LOS ANGELES SHERIFF’S DEPUTY CONVICTED OF TWICE-VIOLATING PROTECTIVE ORDER FOR EX-GIRLFRIEND, INCLUDING CALLING HER CELL IN PRESENCE OF OCDA INVESTIGATOR

LOS ANGELES SHERIFF’S DEPUTY CONVICTED OF TWICE-VIOLATING PROTECTIVE ORDER FOR EX-GIRLFRIEND, INCLUDING CALLING HER CELL IN PRESENCE OF OCDA INVESTIGATOR

FULLERTON – A Los Angeles County Sheriff’s deputy was convicted today of violating a protective order by showing up at his ex-girlfriend’s work and calling the victim’s cell phone while she was in the presence of an Orange County District Attorney (OCDA) Investigator.  Abel Avina Medina, 45, Bell Gardens, was convicted by a jury of two misdemeanor counts of violating a protective order and faces a maximum sentence of two years in jail. Medina is out of custody on $40,000 bail pending his sentencing, which is scheduled for April 17, 2009, in Department N-5, North Justice Center, Fullerton.

Medina, a 17-year veteran of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, has known Jane Doe since 2000. The couple, who share a child, split up in early July 2008. Jane Doe obtained a protective order in Family Court requiring that the defendant have no contact with her. On July 28, 2008, Medina showed up at Jane Doe’s work in La Habra in violation of the protective order. The defendant attempted to give Jane Doe a ring and asked her to marry him, but Jane Doe refused and instructed Medina to leave. The defendant then waited in the parking lot for Jane Doe to leave for her lunch break. When the victim came out, Medina confronted her in the parking lot. The two got into Jane Doe’s car to talk, began to argue, and Medina ripped a necklace off of Jane Doe’s neck. He was charged on Aug. 4, 2008, with one count of violating a protective order. A new protective order was issued for the criminal case requiring the defendant to have no contact with Jane Doe.

On Dec. 11, 2008, the OCDA received information that Jane Doe had moved back into Medina’s Los Angeles home one day earlier, on Dec. 10, 2008.  Investigators from the OCDA went to Jane Doe’s work that day to speak with her about the move. While Investigators were speaking with the victim, Medina violated the criminal protective order by calling Jane Doe’s cell phone. The victim moved out of Medina’s home within one day of moving in.

Deputy District Attorney Gary LoGalbo of the Family Protection Unit is prosecuting this case. 

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