Photo: Jose Enrique Esquivel
HUNTINGTON PARK – Pandemically speaking, it sometimes takes much illegal action to get locked up for an arrest these days. Social-distancing, alone, is a huge factor in a bevy of virally-loaded reasons to protect everyone involved.
Law enforcement databases are rife with perpetrators who practice their expertise to cash in accordingly.
One such Covid-19 opportunist saw fit to steal cars and return – again and again.
Jose Enrique Esquivel aka Jose Esquibel (dob 11/1/95) of Huntington Park “has been charged in four separate felony cases with stealing more than a dozen cars in Los Angeles and surrounding areas between March and June after getting re-arrested and released,” said Ricardo Santiago of the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office.
“On March 30, Esquivel was arrested for allegedly driving a stolen truck and released per the COVID-19 emergency bail schedule, aimed at reducing the jail population during the pandemic. He was charged in case BA487677 with one count of driving or taking a vehicle without consent.”
But it didn’t stop, there. “The defendant was again arrested for either driving or attempting to steal a truck but released on April 28, May 8, twice on May 14, May 20, May 23, May 27, June 6, June 8, June 13 and June 15,” said Santiago. “On June 23, Esquivel was arrested for allegedly stealing another truck but held on bail because the emergency bail schedule had ended. The defendant was charged in case BA488174 with one count of driving or taking a vehicle without consent.”
For his copious crimes, Esquivel is charged in case VA153718 with 11 counts of driving or taking a
vehicle without consent and in case BA487691 with one count of second-degree burglary of a vehicle for his second May 14 arrest.
The felony complaints include allegations that the defendant committed most of the crimes while out on his own recognizance, as the DA points out that he was previously convicted of driving or taking a vehicle without consent twice in 2017 and once in 2018 and 2019.
The man was charged with more than a dozen car thefts during the ongoing COVID-19 Pandemic.
As of July 21st, Esquivel faces a total of 14 felony counts. Defendant Esquivel has pleaded not guilty to the charges In case VA153718. Bail is set at $550,000. His multiple court dates include appearances at L.A. County Superior Court, Norwalk Branch on July 27th, and again on 08/10/2020 at Foltz Criminal Justice Center for cases BA487677, BA487691, and
BA488174.
Deputy District Attorney Alexander Karkanen of the Task Force for Regional Auto Theft said, “Esquivel faces a possible maximum sentence of 17 years in state prison if convicted as charged.”
The cases remain under investigation by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s and the Los Angeles Police departments.
