30-year-old Geino Earl Gosey Jr., A.K.A. Tran Viet Quoc, faces 16 charges under PC 530.5(a), Felony possession of identity through the use of a credit card, and grand theft under PC 484-487(a).

In Sept of 2013, Gosey, with another man – Jermaine Brewer, were found to be in collusion with each other using the same identifiable information to illegally obtain American Express Cards from a victim at a Costco store, under the aliases Sean Hayes and Eric Smith, just moments from each the other’s purchases. The two suspects had both purchased SLR Cameras exceeding $3000.00, along with other items totaling $2000.00 or more. Under the law both suspects had conspired to commit the same crime under PC 530.5(a), PC 459 – burglary, and PC 484 (g) – fraudulent use of a credit card.

It was found that earlier, in March of 2013, Gosey had entered three separate Costco stores and had purchased items worth thousands of dollars with stolen American Express credit cards. Costco Loss Prevention Employees reported that Brewer and Gosey had been purchasing items using fraudulent credit cards throughout the Bay Area. It was undetermined how Gosey and Brewer had obtained the stolen credit cards.

The real Geino Earl Gosey Jr.?

In April of 2013, Vallejo police were seeking the identity of a person suspected of credit card fraud and identity theft at their local Costco store, located at 198 Plaza Drive. Further investigation revealed that Gosey was a former employee of Costco, and was identified by two co-workers who had worked with him in the past in Hayward. They were able to recognize and identify Gosey from recent security alert photos used at Costco stores throughout the Bay area.

Loss Prevention investigators were able to determine that Gosey had set up three separate accounts and used three separate identities in order to commit fraud. Brewer and Gosey had gone to Vallejo, San Francisco, Foster City, Redwood City, and Santa Clara County Costco locations in order to purchase high-end items with the fraudulent credit cards. The total loss, by more than 17 victims, was more than $60,000. In March of 2014, Gosey forfeited a $20,000 deposit for his release after having his $200,000 bail revoked.

The Solano District Attorney’s Office has allowed the Santa Clara County Superior Court to handle the procedings in order to help consolidate the case and evidence collected against Gosey.

Brewer has pleaded guilty to all 16 counts in the Santa Clara County Superior Court. However, Gosey has yet to plea, and is awaiting his next court date on September 17 in Dept 35 at 1:30 PM in the San Jose Hall of Justice.

The Sacramento County Sheriff’s Department has reportedly made another arrest in a shooting incident from July that killed one man and wounded four others, according to an official press release.

Frederick Lamont Davis, 28, of Sacramento was reportedly arrested Thursday, August 28, and booked into the Sacramento County Mail Jail on an assault with a deadly weapon charge related to the July shooting. A mugshot for the suspect was unavailable at this time.

According to Sacramento County Sheriff, on the early hours of Sunday, July 13, Tyrell Hall, 20, was shot and killed in the parking lot of a hookah lounge in the 1900 block of Fulton Avenue. According to our previous report, Frank Jackson, 19, and Tana Dania, 23 were arrested on July 14, and another man, James Wallace, 28, was arrested on July 16.

Two images of the Hookah Lounge in Sacramento.

Tana Dania and Frank Jackson were previously arrested in the shooting that followed a Saturday night gathering.

Sheriff’s homicide detectives had previously released photographs asking for the public’s assistance in identifying another individual they reportedly believed had significant information related to the shooting. With the aid of phone calls, emails and tips from the community, detectives were reportedly able to arrest another suspect, identified as Davis.

Homicide detectives are also asking the public for further assistance in identifying another person of interest. He is reportedly described as a black male adult with collar-length dreadlocks and goatee-style facial hair. He reportedly appears to have a tattoo on his left bicep and is seen wearing a reddish-colored shirt, denim pants, and red colored shoes. He is seen in the above surveillance photos on the scene.

Anyone with information regarding the identity of this remaining subject is asked to contact the Sheriff’s Department at 916-874-5115.

