New Santa Ana | Category Archives: OC Sheriff

OC Sheriff’s Deputy charged with filing a false police report and perjury

Posted on February 10, 2021 by Editor Posted in OC Sheriff, OCDA, Orange County, Santa Ana Leave a comment

SANTA ANA, Calif. – An Orange County Sheriff’s deputy who served as a field training officer has been charged with two felonies in connection with filing a false police report under his trainee’s name and forging a victim’s signature.

Chad Matthew Renegar, 30, has been charged with one felony count of filing a false police report and one felony count of perjury. He faces a maximum sentence of 4 years and 8 months in state prison if convicted on all charges.

He is scheduled to be arraigned on March 24, 2021 at the Central Justice Center in Department C55.

Renegar has worked for the Orange County Sheriff’s Department for eight years. He is currently on administrative leave.

On May 16, 2019, Renegar was assigned to work in the city of Rancho Santa Margarita as a field training officer for a newly assigned patrol deputy.

The training officer and trainee responded to a call from a woman who reported her license plate had been stolen. Despite the woman telling the two deputies her license plate had been stolen in Santa Monica, which is outside of the jurisdiction of the Orange County Sheriff’s Department, the deputies had the woman sign a CHP form to report her stolen license plate.

A sergeant later rejected the report because of the out-of-county location of the crime. Renegar is accused of instructing the trainee to change the location of the theft to Rancho Santa Margarita. When she didn’t, Renegar is accused of typing the report for her under her name, filling out a second CHP form and changing the location to Rancho Santa Margarita, and forging the victim’s name.

“Maintaining trust and accountability between law enforcement and the communities they are sworn to protect has never been more important,”said Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer. “Dishonesty among the ranks of our law enforcement jeopardizes that trust and it will not be tolerated.”

Deputy District Attorney Jake Jondle of Special Prosecutions is prosecuting this case.

An inmate died at the O.C. Central Men’s Jail this morning

Posted on February 9, 2021 by Editor Posted in Crime, OC Sheriff, Santa Ana Leave a comment

A 42-year-old male inmate housed at the Central Men’s Jail in Santa Ana died today at approximately 7:47 a.m. of a suspected suicide.

The man was booked into the Orange County Jail by the Orange Police Department on Nov. 8, 2018, on multiple charges including attempted murder and a parole violation.

The Orange County District Attorney’s Office will investigate the in-custody death. The Orange County Sheriff’s Department will conduct an in-custody death review. No additional information will be released at this time.

Positive COVID-19 cases in the O.C. Jail are decreasing

Posted on February 5, 2021 by Editor Posted in Disease, OC Sheriff, Santa Ana Leave a comment

SANTA ANA, Ca. (February 5, 2021): The Sheriff’s Department has seen a dramatic reduction in the number of positive COVID-19 cases in the Orange County Jail system in the last month as a result of the department’s robust mitigation efforts. On January 5, 2021, 1,109 general population inmates were COVID-19 positive. As of the morning of February 5, 2021, nine general population inmates are COVID-19 positive.

“Since early 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic has proven to be challenging for everyone, and the Orange County Jail system has not been immune from this challenge,” said Don Barnes, Sheriff-Coroner. “Although in December we saw an outbreak in our facilities, we remained steadfast with our strict health and safety protocols, which have proven to be successful throughout the year. This has been accomplished without releasing serious and violent offenders who may pose a danger to Orange County residents.”

Since the pandemic began in March 2020, the Orange County Sheriff’s Department Custody Operations Division and the Orange County Health Care Agency’s Corrections Health Services (CHS) have worked collaboratively to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 within the Orange County Jail system. These mitigation efforts include regular temperature checks of staff and inmates, mandatory masks for staff and inmates, regular testing, diligent hygiene and cleaning practices, release of low level sentenced offenders, pausing public visiting and halting non-essential services.

“We are confident that our efforts will result in the continued successful mitigation of COVID-19 in our jails,” Barnes said. “We will continue to meet the challenges of navigating this pandemic with the health and safety of our staff, contract partners and inmates remaining our top priority.”

