San Diego Criminal Defense Lawyer Blog

San Diego law enforcement went undercover over a five month multi agency crime investigation in an operation to crackdown on documented gang members in the Skyline area suspected of drug and weapons trafficking, murder, robbery and other violent crimes, 93 have been arrested, said San Diego police.

The undercover operation known as “Operation Red Sky” involved the San Diego police department, along with the San Diego County District Attorney’s Office and Probation Department, Ca Parole Dept., the United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, U.S. Attorney’s Office, U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, the U.S. Marshals Service and the Naval Criminal Investigative Service.

Together they seized drugs and narcotics including approximately $60,000 in cash, 19 weapons, and 240 marijuana plants, 20 lbs. of powder and crack cocaine, 10 lbs. of harvested cannabis, 2 lbs. of methamphetamine, 18 vials of PCP, and 3000 ecstasy pills.

“Were using diversion, a hundred-percent increase in the amount of diversion, to really work very closely with the community of San Diego to make it the safest large city in America,” said SDPD Chief William Lansdowne.

Guns And Drugs Seized, 93 Arrested In 'Operation Red Sky', 10News.com, September 28, 2009

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A San Marcos High School student was taken into custody for allegedly raping a 14 year old girl near the school campus.

The San Marcos sexual assault happened on May 12 but was not reported to the police by the 14 year-old girl until September 6. The alleged rape took place in back of a business complex, according to San Diego sheriff’s Detective Pete Carrillo.

At the time of the alleged sexual assault, the girl refused to press charges. She also said there were two 16 year old boys implicated in the rape. According to investigators one of the boys was involved in another sexual assault that happened in 2008 at a different high school in the area, with a girl, 13.

The boy whose name has not been released because he is a minor was arrested on Thursday about 10:30 a.m. for this serious San Diego crime. He remains in Juvenile Hall on charges of suspicion of rape, and rape by intoxication.

Boy, 16, Accused Of San Marcos Rape Arrested, 10News.com, September 25, 2009

SAN MARCOS: Teenager arrested on rape charges, North County Times, September 25, 2009

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A Carlsbad home invasion robbery ends with two gunmen arrested and taken to jail on suspicion of felony armed robbery.

The Carlsbad robbery occurred about 8:20 p.m. on Wednesday in the 7200 block of San Benito, when two armed men, 27 year-old Francisco Bonillas, and 28 year-old Robert Amador broke into the home of a couple and were later arrested by police, according to Carlsbad police Sergeant Steve Thomas.

The thieves escaped with the stolen goods in a four door white Mitsubishi. Police soon recognized the Mitsubishi on eastbound 78 and was able to make the vehicle come to a halt at San Marcos Blvd. and Grand Avenue.

Amador tried to escape but, was later caught by police. Bonilla gave himself up right away. Police found the weapons and the Carlsbad couples stolen property inside the car. The suspects were taken into custody where they were booked on suspicion of felony armed robbery at the Vista Detention Facility.

Two Arrested for Carlsbad Home Invasion Armed Robbery, San Diego 6 The CW, September 24, 2009

CARLSBAD: Police capture suspects following Carlsbad Burglary, North County Times, September 24, 2009

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A principal of an Oceanside Elementary school who allegedly stole $50,000 over four years from the Oceanside School District and the PTA, pleads not guilty to ten felony counts.

After being charged on August 28 for allegedly steeling $50,000 from the Oceanside Unified School District and the PTA, Paulette Dastrup Thompson pled not guilty to nine counts of grand theft and one count of identity theft during her arraignment on Tuesday in front of Judge David Szumowski.

In February, Thompson took a leave of absence from her position at Reynolds Elementary School after an investigation took place regarding the missing funds. The school district brought the information to the police who then turned over the case to the District Attorney’s Office.

The 59 year-old defendant remains out of custody on her own recognizance. If convicted she could be facing probation to nine years in state prison for the grand theft felony charges, according to Deputy District Attorney Robert Eichler. A November 3rd readiness conference has been set and a December 1st preliminary hearing has been scheduled by Judge Szumowski.

Oceanside Principal Pleads Not Guilty To Grand Theft, 10News.com, September 22,2009

Principal Accused of Stealing $50,000 from School, San Diego 6 The CW, September 22, 2009

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An Oceanside man was taken into custody after allegedly committing sex-related crimes with a minor for five months.

Oceanside police arrested 49 year old Robert Jay Kaden at his home on South Myers Street in Oceanside on Wednesday. The victim, a minor runaway girl, 15, told detectives that Kaden would take her to motels and his home to have sexual relations with her. He also gave her marijuana, according to Sgt. Kelan Poorman.

“Police believe that Kaden was aware that the victim was a minor during these crimes,” said Sgt Poorman. It was also reported that Kaden bragged to the minor girl that he had sex with other underage girls as he showed her pictures of them.

As investigators were searching the suspects home for evidence, cocaine and psychedelic mushrooms were found.

The suspect of the alleged Oceanside sex crimes was arrested and booked into the Vista Detention Facility on suspicion of statutory rape, committing a lewd act with a minor, and providing drugs to a minor. Bail was set at $200,000.

