Ex-Cop Anthony Arevalos Convicted on 12 Counts
 | | The San Diego Union-Tribune Photo |
A former San Diego Police Officer, who was on trial for soliciting sexual favors from women he pulled over in the Gaslamp Quarter, was found guilty last month of 12 charges including eight felony counts and four misdemeanors.
Among the charges Anthony Arevalos, 41, was found guilty of include sexual battery by restraint and asking for a bribe.
"As a police officer, this defendant was in a position of authority but he repeatedly abused the public trust when he solicited sexual favors from women he pulled over," DA Dumanis said. "The District Attorney's Special Operations Division and Deputy District Attorney Sherry Thompson are to be commended for the careful and successful prosecution of this case. "
Arevalos faces 10 years and four months in prison and will be sentenced this month.
In April, Arevalos was fired from the Police Department. The following month, Police Chief Lansdowne rolled out a seven-point strategy to address officer misconduct. He also established a confidential complaint hotline.
"Chief Lansdowne acted swiftly to address concerns and reassure the public and his employees that a majority of police officers conduct themselves with honor and integrity," DA Dumanis said.
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Guilty Verdicts in Murder of Retired La Jolla Biotech Exec
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Union-Tribune Photo
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After less than a day of deliberations, a jury found Kent Thomas Keigwin, 61, guilty of killing a retired biotech executive in his La Jolla apartment last year and stealing nearly $9 million from the victim's accounts. Keigwin was found guilty of all five felony counts including murder, grand theft, burglary, identify theft and forgery in connection with the death of John G. Watson, whose body was found in June 2010. He had been strangled to death. "Our Economic Crimes Division did an excellent job preparing and prosecuting this case of murder for financial gain," DA Bonnie Dumanis said. "I commend Deputy DA Sharla Evert and her team for working to hold the defendant accountable for his actions." Keigwin was a financial adviser who killed Watson during a robbery for financial gain. Those special allegations make him eligible for life in prison without parole. |
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Board of Supervisors Honor Prosecutors for their Work
 | Board of Supervisors Chairman Bill Horn honored five DA prosecutors last month for their strong work throughout the year. Four of them are pictured with Horn and DA Dumanis.
Left Bill Horn, DDA Robert Hickey, DDA Katie Gayle, DDA Brock Arstill, DDA Roy Lai and DA Dumanis |
Five Deputy District Attorneys were honored by the San Diego County Board of Supervisors for their outstanding work as prosecutors last month.
They include Deputy DAs Robert Hickey, Brock Arstill, Roy Lai, Christine Israel and Katie Gayle.
"We have a dedicated and talented team of more than 300 prosecutors in the District Attorney's Office," DA Dumanis said. I am particularly proud of the work of these five Deputy DAs and the fact that they were honored by the Board of Supervisors."
Hickey was recognized by the board as having been named Prosecutor of the Year by the Deputy District Attorneys Association. He successfully prosecuted defendant James Carter for the murders of Carol Waites and Sharon Burton and three attempted murders, known as the Dr. J's Murders.
Four other Deputy DAs also received proclamations for achievement by prosecutors who have distinguished themselves through hard work and dedication.
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DA and MADD Warn Drivers Against Drinking and Driving
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DA Dumanis warns the public of the dangers of drinking and driving in advance of the holidays.
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DA's Office Wins Prestigious Workplace Excellence Award
 The DA's Office was awarded with an excellence award for the fourth year in a row from the San Diego Society for Human Resource Management
The prestigious award is for innovative planning that allowed the office to reduce its workforce by ten percent while maintaining quality of service to the public.
"We are truly honored by this award and we share it with all our employees, including our dedicated and innovative Employee Relations staff," DA Dumanis said. "They have once again shown there are always ways to do things better and embrace creative solutions when faced with the difficulties of a down economy."
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DA CRIMINAL
CASE FILES
Maurice David Tucker, 23, was sentenced to 50 years-to-life in state prison for the fatal shooting of 20-year-old Stephen Cleveland in June 2007. The murder was carried out for the benefit of a street gang.
William Vincent Romero, 44, was sentenced to 16 years-to-life in state prison for second-degree murder and gross vehicular manslaughter. He was involved in a DUI crash and and hit-and-run, which caused the April 2010 death of Oscar Lopez.
Dennis Gluck, 47, was sentenced to 32 years-to-life in state prison for hacking his elderly parents to death with a machete in their Carlsbad home about three years ago.
Tykeem Deshawn Nelson, 21, was sentenced to 150 years-to-life in prison, plus 30 years for holding up four banks and an adult video store last year.
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