Read More:

CrimeVoice: Man killed outside of Hookah Lounge

A South Bay Area real estate broker and a notary public have been charged with a scheme that involved enticing mostly Vietnamese-American victims into investing in foreign gold, a bail bond business, or some other “secret” investment, by promising them abnormally high returns on their investments. Investigation by the District Attorney’s Office revealed that the business offered by the suspects actually never even existed.

Lananh Thi Phan, a licensed real estate agent associated with Realty World-Quality Homes, Inc. in San Jose, and Diane H. Do Bui, a commissioned notary public, are charged with multiple felonies. Both were arrested on Wednesday, August 27. Phan, 54, is being held in lieu of ten-million dollar bail. Bui, 49, is being held in lieu of five-million dollar bail. If convicted, they face up to 24 years in prison.

“We are looking for more victims in this case,’’ prosecutor Kimberly Connors said. “Unfortunately, these defendants lured their victims with promises of incredible profits and a secure financial future. Instead, they lost what security they had.” The prosecutor said that she would seek restitution for the victims.

A year-long District Attorney’s Office investigation found the “Ponzi” scheme was operating for the past 5 years. Most of the victims were told that they had to invest a minimum of $25,000, and they would receive returns of $1,500 per month. The amount of money lost by 18 documented victims totals more than eight-million dollars.

At first, victims would receive monthly returns that exceeded their expectations. Once their confidence in securing their investments with the suspects, each victim was asked if they would like to invest more of their savings for a higher return on investment. Usually, the victims were persuaded to roll their monthly returns directly back into the business, and the suspects were able to stop giving any money to the victims. Victims told investigators that Phan bragged to them about her success and showed them her collection of high-end Louis Vuitton purses.

The Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office asks anyone who thinks they may have been a victim in this case to call the District Attorney’s Real Estate Fraud Unit at (408) 792-2879.

Read More:

KRON: Two women charged for scamming victims out of $8 Million in Ponzi scheme

It sounds like somebody needs to come up with better security questions.

According to a police report, on August 17, a woman received a call from her credit card company because of a suspicious transaction. She was not familiar with the transaction and as a result, the woman contacted the Santa Clarita deputies. They began an investigation on the suspect connected to the purchase.

During the investigation, detectives learned that the suspect ordered a Fed-Ex delivery of a new credit card to be sent to the victim’s home in Santa Clarita. The suspect was able to get through the victim’s security questions to process the delivery request. The the suspect seemingly stole the delivered package off of the victim’s property to steal the new credit card. Later in the day, the suspect went out and purchased a very expensive Rolex watch, which was $23,000, with the stolen credit card in Bakersfield, CA. The suspect was asked to present her ID, which had the suspect’s picture and the victim’s personal information on it.

Surveillance photos were able to catch the suspect, while she was making the fraudulent purchase.

The suspect is still unknown, but is a woman with a supposedly Caucasian or Asian descent. Detectives are asking for help to identify the suspect.

Detectives believe that the suspect may have possibly been involved more related crimes to this one.

No further information is being released.

When a person or organization wants to run their own website, unless they have a large technology staff and resources, they use a web hosting company to provide the resources, while they are able to add and delete content and maintain the site’s look and direction. The most well known of these companies is Go Daddy, but there are hundreds more providing this service, such as Just Host, Bluehost, Web.com and more. An employee at one of these types of companies, who was not identified, saw that one of their hosted sites contained images of child pornography, and immediately contacted the United States Department of Homeland Security, Cybercrimes Division.

On June 5 of this year, according to the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office, an agent from the D.H.S. contacted the Sheriff, because the web host had identified an I.P. (Internet Protocol) address for the suspected website manager as being located in Arcata, California.

Arcata is a coastal town in far northern California, just outside of Eureka. It is known as the home of Humboldt State University, and has a population below 20,000. The IP address was tracked to a resident, 64-year-old Christopher Steven Haynes. According to his Facebook profile, Haynes is a geography lecturer at the university.

