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Tag Archives: ocda

Drunk Santa Ana driver faces trial for crash that killed a 2-year-old boy

Posted on by Posted in Alcohol, Bars, Courts, Crime, Orange County, Public Safety, Santa Ana Leave a comment

Angel Alberto Cruz Perez, 24, Santa Ana

Orange County District Attorney Press Release

For Immediate Release, Case # 11CF3062: March 20, 2013

DRUNKEN DRIVER FACES TRIAL FOR CRASHING INTO MOTHER CROSSING STREET WITH TWO BABIES AND KILLING 2-YEAR-OLD BOY

SANTA ANA – A drunken driver faces trial tomorrow for killing a 2-year-old boy by crashing into the toddler and his mother and baby sister as they crossed the street. Angel Alberto Cruz Perez, 24, Santa Ana, is charged with one felony count each of vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence while intoxicated, driving under the influence causing bodily injury, hit and run with permanent injury or death, and one misdemeanor count of driving a motor vehicle without a license, with sentencing enhancement allegations for causing great bodily injury to a child under 5 years old, fleeing the scene, and an additional injured person. If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of 16 years in state prison. Opening statements are expected to begin tomorrow, Thursday, March 21, 2013, at 9:00 a.m. in Department C-30, Central Justice Center, Santa Ana. Continue reading→

Santa Ana man found guilty of bashing his gay lover’s head in with a rock

Posted on by Posted in Courts, Crime, LGBT, Public Safety, Santa Ana Leave a comment

Jose Fuentes

A 23-year-old Santa Ana man was convicted today of bashing in his gay lover’s skull to steal his flat-screen TV, car, stereo and other valuables. “Jose Fuentes, who is scheduled to be sentenced Friday, faces life in prison without the possibility of parole,” according to the City News Service.

According to the OC District Attorney, Fuentes murdered his lover by beating him to death with a rock in order to steal the victim’s car, money, and valuables. He was found guilty of one felony count each of special circumstances murder, first degree robbery, and first degree residential burglary. The special circumstance sentencing enhancements include murder by lying in wait, murder in the commission of a robbery, and murder in the commission of a burglary.   Continue reading→

Costa Mesa man arraigned for killing brother and hurting nephew in DUI crash

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

Orange County District Attorney Press Release

For Immediate Release, March 13, 2013

DRUNKEN DRIVER TO BE ARRAIGNED FOR KILLING BROTHER AND INJURING NEPHEW IN SINGLE-CAR CRASH

SANTA ANA – A drunken driver will be arraigned today for killing his brother and injuring his nephew by crashing his truck while driving at an unsafe speed. Felix Jacobo Brito, 37, Costa Mesa, is charged with one felony count of vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated without gross negligence, one felony count of driving under the influence causing bodily injury, one misdemeanor count of driving a motor vehicle without a valid license, and sentencing enhancements and allegations for causing bodily injury and death to more than one victim and causing great bodily injury. If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of seven years in state prison. Brito is being held on $100,000 bail and is scheduled to be arraigned today, Wednesday, March 13, 2013, in Department CJ-1, Central Jail, Santa Ana. The time is to be determined. Continue reading→

Santa Ana man gets 16 years to life for stabbing his mom’s houseguest

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Saul Jose Salazar

Orange County District Attorney Press Release
For Immediate Release, Case # 10CF2716: February 15, 2013
Contacts: Susan Kang Schroeder, Chief of Staff, Office: 714-347-8408, Cell: 714-292-2718; Farrah Emami, Spokesperson, Office: 714-347-8405, Cell: 714-323-4486

MAN SENTENCED TO 16 YEARS TO LIFE IN PRISON FOR STABBING-MURDER OF MOTHER’S HOUSEGUEST

SANTA ANA – A man was sentenced today to 16 years to life in state prison for murdering his mother’s houseguest by stabbing him in the chest with a pocket knife. Saul Jose Salazar, 29, Santa Ana, was found guilty by a jury Nov. 26, 2012, of one felony count of second degree murder with a sentencing enhancement for the personal use of a deadly weapon. Continue reading→

