October 7, 2008

Garage burglary activity reported in North Natomas

Here is a report about a reported series garage burglaries in North Natomas -- and some crime prevention tips -- from Sacramento Police Capt. Daniel Hahn to Robslist, a listserv about crime in Natomas:

Possible Garage Burglary Activity in N. Natomas

There have been a lot of developments in regard to possible garage burglaries and there have also been several comments on Robs List about the same issue. I put on the daily last week about a burglary where someone used a garage door opener or some other device to open the garage door on Natomas Blvd.

There has been at least 4 such burglaries or suspicious circumstances between 9/26/08 and 10/06/08 on the following streets: Innovator, Natomas Blvd. (mentioned in previous email daily), Edgemar Ct., and Lyman Cr. Two of these occurred around 1:00 am, 1 around noon, and one between 9pm and 6 am. Officers Tavelli and Bell were working this issue the other night and ran into a Paladin Security Officer who also advised about suspicious circumstances on Sea Glen Wy, Adamstowne Wy, Minden Wy, and Alterra Wy. These were all garage activation alarms that Paladin was called to and were checked and found to be o.k...

With this in mind - please continue to utilize Paladin if you live in their area, but also call the police - especially in light of this growing issue. We didn't know about any of these additional locations and it will help us to find out who is doing this....Also, be sure to close your garage door when leaving and if you will be gone for a day or more (ie vacation) make sure you lock your garage so even a garage door opener can't open it.

Update: Photos of suspected Roseville pharmacy robber

The Roseville Police Department has released surveillance photos (above) of the man suspected of robbing a Roseville pharmacy.

Here is Jennifer K. Morita's initial story:

A man armed with a handgun robbed a Rite Aid pharmacy Sunday evening on Douglas Boulevard in Roseville and escaped with a bag of highly addictive, prescription painkillers.

The robber approached the pharmacy counter around 5:15 p.m. and handed the pharmacist a note, demanding the narcotic OxyContin, while showing a handgun that was tucked in his waistband, according to police spokesperson Dee Dee Gunther.

The pharmacist gave him a bag of Oxycontin pills, and he left. No one was injured.

The suspect is described as a white male in his 20s, approximately 5-feet 10-inches tall with a medium build. He had short, blond hair and facial stubble and was wearing a black baseball cap, gray hooded sweatshirt and black, basketball-style shorts.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Roseville Police Investigations Unit at (916) 774-5070.

Clarksburg tenant stole $13,000 from landlord, Yolo jury rules

From Bill Lindelof:

After a five-day trial, a Yolo County jury has convicted a 58-year-old man of taking more than $13,000 from his landlord.

Richard Isaac Esquivel was convicted Monday of stealing the money from his 71-year-old landlord over a six-month period four years ago. He rented a room from the victim in Clarksburg.

The jury found him guilty of theft from an elder and fraudulent use of a credit card -- both felonies. He faces a maximum sentence of four years in state prison.

According to a news release from the Yolo County District Attorney's office, the landlord discovered that Esquivel had been using her ATM check card to withdraw cash and make online purchases of movies, flowers, cigars and presents.

Under the direction of an investigator, she and family members confronted Esquivel about the charges on her credit card. He told them he made the fraudulent charges, an admission that was tape recorded, according to the release.

October 6, 2008

Drug dealer gets 24-plus years in prison

From Denny Walsh:

A drug dealer from Corning was sentenced Monday in Sacramento federal court to 24 1/2 years in prison for conspiracy, possession for distribution of methamphetamine, and possession of a firearm during a drug transaction.

Ricardo Valencia Diaz, 31, was found guilty by a jury June 10, at the conclusion of a four-week trial.

A confederate, Sabas Miramontes, 27, of Colusa, was sentenced Monday to 12 years and seven months in prison. He pleaded guilty May 9 to a distribution conspiracy.

They are two of seven people charged with a narcotics trafficking conspiracy involving a late night meth deal in early 2007 at a Yuba City Wal-Mart parking lot.

According to prosecutors Philip Ferrari and Todd Pickles, evidence they introduced at trial detailed a negotiation of the deal between Miramontes and an informant for the Drug Enforcement Administration.

On Feb. 24, 2007, six individuals, including Diaz, traveled from Corning to Yuba City with approximately four pounds of meth, the prosecutors said. Diaz and two others were in his pickup truck, along with an SKS military rifle and ammunition, they said.