A Sheriff’s Detective was assigned to the case, and obtained a search warrant for Haynes, his home, and computer. The warrant was served on July 10 with the assistance of agents from the F.B.I., Humboldt State University Police, and the Arcata Police. They seized Haynes’ computer, along with an additional thumb drive and hard disk, which Haynes handed over. A D.A.’s office investigator conducted a forensic examination of the material, and found thousands of images and videos of child pornography.

After the examination and evidence was collected, an arrest warrant was issued for Haynes, and he was taken into custody today at noon. He was booked into Humboldt County Jail on charges of possession of matter depicting a minor engaging or simulating sexual conduct, sending or duplicating sexual content involving a minor, exchanging or distributing content involving sexual content of a minor, and sexual exploitation of a child. Bail was set at $100,000. Anyone with information regarding this case is encouraged to call the Sheriff’s Office at 707-445-7251, or the tip line at 707-268-2539.

LOST HILLS — Two men were arrested for possessing illegal assault weapons they alledgely used to poach animals in a rural area 20 miles northeast of Bakersfield.

Edgar Rios-Medina, 24, and 31-year-old Agustion Reillo Rios were booked into the Kern County Jail for being in possession of an assault weapon. According to the Kern County Sheriff’s Office, the pair were taken into custody after an investigation into illegal shooting, poaching and trespassing was conducted by the sheriff’s office and the California Department of Fish and Game late last month.

….more of the seized weapons….

“Personnel from Paramount Farms contacted our department in regards to illegal activity occurring on their property in the area of Highway 33 and Weiser Road,” sheriff’s Public Information Officer Ray Pruitt said. ” A joint operation with the California Department of Fish and Game was planned and conducted on the morning of Aug. 30.”

…and even more seized weapons

During the operation a group of subjects was spotted by deputies and fish and game warden, using a spotlight and shooting automatic weapons from a truck as they drove through the area.”The warden initiated a traffic stop as the truck attempted to leave the area, detaining 12 subjects,” Pruitt said.

During the stop a total of 11 long rifles and several semi-auto pistols were discovered, including a fully automatic Glock 9mm pistol. At the same time, Rios-Medina and Rios were also found to be in possession of a pair of AK-47 semi automatic assault weapons. Both men were also issued several citations for fish and game violations.

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KERO: Two men arrested for having assault weapons

Bakersfield Now: Guns seized, 2 arrested in farmland shooting

A Solano County Jail inmate with a long rap sheet dating back more than ten years, and who is now serving time for two felony theft charges, has sued the jail. Partly his grievance concerns a letter returned with 21 cents postage due. Greene notably was arrested for beating up an 84-year-old man over a claimed debt in May, 2012.

Adolph P. Greene, 47, filed his federal civil rights lawsuit on August 21. Greene’s lawsuit also claims his constitutional rights were violated by jail staff in May. They had refused to provide him with two special envelopes, a pen and lined paper so that he could sue the jail. Green claims he is indigent. But since the staff’s refusal to supply him with stationery, he has acquired resources. Now he is filing the legal action as a victim of injustice.

Greene’s lawsuit outlines how he has suffered mental anguish and emotional stress caused by displays of calculated, malicious indifference by jail staff.

Since 2003, Fairfield police have arrested Greene more than 14 times. He was sent to prison in 2009. After his release from prison in 2011, Greene was arrested in 2012 for allegedly robbing an 84-year-old man at his North Texas Street home in Fairfield. Since then, Greene has been arrested seven times.

Court dates for Green’s lawsuit have yet to be scheduled.

San Luis Obispo Sheriff’s deputies have arrested a man for allegedly vandalizing the sheriff’s north patrol station in Templeton Saturday afternoon.

According to the sheriff’s office, they received a dispatch regarding a family dispute in the parking lot of the north patrol station around 1:10 p.m. The suspect, later identified as Juan Josue Salgado, 20 of Atascadero, broke a window at the patrol station building and then climbed onto the station’s roof.

Once Salgado reached the roof he started vandalizing roof-mounted equipment and ventilation. When deputies arrived and contacted Salgado, he refused to come down and a standoff ensued.
Using a CHP helicopter, CHP ground units and a sheriff canine, deputies confronted Salgado on the rooftop.