The O.C. inmate who died of COVID-19 this week was accused of killing his mother

Posted on January 22, 2021 by Editor Posted in Crime, Disease, Fullerton, OC Sheriff, Santa Ana Leave a comment

The O.C. inmate who died at the O.C. Jail intake center this week was Ah Le Fang, a 37-year-old man, who was in jail while he was awaiting trial on charges of killing his mother and wounding her boyfriend in 2017.

Fang died on Thursday of medical complications after testing positive last month for COVID-19, according to the O.C. Sheriff’s Department. Fang tested positive for COVID-19 in December and was hospitalized on Jan. 6. He is the second person incarcerated in Orange County jails to have died of COVID-19.

Fang’s mother called the Fullerton police to report she was being attacked, on Aug. 15, 2017. The responding police officers found her outside her apartment complex at 134 S. Pritchard Ave., suffering from a stab wound to her abdomen. Her boyfriend also had a stab wound to an arm.

Fang’s mother and her boyfriend were taken to a local hospital, where she passed away.

Fang pleaded not guilty way back in 2018 and he was awaiting a jury trial that was scheduled for this July.

The O.C. Sheriff’s Department says that 2,270 Orange County Jail inmates have tested positive for COVID-19. Currently there are sixty-one O.C. inmates who are dealing with the virus.

In December, an O.C. Superior Court judge ordered Sheriff Barnes to release half of the O.C. inmates after the ACLU filed a lawsuit accusing Barnes of not doing enough to protect medically vulnerable inmates during the pandemic.

An O.C. inmate died after testing positive for COVID-19

Posted on January 21, 2021 by Editor Posted in Crime, Disease, Don Barnes, OC Sheriff, Santa Ana Leave a comment

SANTA ANA, Ca. (January 21, 2021) –A 37-year-old male inmate housed at the Intake Release Center in Santa Ana died this morning of medical complications after testing positive for COVID-19.

The inmate was booked into jail in August 2017 by the Fullerton Police Department on suspicion of homicide and attempted murder. The inmate tested positive for COVID-19 in December 2020, and was transferred to a local hospital on January 6, 2021. He is the second Orange County Jail inmate to die from medical complications of COVID-19.

Since the beginning of the pandemic, 2,270 Orange County Jail inmates have tested positive for COVID-19. Currently, there are 61 COVID-19 positive inmates.

The OCDA reduced or dismissed charges in 67 cases due to OC Sheriff’s Department shenanigans

Posted on January 14, 2021 by Editor Posted in Crime, Don Barnes, OC Sheriff, OCDA, Santa Ana, Todd Spitzer Leave a comment

SANTA ANA, Calif. – The Orange County District Attorney’s Office has completed its review of the Sheriff’s Evidence Booking Audit.

In mid-November 2019, District Attorney Todd Spitzer became aware of the extent of evidence booking issues within the Orange County Sheriff’s Department (OCSD) and the existence of department-wide internal audits. District Attorney Spitzer had not been made aware of the extent of these audits previously and only became aware of the matter on November 15, 2019 when he was informed about it from a local newspaper reporter. Although OCSD believes the OCDA should have known, the OCDA questions why the Sheriff’s Department made it so difficult to understand the extent of the issues with evidence booking.

Upon learning of the full extent of the audits, District Attorney Spitzer immediately requested additional information from the Sheriff’s Department about potentially impacted criminal cases to ensure that the District Attorney’s Office was able to “identify any and all cases handled by the OCDA where a defendant’s due process rights may have been negatively impacted by having evidence collected but not booked.”

District Attorney Spitzer also directed two senior prosecutors to oversee the office’s response. Because of the deficiencies in the Sheriff’s audit, District Attorney Spitzer ordered a hand-search of all cases resulting in a conviction over a three-year period – from March 2015 to March 2018 – to determine if there were cases where evidence was collected but not booked.

A total of 22,289 cases were reviewed by a joint team of OCSD and DA investigators
3,639 notifications made to defense attorneys in potentially impacted cases (both active and closed cases)
Charges were reduced or dismissed in 67 cases
Two former OCSD deputies have been convicted of a misdemeanor and a third former deputy is awaiting trial on a felony charge of filing a false police report
All DNA profiles related to potentially impacted cases identified in the Sheriff’s Department evidence booking audit will be expunged from the OCDA DNA database

The OCDA reports on the Sheriff’s Department Evidence Booking Issues can be found here.