Trial evidence established the trio was there to provide security for the meeting, and Diaz brought the rifle at the request of the conspiracy's leader, Victor Alvarado, according to Ferrari and Pickles.

Co-conspirators Margarito Caballero and Jose Luis Diaz were previously sentenced to 24 years and four months and 11 years and three months, respectively.

Two others are awaiting sentencing.

Former history teacher convicted of 11 molestation counts

From Bee Metro Staff

Gregory Rayburn, a former Rio Americano High School teacher, was convicted by jury of 11 counts of annoying or molesting a child and one count of sexual battery, the Sacramento County District Attorney's Office said Monday.

Rayburn (left photo), 54, was a history teacher at the school in 2006-2007 when he engaged in multiple acts of sexually explicit and inappropriate behavior towards four of his female students, all under the age of 18, DA Jan Scully said in a press release.

Once deceiving the victim into trying on various articles of revealing clothing, Rayburn

inappropriately touched the victim while adjusting her clothing, the release said. He inappropriately touched the victim again on another occasion, the release said.

In 2005, Rayburn engaged in similar behavior towards several female teenaged students when he was a teacher at Bella Vista High School, the release said. Four former Bella Vista High School student victims testified that Rayburn requested that they dress in provocative clothing so he could take their photograph.

One former student testified that Rayburn pressured her to take a photograph and brought in revealing clothing for her to wear, the release.

"Thanks to the bravery and courage of the victims to report these crimes and testify at trial, this repeat offender will be held accountable for his years of misconduct," said Deputy District Attorney Sheri Greco

Each count is punishable by up to one year in county jail. Rayburn will also be required to register as a sex offender, the release said.

Sentencing is scheduled for Oct. 30.

3rd person dies in wrong-way I-5 crash

From Melissa Nix:

The wrong-way Interstate 5 collision that took two lives last weekend has taken another, a young mother and wife who was placed on life support last weekend.

Chao Yang, 20, who was transported to UC Davis Medical Center after a driver traveling the wrong way on I-5 hit the car she was in, died Sunday. She leaves behind husband, Chandra Van, 21, and their 2-month-old son, Aidan.

Yang, of Stockton, was pronounced dead at 6:23 p.m. from complications of multiple blunt force injuries, according to the Sacramento County Coroner's Office.

Her husband Van, also injured in the crash, remains at UC Davis and is in good condition, the hospital said Monday.

Their niece, Tyana Kylie Yoeun-Chanhkhiao, 5 months, was released recently from the same hospital.

Yang's mother-in-law, Sokpov Van, who broke a leg and a rib in the crash, was released from Mercy San Juan Medical Center Saturday night, brother-in-law Samoeun Van said Monday.

The crash, which occurred at 2:49 a.m. Oct. 4, killed Donald Vanness, 57, of Woodbridge, and Yoeun Sum, 56, of Stockton, on the spot. Vanness was driving his BMW north in the southbound lanes of I-5 at Hood Franklin Road when he slammed head-on into Sum's Toyota Camry, investigators said.

The California Highway Patrol suspect Vanness was driving drunk, Spokesperson Michael Bradley said Monday. Bradley said the CHP waits for toxicology reports from the coroner to confirm this.

Yang, including her husband, mother-in-law, and niece, were passengers in the Camry when the crash occurred. The family was returning home from a wedding in Willits.

Yang's father-in-law and family patriarch, Yoeun Sum, had escaped Cambodia nearly 30 years ago, fleeing with his wife and two young sons to avoid the genocide that took the lives of 1.7 million people in that country.

But Sunday, Sum couldn't avoid the BMW hurtling at his family. His daughter and grandson, traveling in a car ahead of his, had a narrow escape when her husband swerved at the last moment.

"I saw a car come out of nowhere, and my husband barely dodged it," Monyan Van, 22, said last week. "It then hit the other car" carrying her parents.

Information sought about man who robbed Roseville bank

From Jennifer K. Morita:

A man robbed the Wells Fargo at 781 Pleasant Grove Blvd. in Roseville shortly after 1 p.m. Friday afternoon, taking an undisclosed amount of cash.

The suspect approached a teller and demanded cash. No one reported seeing any weapons, according to police spokesperson Dee Dee Gunther.

Roseville police and the Federal Bureau of Investigations are investigating the robbery.

