| For Immediate Release Case # 08CF0292
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Susan Kang Schroeder Public Affairs Counsel Office: 714-347-8408 Cell: 714-292-2718 Farrah Emami |
HUNTINGTON BEACH MAN PLEADS GUILTY TO MAKING CRIMINAL THREATS AGAINST OC SUPERVISOR
SANTA ANA – A Huntington Beach man was convicted and sentenced today for sending an email threat to Supervisor John Moorlach, threatening his family and the other four County supervisors. Steve Van Arroyo, 51, Huntington Beach, pleaded guilty to the Court to one felony count of threatening a public official and one misdemeanor count of criminal threats. He was sentenced to 284 days in jail, three years formal probation, and was ordered to complete a mental health program through the Orange County Health Care Agency and Department of Probation. A restraining order was issued prohibiting Arroyo from contacting Moorlach and his family.
On Friday, January 25, 2008, one of Moorlach’s staff members received a phone call from a “Dusty” asking for Supervisor Moorlach’s email address. On Saturday, January 26, 2008, Arroyo sent a threatening email to Moorlach’s work email account stating that he would have Moorlach and his family “incinerated.” He also stated that his purpose is to “kill dead all 5 supervisors.” The defendant lived at the residence where the IP address was registered.
Deputy District Attorney Andre Manssourian of the Special Prosecutions Unit prosecuted this case.
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