Gangbanger charged with vandalizing a Santa Ana mural of Mexican-American Veterans

Case # 18CF1534

May 29, 2018

GANG MEMBER CHARGED WITH VANDALIZING SANTA ANA MURAL DEPICTING PORTRAITS OF MEXICAN-AMERICAN WAR VETERANS WHO SERVED IN U.S. MILITARY

*Defendant also charged with tagging another Santa Ana business

SANTA ANA, Calif. – A gang member was charged today with vandalizing a Santa Ana mural depicting Mexican-American war veterans who served in the U.S. Military. The defendant was also charged with tagging another business in Santa Ana.

Defendant: Eric Alan Cabrera, 20, Garden Grove AKA Eric Alan Cabrera Mora

Charged today with the following felony counts:

• (2) Vandalism
• Sentencing Enhancement
• Criminal street gang activity

Maximum Sentence: Seven years and eight months in state prison

Pre-trial hearing on June 6, 2018, 8:30 a.m. at Department C-55, Central Justice Center, Santa Ana

Circumstances of the Case

• Between March 11, 2018, and March 12, 2018, Cabrera is accused of vandalizing a mural on the side of a small business on Washington Avenue in Santa Ana by spray painting graffiti on the wall.
• The mural, “Among Heroes,” was painted over the course of five years and depicts nearly 200 portraits of Mexican-American men and women who served in the U.S. Military in World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War.
• At approximately 2:30 a.m. on March 12, 2018, Cabrera is accused of vandalizing a clothing store on 1st Street in Santa Ana by tagging graffiti on its exterior wall.
• The incident was captured on surveillance cameras and reported to the Santa Ana Police Department, who investigated this case.
• The defendant is accused of committing the crimes on behalf of a criminal street gang.
• On March 15, 2018, Cabrera was arrested in Anaheim on unrelated charges.

Prosecutor: Deputy District Attorney Amy Swanson, Gang/TARGET Unit

Art Pedroza Editor

Our Editor, Art Pedroza, worked at the O.C. Register and the OC Weekly and studied journalism at CSUF and UCI. He has lived in Santa Ana for over 30 years and has served on several city and county commissions. When he is not writing or editing Pedroza specializes in risk control and occupational safety. He also teaches part time at Cerritos College and CSUF. Pedroza has an MBA from Keller University.

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