Suspect arrested in Oceanside statutory rape case, KFMB News 8, September 16, 2009

Oceanside Man Arrested for Statutory Rape, San Diego 6 The CW, Sptember 16, 2009

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A La Jolla Bank was robbed on Saturday by an elderly man on an oxygen tank who escaped on foot and fled from police with the money.

The La Jolla robbery suspect walked into the San Diego National Bank shortly after 10:00 a.m. in the 7800 block of Ivanhoe Avenue and approached a bank teller with a demand note. The teller gave the elderly man who had tubes leading up his nose from the oxygen tank he was carrying, an undisclosed amount of money, said San Diego police Sergeant Ray Battrick.

The 6 foot 6, white haired robbery suspect appears to be in his 70’s or 80’s, with a grey mustache and wearing glasses. He was sporting a white beret and a brown jacket over an argyle sweater, according to the FBI’s description.

It was not known if the La Jolla Bank thief was carrying a deadly weapon during the La Jolla theft crime. He fled the bank on foot with an undetermined amount of cash.

Elderly man with oxygen tank robs La Jolla bank, KFMB News 8, September 13, 2009

Elderly Bank Robber on Oxygen Gets Away on Foot, San Diego 6 The CW, September 13, 2009

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An Oceanside man was killed after being shot several times by an on duty Vista Transit Center security guard.

Anthony G Wacker, 21, died of gunshot wounds after an on duty North County Transit District security guard fired two rounds after a quarrel spiraled into a brutal physical brawl. The shooting took place near the Vista Transit Center on Friday und 8:40 p.m., in the 100 block of Olive Avenue, according to San Diego Sheriff’s Lt. Dennis Brugos.

Sheriff’s deputies are looking into if the area where the Vista shooting occurred is in the security guards patrol area. The transit center is located a 240 N. Santa Fe Avenue.

The security guard shot himself while firing the two rounds from his handgun. He was transported to a local hospital where he was expected to live. The medical examiners office was scheduled to perform an autopsy Sunday on the Oceanside man.

Fatal Shooting at Vista Transit Center; Victim ID'd, San Diego 6 The CW, September 12, 2009

Oceanside man killed by security guard at Vista Transit Center, KFMB News 8, September 12, 2009

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San Diego Chargers Shawne Merriman was arrested at his home in Poway on suspicion of felony battery and false imprisonment for allegedly choking MTV reality star Tila Tequila on Sunday.

According to San Diego County Sheriff’s deputies, 27 year-old Tila made a 911 call at 3:45 a.m. stating that the Chargers outside linebacker choked her, threw her on the floor and physically restrained her from departing his home in Poway.

Tequila was taken to Pomerado Hospital where she was reported to be in good condition. “Deputies did not observe any injuries to her, but she wanted to go and that is her right,” said Jan Caldwell, spokeswomen for the Sheriff’s Department.

“During the evening, Ms. Tequila was extremely intoxicated, inebriated and Mr. Merriman did everything he could to assist her in arranging for transportation to leave his home,” said Todd Macaluso, criminal defense attorney for Merriman, to reporters. “At no time did Mr. Merriman assault her; at no time did Mr. Merriman keep her against her will. His intentions were nothing but good.”

Merriman, 25, was taken into custody and later released. Police are still investigating the domestic incident. Formal charges have not been made pending the District Attorney’s office investigation.

In a statement said by San Diego Chargers General Manager A.J. Smith, “It’s disappointing to hear about the issue regarding Shawne Merriman.” “We’ll continue to monitor the situation and let the legal process run its course.”

CHARGERS: Merriman arrested in domestic incident, North County Times, September 6,2009

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The East County Gang Task Force arrested a man suspected of attempted murder of another man in what appears to be a gang related shooting.

Maurice White a 23 year-old man from Vista was taken into custody Wednesday after the La Mesa shooting suspect was recognized on a surveillance video by a person at the County Probation Department.

The La Mesa shooting incident happened in a motel parking lot on August 23 at The Heritage Inn on 7851 Fletcher Parkway.

The victim who was taken to a local hospital after being found in his car with three gunshot wounds is said to survive. Witnesses reported that the gunman went into a room at the motel but, officials were not able to locate him, according to police.

The gunman was taken into custody on charges of attempted murder, assault with a deadly weapon, and taking part in criminal gang activity.

Man Arrested In La Mesa Motel Shooting, News10.com, September 3, 2009

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http://www.sandiegolawcenter.com/lawyer-attorney-1239588.htmlA San Diego Dental office manager, who pled guilty to four felony charges today, now awaits sentencing.

Emily Marie Forbes, 48 of Paradise Hills pleaded guilty to felony burglary charges, identity theft and financial abuse, stealing checks from patients some who were 65 and older, using their personal information to open up false credit accounts, and stealing over $70,000 from their bank accounts over the past several years.

Forbes worked at five dental offices in San Diego, Chula Vista and El Cajon. She was employed by Scripps Ranch Family Dentistry at the time of her arrest on August 18 for the San Diego theft crime.

On Oct 1, Forbes will begin her prison sentence of five years and four months. It was recommended that her prison term be served in the Department of Corrections drug rehabilitation program.

Dental office manager pleads guilty to stealing over $70K from patients, KFMB News 8, September 1,2009

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