Craig and Lisa Hunter
Craig Hunter, the chief investigator for the Orange County District Attorney’s Office, has left his job two years after being accused of “sexting” while on duty, according to the O. C. Register.
Apparently a memo was sent on Monday, April 24, to OCDA staffers by OCDA Tony Rackauckas informing them that Investigations Bureau Chief Hunter and Assistant Chief Lou Gutierrez were both on a leave of absence and Hunter was not expected to return. Continue reading
Brian Chambers and a Friend, from his 2010 campaign’s Facebook page
Dennis Brian Chambers, 50, Buena Park, was charged on Friday with one felony count of possession and control of child pornography and one felony count of distribution of child pornography, with a sentencing enhancement allegation for child pornography containing more than 600 images and 10 or more images involving a prepubescent minor, according to the OCDA.
Chambers is the current President of the Buena Park School District School Board. He was endorsed in his 2010 campaign by the SCA (Buena Park School District Classified Employees Union) and the Buena Park Teachers Association, according to his 2010 campaign’s Facebook page. He is a Republican, according to the OC Political Blog. Continue reading
ORANGE COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY NEWS RELEASE
Case # 16NF1108, 17NF0497, 17NF0498
Date: March 10, 2017
*Two co-defendants charged with embezzling $1.5 million and $2.3 million respectively
SANTA ANA, Calif. – The former Finance Services Manager for the City of Placentia (Placentia) was sentenced today to 25 years in state prison for embezzling approximately $5.2 million from the city. Michael Minh Nguyen, 34, Irvine, pleaded guilty to 36 felony counts of misappropriation of public funds, 67 felony counts of money laundering, two felony counts of falsifying records, and one felony count of making a non-sufficient funds check, with sentencing enhancements for aggravated white collar crime over $500,000 and property loss over $3.2 million. In addition to prison, Nguyen was ordered to pay $2,649,155.57 in restitution to Placentia and was fined $10,321,471. Continue reading
ORANGE COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY NEWS RELEASE
Case # 16WF0899
Date: February 17, 2017
SANTA ANA, Calif. – A man was convicted today of throwing an object that damaged a patrol vehicle and inciting a group of protesters to riot at a Donald Trump presidential campaign rally in the City of Costa Mesa. Luis Fernando Alarcon, 20, Anaheim, pleaded guilty today to one misdemeanor count of vandalism with damage over $400 and one misdemeanor count of inciting a riot. The court reduced the felony vandalism charge to a misdemeanor. Alarcon was sentenced to one year in county jail suspended, 12 days in county jail, three years of informal probation, and was ordered to pay restitution. Continue reading
ORANGE COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY NEWS RELEASE
Case # 15CF1637
Date: February 16, 2017
SANTA ANA, Calif. – A former Costa Mesa Police Department (CMPD) officer was convicted today of committing insurance fraud by presenting a false insurance claim and making false material statements related to the claim. Ryan Patrick Natividad, 32, Corona, was found guilty by a jury of one felony count of insurance fraud and one felony count of making a fraudulent statement. Natividad faces a maximum sentence of six years in county jail at his sentencing on April 7, 2017, at 8:30 a.m. in Department C-47, Central Justice Center, Santa Ana.
On Sept. 23, 2014, Natividad, who was employed as a CMPD officer at the time of the crime, reported a work-related injury to CMPD. Natividad falsely claimed that earlier in the day, he struck his hand against a brick wall near the CMPD jail while transporting an arrestee for booking. The defendant claimed that the arrestee stumbled into the wall, prompting him to use his hand to prevent the arrestee from striking the wall. Natividad filed a fraudulent workers’ compensation insurance claim and was subsequently directed by CMPD to seek immediate medical attention. Continue reading
ORANGE COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY NEWS RELEASE
Case # 17CF0136
Date: January 20, 2017
SANTA ANA, Calif. – An Orange County District Attorney’s Office (OCDA) employee was charged with welfare fraud and perjury for failing to report income when applying for welfare benefits. Adrienne Reyes, 38, Brea, was charged yesterday, Jan. 19, 2017, with two felony counts of perjury by false application for aid and two misdemeanor counts of aid by misrepresentation. If convicted, she faces a maximum of six years and four months in county jail. Reyes is scheduled to be arraigned on March 10, 2017, at 8:30 a.m. in Department C-55, Central Justice Center, Santa Ana.
At the time of the crime, Reyes was on medical leave while employed as a clerical staff member at the OCDA. Continue reading