San Diego Criminal Defense Lawyer Blog

Nine people were taken into custody during a San Diego sex offender sweep that was to make sure that all prior sex-offenders were in compliance.

The California Attorney General’s office led the San Diego sex-crime sweep. The nine were arrested on parole and probation violations, drug paraphernalia and weapon possession charges. “Because of sex offenders’ propensity to re-offend, keeping tabs on them is crucial to protecting the public,” said Attorney General Jerry Brown. “As in many things, the price of safety is constant vigilance, and my office is committed to providing that,” he said.

The “Operation Watchdog” included over 100 officers from various local, state and federal agencies that combed the region to find out if prior sex offenders are abiding by all laws and residing at the addresses that are on record with law enforcement.

There are serious repercussions that may come with being accused of committing a San Diego sex crime. MosSex of the sexual crimes committed in San Diego are felony sex crimes.

Sex Offender Sweep Nets 9 Arrests, San Diego 6 the CW, July 15, 2010

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A boy, who was suspected of raping a 16 year-old girl in Escondido at gunpoint as she was walking to school, is to be charged as an adult.

Daniel Joseph Entzminger, 17, was arrested at Washington Park the day after the San Diego violent attack occured. A teenage girl was walking to school along a path near North Ash Street and East Valley Parkway around 8:30 a.m. when she noticed a male pass her. As she looked back at him, she saw him running toward her wearing a black ski mask and holding a gun. He caught up to her, held the pistol to her side and raped her in some bushes, according to Lt. Craig Carter.

According to prosecutor Patrick Espinoza, San Diego County District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis had the choice of filing the San Diego criminal case in adult court or bring the case to juvenile court. “Because of the serious nature of the crime, because a handgun was used, because a 16-year-old girl was kidnapped on her way to school, that’s why we decided to charge the case as we did,” said Espinoza.

Entzminger pleaded not guilty to rape, robbery and aggravated kidnapping charges and could face a maximum of 50 years in prison if he is convicted. The defendant, who is being held on $1 million bail, is being charged as an adult under California’s “one strike law.”

Boy accused of raping girl on her way to school charged in adult court, KFMB news 8, July 14, 2010

ESCONDIDO: Teen rape suspect charged, faces life in prison, North County Times, July 14, 2010

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Outside an El Cajon Jack in the Box a man who threatened a pedestrian with a large hunting knife is shot by an El Cajon Police Officer after he ignored orders to drop the weapon and came after the officer, died from gunshot wounds.

Moses Jovid Muhammad, 56, was told to drop the knife he was wielding at a pedestrian by motorcycle Officer Nick Spreccho. When he didn’t drop the weapon and instead lunged after the officer, he was shot several times by Officer Spreccho.

The El Cajon shooting incident happened outside a Jack in the Box restaurant at second Street and Madison Avenue, according to El Cajon police Lt. Mark Coit. The Officer is a nine year veteran and the son of El Cajon Police Department Chief Pat Spreccho.

The knife wielding criminal suspect died after undergoing surgery for gunshot wounds to his upper body and legs.

Officer Shoots Knife-Wielding Man At Restaurant, 10News.com, July 2, 2010

Suspect Dies after El Cajon Police Shooting at Restaurant, San Diego 6 The CW, July 8, 2010

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A man who was suspected of the North San Diego attempted murder of three men at a San Marcos donut shop was taken into custody after being found hiding under his girlfriend’s bed, according to sheriff’s officials.

Daniel Helweski, 26, started shooting at three men outside a Yum Yum donut shop with a 9 mm pistol. The San Diego shooting incident occurred after an argument broke out around 10:45 p.m. on East Mission Road, according to sheriff’s Sgt. Dan Deese.

None of the three men were injured from the gunshots. One man sustained slight cuts from a glass window that was broken from the shots fired into the victim’s vehicle. The alleged shooter also fired shots into the San Marcos Bakery and a Thai restaurant.

The gunman was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder and taken to jail on Monday after he was found at his girlfriend’s home in San Marcos hiding under the bed.

Suspect in Attempted Murder Found Hiding Under Girlfriend's Bed, San Diego 6 The CW, July 5, 2010

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A San Diego man accused of attacking an 11 year old girl was taken in custody on attempted kidnapping charges.

Christopher Dean Riley, 51, allegedly tried to abduct the girl as he took hold of the 11 year old girl’s wrists as she was walking home from Zamorano Elementary school located in the 7300 block of Tooma Street and Goode Street with her 13 year old brother around 2:50 p.m., according to San Diego police.

As the two children struggled and wrestled away from the alleged abductor, they ran to their home and told their mother. “I saw this guy. He tried to snatch me. He fist-bumped my brother, then he fist-bumped me, then he grabbed my wrist and tried to pull me,” said Diamonn Graham.

The alleged San Diego kidnapper was later found by police at the Bay Terraces Park Recreation Center where he was arrested on attempted kidnapping charges, battery and molesting or annoying a child. He is being held in jail. Bail is set at 100,000.

Man held in attempted kidnapping of 11-year-old girl, June 30, 2010

2 Kids Fight Off Man In Abduction Attempt, June 30, 2010

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A Chula Vista man was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder of his wife after stabbing her numerous times while his children were in the home.

The San Diego domestic violence attack occurred around 8:00 p.m. in the 1300 block of Granite Springs Drive on Monday when a man allegedly attacked his wife with a knife, according to police spokesman Bernard Gonzales.

When San Diego police arrived at the victim’s home in a neighborhood in Eastlake they found her with multiple stab wounds mostly to the upper part of her body. She was transported to a local hospital where she was reported to be in stable condition. The 3 children were taken into protective custody.