Santa Ana man convicted of impregnating his 11-year old stepdaughter

Posted on by Posted in Courts, Crime, Orange County, Public Safety, Santa Ana 2 Comments

Mariano Antonio Castro

Orange County District Attorney Press Release
For Immediate Release: Case # 11CF1031, February 14, 2013
Contacts: Susan Kang Schroeder, Chief of Staff, Office: 714-347-8408, Cell: 714-292-2718; Farrah Emami, Spokesperson, Office: 714-347-8405, Cell: 714-323-4486

MAN CONVICTED OF IMPREGNATING 11-YEAR-OLD FEMALE RELATIVE AND SEXUALLY ASSAULTING HER FOR NINE YEARS

SANTA ANA – A man was convicted yesterday of sexually abusing a female relative for nine years and impregnating her at the age of 11. Mariano Antonio Castro, 58, Santa Ana, was found guilty by a jury Feb. 13, 2013, of two felony counts of lewd acts on a child under 14, three felony counts of aggravated sexual assault of a child under 14, one felony count of continuous sexual abuse of a child under 14, and sentencing enhancement allegations for substantial sexual conduct with a child and inflicting great bodily injury were found true. He faces a maximum sentence of 78 years to life in state prison and mandatory lifetime sex offender registration at his sentencing April 26, 2013, at 9:00 a.m. in Department C-28, Central Jail, Santa Ana. Continue reading→

5th Annual O.C. Victims’ Rights March and Rally set for April 26

Posted on by Posted in Courts, Crime, Entertainment, Lawyers, Orange County, Santa Ana 5 Comments

OC Victims' Rights March and Rally

The Orange District Attorney Tony Rackauckas is hosting the 5th Annual Victims’ Rights March and Rally on Friday, April 26, 2013.

The Program includes:

  • 9:30 a.m. Reception at the Orange County District Attorney’s Office, located at 401 Civic Center Drive West, Santa Ana, CA 92701
  • 10:30 a.m. March to the Old Orange County Courthouse, at 211 W. Santa Ana Boulevard, Santa Ana, CA 92701
  • 11:00 a.m. Rally at the Old Orange County Courthouse Continue reading→

Santa Ana man sentenced for sexually assaulting little girls

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Roberto Jacobo Reyes

Orange County District Attorney Press Release
For Immediate Release: January 25, 2013
Contacts: Susan Kang Schroeder, Chief of Staff, Office: 714-347-8408, Cell: 714-292-2718;
Farrah Emami, Spokesperson, Office: 714-347-8405, Cell: 714-323-4486

MAN SENTENCED TO 30 YEARS TO LIFE IN PRISON FOR TOUCHING SLEEPING FEMALES IN FIVE HOME BURGLARIES, INCLUDING SEXUALLY ASSAULTING AN 11 AND 13 YEAR OLD GIRL

SANTA ANA – A man was sentenced today to 30 years to life in state prison for breaking into five Orange County homes and touching female victims who were sleeping inside, including sexually assaulting an 11 and 13 year old girl. Roberto Jacobo Reyes, 50, Santa Ana, was found guilty by a jury Nov. 15, 2012, of one felony count of forcible lewd act on a child under 14, two felony counts of lewd act upon child under 14, and three felony counts of first degree residential burglary with sentencing enhancement allegations for committing lewd acts in the commission of residential burglaries, committing lewd acts on multiple victims, and for having a non-accomplice present during a residential burglary, and a sentencing enhancement for a 2003 prior strike for residential burglary. Continue reading→

Santa Ana podiatrist to be arraigned for having over 1,000 child porn pics

Posted on by Posted in Courts, Crime, Lawyers, Orange County, Photography, Public Safety, Santa Ana Leave a comment

Dr. Pete Thomas

Santa Ana Police Department Advisory: January 9, 2013

County DA Office: PODIATRIST TO BE ARRAIGNED FOR POSSESSING OVER 1,000 CHILD PORNOGRAPHY IMAGES ON OFFICE COMPUTER, Case # 12CF3546

