Ventura County – Antonio Dalangin, 49, and Ilarion Padilla, 33, both residents of Camarillo, could simply be guys who understand that kids will be kids, and that every youngster out there will at one time or another do some experimentation with alcohol consumption. But when that compassionate understanding crosses the line and they actually help to provide alcohol to underage youth, it becomes a crime.
That reality was undoubtedly made manifest to both Dalangin and Padilla on December 30th when, outside licensed retail establishments offering alcohol for sale, each was approached by underage minor decoys working at the behest of the Camarillo Police Department’s Community Resource Unit pursuant to an active alcohol enforcement operation who asked the men to buy alcohol for them.
When Dalangin and Padilla took cash from the minors and then exited the liquor stores bearing their illicit purchases, they were suddenly confronted by Camarillo Police Department officers and placed under arrest. Both were transported to Ventura County Jail nd charged with furnishing alcohol to a minor.
According to Ventura County Sheriff’s Department spokesman Sgt. John Franchi, no less than 20 individuals were targeted by the sting operation and were approached by the underage male decoys at five individual retail locations, with “the goal of the operation to limit minors’ access to alcohol.” Franchi also noted that “the Camarillo Police Department wants to thank the other eighteen subjects who refused to purchase alcohol for the minors,” and noted that alcohol is a leading contributor to incidents leading to the deaths of 15-20 year olds.
Read more:
EdHat: Alcohol enforcement operation
Citizens Journal: Camarillo police arrest 2 for buying alcohol for minors
