Theft Crimes

April 25, 2013

El Cerrito Police Arrest 4 for DUI

The City of El Cerrito Police Department made four arrests for driving under the influence between April 12 and April 15, 2013.

A 32 year old Vallejo man was arrested on April 12 for driving under the influence of alcohol after a traffic stop at Huntington and San Pablo avenues. On Saturday April 13, El Cerrito Police Officers arrested a man from Emeryville for DUI near the intersection of Central and San Pablo avenues. A third DUI arrest was made on Sunday, April 14, 2013 when the police stopped a 26 year old Richmond woman and on April 15, 2013, a driver was arrested on suspicion of being under the influence of a controlled substance at Central and Yosemite avenues. That driver was on probation for a prior DUI and has suffered three prior drunk driving convictions in the past ten years.

Over the same four days police officers also made arrests for theft, robbery and drug related offenses.

In California a person charged with four DUIs in a ten year period can be charged with a felony. A conviction for felony for drunk driving carries between 6 months and 1 year in county jail with probation and up to 3 years state prison time without probation.

Arrests out of the City of El Cerrito are prosecuted in the Contra Costa County Superior Court in Richmond.
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April 28, 2011

Two Suspects Caught Stealing a Catalytic Converter in Novato

by John Stanko

Forty seven year old Michael Helms from San Pablo and forty five year old Larry Hernandez from El Sobrante were arrested Tuesday when Detectives saw them taking a catalytic converter from a truck in Marin County. Helms and Hernandez were arrested last week in Sonoma County on possession of stolen property charges and were being watched by detectives from the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Property Crimes Investigation unit.

Mr. Helms and Mr. Hernandez are suspected of stealing at least three vehicles, breaking into a truck and stealing tools, along with stealing catalytic converters. Detectives conducing the surveillance of both men followed them from Rhonert Park to a park and ride lot in Novato where they observed Mr. Hernandez saw the catalytic converter off of a pick up truck in the lot.

Police officers approached both suspects who fled but were apprehended about a mile from the park and ride lot. Mr. Helms was arrested on charges of grand theft, conspiracy, possession of a controlled substance, possession of burglary tools, and driving on a suspended license. Mr. Hernandez was arrested for grand theft, conspiracy and possession of burglary tools. Both men were booked into the Marin County Jail.

Possession of a controlled substance can be charged as a misdemeanor or a felony depending on the drug, the quantity possessed and the suspects prior criminal record. Grand theft is also a wobbler offense punishable by up to three years in state prison as a felony and by up to one year in the county jail as a misdemeanor.
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May 26, 2010

4 Marin County Men Arrested in San Rafael Wine Theft

by John Stanko

Bruno Humberto Silvamieto, Cesar Antonio Rondon-Contreras, Ivan Alexander Vasquez-Aguilar and Luigi Renzo Dagnino-Arriaran were arrested on Tuesday, May 18, 2010, on suspicion that they stole wine from their employer.

San Rafael Police began a theft investigation after a wine distributor reported that approximately $30,000 worth of wine was missing from his warehouse in northern San Rafael. Some of the stolen wine showed up for sale on Craigslist and San Rafael Police officers set up a sting posing as buyers. Mr. Dagnino-Arriaran, a 33-year-old Novato resident, was arrested when he showed up to sell some wine to the undercover police officers.

Corte Madera residents Mr. Silvamieto, 19, and Mr. Vasquez-Aguilar, 30, and 44 year old Mr. Rondon-Contreras, all worked for the wine distributor according the the San Rafael Police Department. All there men were arrested in connection with the Marin County theft on May 18, 2010.

All four suspects were booked into the Marin County Jail on charges including embezzlement, conspiracy and receiving stolen property.
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April 21, 2010

Marin County Criminal Defense – Bank Robbery Suspect Back in Court

by John Stanko

A former Marin resident, Thomas John Clagett, 27, was arraigned in the Marin County Superior Court on Monday. Mr. Clagett has been charged with robbing a bank in Novato in 2007.

He was extradited to Marin County from Ohio last week after the FBI arrested him at his father’s home.

Bank robbery is a “strike” offense and is charged under Penal Code section 211. Being defined as both a serious and violent offense a conviction for a robbery carries a presumptive state prison sentence of up to 5 years.

Mr. Clagett will be back in the Marin County Courthouse on Thursday to enter a plea.
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November 18, 2009

Marin County – Suspected Burglar found in Fairfax attic

by John Stanko

City of Fairfax police officers found 35 year old Henrik Carl Schmidt hiding in the attic of a home on Kent avenue on Wednesday morning. Police went to check on the home after receiving a call from a woman indicating that her keys and address information had been taken from her purse.

When the officers arrived at the home they found an open window on the second floor. They then contacted the home owner who confirmed that no one should be in the house and that she had closed all windows prior to leaving for work. Officers then entered the house and saw that it had been ransacked. After conducting a search they found Mr. Schmidt and a bag full of items in the attic.

Mr. Schmidt was arrested and taken to Marin General Hospital for asthma related treatment. His case report will now be turned over the the District Attorney and he is to appear in court for an arraignment on Thursday. Mr. Schmidt could be charged with 1st degree residential burglary in violation of Penal Code section 459/460. First degree burglary is a felony punishable by up to six year in the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.
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