Santa-Ana - Law Offices of William W. Bruzzo

Robbers Were Acting Like Cops

Law Offices of William W. Bruzzo — Sat, 02 Nov 2019 16:56:00 GMT

A man and a woman were arrested for committing a string of robberies in Santa Ana while impersonating police officers. Robbers were acting like cops. The individuals suspected are charged with robbing nearly $2,000 from five victims during four separate incidents in one month. Police are still looking for the third suspect.

During the robberies, one of the suspects was wearing a security-type uniform and carried a handgun. The other suspect wore all black clothing and a jacket that said SECURITY. Santa Ana Police Commander said, “The suspects’ demeanor was that of police officers and the victims did not realize they were being robbed until the suspects fled with their money.”

Robbery, a felony, may be punished by 3 to 6 years in State Prison. California Penal Code Section 211 defines robbery as the felonious taking of personal property in the possession of another, from his person or immediate presence, and against his will, accomplished by means of force or fear. Fear means fear of injury to oneself or the person’s family or property or to someone in one’s company. The value of the property taken does not matter.

An important element for robbery to be established is force or fear. Only an experienced criminal defense attorney can present a robbery defense by demonstrating that no force or fear was used to take the property or to prevent the victim from resisting. See also Penal Code Sections 211, 212.5 and 213; Criminal Law Updates from the Law Offices of William W. Bruzzo (714) 547-4636

Serial Murderer Will Be Tried In Orange County

Law Offices of William W. Bruzzo — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 01:42:00 GMT

Orange County requested extradition Andrew Urdiales from Illinois to face charges for 5 murder cases spanning three counties. The district attorneys of San Diego, Riverside and Orange counties have decided to have the suspect appear and be tried in Santa Ana for all 5 cases. In Illinois he had received the death penalty for three previous murder cases; in 2002 the governor reduced two of the sentences to life without parole. This year Illinois banned the death penalty, converting Urdiales last death sentence into life without parole. The Orange County DA could decide to seek the death penalty. The case from Orange County took place near Saddleback College in 1986. The victim was leaving the college after ushering a concert when Urdiales stabbed her 41 times with a 6 inch serrated hunting knife. He confessed to the murder in 1997. Urdiales a former Marine was stationed in Camp Pendleton from 1984-1991. The four other murders are said to have occurred up to and including 1995.

Criminal law Updates by the Law Offices of Orange County Defense Attorney William W. Bruzzo (714) 547-4636

Here is KABC-TV Los Angeles coverage.

Gang Violence on the Rise in Orange County

Law Offices of William W. Bruzzo — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 15:26:00 GMT

On one single afternoon last month, there were three shootings involving three teenage boys in the city of Santa Ana. That onset of violence and a recent “surge” in gang attacks have gotten police weary of the troublesome summer that lies ahead. Problems get worse in the summer since kids are out of school and hanging out on the streets.

Santa Ana is the biggest city in Orange County and also has the most crime and most gangs, numbering around 100. Officers will be greatly outnumbered in trying to contain the 5,000 documented gang members, as currently, the department is down from an authorized 403 sworn officers to just 362.

Sgt. Lorenzo Carrillo, head of the city’s gang investigative unit stated that they will primarily focus on trying to control the number of “violent” incidents. However, the fight against gangs “goes beyond our police department and enforcement and arrests,” Councilwoman Michele Martinez said. “That’s not going to solve our gang problem. It starts at home and in the community.” See Penal Code Section 186.22

Criminal Law Updates by the Law Offices of William W. Bruzzo (714) 547-4636

Here is an OCinTwo Orange County Register video about the continued gang violence and Santa Ana Police budget constraints.

Orange County Cold Case Solved 36 Years Later

Law Offices of William W. Bruzzo — Fri, 04 Jun 2010 22:53:00 GMT

DNA evidence has solved a 36 year-old-case in Santa Ana. In 1974 the body of a woman was found without clothes and with traces of grease near a Cadillac dealership. The victim, Frances E. Esqueda, had been strangled with her slip. No arrest was made during the investigation. This year, cold case detectives submitted evidence from the scene to the crime lab and received new information. Blood stains on the slip revealed that there was someone else’s blood on the item as well. The sample was compared to a California Attorney General’s DNA data base and a match was found. The blood matched Gerald Gay Kifer a former convict who had served time for sexual crimes. Detectives believed Kifer might have lived in the Santa Ana area at the time of the crime. The search for Kifer resulted in a death certificate; Kifer had died in 2007. While the man could not be brought to justice, the investigation finally brought answers to Esqueda’s remaining relatives.

Medicare Fraudster Uses Orange County Gang Members

Law Offices of William W. Bruzzo — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 15:37:00 GMT

A Medicare fraud case involving Santa Ana gang members and a Long Beach man, Michael Martinez resulted in a 10 year prison sentence for the latter. Martinez pled guilty to a felony as part of a plea deal according to the Orange County Register. Of the 20 co-defendants in the case, six of them were Santa Ana gang members that acted as owners of a supposed medical supply company. Each of them was paid $5,000 for participating in the scheme. Claims were then filed to Medicare for hoax orders of wheelchairs and hospital beds totaling $11.2 million. Sentencing for Martinez is on July 17th of this year.

