Category: Orange County jail

Felon Serving Life Prison Terms Gets Nearly 3 More Years for Orange County Jail Escape

SANTA ANA, Calif.—The man prosecutors call the mastermind of a 2016 escape by three inmates from the Orange County jail in Santa Ana was sentenced March 24 to two years and eight months in prison for his conviction on felony counts of escaping custody and car theft. Hossein Nayeri, 44, is already serving two consecutive…


13 Orange County Jail Inmates Charged with Attempting to Kill DUI Suspect

SANTA ANA, Calif.—A 31-year-old Orange County jail inmate pleaded not guilty Jan. 18 for his alleged role in the beating of a drunken-driving suspect, in an attack that allegedly involved 13 assailants and left the victim comatose. Jonathan Arley Gonzalez-Sanchez pleaded not guilty to conspiracy, attempted murder, torture, kidnapping, and participation in gang activity, all…


Man Accused of Flying Drone Filled With Drugs Into Orange County Jail

A Costa Mesa, California, man has been accused of flying a drone filled with drugs into the Theo Lacy Jail Facility while coordinating with a female inmate through a phone inside the jail. The drone was originally found in the grass area inside the facility by an inmate worker two days after it crashed Sept….


Grand Jury Finds Security Flaws in Orange County Jails 

The Orange County Grand Jury (OCGJ) has released a 34-page report highlighting various security flaws in the California county’s jails, including escape risks for inmates and trafficking of contraband. The Theo Lacy Facility, in the City of Orange, was identified in the report for needing a security wall between the jail facility and a nearby vacant animal shelter. “The lack of a…


Plans for Early Release of 76,000 Inmates Sparks Concern

Law officials in Orange County, Calif. say they’re worried about state plans to reduce the sentences of up to 76,000 inmates. The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) said it would on May 1 begin increasing the good conduct credit (GCC) rate for eligible inmates, affording them an opportunity for early release. It will…


Potential Early Release of 76,000 Inmates Sparks Concern

Law officials in Orange County, Calif. say they’re worried about state plans to reduce the sentences of up to 76,000 inmates. The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) said it would on May 1 begin increasing the good conduct credit (GCC) rate for eligible inmates, affording them an opportunity for early release. It will…


Jailed Woman Whose Baby Died at Birth Reaches Settlement

SANTA ANA—Orange County supervisors April 28 agreed to a proposed $1.5 million settlement with a woman who gave birth to a baby who died while the mother was in custody in Orange County Jail. The board voted unanimously in closed session to approve the settlement in the lawsuit filed by Ciera Stoetling, who was jailed…


Man Used Tow Truck to Steal Vehicles, Fullerton Police Say

A 35-year-old Anaheim man is facing charges after allegedly using a tow truck to steal vehicles. The vehicles were taken in Fullerton between February 14 and March 13, Fullerton police said in a March 25 statement. In each of the three thefts, witness accounts or surveillance footage revealed a white tow truck was used to…


Investigation Underway Following Inmate’s Death

The Orange County District Attorney’s office is investigating the death of an Orange County Jail inmate. Police said the man was found dead about 7:47 a.m. Feb. 9 and appeared to have committed suicide. The 42-year-old man was arrested by City of Orange police on Nov. 8, 2018 on multiple charges, including attempted murder and a parole…


Orange County Jail Reports Dramatic Drop in Inmate Infections

The amount of Orange County inmates infected with the COVID-19 virus is less than one percent of what it was a month ago, the Orange County Sheriff’s Department (OCSD) said Feb. 5. The OCSD is crediting the reduction with “robust mitigation efforts” to bring down the rate of infection at the Santa Ana facility. On…