San Diego Criminal Defense Lawyer Blog

In San Diego County there were approximately 260 inmates convicted of nonviolent crimes that were released from jails around the San Diego County now that a new state law that is in effect.

A bill that was signed to reduce the state prison population as part of last year’s budget which will decrease an inmate’s amount of time served by about half. This new rule will be retroactive and the inmate will be credited for time already served.

Jail inmates convicted of San Diego violent crimes or crimes relating to children are not eligible for this new rule that now is in effect. Prisoners that were being released from jails in Otay Mesa or George Bailey were brought by bus to South Bay Jail or downtown where they were able use public transit.

The San Diego County Sheriff’s Department has been working in conjunction with the Probation Department, Public Defenders Office, County Council and the District Attorney’s Office to decide which inmates, out of about 1600 are eligible for early release.

Local jails release 260 under new state law, Sign on San Diego, January 25, 2010

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In Santee there were eight people arrested on Thursday on suspicion of burglary in connection with a 20 home crime spree, according to a San Diego County sheriff’s sergeant.

The young adults who were 21 and under were taken into custody on charges of suspicion of burglary, possession of stolen property, conspiracy, possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of controlled substances for sale.

All of the suspected San Diego criminals live in or near the area where the burglaries took place. Since June the break-ins would occur during the day. Jewelry worth $50,000, and video game systems were some of the property taken. The stolen goods were sold to pawn shops in San Diego’s East County and to kiosks in the Parkway Plaza mall that would buy gold.

The alleged thieves were arrested and taken into custody. Sheriff’s deputies found drug paraphernalia, heroin, a firearm and other stolen property during the raids.

8 People Arrested In Santee Burglary Series, 10news.com, January 28, 2010

Eight Young People Arrested in Santee Burglary RIng, San Diego 6 The CW, January 28, 2010

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A man charged with 20 counts of robbery known as the “Backroom Bandit,” was sentenced to 14 years in state prison for robbing businesses across San Diego County.

Dragon Jones, 41, came across the border to look for work to support his family after his restaurant in Tijuana failed, but was not successful which resulted in him turning to San Diego crime. “Things got very difficult for him financially,” according to Jones’ criminal defense attorney who argued for an eight year prison sentence, but was unsuccessful.

The thief would target small businesses in San Diego, El Cajon, National City, Lemon Grove, Chula Vista and Poway. He would force female employees to the back room and terrorize them by brandishing a fake gun after demanding that they give him money. The San Diego thief would also threaten to shoot them and if they called the police he said he would be back.

Jones was arrested at the San Ysidro Port of Entry on October 31, when he tried to come back into the United States. He was ordered by the judge to make restitution to the victims in the amount of $4,291. Jones who had no prior criminal record was very regretful and sorry for the San Diego robberies he committed was sentenced to 14 years in prison.

'Backroom Bandit' To Serve 14 Years In Prison, 10news.com, January 25, 2010

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A man from Escondido, who is also known by police as the “Sunset Bandit”, has been ordered to stand trial in April for allegedly holding up several small businesses around the North County area of San Diego.

Thirty two year-old Joel Chacon of Escondido is suspected of the robbing of small businesses in San Diego, Oceanside, Escondido, Vista and San Marcos by pretending to make a purchase, then when the cashier opens the cash drawer the San Diego thief would demand money while revealing the gun he was carrying on his waist..

The suspected North San Diego County bandit who was given this name because of the time of day he struck has been charged with 22 counts of attempted robbery, according to Deputy District Attorney Makenzie Harvey.

Chacon who remains in custody on $1 million bail has been ordered by Judge Joan Weber to stand trial on April 27.

Sunset Bandit Suspect to Stand Trial, San Diego 6 The CW, January 19, 2010

Sunset Bandit’s’ trial begins, San Diego News Network, January 14, 2010

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A San Diego Del Norte school freshman girl’s soccer coach was released from county jail Friday after being arrested on suspicion of sending a sexual text message to a minor student.

Robin Michael Alarcon an assistant freshman girl’s soccer coach was arrested on Wednesday at the 4-S Ranch campus on suspicion of luring a minor for sexual purposes and sending “harmful matter” to a juvenile.

San Diego sex crime charges were not filed against Alarcon. More investigation is still needed and more questions need to be answered, according to police. The 35 year-old has been “permanently released from all duties” with the Poway Unified School District, according to Sharon Raffer spokeswoman for the district.

This was the second arrest since December when Ryan Paul Carnell, a former Westview High School volunteer wrestling coach was arrested for allegedly molesting a juvenile female student. The 28 year-old Carnell three months earlier pleaded no contest to lewd behavior for sending a picture of his genitals to an underage female student.

School Soccer Coach Arrested for Sexting Released from Jail, San Diego 6 The CW, January 8,2010

HS Coach Accused Of Sexting Avoiding Questions, 10news.com, January 11, 2010

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A San Diego Miramar based Marine pled not guilty on Thursday to the murder of his 19 year-old wife of two months at their Mira Mesa apartment.

21 year-old Lance CPL. Patrick Thomas Poteat who had earlier allegedly confessed to the homicide, never reported to work on Tuesday at the Marine Corps Air Station Miramar. He sent his superior a text and told him to call 911 and “force entry into the apartment,” where “you’ll find my wife’s body,” said Deputy District Attorney Dan Link.

San Diego police found the body of Kalyn O’Barr-Poteat who with scratches on her neck appeared to have been choked to death. Kalyn who worked at Goldfingers Gentlemen's Club as a nude dancer had recently told her mother that her husbands temper was starting to frighten her.

Police also found a signed note by Poteat on the refrigerator confessing to the killing, linking the Marine to the murder. Poteat was heading to Twenty-nine Palms when officers arrested him for the San Diego murder of his wife. He is being held on $1 million bail. A preliminary hearing has been scheduled by Judge Szumowski on January 22. If Poteat is convicted he could face 25 years to life in prison.

Newlywed Expressed Fear of Marine Husband before Murder, San Diego 6 The CW, January 7, 2010

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