Salgado attempted to flee by jumping from the roof to the ground where he was immediately arrested without incident. The entire standoff ended at 2:25 p.m. Salgado was arrested, transported and booked into San Luis Obispo County Jail for felony vandalism and resisting/obstructing arrest. He is being held in lieu of $15,000 bail.

Read More:

Paso RObles Daily News: Standoff with sheriff’s deputies ends in arrest

Tribune: Suspect jumps off sheriff’s dept roof

Ventura County - For those of us facing mounting monthly utility bills, it could be hard to decide whether or not Richard Gora, a 51-year old resident of Camarillo is a modern day Robin Hood or if he’s part of our increased electricity rates.

When, according to Ventura County Sheriff’s Department spokesman Sgt. Jose Rivera, the Sheriff’s East County Narcotics Street Team received “information” that Gora’s residence was the likely “site of an illegal marijuana cultivation operation” and they then obtained and served a search warrant at that address, they discovered more than 300 mature plants within the house’s three bedrooms, living room, bathroom, and enclosed patio.

Supporting what was obvious to detectives of the East and West County Street Teams and the Camarillo Police Special Enforcement Detail on the scene on September 3rd—that Gora wasn’t messing around when it came to growing pot for sale—were the “several commercial grade air filtration systems” operating throughout the residence to prevent neighbors from getting a whiff of things.

But most egregious to those of us who see our electricity bills come in the mail each month, was the discovery by detectives that Gora had “illegally bypassed his electric meter and was using a significant amount of kilowatts to power the lighting equipment in the house on a 24-hour basis.” When contacted by VCSD detectives to report this issue, Southern California Edison estimated that Gora had used more than $20,000 of electrical service without being billed.

By the time the execution of the search warrant was completed, and Gora was booked into Ventura County Jail on charges of marijuana cultivation, possession for sale, and theft of utilities, deputies had seized more than 300 marijuana plants, 35 pounds of dried marijuana, and several thousands of dollars “deemed to be proceeds from marijuana sales.”

Or it just could have been the cash Gora saved on his utility bills.

Photo: Courtesy Ventura County Jail Booking

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LATIMES: Man arrested in marijuana case

Sespe Sun: Marijuana cultivation arrest

VCSTAR: Camarillo man arrested in marijuana cultivation

SANTA CLARA, Calif – According to Vishal Bathija, Deputy District Attorney of the Major Fraud Unit, “The owner of a series of furniture stores has been charged with stealing more than $20,000 from his patrons”. When customers purchased chairs and sofas from Hung Anh “Peter” Troung, they wondered after several days why their purchase was not delivered. It was then customers returned to the store where they had made the purchase, only to discover that the store was closed. There was no sign of the owner, who was thought to have closed his business and left town. However, as part of the scheme, Truong would set up shop and repeat the theft all over again.

Bathija said, “In all, Hung Anh “Peter” Troung opened three furniture stores in San Jose, Gilroy and Vacaville”. Before customers came looking for their purchases, he would close the doors and then head to another location. “The 48-year-old is charged with 10 felonies and a misdemeanor count of theft. He was arrested Wednesday and is out of custody after posting $50,000 bail,” Bathija said.

The location for American Furniture in Gilroy – changing hands again.

“Furnishing a home is one of the most basic and major expenses a consumer can make,” prosecutor Vishal Bathija said. “A buyer’s consideration should be based on quality and price, not on whether they will end up losing their money to theft.”

The joint investigation between the Gilroy Police Department and the Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office revealed that the defendant operated American Furniture in Gilroy from August 2012 to May 2013, and Galaxy Furniture in San Jose from May 2013 to January 2014. The defendant operated the Furniture Outlet in Vacaville from October 2011 to January 2012. At all three businesses, Truong routinely took payments, failed to deliver furniture, and then could not be reached by frustrated customers. All three locations are also listed on Yelp, with consistent 1 star ratings and complaints from former customers.

Galaxy Furniture in San Jose – advertising great deals.

