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