Sheriff Barnes names 24-year OCSD veteran Jeff Hallock as new Undersheriff

Posted on January 13, 2021 by Editor Posted in Don Barnes, OC Sheriff, Orange County, Santa Ana Leave a comment

SANTA ANA, Ca. (January 13, 2021): Sheriff-Coroner Don Barnes has named Jeff Hallock, a 24-year veteran of the Orange County Sheriff’s Department, as the new Undersheriff. Hallock will be responsible for the Department’s day-to-day operations, overseeing more than 4,000 personnel and a $1 billion budget.

Undersheriff Hallock was promoted January 6 in a private badge pinning at Sheriff’s Headquarters.

“Undersheriff Hallock is a consummate leader who serves with integrity and approaches any assignment he is given with an unwavering work ethic and a deep commitment to the betterment of this Department,” said Sheriff-Coroner Don Barnes. “His breadth of experience and innovative approach to law enforcement operations will help the Sheriff’s Department continue our tradition of providing exemplary service to the County of Orange.”

Hallock’s previous assignments include Custody Operations, Jail Planning, Patrol Operations, Investigations, Narcotics, Internal Affairs, and Public Affairs, serving as the Public Information Officer.

His accomplishments include serving as the first Field Training Bureau Commander, implementing solutions to keep the department on the leading edge of change. He served as the Public Information Officer during several major incidents that drew national attention, navigating complexities in a forthright and transparent way. Most recently, he served as Assistant Sheriff of Field Operations and Investigative Services, overseeing the department’s response to multiple emergencies in 2020.

Former O.C. Sheriff Sandra Hutchens has passed away

Posted on January 4, 2021 by Editor Posted in Don Barnes, OC Sheriff, Orange County, Sandra Hutchens, Santa Ana 2 Comments

SANTA ANA, Ca. (January 4, 2021): Please see the statement below from Orange County Sheriff Don Barnes.

“It is with a heavy heart that I announce the passing of former Sheriff Sandra Hutchens.

“In November 2012, Sheriff Hutchens was diagnosed with breast cancer. She courageously fought this disease while still leading this department. Her fight was successful for eight years. Unfortunately, the cancer recently returned and Sheriff Hutchens passed this morning with her loved ones by her side.

“Sandra Hutchens served as the 12th Orange County Sheriff from 2008-2019. She took office at a difficult time. The public’s trust had been broken by the previous sheriff. Upon taking office, she immediately took action to put one of the nation’s largest law enforcement agencies back on track. She was a leader whose ethics matched the culture of the men and women of this department. She restored our pride, gave us back our dignity and rebuilt trust with the people we serve. She kept her oath, kept her promises, and ended her time in office leaving this agency better than when she started.

“Hemingway described courage as “grace under pressure.” There is no one who embodied that description more than Sandra Hutchens. Sheriff Hutchens lived her life and led this agency with courage, grace and dignity. She bravely closed her life in the same manner. When I last spoke to her she was strong, maintained her sense of humor and continued to have a deep love and appreciation for the people of Orange County. Her legacy will endure for many years through all those she mentored and entrusted with helping her lead the Orange County Sheriff’s Department.

“For me personally, she was a mentor and a friend. I will continue to be inspired by her commitment to always do the right thing, regardless of the consequences, and serve with the department and community’s interests first without need for self-recognition. I am tremendously grateful for the opportunities she presented me, and the many lessons I learned from her over the years.

“In keeping with Sheriff Hutchens’ wishes, there will not be a memorial service. Her family has asked that donations be made in her name to Drug Use is Life Abuse (www.duila.org) or the Susan G. Komen Foundation (www.komen.org), two charities she actively supported while in office.”