The investigation also revealed that some customers were also victims of a “bait and switch,” where one model of furniture was purchased and the defendant would deliver a cheaper model. Truong would refuse requests to correct the order.

Troung is expected to be arraigned at 9:00 a.m. on September 19 in the South County Courthouse in Morgan Hill. If convicted, he faces a maximum of 9 years in prison.

Consumers that believe they are victims of American Furniture in Gilroy or Galaxy Furniture in San Jose can file a complaint with the Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office by calling the prosecutor at (408) 792-2970.

ORANGE COVE – The Fresno County Sheriff’s Office arrested an evidence technician with the Orange Cove Police Department believed to be connected to the theft of money seized from a suspected drug dealer.

Marcos Puga, 40, admitted to taking nearly $3,000 of the $10,658 that was seized from a man during a federal Drug Enforcement Agency undercover sting.

The suspected drug dealer, 21-year-old Jorge Moreno, was arrested on July 10 on domestic violence charges. During the arrest, a firearm and the money were seized.

The next month, a DEA agent called the Orange Cove police to inform them that the DEA was investigating Moreno. The OC officers allowed the DEA to examine the cash taken from Moreno to see if it was possibly used in drug buys. That’s when it was discovered that $2,940 was missing.

By the time Pugo was caught, he had already spent $1,700 of the cash.

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Reedley Exponent: Orange Cove PD employee arrested on suspicion of stealing

Fresno Bee: Orange Cove police worker arrested in drug-money disappearance

FRESNO – A Marine recruit and a recent Bullard High School graduate were both arrested on Thursday in connection to the emailing of a bomb threat to Bullard High’s principal and to taggings on the school and nearby churches in recent months.

Aaron Nevarez, 18, and his 17-year-old brother were both placed in custody. A third suspect is still at large. The boys came to the attention of the police following an email to the principal threatening violence at the school.

The brothers and the third suspect are believed to be the ones who sent the bomb threat on Thursday morning. The email said the bomb would go off on campus, Police Chief Jerry Dyer said.

Nearly half of the students at school did not show up on Thursday after a tweet went viral on Wednesday night stating that someone would “shoot up” the campus. Dyer believes the writers of the tweet were “copycats.” The students who did show up on Thursday were released following the bomb threat.

“It was a horrific waste of time,” Fresno Unified Superintendent Mike Hansen said. “We’re very pleased to have law enforcement, Chief Dyer, his folks do what they do. The FBI and others involved take these things very seriously. The safety of our students and staff is always at the top of our list.”

The three suspects believed to be behind the bomb threat are also suspected of being responsible for tagging the school and for various other graffiti vandalism at nearby churches. The tags are all signed by “The Merry Men,” and included phrases such as “Rebellion against establishment,” and “The oppressed will rise,” Dyer said.

Detectives served a search warrant just before noon on Thursday at a home near the school and arrested Nevarez and his brother.

“We located at the residence several firearms. Some of them were air soft gun, some of them were paint rifles, some of them were actual firearms. We believe they belong to Aaron Nevarez,” Dyer said.

Police are still attempting to locate the third suspect in this case. Dyer did not release the suspect’s name at this time.

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ABC30: Marine Corps is discharging Nevarez after vandalism, bomb threat

Fresno Bee: Suspects in custody after bomb threat

SACRAMENTO—A 24-year-old Sacramento man has been convicted of first-degree murder for the shooting death of Jose Navarro following a fight at a North Sacramento apartment in 2011.

A Sacramento County jury returned a guilty verdict on Thursday, September 4, 2014, against Carlos Escalante.

On October 23, 2011, the victim, Navarro, 23, broke up a fight between his girlfriend and Escalante’s younger sister at an apartment complex at 2546 Traction Ave. Police said Escalante’s sister accused Navarro of punching her, causing a bump on her forehead.  She left the scene angry and contacted Escalante to tell him what happened.