Brian Rolstad, 28, who was identified as the victim’s husband and alleged assailant, had left the scene and was later located by police sitting in his car that was parked near the Chula Vista police department on Center Street.

Police arrested Rolstad on a suspected attempted murder charge, and then he was taken to a hospital where he was treated for a probable overdose.

Chula Vista Man Accused Of Stabbing Wife, 10news.com, June 15, 2010

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An ex-NASCAR driver who was jailed after leading San Diego police on a high speed chase was arrested again on suspected rape charges just hours after being released.

Two weeks ago James Neal, 56 was arrested after leading police on a chase at speeds up to 140 mph while driving recklessly in his Corvette down a San Diego freeway. After his release from an Orange County jail on Monday, Neal went to the apartment of a woman whom he had met once before.

After a report was made to police that a man and a woman were fighting, police were launced to the 55 year-old woman’s apartment. According to Sheriff’s spokesman Jim Amormino, “The woman said James Neal had attempted to rape her and would not leave.” “He is being charged with attempted rape and false imprisonment, and this was 4-1/2 hours after being released from jail,” said Amormino.

The former NASCAR racer spent two weeks in jail after pleading guilty to a misdemeanor count evading police while driving recklessly.

Ex-NASCAR Driver Faces Rape Charges Hours After Jail Release, SanDiegoNews.com, May 31, 2010

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A man and woman from Poway who are suspected of numerous San Diego crimes including using counterfeit bills were arrested on Thursday at their home, according to authorities.

Rancho Diego Target security guards alerted San Diego police after discovering that purchases were made using counterfeit money. Mina Thamracksa had made two purchases with the fake bills on March 30.

Police went to her home on Powers Road in Poway on Thursday and arrested her and her boyfriend, Thanh Nguyen, who was recently released on bail from San Diego County jail. When police searched the home in Poway they found stolen items from San Diego burglaries that happened around the county, drugs, counterfeit money, which were all seized including computer equipment, according to Sgt. Jeff Maxin.

The Poway couple who were taken into custody on suspicion of counterfeiting and for other San Diego crimes had their one year-old son taken into protective custody.

Poway Couple Arrested for Counterfeiting, San Diego 6 TheCW, April 29,2010

POWAY: Counterfeit money investigation leads to burglary suspects, North County Times, April 29, 2010

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After the San Diego County Board of Supervisors voted to appropriate more land, Santee jail could be three times the size.

It looks as though plans to grow the Las Colinas Women’s Detention Facility from 15 acres to 45 acres could be in the works. “I think we are now well on the way to starting, putting it out to bid,” according to San Diego County Sheriff William Gore.

Some Santee residents and city officials are not happy with the expansion of Las Colinas and strongly oppose it, but with San Diego crime and the population growth, the facility needs to increase in size.

In 1979 the Santee jail became a female detention center; it was originally built in 1967 to hold juveniles. With the decision made by the San Diego County Board of Supervisors the expansion is likely to become a reality.

Las Colinas Expansion Plan Met With Resistance, 10News.com, April 27,2010

County moves forward with Santee jail expansion, Fox 5 San Diego, April 28,2010

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A San Diego man was shot and killed in his North Park home by a San Diego police officer after he proceeded to attack the officer with a knife.

The San Diego fatal shooting occured after San Diego police were called out to the North Park home around 11:00 a.m. to check on a 56 year-old man’s mental state in the 3400 block of Alabama Street after a call was made to police by a family member.

The knife wielding man who lived with his mother refused to drop the weapon he was carrying after police officers ordered him to. He told police they would have to kill him first, according to San Diego Police Department Lt. Kevin Rooney.

As the man approached the officer with the knife another officer fatally shot him. The man was taken to Scripps Mercy Hospital where he died a little while later.

Knife-Wielding Man Shot By Police In North Park, 10News.com, April 26, 2010

Police Officer Shoots & Kills a Disturbed Man in North Park, San Diego 6 The CW, April 26, 2010

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An operation centering on gang members and affiliates in North San Diego County resulted in 21 San Diego arrests on Tuesday, according to the Sheriff’s department.

The North County sweep took place on Tuesday beginning at 6:00 a.m. with the help of the North County Gang Task Force, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, U.S. Marshals, San Diego County’s fugitive task force, county probation and state parole, deputies arrested 21 and took them into custody.

There were seventeen people arrested on alleged felonies, violating parole and probation violations, narcotics violations, and arrest warrants. Four others were arrested on suspected misdemeanor violations, including resisting arrest, outstanding warrants and being under the influence of drugs.

If you are charged with a San Diego crime, whether a misdemeanor or felony in San Diego County, it may be in your best interest to obtain legal council from an experienced San Diego criminal defense attorney.

21 arrested in sweep of gang members, Sign on San Diego, April 20, 2010

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An East San Diego bank robbery had employees and customers lying on the ground by three armed bandits who escaped with an undetermined amount of cash in Rancho San Diego, said police.

The San Diego thieves held up a Citibank branch office on Monday in Rancho San Diego around 11:00 a.m. in the 3700 block of Avocado Boulevard and Calle Verde Drive.

Everyone in the bank, including bank employees and patrons were ordered to lie on the floor by one of the bank robbers who yielded a gun. The two other bandits ascended over the counters, trampling over the tellers and stealing the cash, according to the FBI.

Three bank tellers were hurt in this San Diego theft crime. The robbers who were considered to be violent, escaped in a white four-door sedan with an undetermined amount of money. Images were captured on a surveillance camera of the three robbery suspects.

Violent trio hits Rancho San Diego bank, Sign on San Diego, April 19, 2010

3 Men Rob East County-Area Bank, 10News.com, April 19, 2010

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