Beverly Hills Surgeon who preyed on O.C. drug addicts released from jail due to COVID-19

Posted on December 21, 2020 by Editor Posted in OC Sheriff, Santa Ana 1 Comment

SANTA ANA, Calif. – A Beverly Hills surgeon charged with stealing nearly $29 million in an elaborate insurance fraud scheme that involved hiring body brokers to pay patients at Southern California sober living homes to undergo medically unnecessary surgeries, medical testing, and other medical procedures has been ordered to be released from the Orange County Jail after he tested positive for COVID-19. Four others have been charged in connection with the illegal operation.

Dr. Randy Rosen pleaded not guilty on July 2, 2020 to 88 felony counts in two separate cases in connection with recruiting and hiring numerous body brokers to find and pay patients to have medically unnecessary Naltrexone implant surgeries and cortisone shots.

After a complicated two-and-a-half-month preliminary hearing, a judge found on October 1, 2020 there was sufficient evidence to hold Rosen to answer for trial on all 68 felonies as well as all the alleged enhancements and allegations in Case #20CF1682. His bail was set at $10 million.

Rosen is a significant flight risk due to millions of dollars in assets still available to him and the fact that he faces more than 80 years in state prison if convicted on all charges. Dr. C. Hsien Chang, who serves as the Medical Director for Orange County’s Correctional Health Services (CHS), authored a declaration supporting Rosen’s continued incarceration, stating “I am familiar with Randy Rosen’s medical conditions and have complete confidence that CHS can appropriately manage and treat his medical conditions while in the Orange County Jail.”

The Orange County District Attorney’s Office objected to the release of Rosen, arguing that he poses a significant risk to the community if released due to the “massive network of body-brokers amassed by the defendant, the sheer number of medically unnecessary procedures performed on vulnerable drug-addicted patients” and the extended span of time in which the criminal activity was conducted. Rosen was out on $300,000 bail in another criminal case when he continued to engage in insurance fraud through his body broker scheme, prosecutors argued.

A judge ordered Rosen released back to his Los Angeles home under electronic monitoring for up to 30 days.

“We are watching the theater of the absurd,” said Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer. “The criminal justice system shouldn’t have one set of rules for people who are wealthy and a separate set of rules who aren’t. Poor people who pose a low risk to society shouldn’t have to sit in jail because they can’t afford to get out while wealthy people who have demonstrated they have no regard for the law or the lives of other human beings and have nothing to lose walk right out the front door of the jail.”

Prosecutors have charged Rosen with billing numerous insurance companies for the unnecessary procedures performed on drug-addicted patients. The patients were never informed of the fact that patients were being trafficked and paid for these procedures. Due to this massive scheme and conspiracy, the insurance companies were fraudulently billed approximately $135 million and paid out approximately $29 million dollars.

Rosen’s girlfriend Liza Visamanos, 41, of Los Angeles, pleaded not guilty on July 2, 2020 to 56 felony counts in two separate cases in connection with the scheme.

Rosen, 57, of Los Angeles, and Visamanos were arrested June 30, 2020 by the Orange County District Attorney’s Office on nearly $52 million warrants which equals the amount stolen as a result of the scheme.

In addition to submitting patients to medically unnecessary procedures, it is alleged that Dr. Rosen also required the patients to undergo unnecessary drug tests which he sent to Lotus Laboratories, which is owned by his girlfriend, for testing. California law prohibits such referrals where the physician or his immediate family has a financial interest with the person or entity receiving the referral. It is alleged that Lotus Laboratories fraudulently billed at least 22 different insurance providers more than $3 million.

Robert Mellon, 52, of San Diego, Thomas Douglas, 29 of Playa del Rey, Shea Simmons, 28, of Jeanerette, Louisiana, and Patrick Connolly, 28, of Los Angeles, also face felony charges for their involvement in the scheme.

Summary of Charges and Defendants – Health Insurance Fraud Cases

As part of the Health Insurance Fraud scheme, Dr. Rosen, (Case No.20CF1682), is charged with eight counts of Creating Documents For Purposes of Submitting False or Fraudulent Insurance Claims, eight counts of Submitting False or Fraudulent Insurance Claims, eight counts of Withholding Material Facts on Insurance Claims, eight counts of Conspiracy to Commit Unlawful Patient Referrals, and sixteen counts of Money Laundering. He is also charged with White Collar Crime Enhancements as the amount of loss exceeded $500,000 and a crime-bail-crime enhancement for committing additional crimes while released on bail on his previous and still active insurance fraud case in People v. Randy Scott Rosen (Case No. 16CF1363). If convicted on all counts, he faces a maximum of 84 years and eight months in state prison.

