SUBMITTED ARTICLE
SOLEDAD — Joel Antonio Hernandez, 32, of Soledad, was sentenced to five years for vehicle theft by Monterey Superior Court Judge Pamela Butler on March 15.
On Jan. 18, 2017, Hernandez pled guilty to three felony counts of vehicle theft and a misdemeanor charge of grand theft.
On three separate occasions, Nov. 18, 2015, Dec. 30, 2015, and Jan. 1, 2016, Hernandez arranged to meet separate victims through a social media dating site. After meeting and engaging with the victims at either their home or motel, Hernandez would steal their cars.
On one such occasion, after spending a couple of hours with one of the three victims, Hernandez stole several personal items from this victim’s home and took the victim’s car that was parked just outside the home.
Vehicle theft is widespread in Monterey County. The District Attorney’s Office Economic Vehicle Theft Unit works in conjunction with the Monterey County Sheriff’s Department Multi-Agency Detail for Commercial Auto Theft in investigating and deterring vehicle theft throughout the county.
Members of the public having information about possible vehicle theft are encouraged to report what they know to DA Investigator Maribel Torres-Hart at 831-883-7588 or District Attorney’s Office Fraud Hotline at 831-755-3224, or CHP Detective Chuck Rodriguez at 831-755-3818 or MCSO Detective Ken Owen at 831-755-7279.
These cases were investigated by Salinas Police Officers Steven Hoyte, Alejandro Magana, John McNeil and CSUMB Officer Robin Leland.
