Santiago Park in March 1988, according to the O.C. Register. Continue reading→