Liza Vismanos, (Case No. 20CF1685), is charged with eight counts of Creating Documents For Purposes of Submitting False or Fraudulent Insurance Claims, eight counts of Submitting False or Fraudulent Insurance Claims, eight counts of Withholding Material Facts on Insurance Claims, and eight counts of Conspiracy to Commit Unlawful Patient Referrals. She is also charged with White Collar Crime Enhancements as the amount of loss exceeded $500,000. If convicted on all counts, she faces a maximum of 36 years and four months in state prison.

Thomas Douglas, (Case No.20CF1684), is charged with eight counts of Creating Documents For Purposes of Submitting False or Fraudulent Insurance Claims, eight counts of Submitting False or Fraudulent Insurance Claims, eight counts of Withholding Material Facts on Insurance Claims and eight counts of Conspiracy to Commit Unlawful Patient Referrals, and twenty-seven counts of Money Laundering. He is also charged with White Collar Crime Enhancements as the amount of loss exceeded $500,000. If convicted on all counts, he faces a maximum of 68 years and eight months in state prison.

Robert Mellon, (Case No. 20CF1683), is charged with eight counts of Creating Documents For Purposes of Submitting False or Fraudulent Insurance Claims, eight counts of Submitting False or Fraudulent Insurance Claims, eight counts of Withholding Material Facts on Insurance Claims and eight counts of Conspiracy to Commit Unlawful Patient Referrals. He is also charged with White Collar Crime Enhancements as the amount of loss exceeded $500,000. If convicted on all counts, he faces a maximum of 36 years and four months in state prison.

Shea Simmons, (Case No. 20CF1681), is charged with eight counts of Creating Documents For Purposes of Submitting False or Fraudulent Insurance Claims, eight counts of Submitting False or Fraudulent Insurance Claims, eight counts of Withholding Material Facts on Insurance Claims, eight counts of Conspiracy to Commit Unlawful Patient Referrals and eleven counts of Money Laundering. He is also charged with White Collar Crime Enhancements as the amount of loss exceeded $500,000. If convicted on all counts, he faces a maximum of 45 years and four months in state prison.

Patrick Connolly, (Case No. 20CF1677), is charged with eight counts of Creating Documents For Purposes of Submitting False or Fraudulent Insurance Claims, eight counts of Submitting False or Fraudulent Insurance Claims, eight counts of Withholding Material Facts on Insurance Claims and eight counts of Conspiracy to Commit Unlawful Patient Referrals, and nine counts of Money Laundering. He is also charged with White Collar Crime Enhancements as the amount of loss exceeded $500,000. If convicted on all counts, he faces a maximum of forty-five years and four months in state prison.

Summary of Charges and Defendants – Workers’ Compensation Fraud Cases

As part of the Workers’ Compensation scheme, Dr. Rosen is charged with twenty-four counts of Withholding Material Facts on Insurance Claims and seventeen counts of Creating Documents for Purposes of Submitting False or Fraudulent Insurance Claims. Vismanos is charged with twenty-four counts of Withholding Material Facts on Insurance Claims. The couple was also charged with the aggravated white collar crime enhancement for losses exceeding $100,000 and $500,000. Dr. Rosen is charged with a crime-bail-crime enhancement pursuant to Penal Code Section 12022.1(b) for committing additional crimes while released on bail on his previous and still active insurance fraud case in People v. Randy Scott Rosen (Case No. 16CF1363).

As part of the Workers’ Compensation Fraud case, Dr. Rosen is facing a maximum of 51 years in state prison if convicted on all charges.

As part of the Workers’ Compensation Fraud case, Liza Vismanos is facing a maximum of 31 years in state prison.