Escalante showed up at the apartment complex later that night with his cousin and waited for Navarro to appear before shooting him once and killing him instantly. Escalante and his sister initially told police that they had been fishing in West Sacramento at the time of the shooting, but phone and text records indicated this to be false. When confronted with the records, Escalante’s sister, cousin and girlfriend admitted to detectives what had happened.

Escalante is set to be sentenced September 24, 2014 before Sacramento Superior Court Judge Michael Kenny.

SAN MATEO–“Can you hear me now?” That’s a question 23-year-old Tajri Turner of San Francisco will be asking over a jail phone after being charged Wednesday with armed robbery and kidnapping by San Mateo Police. According to a police media release, on the morning of September 3rd, Turner robbed a store at gunpoint in the 1700 block of Gum Street. Police withheld the name of the store, but several news sources report, and a store employee confirmed, that the robbery occurred at the Verizon Infinitel Wireless at 1701 Gum Street.

According to the San Mateo Police Department, officers were dispatched to the store around 11:10 a.m., just 10 minutes after the store opened. A female employee was alone in the store when Turner entered. “There were no other employees or customers present,” said Sgt. Rick Decker. Turner brandished a handgun and demanded merchandise, grabbing the female employee by her shirt and forcing her to a back storage area. Turner then made the employee fill a bag with brand new cell phones, after which he took the bag, departed the store and drove off. The employee notified police and was able to provide a description of Turner as well as a partial license plate number.

After arriving at the scene, officers searched the surrounding neighborhoods. They managed to locate a car matching the employee’s description near Palm Avenue and 25th Avenue, only a mile from the crime scene. Police set up surveillance of the car. Not long after, a black male matching the employee’s description of the suspect was seen walking to the car, at which point officers made their move. Turner fled, but he didn’t get far. Police detained him and took him into custody.

A search of Turner’s vehicle turned up the stolen cell phones and the handgun used in the robbery. He was booked into the San Mateo County Jail and charged with armed robbery and kidnapping.

“SMPD wishes to thank the victim in this case for not only their bravery and tenacity, but also for their cooperation that undoubtedly led to the arrest,” the media release stated. “We rely every day on our community to be our ‘eyes and ears,’ and this incident demonstrates that principle.”

Read more:

San Jose Mercury News: San Mateo: Police Arrest Suspect in Verizon Store Armed Robbery

SAN JOSE – Last night, Sept 4, a 24-year-old white male, Jacob Jorge Davis, was arrested by SJPD officers after a 2-hour standoff. It was first reported to police about a tenant who was screaming and yelling and breaking things in his room and garage. The SJPD police responded 45 minutes later, only to find things had escalated into assault, damage to neighboring property, and reckless endangerment of others.

Davis lived just two years in a small rented room at a home on the 5300 block of Great Oaks Drive. His mother also lives just 5 houses down from where he was staying. The landlord said, “He was so quiet and polite”. He would always say, “Good morning, how are you” and “thank you”. He never showed anything out of the ordinary, she said. Family members at the residence said, “I never would have imagined this from him”.

The aftermath of the incident included paint splattered on the sidewalk.

Before the escalation, the landlord had called the police and his mother to come and try and calm Davis after he became erratic and uncontrollable. However, after entering the residence, his mother was unable to stop him from destroying his personal property, furniture and windows inside the home. That is when the mother called police and told officers that her son had become violent. Police then responded to her call pleading for officers to help.

According to SJPD Press Information Officer Morales, officers responded to a report of a male with a possible mental illness destroying property at a residence in the area. As officers were talking to the reporting person, Davis began to break out all the windows in the garage. Officers observed the suspect with a blunt object that had a pointed end. He proceeded to pick up various objects and throw them in the direction of the officers. In response, officers discharged less lethal projectiles at him in the form or rubber bullets. He retreated to the backyard, and moments later the officers observed Davis on the roof of a residence nearby.

Davis’ mother reportedly lives nearby on the same street.