The suspect is described as a white male in his 30s, approximately 6-feet tall and weighing about 200 pounds with short hair and a goatee. He was wearing a black baseball cap, a light blue, long-sleeved T-shirt and blue jeans.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Roseville Police Department at (916) 774-5070 or the Sacramento office of the FBI at (916) 481-9110, or the Sacramento Violent Crimes Task Force at (916) 874-5115.

Police seek man who robbed Roseville pharmacy for painkillers

From Jennifer K. Morita:

A man armed with a handgun robbed a Rite Aid pharmacy Sunday evening on Douglas Boulevard in Roseville and escaped with a bag of highly addictive, prescription painkillers.

The robber approached the pharmacy counter around 5:15 p.m. and handed the pharmacist a note, demanding the narcotic OxyContin, while showing a handgun that was tucked in his waistband, according to police spokesperson Dee Dee Gunther.

The pharmacist gave him a bag of Oxycontin pills, and he left. No one was injured.

The suspect is described as a white male in his 20s, approximately 5-feet 10-inches tall with a medium build. He had short, blond hair and facial stubble and was wearing a black baseball cap, gray hooded sweatshirt and black, basketball-style shorts.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Roseville Police Investigations Unit at (916) 774-5070.

Youth with gun arrested at Sacramento light-rail station

From Stan Oklobdzija:

Police officers arrested an alleged gang member with a gun at the Fruitridge light-rail station Friday night after he threatened others on the train with it, police said.

Officers received a call from a passenger on the southbound Blue-Line train about 8:40 p.m. saying two groups of youths were arguing at the Broadway station, said Sgt. Jim Hose. One brandished a handgun, Hose said.

Police and county sheriff's officers waited for the group at the Fruitridge light-rail station and started searching passengers as they left the train, Hose said.

Hose said the youth with the gun was arrested.

Hose said witnesses reported the group was claiming to belong to the Fourth-Avenue Blood t gang, based in Oak Park, as they entered the train.

October 3, 2008

El Dorado High School searched, no gun found

From Stan Oklobdzija:

Students have been released from a lockdown at El Dorado High School in Placerville after two teachers reported that a student had a handgun, police said early Friday evening.

At around 3 p.m., the Placerville Police Department received a call that two staff members reported a student with a handgun, said Capt. Mike Scott of the Placerville Police Department.

The El Dorado County Sheriff's Office received an assistance call from the Placerville Police Department at around 3:30 p.m. said Sgt. Bryan Golmitz, spokesman for the sheriff.

Twelve units from the sheriff's office were sent to assist the Placerville Police in locking down the school, Golmitz said.

As of 5:30 p.m., Scott said police had finished searching the school and students and did not find a handgun. All students have been released, he said.

Car washes set this weekend for dead student

Car washes will be held Saturday and Sunday to benefit a memorial fund for Jaazaniah McGee collapsed Sept. 29 while running during a physical training class at Grant High School, according to a press release from the Sacramento Police Department.

McGee died later at the hospital of unknown causes, the release said.

Jaazaniah's family and friends will be hosting the simultaneous car washes both days, the release said. The first car wash will be in front of Grant High School starting at 8 a.m. each day. The second will be held simultaneously on Stockton Boulevard and 14th Avenue starting at 9 a.m. each day.

Proceeds from the car washes will go toward paying for Jazzaniah's funeral and burial costs.

There is also a memorial fund set up at Bank of America under the name "Jaazaniah McGee Memorial Fund" c/o Beneficiary Shirley Lee to P.O. Box 38263, Sacramento, California 95838.

What's unsaid also is revealing to officers

From Kim Minugh:

Sometimes a lot is revealed to law enforcement officers by what isn't directly said.

Take these two incidents from Thursday's sweep by Sacramento County probation officers, backed by several law enforcement agencies, looking for the "most problematic" probationers previously convicted of domestic violence crimes.

When they rolled up to one south-area home, probation officers asked a man the whereabouts of his son - a probationer with two warrants out for his arrest.

"I've been looking for him my damn self," he shouted back.

Officers asked the man to encourage his son, whenever he sees him, to report to his probation officer.

"When I find him, I'm going to put my hands on him," the man said.

Probation officer Anthony Hocking shook his head. "Like father, like son," he said.

Later that day, Hocking and his team went to a Meadowview home in search of a 22-year-old with two felony warrants - one for violating his probation by possessing a gun, the other for battery. The man reportedly is a member of the Kill A Ho street gang.

Officers were met by a sign in the window stating, "Never mind the dog, beware of owner!" with a drawing of a gun pointing at the viewer - but no probationer.