Deputy District Attorney Vincent Marinaccio of the Insurance Fraud Unit is prosecuting defendants Dr. Rosen and Vismanos’ workers’ compensation fraud cases.

Deputy District Attorney Jim Bilek of the Insurance Fraud Unit is prosecuting defendants Dr. Rosen, Vismanos’, Douglas’, Simmons’, Connolly’s, and Mellon’s health insurance fraud cases.

O.C. cold case murder suspect at the Theo Lacy jail dies of COVID-19

Posted on December 18, 2020 by Editor Posted in Disease, OC Sheriff, Orange County, Santa Ana 1 Comment

ORANGE, Ca. (December 18, 2020) –A 68-year-old male inmate housed at the Theo Lacy Facility in Orange died this morning at 5 a.m. of medical complications after testing positive for COVID-19.

The inmate, Eddie Lee Anderson of River Ridge, LA, was booked into jail by the Orange County Sheriff’s Department on July 1, 2019 on suspicion of homicide.

Anderson is suspected of the 1976 murder of Leslie Penrod Harris, and was identified in 2019 by the Orange County Cold Case Homicide Task Force.

Anderson tested positive for COVID-19 within the last week, and was transferred to a local hospital on December 13. He is the first Orange County Jail inmate to die from medical complications of COVID-19. Since the beginning of the pandemic, 1,260 Orange County Jail inmates have tested positive for COVID-19.

Man charged with kidnapping a woman may get released from the OC Jail

Posted on December 17, 2020 by Editor Posted in Crime, Don Barnes, OC Sheriff, OCDA, Orange County, Santa Ana 2 Comments

SANTA ANA, Calif. – A man charged with aggravated kidnapping for ransom and extortion in connection with kidnapping an Irvine woman and holding her for ransom is the first Orange County inmate to petition to be released on his own recognizance following a judge’s order Friday that ordered the Orange County Jail’s population be reduced by half.

The inmate faces a maximum sentence of life in prison if convicted on all charges.

Ezra Schley, 72, of Huntington Beach, is charged with one felony count of aggravated kidnapping for ransom and extortion, one felony count of residential burglary, one felony count of attempted extortion, and one misdemeanor count of carrying a loaded firearm in public.

Schley is one of four defendants charged in connection with kidnapping Jane Doe from her Irvine apartment and holding her for two days in an attempt to extort a large sum of money from Jane Doe’s husband and mother-in-law. The four defendants are also accused of sending pictures of Jane Doe being held captive to Jane Doe’s husband through a phone web chatting app.

Schley is currently being held at the Orange County Jail on $1 million bail. His petition to be released on his own recognizance is scheduled to be in Department H1 at the Harbor Justice Center in Newport Beach at 9 a.m. on December 23, 2020.

Jane Doe was rescued by the Irvine Police Department after her mother-in-law contacted police and requested a welfare check.

On Friday, an Orange County Superior Court judge issued a ruling in Campbell et. all v. Barnes which ordered Sheriff Don Barnes to reduce the population of the Orange County Jail by 50% due to inmate safety concerns over an increase in the number of inmates contracting COVID-19.

The Orange County District Attorney’s Office, in conjunction with the Sheriff’s Department, the Public Defender, the Criminal Defense Bar, the County’s Health Care Agency, and the Orange County Superior Court, has worked collaboratively throughout the pandemic to conduct risk assessments in order to release medically vulnerable inmates prior to completing their entire sentence.

The District Attorney’s Office has been keeping statistics in order to understand the impact of these court orders. Orange County inmates released early before serving their full sentence or on $0 bail went out and committed new crimes at rates at nearly triple normal recidivism rates: 44% for early release inmates and 38% for $0 bail defendants.

A sample of their crimes: auto theft, burglary, robbery, assault, weapons, theft and narcotics.

As well as a 23-year-old man who stabbed his 17-year-old ex-girlfriend four times, killing her. He had been released on $0 bail 3 ½ weeks earlier.