SANTA ANA – A podiatrist is scheduled to be arraigned tomorrow for possessing over 1,000 images of child pornography on his office computer. Pete Thomas, 58, Long Beach, is charged with one felony count of possession and control of child pornography. If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of three years in state prison and mandatory lifetime sex offender registration. Thomas is out of custody on $50,000 bail and is scheduled to be arraigned tomorrow, Jan. 10, 2013, at 8:30 a.m. in Department C-55, Central Justice Center, Santa Ana. Continue reading→

OCDA to seek the death penalty against former Marine Itzcoatl Ocampo

Posted on by Posted in Courts, Crime, homeless, Lawyers, Military, Santa Ana Leave a comment

Orange County District Attorney Press Release
For Immediate Release: May 21, 2012
Contacts:
Susan Kang Schroeder, Chief of Staff, Office: 714-347-8408, Cell: 714-292-2718
Farrah Emami, Spokesperson, Office: 714-347-8405, Cell: 714-323-4486

OCDA TO SEEK DEATH PENALTY AGAINST FORMER MARINE FOR STABBING-MURDER OF MOTHER AND SON IN YORBA LINDA AND SERIAL MURDERS OF FOUR HOMELESS MEN

SANTA ANA – The Orange County District Attorney (OCDA) announced today that he will seek the death penalty against a former Marine for the stabbing-murder of a mother and her son in Yorba Linda and murdering four homeless men in a serial thrill-kill spree. Continue reading→

Santa Ana couple arraigned for hit and run killing of a 3-year old

Posted on by Posted in Courts, Crime, Santa Ana, Westminster Leave a comment

Orange County District Attorney Press Release
For Immediate Release: May 18, 2012
Contacts:
Susan Kang Schroeder, Chief of Staff, Office: 714-347-8408, Cell: 714-292-2718
Farrah Emami, Spokesperson, Office: 714-347-8405, Cell: 714-323-4486

MAN TO BE ARRAIGNED FOR KILLING 3-YEAR-OLD AND INJURING MOTHER IN HIT-AND-RUN IN SCHOOL CROSSWALK
*Defendant’s girlfriend charged with helping him cover his crime by filing false police report

SANTA ANA – A man has been charged with killing a 3-year-old girl and severely injuring the child’s mother by crashing his girlfriend’s car into them as they passed through a crosswalk and then fleeing the scene. The man’s girlfriend is charged with helping him cover his crime by falsely reporting that her car had been stolen. Carlos Antonio Parra, 20, Santa Ana, is charged with one felony count each of vehicular manslaughter by unlawful manner of driving and with gross negligence and possession of a controlled substance, and two felony counts of hit and run with permanent injury or death. Continue reading→

OCDA to host info booth at Santa Ana’s Cinco de Mayo festival

Posted on by Posted in Latinos, Lawyers, Orange County, Santa Ana Leave a comment

Orange County District Attorney Press Release
For Immediate Release: May 4, 2012
Contacts:
Susan Kang Schroeder, Chief of Staff, Office: 714-347-8408, Cell: 714-292-2718
Farrah Emami, Spokesperson, Office: 714-347-8405, Cell: 714-323-4486

OCDA TO HOST INFORMATION BOOTH AT CINCO DE MAYO FESTIVAL THIS WEEKEND TO CELEBRATE MEXICAN HERITAGE

SANTA ANA – The Orange County District Attorney’s Office (OCDA) is proud to participate in the 13th Annual Cinco de Mayo Celebration this Saturday, May 5, 2012, starting at noon. This family festival will be held in downtown Santa Ana on 4th Street between Main Street and French Street. Continue reading→

The SAUSD reacts to the arrest of a former teacher on molestation charges

Posted on by Posted in Crime, Education, Newport Beach, Public Safety, Santa Ana, SAUSD 2 Comments

The SAUSD’s Superintendent, Thelma Meléndez de Santa Ana, Ph.D., has issued a formal statement regarding the arrest of a former SAUSD teacher on charges of molesting two students and possessing graphic child pornagraphy, as follows, “We are deeply troubled to learn that a former teacher allegedly engaged in this reprehensible behavior and took advantage of the trust inherent in his profession. We are cooperating fully with the authorities, and encourage anybody with information that might aid their investigation to contact either the District Attorney’s office or the Newport Beach Police Department immediately.”

