Ronald Zirpolo, Jr.
VENTURA COUNTY — Once convicted of a felony and following a period of incarceration in one of the state’s finer “secured” residential facilities, a large percentage of those released from custody enjoy their new found freedom under the terms of post-release supervision parole.
During the period of parole, former prison inmates are expected to comport themselves within guidelines that include a strict avoidance of criminal behavior.
It’s a simple standard. Freedom comes at the price of acting like a good citizen. Based upon the report of Ventura County Sheriff’s Department spokesman Det. Joe Mulrooney, however, Ronald Zirpolo, Jr., a 24-year-old resident of Ojai has challenges meeting that standard.
Evidence of that came in the pre-dawn hours of January 5th when Zirpolo was observed by Los Angeles Police Department officers as he was attempting to sell approximately $8000 worth of jewelry allegedly stolen from an Ojai home just an hour earlier.
The theft of the jewelry, along with a handgun, had been reported by the victim to VCSD’s Ojai Patrol deputies. At the time of the report, the victim identified Zirpolo as the culprit and valued the purloined property at nearly $10,000.
At the time of his contact with LAPD officers, Zirpolo was in possession of the jewelry, the handgun, and more than “200 rounds of ammunition,” all of which was promptly recovered as evidence.
Zirpolo was detained by LAPD who held him until Ojai detectives “responded and took him into custody,” whereupon he was transported to Ventura County Jail and booked on charges of burglary, grand theft, felon in possession of a stolen firearm, felon in possession of ammunition, and parole violation, with his bail set at $120,000.
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