“The jail population has been reduced by more than 33 percent since the beginning of the pandemic in March,” said Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer. “There are more than 400 people in custody who have already been convicted or who are awaiting trial for murder or attempted murder. Now the ACLU is fighting to release people who have been convicted or are awaiting trial on felony charges that could send them to prison for the rest of their lives. These are hardcore criminals who are going to try everything they can to game the system so they can get out and commit more crimes. The judge’s order is outrageous and I’m not going to allow Orange County and Southern California residents to be put at risk by the release of dangerous and violent criminals back into our communities.”

OCDA Spitzer laments the release of half the O.C. jail inmates

Posted on December 14, 2020 by Editor Posted in Courts, Crime, OC Sheriff, OCDA, Orange County, Santa Ana 1 Comment

SANTA ANA, Calif. – Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer released the following statement criticizing a court ruling in Campbell et. all v. Barnes that requires Sheriff Don Barnes to reduce the inmate population in the Orange County jail system by 50%:

A judge’s ruling to reduce the inmate population in the Orange County jail system by half will release dangerous and violent criminals back into our neighborhoods to commit more crimes and victimize more people.

This is not fearmongering; it is a fact.

The jail population, through the implementation of $0 bail and early release by the Sheriff, has been reduced by more than 33% since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.

A sample of their crimes: auto theft, burglary, robbery, assault, weapons, theft and narcotics.

And a 23-year-old man who stabbed his 17-year-old ex-girlfriend four times, killing her. He had been released on $0 bail 3 ½ weeks earlier.

These are not just new crimes. These are new victims.

The rise of coronavirus cases is not relegated to the jail system; Orange County and nearly all of California are seeing disturbing increases in new cases.

Nothing, not even a pandemic suspends the rule of law.

The solution is simple: don’t break the law and you won’t end up in jail.

If the Sheriff appeals this ruling – and I hope he does – the District Attorney’s Office will file an amicus brief with our data which demonstrates just how dangerous this decision is.

Orange County Sheriff Don Barnes and his staff have taken a proactive approach to balancing the health and safety of the inmates, his deputies, and jail staff with protecting the community from being further victimized. Inmates who were let out before serving their full sentence – many who are medically vulnerable – were determined to be the lowest risk – and they still went out and committed more crimes at alarming rates.

Nearly 350 convicted defendants who were sentenced to state prison remain in the Orange County jail system because the state refuses to accept them. Four months ago, Sheriff Barnes and I sent letters to the governor asking for these state prisoners to be transferred. Freeing up hundreds of beds would alleviate at least some of the strain on the County jail system.

Throwing open the jail doors and releasing dangerous and violent inmates back into our communities where they will no doubt continue to commit new crimes is not the answer. It is not in the interest of the criminal justice system, it is not in the interest of the public, and it is not in the interest of safety.

Supervisor Steel condemns the court ordered release of 1,800 O.C. inmates

Posted on December 13, 2020 by Editor Posted in Crime, OC Sheriff, Orange County, Santa Ana 1 Comment

On Friday evening, a superior court judge ordered Orange County Sherriff Don Barnes to release over 1,800 inmates to allow for more social distancing in Orange County jails. The case, brought up by the ACLU alleges that the inmates were at risk due to “underlying health conditions”.

“As Chairwoman of the Orange County Board of Supervisors, it is my number one priority to ensure the public safety and security of the people of Orange County. This reckless order to release 50% of the jail population, over 1,800 inmates, onto the streets of Orange County, many of whom are pre-trial or have been convicted of violent crimes, threatens our safety and will endanger our communities,” said Michelle Steel, Chairwoman of the Orange County Board of Supervisors. “Orange County has been implementing proper safety measures to protect our inmates from the virus. Under Sheriff Barnes leadership, there have been zero deaths in OC jails and only three hospitalizations. This move is unnecessary and does more harm than good.”

First elected to the Orange County Board of Supervisors in 2014, Michelle Steel represents the residents of the Second District, which includes, Costa Mesa, Cypress, Huntington Beach, La Palma, Los Alamitos, Newport Beach, Seal Beach, Stanton, the unincorporated area of Rossmoor, and portions of Buena Park and Fountain Valley. Steel, a successful businesswoman and renowned taxpayer advocate, previously served as Vice Chair of the State Board of Equalization where she represented more than eight million people in Southern California, including all of Orange County, as one of the state’s 12 constitutional officers.