Man arrested in fatal south Sacramento County shooting

Sacramento County Sheriff's deputies have arrested a suspect in the shooting death of a 27-year-old woman, whose body was found inside a vehicle in the parking lot of a southside apartment complex, a sheriff's spokesman said Friday.

On Thursday, detectives Albert Arthur Dennis (left photo), 27, of Sacramento at a home in the 5100 block of Southwest Avenue, he said.

Dennis is suspected of fatally shooting Amber Manoa and wounding a second person in the 5700 block of Nina Way, he said. Investigators believe the victims were shot in a botched robbery.

The second victim suffered a non life-threatening wound to his foot.

Investigators would welcome more information, he said.

Anyone with information about this case is urged to call Sheriff's detectives at (916) 874-5115, or Crime Alert at (916) 443-HELP. Callers can remain anonymous and may be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000..

Dennis is scheduled to be arraigned on Oct. 6 in Sacramento Superior Court.

After the shootings, The Bee reported that family and friends recalled that

Manoa loved throwing parties for her 4-year-old daughter. She would occasionally rent a bounce house, fire up the barbecue and hang out with friends in the backyard of her Elk Grove home.

Woodland gang members sentenced for attempted murder

From Niesha Lofing:

Two Woodland gang members who tried to kill a man over drug money last year were sentenced to life in prison Thursday.

Lorenzo Alberto Godoy, 22, and Rudy Sanchez Gonzales, 48, were convicted of trying to murder Raul Ramos at his Woodland apartment on Jan. 5, 2007, according to a news release by the office of Yolo County District Attorney Jeff W. Reisig.

Godoy and Ramos had been doing business together and owed drug money to someone in Anaheim, according to the release. Godoy and Gonzales went to Ramos' home that night to try and collect Ramos' portion of the debt. They were armed with a .25 caliber pistol and a knife, respectively.

Ramos, another man and the man's girlfriend were at the apartment during the confrontation. The man was smoking a cigarette on the back patio when Godoy and Gonzales forced him back into the apartment at gunpoint, the release states.

Once inside, Godoy demanded Ramos give him the money for the drug debt, while Gonzales wielded a knife to keep everyone at bay. When Ramos refused to give Godoy the money, Gonzales signaled Godoy, who shot Ramos six times, nearly killing him, the release states.

Witnesses told police they saw five to six men outside the apartment acting as lookouts just before the shooting. They also said they were threatened by the men to not talk to police, the release states.

Two days later, authorities served search warrants at Godoy and Gonzales' apartments and found ammunition and the gun that was used to shoot Ramos. Large amounts of gang paraphernalia and gang graffiti also were found in both homes, according to the release.

Godoy and Gonzales were arrested on suspicion of attempted murder, assault with a deadly weapon, robbery, burglary and false imprisonment.

The charges also carried gang enhancements. Godoy is a validated Sureno and Gonzales is a former member of the Mexican Mafia prison gang, the release states.

While they were in jail, Gonzales and Godoy, as well as other inmates, exchanged jail house letters outlining a plan to hurt and kill witnesses who were going to testify against the two men. The confiscated letters also outlined a fabricated defense that the two men worked on in order to deceive a jury if the case got to trial, the release states.

A jury convicted both men of attempted murder, assault with a deadly weapon and false imprisonment.

Godoy was sentenced to 59 years and four months to life in prison. Gonzales, who had two "strikes" prior to the shooting, was sentenced to 146 years to life under the state's Three Strikes law, the release states.

"Gang cases are difficult to prosecute because of the fear and intimidation that gang members instill in the community and among witnesses of a crime," Deputy District Attorney Deanna Hays stated in a news release.

Deputy tries to help kid with improbable dream

From Stan Oklobdzija:

This 9-year old boy dreams of playing pro football someday.

That's what he told Sacramento County Sheriff's Deputy Jeff Massagli as he stood watch over him and his family while other officers tore apart his South Sacramento home late last month looking for drugs.

While most kids his age were at school, he and his 13-year-old sister were caught in the middle of a raid. Someone at the house sold crack-cocaine to an undercover officer that afternoon and officers were inside the house looking for the rest of the stash.

There was no electricity in the house and even though the air stunk heavily of natural gas, several ashtrays were overflowing with cigarette butts. Checking inside the fridge, all one found was the acrid stench of rotten food.

"Is this a good place to stay?" Massagli asked.

The boy shook his head.