Davis failed to comply with commands to come down from the roof. He began to run from rooftop to rooftop. After a few minutes of this, he apparently got tired and came down, and was taken into custody without further incident. Davis was transported to the hospital for medical treatment and evaluation. While at the hospital, he admitted that he was trying to get police to kill him. Jacob Davis was booked into the Santa Clara County Jail for Assault with a Deadly Weapon on an Officer and Vandalism. The next court date has been scheduled for Sept 9, 2014 at 1:30 PM.

Photos: Amy Nilson

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CrimeVoice: 911 Disturbance call turns into a game of cat and mouse

Homicide detectives from Sacramento County Sheriff’s Department have reportedly arrested a suspect in connection to the shooting death of a 45-year-old man on Friday, September 5, according to an official press release.

Jerome Bernard Butler, 37, was reportedly arrested and booked into the Sacramento County Jail Saturday morning on a charge of murder.

According to Sac Sheriff, deputies responded to multiple calls from citizens reporting shots fired within the 2200 block of Hurley Way at 7:36 pm on Friday night. Upon arrival, deputies reportedly found a white male in his mid 40s who had been shot in the parking lot. While deputies and medical personnel attempted lifesaving efforts, the male victim reportedly was pronounced dead at the scene.

There are several apartment buildings along the 2200 block of Hurley Way.

According to detectives, Butler and the victim were reportedly acquaintances, and although a motive for the murder is still unknown, detectives believe there are no outstanding suspects in the case.

The victim’s identity will reportedly be released by the Sacramento County Corner’s Office pending notification to next of kin.

Sac Sheriff is asking anyone with further information regarding this incident to contact the Sheriff’s Department at 916-874-5115.

NOVATO – An investigation into graffiti vandalism causing extensive damage resulted in the arrest of two suspects in Novato. A recent press release by the Novato Police Department said that the rash of graffiti tagging began in December of 2013 and caused damage to both private and public properties. The cost of the blight on city property alone was estimated at $6,700.

Johnny “Junior” Schad (Facebook)

Joseph Tucker, a 21-year-old, and Johnny Ray Schad, a 19-year-old were booked into the Marin County Jail on felony vandalism charges. Both are residents of Novato. The suspects had spray painted personal moniker(s) to “tag” their territory. Schad has also been arrested in August on charges of petty theft.

Novato officers Conrad, Gamboa and Jacob were involved in the investigation as part of the Novato Response Team (NRT.) The NRT is a proactive, problem-oriented community policing team that focuses on a wide set of issues including school safety, assaults, graffiti and drug and gang activities. The NRT was launched in 2012 and collaborates with a wide range of community organizations including non-profits and local businesses.

Novato Police have used their Novato Response Team to increase efforts to clean up the city.

The Novato PD has requested that if the suspects are found guilty that they pay restitution to all effected property owners and that they participate in community services that would specifically include graffiti abatement.

The Mendocino County Sheriff’s Department has been called to a series of domestic violence disputes since last week, arresting one man and two women in separate incidents.

Sheriff’s Deputies and Tribal Police participated in the arrest of French near the home on Acorn.

On Wednesday, August 3 at 8 pm, the Sheriff’s office received a call from Laytonville, to a home on the Laytonville Rancheria, a reservation of the Cahto tribe. Deputies arrived at the home on the small cul-de-sac of Acorn Drive, and spoke to the woman living there. She reported that she and the man who lived with her, Jeffrey Wayne French, had been in an argument. She reported that as the dispute escalated, French, 36, had grabbed her by the throat and pushed her against the wall. She said that during the attack, while he was holding her throat, she had difficulty breathing. They noted that the woman had bruising around her throat.

French had already left the home in his vehicle, but was stopped by Cahto Tribal Police. The deputies responded to the scene where he was being held, and saw that he was carrying a 7mm rifle with ammunition. A records check confirmed that French is a convicted felon who is prohibited to possess a gun or ammunition, and was on active probation.

In 2012, French had been involved in another domestic violence episode. While driving with a woman and engaged in an argument, she reportedly spilled a soda on him. He became further enraged, and struck her while in the car, refusing to stop and let her out. She somehow forced him to stop, and he then pushed her to the ground, further hurting her. It is not known if this woman was the same as the one involved in this latest incident.