Court orders over 1,800 inmates to be released from O.C. jails due to COVID-19

Posted on December 11, 2020 by Editor Posted in Courts, Crime, Disease, Don Barnes, OC Sheriff, Orange County, Santa Ana 1 Comment

SANTA ANA, Ca. (December 11, 2020): Please see the statement below from Orange County Sheriff Don Barnes.

“We have received an order from the court in a case regarding COVID-19 in the Orange County jails. The order mandates a significant reduction of the jail’s inmate population. We are evaluating the order, its impacts and our options for appeal. If the order stands, it will result in the release of more than 1,800 inmates. Many of these inmates are in pre-trial status for, or have been convicted of, violent crimes and will be released back into the community. This order puts our community at substantial risk and does not take into account the impact on the victims of these crimes.”

COVID-19 has infected over 100 O.C. jail inmates

Posted on December 10, 2020 by Editor Posted in Disease, Don Barnes, OC Sheriff, Orange County, Santa Ana Leave a comment

SANTA ANA, Ca. (December 10, 2020): The Orange County Sheriff’s Department Custody Operations Division and OC Health Care Agency’s Correctional Health Services (CHS) have worked collaboratively to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 within the Orange County Jail system. Yesterday, two inmates in general population began exhibiting COVID-19 symptoms and tested positive, the remaining individuals in those housing areas were tested. That resulted in 72 additional inmates in general population that tested positive for COVID-19. The total COVID-19 positive inmates today in the Orange County Jail system is 102, with 28 new booking inmates and 74 general population inmates. The vast majority of the COVID-19 positive inmates are asymptomatic.

None of the inmates who have tested positive within the last two days have required hospitalization or advanced medical treatment. All inmates exposed to COVID-19 positive inmates will be quarantined for 14 days, and tested prior to the end of their quarantine.

Following a positive COVID-19 case in general population, CHS and Custody Operations conduct contact tracing to determine exposure. All exposed inmates are quarantined and tested, and their health status is monitored including symptom screening and temperature checks, with additional assessments conducted as warranted.

These cases come after an exhaustive effort by personnel from Custody Operations and CHS to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 in the jails. Working collaboratively with the CHS team, the Department implemented a series of changes to practices and procedures to mitigate the spread of the virus. Beginning in April, all new bookings into the Orange County Jail are quarantined from the general population for a minimum of 14 days. To help prevent the spread of the virus from the community into our jails, all quarantined inmates, including all new bookings, are tested before being integrated into general housing. Also, any inmate exposed to a COVID-19 positive person is medically quarantined and monitored for symptoms. If any inmate exhibits COVID-19 symptoms, they are also isolated and tested.

Patient education on infection prevention strategies is done at all healthcare encounters. In addition, screening procedures including a temperature check and symptom screening for all personnel and inmates entering an Orange County Jail began in March 2020.

“Just as we have seen COVID-19 cases rise in the community, we are now seeing that impact our jail,” said Orange County Sheriff Don Barnes. “As we have successfully done before, we will implement multi-layered mitigation efforts to control the further spread of COVID-19 among inmates or personnel. Throughout the pandemic, we have gone beyond CDC guidelines and increased testing for inmates and employees. I am confident that the practices and procedures we have implemented in previous cases will bring cases back down to zero as we have before.”

To further prevent the spread of these cases, the Sheriff’s Department is working collaboratively with the courts to limit the number of inmates being transported to courthouses. COVID-19 positive inmates in isolation and quarantined inmates are not transported to court.

In total, 691 inmates have tested positive for COVID-19 since the first positive inmate on March 24, 2020. Of those, only two inmates have been hospitalized for COVID-19 and none have died. 6,964 COVID-19 tests have been administered to Orange County Jail inmates since the start of the pandemic.

At the start of the pandemic, the average daily jail population count declined to 2,826 on May 11, 2020 at the height of active COVID-19 cases in the jails. That is less than half of the average daily population prior to the start of the pandemic. That number has steadily increased, and today sits at 3,628. This is well below the Orange County Jails’ capacity of 6,159.