SUBJECT: Grand Jury Indictment – People v. Chunli Zhao

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE   DATE:        Monday, January 22, 2024   TO:             Media Members   FROM:       Stephen M. Wagstaffe   SUBJECT: Grand Jury Indictment – People v. Chunli Zhao  

Statement on the In Custody Death of Maycarla Sulapas on January 7,2023

August 17, 2023   Re: In Custody Death Of Maycarla Sulapas On January 7, 2023  

Re: Officer Involved Shooting Of Abran Gutierrez On November 15, 2022

The District Attorney’s Office has completed its investigation into the fatal shooting of Abran Gutierrez on November 15, 2022 by Redwood City Police Officers Luke Shoats, William Wolfe, Nicholas Muniz, Victor Figueroa, and Jose Montoya during a confrontation near the intersection of El Camino Real and Maple Street in Redwood City.

Statement on the Half Moon Bay Mass Shooting

Just days removed from the tragedy in Monterey Park, San Mateo County District Attorney Stephen M. Wagstaffe and all the members of the District Attorney’s Office regrettably now mourn the 7 lives lost to a mass shooting right here in Half Moon Bay.

Firearm Seizure and Arrest by Newly Formed Gun Violence Prevention Program Unit

On Wednesday morning December 21, 2022, San Mateo County District Attorney’s Office Gun Violence Prevention Program (GVPP) Detectives, in collaboration with the Menlo Park Police Department served a search warrant that resulted in the seizure of prohibited firearms in the City of Menlo Park. The GVPP Detectives identified Kristian Arnaldo Arguello as a “prohibited person” who is not allowed to possess firearms and/or ammunition based upon a 2015 criminal conviction. Arguello had firearms still registered in his name, despite the 2015 prohibition. GVPP Detectives obtained a search warrant for Mr. Arguello’s residence, and they worked closely with the Menlo Park Police Department’s Investigations Division. As a result of the search warrant served yesterday on the 1300 Block of Henderson Avenue in Menlo Park, Detectives recovered an unregistered and prohibited AR15 assault weapon, numerous high capacity magazines for the AR15, hundreds of rounds of .223 ammunition, a Glock .40 caliber handgun, a Beretta 9mm handgun and 9mm and .40 caliber ammunition. Kristian Arnaldo Arguello was taken in custody and booked into the San Mateo County Jail for 29805(A)(1) PC, 30605(a) PC, and 30305(a)(1) PC, two of which are felony charges. This was a collaborative effort by our Gun Violence Prevention Program Detectives and the Menlo Park Police Department that will help keep our communities in San Mateo County safer.

People v. Jowy Omar Roman

On October 21, 2022, after 40 minutes of deliberation, a jury convicted Defendant Jowy Roman of Assault on A Peace Officer. On January 22, 2020, police went to the Defendant’s home to serve an arrest warrant and search warrant stemming from the Defendant’s years-long molestation of a minor victim. When officers arrived, the Defendant hid in the shower with a knife. Officers entered bathroom and the Defendant stabbed one officer in the chest which resulted in minor injuries. The knife did not penetrate the officer’s Kevlar vest. During the Defendant’s attack, a second officer shot the Defendant once in abdomen. The jury trial began with the Defendant facing 28 counts related to the molestation of the minor victim, with the 29th count being Assault on A Peace Officer for the January 22, 2020 incident. Midway through the victim’s testimony, the Defendant pled guilty to all 28 counts relating to the molestation. The Defendant is facing a minimum of over 100 years in prison on those counts alone. The trial continued on the one count concerning the Assault on A Peace Officer. The prosecutor was Sexual Assault DDA Nicole Sato, and the Investigating Officer was Clara Leong of the Foster City Police Department.

People v. Christian Fuentes

On September 13, 2022, after two days of deliberation, a jury convicted Defendant Christian Fuentes of the 2011 murder of Catherine Fisher and the attempted murder of Jamal Thomas. The jury also found a special allegation that the Defendant Fuentes was lying in wait true.

People v. David Wolpert

On September 9, 2022, after one hour of deliberation, a jury convicted defendant David Alexander Wolpert of making criminal threats in violation of Penal Code sections 422. The jury also found a special allegation that the Defendant used a weapon in violation of Penal Code Section 12022(b)(1) to be true.

Statement on the Uvalde Massacre

San Mateo County District Attorney Stephen M. Wagstaffe and all members of the District Attorney's Office are saddened and horrified by the tragic massacre of 19 children and two adults in Uvalde, Texas.

People v. Anthony Quinnine

On May 19, 2022, after a day of deliberation, a jury convicted Defendant Anthony Quinnine of three felony counts including theft from an elder and extortion.

Hemp Farm Owner Sentenced for Theft of Labor, Tax Evasion and Failure to Maintain Workers’ Compensation Insurance

The San Mateo County District Attorney’s Office announced that defendant David Wayne Jenkins was sentenced today after a plea of no contest to charges related to his failure to pay farm workers during December 2020 and January 2021, at the hemp farm he was operating in Half Moon Bay. The defendant also pled no contest to charges that he failed to transmit taxes withheld from his employees’ wages and failed to maintain a workers’ compensation insurance policy.

People v. Atonio Finauhuia William Finau

People v. Atonio Finauhuia William Finau On April 27, 2022, after less than 2 hours of deliberations, a jury convicted Defendant Atonio Finauhuia William Finau of five felony counts including robbery, commercial burglary and recklessly evading a police officer.