Irvine News Blog | Category Archives: Irvine Police Department

Woman charged with animal abuse for selling sick puppies via a fake rescue organization

Posted on March 20, 2017 by Editor Posted in Crime, Irvine, Irvine Police Department, News, Pets Leave a comment

ORANGE COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY NEWS RELEASE

Case # 17HM02716

Date: March 20, 2017

WOMAN CHARGED WITH ANIMAL ABUSE FOR ILLEGALLY SELLING PUPPIES SUFFERING FROM VIRUSES AND PARASITES THROUGH FAKE RESCUE ORGANIZATION

*Some rescued puppies are available for adoption from the Irvine Animal Care Center

NEWPORT BEACH, Calif. – A woman was charged with animal abuse today for illegally selling puppies that were suffering from viruses and parasites through a fake rescue organization. Megan Ann Hoechstetter, 42, Cypress, is charged with 20 misdemeanor counts of keeping an animal without proper care and two misdemeanor counts of animal abuse by a caretaker. If convicted, the defendant faces a maximum sentence of 12 years in county jail. Hoechstetter is scheduled to be arraigned on April 28, 2017, in Department H-8, Harbor Justice Center, Newport Beach.

Hoechstetter, who has previously used names Megan Ann Nunez and Megan Ann Choate, ran a business called Pawlosophy, which she falsely represented as an animal rescue. The defendant is accused of charging approximately $400 for each 8-week-old dog. Hoechstetter is accused of advertising and selling the puppies without seeking veterinary care. Continue reading→

Former NFL Quarterback Marinovich convicted of drug and trespass charges

Posted on March 15, 2017 by Editor Posted in Crime, Drugs, Irvine, Irvine Police Department, News, OCDA Leave a comment

ORANGE COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY NEWS RELEASE

Case # 16HM11430

Date: March 15, 2017

FORMER STAR QUARTERBACK CONVICTED OF DRUG AND TRESPASS CHARGES

NEWPORT BEACH, Calif. – A former star quarterback was convicted yesterday of drug and trespass charges. Todd Marvin Marinovich, 47, Irvine, pleaded guilty to a court offer of five misdemeanor counts including attempted aggravated trespass of a residence, trespass with interference of property rights, possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia, and public nudity. Marinovich was sentenced to three years of formal probation and 90 days in county jail stayed pending successful completion of outpatient drug rehabilitation.

Marinovich was a professional quarterback with various American and Canadian football leagues between 1991 and 2001. Continue reading→

Man employed at an Irvine business charged with assault and insurance fraud

Posted on March 3, 2017 by Editor Posted in Crime, Insurance, Irvine, Irvine Police Department, News, OCDA Leave a comment

ORANGE COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY NEWS RELEASE

Case # 16CF2752

Date: February 28, 2017

MAN TO BE ARRAIGNED FOR ASSAULT AND INSURANCE FRAUD AFTER ATTACKING CO-WORKER AND FALSELY REPORTING BEING HIT BY FORKLIFT

SANTA ANA, Calif. – A man is scheduled to be arraigned tomorrow for assault and insurance fraud after attacking a co-worker and falsely reporting being hit by a forklift. Randal Brown McKay, 65, Lake Forest, is charged with one felony count of assault with force likely to produce great bodily injury with a sentencing enhancement for great bodily injury, three felony counts of insurance fraud, and one felony count of perjury under oath. If convicted, he faces a maximum of 11 years in state prison. McKay is scheduled to be arraigned tomorrow, March 1, 2017, at 8:30 a.m. in Department C-55 Central Justice Center, Santa Ana. Continue reading→

Santa Ana man arrested by the Irvine Police for stealing high-end jewelry

Posted on February 2, 2017 by Editor Posted in Crime, Irvine, Irvine Police Department, News, Santa Ana Leave a comment

Daniel Cervantes, a 27-year-old man who lived in Santa Ana with his parents was arrested by the Irvine Police tonight on suspicion of stealing high-end jewelry, including an engagement ring from 1892, from at least four people who asked them to do work on the pieces, according to the O.C. Register.

