MONDAY, JANUARY 12, 2015 - JANUARY 18, 2015
riversideindependent.com
New District Attorney Ready for Tests and Trials by Vickie Vértiz A graduate of Stanford University Law School, newly elected District Attorney Mike Hestrin is not afraid of a challenge. Hestrin, who is a native of Palm Springs, has spent his 17-year career as a homicide case prosecutor, according to The Press-Enterprise, “where he won several death penalty verdicts in high-profile cases.” When Proposition 47 passed last fall and changed some felonies into misdemeanors which can be applied to past convictions, Hestrin became concerned. He thinks it could lessen the incentive for defendants to accept alternative sentencing such as drug rehabilitation, he told the paper. “The criminal justice system has lost its teeth [...],” Hestrin said. He also told The PressEnterprise that Prop. 47 could eliminate successful drug rehabilitation programs and a special court for veterans. He admitted, however, that it is too soon to draw conclusions about Prop 47. He added that his fears are “…
District Attorney Mike Hestrin
just my speculation.” He also believes that convicted people “facing shorter sentences may be less inclined to enroll in a yearlong treatment program instead,” the paper said. “I think there are some
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legislative fixes […],” he told the paper. For example, the concept of “progressive punishment” could be enacted where “repeat drug offenders or burPlease see page 4
Alleged Child Molester Arrested Deputies assigned to the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department, Special Enforcement Bureau’s, Fugitive Warrant Enforcement Team (FWET), which is part of the Pacific Southwest Regional Fugitive Taskforce, initiated an investigation to locate and apprehend Eddrans Ortega-Hernandez. Hernandez was wanted on a $3,000,000 warrant reference four counts of lewd acts with a child under 14. The alleged
crimes occurred in Moreno Valley over a four year period from 2004 to 2008 and involved two separate victims. He also had a no-bail warrant out of Orange County for drug possession. After an extensive investigation, FWET gathered intelligence that revealed Hernandez was hiding in the city of Santa Ana. On 01/05/2015, FWET conducted surveillance in Santa Ana and observed Hernan-
dez leaving a residence in the 1100 block of Arapaho Street. Hernandez was subsequently contacted and arrested without incident at a nearby business. During the arrest, Hernandez was found to be in possession of methamphetamine. Santa Ana P.D. took custody of Hernandez and booked him into the Orange County Jail for the outstanding warrants as Please see page 3
VOLUME 2, NO. 2
Two Suspects Arrested in Stabbing Victim’s Death On Tuesday, December 23, 2014, at about 1929 hours, Riverside Police officers responded to the 1100 block of Orange Street reference a missing person report. The victim’s family called police because several days had passed and attempts to contact the victim were unsuccessful. The officers were able to make entry into the residence were they located a deceased 44 year old woman. Evidence at the scene indicated the victim died as a result of foul play. Detectives from the Robbery – Homicide Unit along with Evidence Technicians from the Forensic Unit responded to investigate. Detectives are being assisted by the Riverside County District Attorney’s Office and the Sheriff – Coroner. The victim’s identity is pending a Coroner’s investigation. The Riverside County Sheriff-Coroner has identified the body found in an apartment in the 1100 block of Orange Street on Tuesday. The victim, Marlo “China” Williams, 44, lived at the apartment. The victim died from numerous stab wounds. On Tuesday, December 30, 2014, Detectives from the Robbery / Homicide Unit and the METRO Team (SWAT) continued to follow-up on the investigation. Two suspects were identified and located in Riverside by the METRO Team. Both suspects are minors. Based on the investigation and the interviews, both minors were booked into Juvenile Hall on the charges of 187 PC, Murder and 212.5 PC/ Home Invasion Robbery with special circumstances. Anyone with information is asked to please call Detective Jim Simons at 951-3537138 or Detective Adrian Tillett at (951) 353-7105.