He was arrested and booked at the Mendocino County Jail in domestic violence charges, and being a felon in possession of a loaded firearm, along with probation violations. His total bail was set at $30,000.

Amanda Cotner, booking photo and Facebook image.

Late Thursday night, deputies were sent to an apartment building parking lot on North Bush Street in Ukiah. A couple had been reportedly hanging around in the field behind the apartments, where a large radio tower and satellite dishes are located for radio station KNTI 99.5. They were apparently discussing the state of their dating relationship, and at some point the woman, Amanda Michele Cotner, threw a soda can at her boyfriend and struck him in the face. Deputies arrived at midnight to sort out the situation. The man had a visible injury on his face from the assault. The victim’s name was not released.

Cotner and the male victim were together in this field prior to her arrest.

Cotner resides in Crescent City, 240 miles to the north, but still in Mendocino County. It is not clear if she was visiting the victim, or if they had traveled together to Ukiah. Cotner was arrested for the assault, and booked a Mendocino County jail. Bail was set at $25,000.

Valeria Maldonado booking photo.

On Saturday night deputies were called to an apartment just a block away from the prior incident, at 1500 North Bush Street, on reports of another domestic dispute. They learned that a married couple there had been in a heated argument, and that the wife, Valeria Elva Maldonado, had punched her husband in the face.The 33-year-old woman also bit the man on his arm, leaving marks behind. She was arrested that night, and booked for inflicting corporal injury on a spouse, and held with bail set at $25,000.

The San Bernardino Sheriff’s Department Fontana office announced the arrest of a man who is being charged with the continuous molestation of a 10-year-old girl, and the victim was living in the same house where he has been staying.

According to a Sheriff’s press release, on Wednesday, September 3, detectives from the Fontana Station received a call from Poplar Elementary School, reporting that a little girl had been molested by a man numerous times in the past two years at her home in Fontana. The suspect happens to be the boyfriend of the victim’s mother.

The child victim approached school officials at Poplar Elementary School to report the attack on her.

The little 10-year-old girl is not attending the Poplar Elementary school, but reported to authorities at the school about what has transpired in the past two years of her life. The molesting would occur when the mother was not home.

The suspect was identified as Miguel Gutierrez, 27, who has been residing in the United States as an illegal immigrant, and living in the Fontana home of the victim’s mother.

He was taken into custody without incident and is being held on a $250,000 bail. Gutierrez is being charged for for Continuous Sexual Abuse of a Minor, Sodomy, and Oral Copulation of Minor.

Anyone with further information about this investigation is asked to contact the Fontana Sheriff’s station at 909-356-6767. Anonymous tips may be reported at the We-tip hotline at 1-800-78-CRIME, or at www.wetip.com.

SANTA ROSA – Sunday evening September 7th at approximately 9:30 p.m., a California Highway Patrol officer patrolling northbound Highway 101 observed a black sedan entering the freeway at a high rate of speed at the Mendocino Avenue on-ramp. The vehicle was paced at 75 mph before it slowed down and started weaving at fluctuating speeds. The officer made a traffic enforcement stop off the freeway on Mark West Springs Road.

Richomd was pulled over in this area.

The driver was identified as Dante Richmond, a 38-year-old man from Suisun City. The officer noted signs of intoxication and asked Richmond to exit the vehicle. During the contact Richmond continuously placed his hands in his pockets contrary to the instructions of the officer. For safety reasons the officer searched Richmond and found a folding knife in each of his front pockets. The officer also found a fully loaded .40 caliber magazine in the car.

The officer then continued with a roadside DUI evaluation that resulted in Richmond’s arrest. A subsequent vehicle inventory also located a loaded .40 caliber handgun in the glove box that had a round in the chamber. Also found were prescription painkillers for which Richmond had no prescription. A records check revealed that Richmond is a convicted felon with a lengthy criminal history.

Richmond was booked on charges of Driving Under the Influence, possession of a firearm by a felon, possession of a loaded and concealed firearm, and possession of a controlled substance.