Anyone with additional information or who believes they may have been a victim is encouraged to contact NBPD Detective David Syvock at (949) 644-3771, SAUSDPD Sergeant Manuel Chavez at (714) 558-5739, or Supervising District Attorney Investigator Lou Gutierrez at (714) 347-8794.

UPDATE: My daughter Becky told me this evening that she complained about the teacher who was arrested, Alex Bassinne, in 2007, when she was a student at Santa Ana High School.  Apparently Bassinne tried to touch her neck while he admired a necklace she was wearing.  Becky met with the Assistant Principal at Santa Ana High.  Unfortunately the Assistant Principal refused to conduct an investigation.  Becky was transferred to another class but Bassinne was allowed to continue teaching.  The girls he allegedly molested in 2009 and 2010 would have never been molested if the Assistant Principal my daughter complained to had done his job! Continue reading→

Was the SAUSD prepared for the arrest of a Godinez teacher, on sex charges?

Posted on by Posted in Courts, Crime, Education, Orange County, Public Safety, Santa Ana, SAUSD, Youth Activities 24 Comments

UPDATE: The OC Register’s online article about this has some interesting comments, here.

Joseph Manuel Orduna, an Irvine resident and wrestling coach/teacher at the Santa Ana Unified School District’s (SAUSD) Godinez Fundamental High School, has been arrested and charged with “making sexually suggestive comments and inappropriately touching two female students.”  The SAPD and the OCDA are seeking the public’s help in identifying additional victims.

A running back, Orduna starred at the University of Nebraska before going on to play for the New York Giants and Baltimore Colts in the 1970s, according to Fox News.

FYI, this one hits close to home, as I have a son who is a sophomore at Godinez and another son who graduated from Godinez and is now at UCLA.  Godinez is a great school with top administrators and teachers – as such this case is a real shocker.  Continue reading→

O.C. D.A. child abduction Facebook page is first created by prosecutors

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ORANGE COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 19, 2011
Susan Kang Schroeder, Chief of Staff, Office: 714-347-8408, Cell: 714-292-2718
Farrah Emami, Spokesperson, Office: 714-347-8405, Cell: 714-323-4486

OCDA ANNOUNCES LAUNCH OF FIRST CHILD ABDUCTION FACEBOOK PAGE CREATED BY A PROSECUTORIAL AGENCY IN THE UNITED STATES

SANTA ANA – The Orange County District Attorney’s Office (OCDA) announced today the launch of a Facebook page for children abducted from Orange County. This is the first social networking page of its kind to be developed and utilized by a prosecutorial agency in the United States. The Facebook page was developed by the OCDA Bureau of Investigation and will feature current cases being investigated by the OCDA Child Abduction Unit. Continue reading→

Santa Ana man faces trial for murdering 9-month-old while babysitting

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Susan Kang Schroeder, Chief of Staff, Office: 714-347-8408, Cell: 714-292-2718
Farrah Emami, Spokesperson, Office: 714-347-8405, Cell: 714-323-4486

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Date: October 19, 2011

Case # 10CF1076: MAN FACES TRIAL FOR MURDERING GIRLFRIEND’S 9-MONTH-OLD SON WHILE BABYSITTING

SANTA ANA – A man faces trial tomorrow for murdering his girlfriend’s 9-month-old son by causing fractures to the child’s skull to make him stop crying. Alexander Lucas Barnes, 20, Santa Ana, is charged with one felony count of murder and one felony count of child abuse resulting in death. If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of 25 years to life in state prison. Continue reading→