Costa Mesa auto theft suspect tracked down by Rapid DNA program

Advisory: Rapid DNA program leads to quick recovery of property stolen in a Costa Mesa theft from vehicle

RAPID DNA PROGRAM LEADS TO QUICK RECOVERY OF PROPERTY STOLEN IN COSTA MESA THEFT FROM VEHICLE

SANTA ANA, Calif. – The Orange County District Attorney’s Office (OCDA) Rapid DNA Program led to the quick recovery of property stolen from a vehicle in Costa Mesa, thanks to the DNA recovered by the Costa Mesa Police Department (CMPD) Crime Scene Investigation (CSI) team.

Defendant: Damian Taylor Maxey, 24, Buena Park

Charged on Dec. 24, 2018, with the following felony counts:

-Grand theft
-Receiving stolen property
-Unauthorized computer access
Prior Felony Convictions
-Identity theft in 2018
-Burglary in 2017
-Fraudulent use of access card in 2016

Maximum Sentence: Six years and eight months in state prison

Court Date: Arraignment, Dec. 26, 2018, 10:00 a.m., Department CJ-1, Central Jail, Santa Ana

Circumstances of the Case:

On June 11, 2018, Maxey pl eaded guilty to felony unauthorized use of personal identifying information and provided a DNA sample to the OCDA DNA Database as a term of his plea agreement and sentence.

On Dec. 14, 2018, at approximately 9:00 p.m., John Doe’s Volkswagen Jetta and Volkswagen Golf were parked in the driveway to his home.

At approximately 9:00 a.m. on Dec. 15, 2018, Doe walked out to his driveway and noticed his Golf was missing and property had been stolen from inside his Jetta. The defendant is accused of stealing approximately $1,630 of property from within the Jetta, including a MacBook Air, two pairs of Beats wireless headphones, and a spare key to the Golf.

The CMPD responded and CSI team processed the vehicle. DNA swabs were collected from various areas and items that had been moved by the suspect inside the vehicle

CMPD CSI also collected a used cigarette butt they located on the driveway pavement in between the area where the Golf and Jetta had be en parked.

On Dec. 19, 2018, CMPD CSI submitted a portion of the cigarette butt to the OCDA Rapid DNA Program for forensic analysis

On Dec. 20, 2018, the OCDA Rapid DNA Program tested the cigarette butt and matched the DNA profile to Damian Maxey’s DNA profile in the OCDA DNA Database. OCDA investigators provided CMPD with suspect information.

On Dec. 21, 2018, CMPD conducted a probation search of Maxey’s residence. The defendant is accused of possessing most property stolen from within the Jetta. The Golf and its spare key remain missing.

Maxey is further accused of deleting all data from the victim’s MacBook, rendering it inoperable at the time of recovery.
Rapid DNA Program.

The Rapid DNA program merges the power of the OCDA DNA Database with cutting edge DNA technology to provide investigators with leads, including suspect names, within hours of a crime. The program launched in 2015 and is available to all local law enforcement. The IntegenX RapidHIT 200 DNA instrument, which was validated for use with the assistance of the Orange County Crime Lab (OCCL), can generate a DNA profile from evidence collected at a crime scene in less than two hours. If suitable, that crime scene DNA profile is searched against the OCDA DNA Database, which was established in 2007 and is now the largest consensual DNA database in the country. The Rapid DNA program is supported by Proposition 69 funding and is a collaborative effort among the OCDA, OCCL and local law enforcement to harness the power of science and technology to promote justice and enhance public safety.

Prosecutor: Deputy District Attorney Andrew Katz, DNA Unit