Cervantes, a former employee at Nathan Alan Jewelers, told the victims that he could polish or resize their engagement or wedding rings. However he would never return the jewelry to his customers – even after they paid him for his services. Continue reading→

Brothel ringleader charged with pandering 29 women at high-end Irvine apartments

Posted on February 2, 2017 by Editor Posted in Crime, Irvine, Irvine Police Department, News, OCDA 4 Comments

ORANGE COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY NEWS RELEASE

Case # 17CF0268, # 17CF0269

February 2, 2017

OCHTTF SEEKING ADDITIONAL VICTIMS OF BROTHEL RINGLEADER CHARGED WITH PANDERING 29 WOMEN TO COMMIT PROSTITUTION AT HIGH-END IRVINE APARTMENTS

*Over $469,000 in cash was seized from the defendant at his arrest; Female co-defendant also charged after 8-month investigation by the Orange County Human Trafficking Task Force

SANTA ANA, Calif. – The Orange County Human Trafficking Task Force (OCHTTF) is seeking potential additional victims of a brothel ringleader charged today with pandering 29 women to commit prostitution at high-end apartments in Irvine. Fadi Boulos Chaiban, 53, Ladera Ranch, is charged with 29 felony counts of pandering, three felony counts of pimping, and two felony counts of conspiracy to commit pandering. If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of 45 years and four months in state prison. The defendant is being held on $3 million bail and must prove the money is from a legal and legitimate source before posting bond. Continue reading→

Two men were shot and killed today at a home near Greentree Elementary School

Posted on January 31, 2017 by Editor Posted in Crime, Irvine, Irvine Police Department, News Leave a comment

Shooting in Irvine near Greentree Elementary School

A shooting was reported today in Irvine just before 1 p.m., on Crystal Circle, at a cul-de-sac of single family homes located about a bock from Greentree Elementary, according to the O.C. Register.

When the police arrived at the scene they found two dead people and arrested a 37-year old man, Nolan Pascal Pillay, in connection with the shooting. Continue reading→

Thieves broke into Irvine’s Mission Motorsports on Sunday and stole three generators

Posted on January 30, 2017 by Editor Posted in Crime, Irvine, Irvine Police Department, News Leave a comment

A window at Mission Motorsports, a motorcycle shop at 1 Doppler, was smashed by thieves at around 10 p.m. on Sunday. The thieves made off with three Honda generators worth about $900 each, but they did not steal any motorcycles, according to the O.C. Register.

K9 police dogs were used to search the building but police officers did not find any trace of the suspect or suspects, according to the Irvine Police. Continue reading→

The Irvine Police arrested a Seal Beach woman for selling very sick puppies

Posted on January 16, 2017 by Editor Posted in Crime, Irvine, Irvine Police Department, News, Pets Leave a comment

Irvine Police Arrest Woman for Peddling Sick Puppies

Irvine, Calif. – The Irvine Police Department on Wednesday arrested Megan Ann Hoechstetter on multiple felony and misdemeanor charges related to crimes against animals. Hoechstetter was arrested after selling a sick puppy that died a week after it was purchased by an Irvine family. Nineteen puppies were found in her possession.

Hoechstetter, 42, of Seal Beach is accused of setting up a fake rescue organization online and using the website to sell animals she may have obtained from Mexico that had not received proper healthcare. Hoechstetter, who was operating under the name Pawlosophy, was apprehended with six puppies in her possession. Police believe she may have operated under other false businesses names. Continue reading→

IPD seeks help in identifying a man who scammed elderly women

Posted on January 4, 2017 by Editor Posted in Crime, Irvine, Irvine Police Department, News, Seniors Leave a comment

IPD Seeks Help in Identifying Man Who Scammed Elderly Women

Irvine, Calif. (Jan. 3, 2017) – The Irvine Police Department is asking for the public’s help in identifying a person of interest in a scam in which two elderly victims were defrauded of more than $12,000.

The person of interest is described as a male, 20 to 30 years old, 5’7” and 150 pounds, who has a shaved head or very short hair and wears glasses. He has been seen at Target stores in Irvine. Continue reading→

Female Irvine pimp sentenced to four years in state prison

Posted on December 17, 2016 by Editor Posted in Crime, Irvine, Irvine Police Department, News, OCDA Leave a comment

Mingshu Jin, a 44-year-old pimp from Irvine, pleaded guilty Friday and was immediately sentenced to four years in state prison, according to the O.C. Register.

Jin accepted charges of conspiracy to commit pimping, according to court records. Additional felony charges of pimping and pandering were dismissed. Continue reading→