Daniel Enrique Ramirez, 24, of Santa Ana; and Joshua Rudy Ramirez, 21, of Corona, pleaded guilty to gang activity, eluding police and possession of a firearm by a felon, according to the O.C. Register.
Both men were sentenced to eight years in prison after they led the SAPD on a high-speed pursuit that began in Santa Ana and ended when they crashed into an 80-year-old woman’s bedroom in Fountain Valley.
It is not surprising that both of these criminals also admitted to sentencing enhancements for being armed during a felony and gang activity.
These criminals, who appear to be related, accepted a plea deal. Their co-defendants, Tanisha Marie Estrada, 30, of Santa Ana, and Leticia Dominguez, 22, of Santa Ana, are still awaiting trial and are due in court again today.
Estrada is facing charges of evading police, bringing or sending a controlled substance into jail or prison, possession of a firearm by a felon, participating in criminal street gang activity, possession of a firearm by a probationer, possession of a controlled substance while armed with a firearm, a convicted felon carrying a concealed weapon in a vehicle, theft with a prior felony conviction for car theft, prohibited person owning ammunition and buying or receiving a stolen vehicle with a prior conviction, all felonies. And she was also charged with misdemeanor counts of resisting arrest and receiving stolen property.
Dominguez was charged with possession of a firearm by a felon, buying or receiving a stolen car, possession of a firearm by a probationer, evading police, possessing a controlled substance while armed with a firearm, prohibited person owning ammunition, convicted felony carrying a concealed firearm in a vehicle, car theft and participating in criminal street gang activity, all felonies. And she was also charged with misdemeanor counts of receiving stolen property and resisting arrest.
What triggered all of these charges was an attempt by SAPD police officers, just past midnight on April 11, to stop a gray Toyota that had no license plates, in the area of McFadden Avenue and Newhope Street, according to the SAPD.
Of course the driver refused to pull over and the police pursuit was on. The chase finally ended when the car crashed into the rear bedroom of an 80-year old woman at a home at Newhope and Holly Avenue.
The woman had gotten up just before the crash and was not in the bedroom, which is why she was not hurt.
It turns out the suspects fled because the vehicle they were driving that night had been reported stolen in Anaheim.
The loser suspects all had guns and were either on probation or parole. The police also found methamphetamine and cocaine in the suspects’ vehicle.
The SAPD also believe that these four suspects have been involved in quite a few street robberies in Santa Ana. The police investigators found several cellphones in the suspects’ vehicle. The police believe these phones were stolen during the alleged robberies.
While it is a relief that these awful thugs are now behind bars – or are facing long sentences, one has to wonder how many more of these blatant criminals are infecting our streets.