Massagli started into a pep talk with the boy, telling him that if he wants to play professional football, he's got to play in high school and college first. That means staying in school, he said.

But later Massagli doubted how much effect his words might have.

"It's such a minor influence," he said. "The greater influence is his mom and grandmother."

Both were arrested that day for felony child endangerment.

A Sacramento County Child Protective Services worker later took him and his sister away. Massagli said it'd be their best chance at a normal life.

"The best is to take him out of this mess and giving him a shot at what he wants to do," Massagli said.

A 10-year veteran of the department, Massagli said he's seen hundreds of kids like this boy in his career.

"This isn't uncommon," he said.

Crime Alert: Sacramento police seek homicide suspect

Sacramento Police homicide detectives are seeking Pablo Villanueva Gonzalez (left photo) on a felony no-bail arrest warrant for suspicion of murder, Sacramento Crime Alert officials report.

As reported in The Bee, Gonzalez is suspected of gunning down another man after an argument in a North Sacramento neighborhood Sept. 6.

John Edred Silver, 20, of Sacramento was killed after being shot several times in front of a house on the 500 block of Calvados Avenue, near Del Paso Boulevard, police officials said.

Silver was standing in front of the suspect's home when a confrontation broke out between the two men, police said.

"This was not a random act," Sacramento police spokesman Officer Konrad Von Schoech said.

Gonzalez is described as 5 feet, 6 inches and weighing about 180 pounds, police said. He may be driving a green 1997 Ford Explorer with California license plate 6COR640. Police also think he might be traveling with his wife, 13-year-old daughter and 20-year-old son.

Von Schoech said were "somewhat known to each other."

Sacramento Superior Court records show that Silver had some recent issues, serving a 270-day sentence for armed robbery about a year ago. At the time, he was on probation after pleading no contest to causing corporal injury to a co-habitant, court records show.

Auburn man indicted in worker's compensation case

From Niesha Lofing:

An Auburn man has been indicted on suspicion of bilking the government out of worker's compensation benefits.

According to the 15-count indictment returned by a federal grand jury, Mark Anthony Correnti, 49, allegedly lied about his employment and income beginning in 2000 and received more than $200,000 in government worker's compensation benefits under the Federal Employees' Compensation Act, according to a news release by the office of U.S. Attorney McGregor Scott.

Correnti allegedly said he was unemployed and had no income from 2000 to 2008, the release states.

But during that time, Correnti owned Safe N Sound Boat and RV Storage in Auburn and earned an income through the business, the release states.

Correnti was indicted on suspicion of theft of government money, mail fraud and making false statements.

If convicted, he faces a maximum of 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release.

The case was investigated by the Department of Defense, the Defense Criminal Investigative Service's Sacramento office and the U.S. Department of Labor.

Homeless man slain in south Sacramento field is identified

From Niesha Lofing:

Sacramento County coroner's officials have identified a homeless man who was killed in a south Sacramento field Sept. 24 as Vincent Segura Hernandez, 39.

Hernandez's body was found in a homeless camp off 47th Avenue, across the street from the Campbell's soup factory and the light rail station.

He had been shot several times in the upper body, police said.

About 13 hours later, another man, David Butler, 39, was found dead in the same field.

A homeless man has been arrested in connection to Hernandez's death. Oscar Martinez, 31, is being held on suspicion of murder in Sacramento County Main Jail, according to online jail information.

He also is being held on suspicion of burglary, buying or receiving stolen property and impersonating another person causing liability. The three felonies stem from an arrest earlier this week.

Martinez also is being held on a warrant for corporal injury of a spouse or cohabitant. The U.S. Border Patrol also has a hold issued on Martinez, the sheriff's Web site states.

Police believe Martinez knew Hernandez and the shooting was the result of an ongoing dispute.

Police are still investigating the possibility that the two homicides are linked, police Sgt. Matt Young said in an earlier interview with The Bee.

October 2, 2008

Sacramento police seek gun-carrying 13-year-old

From Stan Oklobdzija:

Sacramento Police are on the lookout for a 13-year-old running around the Greenhaven area with a gun, dispatchers said.

Around 3:30 p.m. Thursday, a call came in that the 13-year-old, described as a black male wearing a dark shirt and dark pants, was running about the area near Greenhaven Lake.

The boy was last seen near the intersection of Riverside Boulevard and Clipper Way. Anyone with information is asked to call the Sacramento Police at 443-HELP.