Defendant in criminal threats case seeks

Different Judge

Man is charged with making threats against Santa Maria police

By NEIL HARTSTEIN NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER

A Santa Maria man is challenging a judge’s ruling that he should stand trial on felony charges of making criminal threats and stalking against Santa Maria police officers and their families.

Albert Varelas appeared in court on March 16 for further arraignment, at which time the defense filed a motion for a different judge than the judge who presided at his preliminary hearing to review the hearing transcripts “and make a determination whether there was sufficient evidence presented …” Senior Deputy District Attorney Scott E. Donahue told the News-Press.

Mr. Varelas is scheduled to return to court on March 28 to set a date for his motion to be heard, the prosecutor said.

“Once the judge hears that motion and if that judge also feels enough evidence (was) presented at the preliminary examination, then the case would proceed to trial if the parties do not reach an agreement,” Prosecutor Donahue said.

On the other hand, the reviewing judge could grant the defense motion as to some or all of the charges.

“We would then proceed with prosecution on the remaining charges, if any, or we could dismiss the entire case and refile it,” according to Supervising Deputy District Attorney Lara Clinton.

A second preliminary hearing would be scheduled. “Either side could request the Court of Appeal review the decision on the … motion by filing a writ of mandate,” she said.

Mr. Varelas pleaded not guilty to felony charges of making criminal threats and stalking at his initial arraignment.

The complaint filed against Mr. Varelas alleges that between Jan. 24 and Feb. 17, he threatened to commit a crime against police officers “which would result in death and great bodily injury,” and that the alleged crime was made “with the specific intent that the statement be taken as a threat.” email: nhartsteinnewspress@ gmail.com

His alleged threat against the officers and their families “was so unequivocal, unconditional, immediate and specific as to convey to the victim a gravity of purpose and an immediate prospect of execution,” the complaint said.

“It is further alleged that the said victim was reasonably in sustained fear of his/her safety and the safety of his/her immediate family,” the complaint said.

The complaint alleges that Mr. Varelas backed up his threats in that he “willfully, maliciously and repeatedly” followed and harassed Santa Maria police officers.

The complaint notes that Mr. Varelas already has a prior serious felony conviction on his record, considered his first strike under the three strikes law.

He was arrested on Feb. 18 after the alleged threat came to light the night before, when Santa Maria police received information regarding police officers and their families being threatened on social media posts, Sgt. Daniel Rios said in a police department news brief posted online.

Officers initiated an investigation, and Mr. Varelas was identified as a suspect, Sgt. Rios said. Mr. Varelas’ social media account was also located.

During the initial police investigation, several more social media posts allegedly were made by Mr. Varelas and observed by officers in real time involving further threats against Santa Maria police officers and family members, Sgt. Rios said. Mr. Varelas’ alleged threats referenced previous police contact and current threats to “kill” officers and family members, Sgt. Rios said.

Further investigation confirmed that Mr. Varelas was allegedly targeting and stalking officers’ homes in the Santa Maria area, Sgt. Rios said. Detectives tracked him down and arrested him without incident.

By CALEB BEEGHLY

A lot of dogs end up in shelters because as they grow, the very traits that led people to buy them become less desirable, such as being hyper and wanting to play all day.

Fortunately, these traits are perfect for a search and rescue dog.

Since 1997, the National

FYi

The National Disaster Search Dog Foundation will host an open house from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. May 20 at its campus — 6800 Wheeler Canyon Road, Santa Paula. Tickets cost $15 to $25. To purchase, go to searchdogfoundation.org.

Disaster Search Dog Foundation has been rescuing and recruiting dogs to assist in responding to disasters.

It all started when Wilma Melville was deployed in response to the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing. After seeing the devastating aftermath of the bombing, Ms. Melville knew that there needed to be more highly trained response teams.

Today, SDF has 85 active search teams and has undergone over 200 deployments, such as responding to the catastrophic earthquakes in Turkey, where seven SDF-trained search dog teams assisted in searching the debris.

And locally, 18 SDF-trained

Please see RESCUE on A4

nEWs-PRE ss EXCLU siVE Man charged with peeping released from county jail

By NEIL HARTSTEIN NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER

A man charged with 26 counts of unlawful electronic peeping in Isla Vista is walking free after a judge approved his request to be let out of Santa Barbara County Jail on pretrial supervised release, prosecutors said.

The defendant, Justin Asinobi, pleaded not guilty to the charges, all misdemeanors, at his arraignment, and was back in court on March 15 for a pretrial readiness/settlement conference. It was then when he made his bid for freedom.

“Over the People’s objection, Judge (Brian) Hill indicated he would release the defendant on pretrial supervised release,” Deputy District Attorney Dalia Granados told the News-Press. “Upon release, the defendant will be subject to various terms and conditions.”

The case was continued to

Please see PEEPING on A3