By Ibrahim Baig
Yesterday in Department 6, Judge David Reed presided over Frank Escobar’s preliminary hearing. This hearing was to determine if Mr. Escobar had violated his probation.
Heavy charges are listed against Escobar, including kidnapping, corporal injury, battery and child abuse.
Officer Jeffrey Albert was called to the stand to recall when he made contact with Escobar’s wife, Daisy Gonzales.
According to Officer Albert, Gonzales said she had a protective order against Escobar. Officer Albert confirmed this with the records department. She, in fact, had two orders on file. Later, on cross-examination, Officer Albert clarified that one order was a no contact order, while the other order was a permissible contact order.
Gonzales informed Officer Albert that she was separated from her husband, and they have a child together.
The problem started when Gonzales invited Escobar to the house for him to pack his belongings. There, she stated, they had an argument and Escobar began yelling threats.
Gonzales said she was on the phone heading toward the bathroom. Escobar followed suit. He managed to take the phone from her and tell her, “You are going to get yours.” Gonzales interpreted this as a threat.
On cross-examination, Officer Albert said Escobar unsuccessfully tried to get the phone from Gonzales. It was Gonzales who dialed Escobar’s friend’s number for Escobar, as well as put the phone on speaker. Then she handed the phone to Escobar.
However, Escobar prevented Gonzales from leaving the bathroom until Escobar’s friend arrived. Escobar left to answer the door. Officer Albert reports, from what Gonzales said, she was only stuck in the bathroom for a minute. Afterward, she went to her mother’s room. She grabbed her child in order to leave.
Escobar followed them outside, yelling profanities at Gonzales. At some point, Gonzales did not hear any more yelling and determined Escobar had stopped following them.
Officer Albert questioned Carlos, the godson, because he too had had contact with Escobar. Escobar questioned Carlos about what happened in the bedroom. However, Carlos did not respond. When Officer Albert asked Carlos what Escobar did, Carlos could only make gestures to describe Escobar’s movement. These gestures included stepping toward Carlos and making a loud noise.
While Officer Albert spoke with Gonzales, Carlos and even Escobar on the matter, Officer Albert did not make contact with Escobar’s friend to get his account of the incident. He did manage to include Escobar’s friend in his report.
When Officer Albert made contact with Escobar, Escobar initially denied any assault but later admitted to taking the phone. Officer Albert decided to take Escobar into custody.
After hearing what Officer Albert said he heard from Daisy Gonzales, Officer Albert was excused from the witness stand.
The court granted the People a continuance to hear from one more witness regarding Escobar’s case. The next hearing is scheduled for Friday, June 14, at 9 a.m. in Department 6.
Theft of a Skateboard Leads to Burglary Charges
By Virginia Hysell
The pre-trial conference of People v. Garza (Case No. 13-0001629-002) was heard before Judge David Reed in Department 6 of Yolo County Superior Court on May 29, 2013.
On April 24, 2013, at approximately 2 p.m., the defendant, Candelano Garza, was seen by Mr. Mackanelly entering a garage that was left open at 448 Placer Place in Woodland, and taking a skateboard from it.
Mr. Mackanelly called 911 and Woodland Police Department Patrol Corporal Dave Krause responded to the call. After Mr. Mackanelly witnessed the defendant steal the skateboard, he followed him in his pick up truck and the defendant proceeded to run eastbound.
Mr. Martinelli, the resident of 448 Placer Place, assisted Mr. Mackanelly in chasing Mr. Garza down the streets of Woodland. When the two gentleman caught the young man at 448 Abbey Place and detained him, the skateboard had already been discarded and neither the two men nor the police were able to locate it that day.
Garza was arrested April 24, 2013. Garza is charged with 1 count of burglary in violation of Penal Code 459 (Felony), and 1 count of an enhancement in violating Penal Code section 667.5(c)(21) (Felony), as someone was in the residence at the time of the burglary. Judge Reed found that there was sufficient evidence to proceed with the case. People v. Garza will continue in Department 6 on June 13, 2013, at 9:00 a.m.