Anaheim to Vote out Traffic Cameras

Law Offices of William W. Bruzzo — Fri, 23 Apr 2010 15:46:00 GMT

Anaheim city officials are planning to add a measure to the November ballot: No more red light cameras. Yes, the City Council wants to put an end to the days of the flashing bulb as you pass a red light. City officials explain that they worry the red light cameras are a way of putting money into the city’s pocket and not really a concern for safety. Mayor Curt Pringle and others want to add the measure to the ballot for a public vote in November. If it passes by a 51% majority an amendment would be added to the City Charter prohibiting the cameras. Critics believe that the system increases rear-end collisions and that traffic enforcement should be done by police not automated cameras. Those who support the red light cameras express that the system promotes safer driving and reduces side collisions at intersections. Garden Grove and Santa Ana are cities that use this automated system and do not seem to mind the extra money coming in.

Carrying a Concealed Weapon

Law Offices of William W. Bruzzo — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 04:37:00 GMT

The night of January 26, 2010, a 17-year-old gang member was arrested in Santa Ana, Orange County for carrying a loaded weapon. The incident occurred when police spotted the teen riding a “beach cruiser” and “acting suspicious.”

When the officer tried to stop the teen, he jumped off the bike and ran. Police found him later hiding while carrying a loaded .38 caliber revolver.

California prohibits any individual from carrying a concealed firearm upon his or her person or within any vehicle under his or her control or in which he or she is an occupant. Under California Penal Code Section 12025, carrying a concealed firearm is punishable by imprisonment in the state prison, OR by imprisonment in a county jail not to exceed one year, by a fine not to exceed one thousand dollars ($1,000), OR by both fine and imprisonment if: (1) The firearm and ammunition are in immediate possession. Notably, a weapon that is loaded can be transported in a car if it is in a locked container like a carrying case or in the trunk of the car. It can only be carried on the person if the individual is going to or from a vehicle and the weapon must still be in a locked case.

Orange County Home Invasion Probably Drug Related

Law Offices of William W. Bruzzo — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 18:34:00 GMT

Three gang members allegedly broke into a home on New Year’s Eve in Tustin, Orange County, California. One of the suspects pistol whipped the resident and ran off with about $200 according to the Orange County Register. A car chase through Tustin and into Santa Ana ended up with the suspects fleeing on foot. The owner of the car was Jose Zendejas, he was arrested in Long Beach. A second suspect Ernesto Garcia was arrested in Santa Ana and both men are being charged with robbery (Penal Code Section 211) and street terrorism (Penal Code Section 186.22). A third suspect Alberto Penaloza is being charged with robbery, possession of a controlled substance for sale (Health and Safety Code Sections 11359, 11378, 11351) and as convicted felon in possession of a stolen firearm (Penal Code Section 12021(a)(1). An amount of methamphetamine was found and evidence of drug sales (Health and Safety Code Section 11378). Examples of evidence the drug is for sale include if the substance is packaged in individual amounts, the amount of the drug, if scales are found with the drug and/or a significant amount of small bills.

Bubba, Award Winning Bulldog Stolen!

Law Offices of William W. Bruzzo — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 00:41:00 GMT

Bubba, an award-winning bulldog, was stolen last week on December 15th in Santa Ana, Orange County. The owners are offering a $2,000 reward for anyone who can return their prized possession.

California Penal Code Section 487e states: “Every person who feloniously steals, takes, or carries away a dog of another which is of a value exceeding four hundred dollars ($400) is guilty of grand theft.” Bubba recently won second place in the Eukanuba dog show in Long Beach; he has been micro chipped and is worth more than $10,000. “I bring him out every day to work because he is kind of like my little kid,” the owner said. “He’s not only a show dog, but he’s like my little baby.” Grand theft is punishable under Penal Code Section 489 by imprisonment in a county jail not exceeding one year or in the state prison.

In Bubba’s case, an employee accidentally left a door open and the bulldog wandered out of the building. Witnesses told the owner that two men about 20 years old cut across three lanes of traffic in their car to lure the dog inside. The Law Offices of William W. Bruzzo represent individuals accused of all crimes to include grand theft, Penal Code Section 487(a).

Teenager Receives 50 years to Life for Gang Shootings

Law Offices of William W. Bruzzo — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 04:49:00 GMT

16-year-old Marco Antonio Perez was sentenced on October 23, 2009, to a minimum of 50 years in state prison for a 2006 shooting that left two rival gang members dead and a third in a coma.

A jury in adult court found Perez guilty of two felony counts of special-circumstances murder for the benefit of a criminal street gang, one felony count of attempted murder and one felony count of street terrorism.

Perez was prosecuted as an adult for the execution-style shooting that took place in Santa Ana when he was 14 years old. Victims were ages 14, 15, and 16. Two other members of his gang have already been sentenced to multiple life sentences and the other three are awaiting trial.

Juveniles, or minors under the age of 18, can be prosecuted for any of the same crimes for which adults can be prosecuted. So, a child who is 14 years old can be tried in adult court for some serious crimes such as murder and attempted murder, setting fire to a building with people in it, robbery with a weapon, rape, kidnapping or carjacking, crimes with guns, drug crimes, and escaping from a juvenile detention facility without a hearing before a juvenile judge. Prop 21, which was passed in 2000, allows prosecution to direct file without a juvenile court judge making the determination as to whether the minor should remain in juvenile court or be transferred to adult criminal court. Only an experienced criminal defense attorney can then examine the possibility of transferring the minor from adult criminal court back to juvenile court for sentencing under the Reverse Remand Law, Penal Code Sections 1170.17 and 1170.19. The Law Offices of William W. Bruzzo has represented many Defendants to include juveniles charged with gang offenses (Penal Code Section 186.22)