| For Immediate Release
March 12, 2012 |
Susan Kang Schroeder Chief of Staff Office: 714-347-8408 Cell: 714-292-2718Farrah Emami Spokesperson Office: 714-347-8405 Cell: 714-323-4486 |
OCDA TO OPPOSE PAROLE OF GANG MEMBER CONVICTED OF RETALIATORY-MURDER FOR ROLE IN DRIVE-BY SHOOTING OF TWO JUVENILES
SANTA ANA – Orange County District Attorney (OCDA) Tony Rackauckas is opposing the parole of an inmate convicted of murder for the drive-by shooting of two juveniles. Patrick Che McCauley, 44, is currently being held at California Men’s Colony, San Luis Obispo, CA. McCauley was found guilty of two counts of second degree murder, one count of second degree attempted murder with the non-controlling offenses for receiving stolen property, and attempted second degree murder with the use of a weapon. He was sentenced Feb. 10, 1992, to 37 years to life in state prison with a minimum eligible parole of date May 1, 2013. McCauley is scheduled for a parole hearing tomorrow, March 13, 2012, at 10:30 a.m. at the prison before the Board of Parole Hearings, California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.
Deputy District Attorney Marc Labreche will appear at the hearing to oppose McCauley’s parole. The OCDA maintains that McCauley demonstrates a lack of rehabilitation, as evidence by his continuous inability to follow rules while incarcerated.
Murder of Enrique Arceo and Jesus Perez
On Oct. 30, 1987, McCauley and three co-defendants, including Mario Tirado, stole a vehicle and were driving around the City of Santa Ana. McCauley was the driver. The defendants were armed with a rifle looking for gang members to shoot in retaliation for an ongoing rivalry. While driving, the defendant’s saw several men standing together whom they believed were from the rival gang. McCauley and the other defendants yelled at the rivals and one of the defendants then shot at them with the rifle, wounding one as McCauley sped away.
Later that night, the defendants drove to Lacy Street, where 15-year-old Rolando Alonso was riding home on his bicycle with 13-year-old Enrique Arceo sitting on the handle bars. Riding with them was 17-year-old Jesus Perez, who was riding his bicycle with 14-year-old Ismael Martinez on the handle bars. The victims were on their way home after having left the nearby church carnival. McCauley drove past them and made a U-turn to drive by them again. As the defendants approached, Mario Tirado fired several shots from the passenger side of the vehicle, striking Arceo and Perez. Both victims died as a result of the gunshot wounds.
Lack of Rehabilitation and Danger to Public Safety
McCauley has failed to complete any vocational or academic training while incarcerated. McCauley has recently accrued prison rules violations that include possession of a controlled substance for distribution, inappropriate sexual behavior, job-related theft, out of bounds, misuse of inmate telephones, possession of inmate manufactured alcohol, participation in a riot, and avoiding attendance at work.
In the OCDA’s 2012 parole opposition letter, the People state, “Mr. McCauley endorsed engaging in high-risk behaviors of antisocial affiliation, multiple substance use, and antisocial activities while in the free community [and]…Furthermore, his disciplinary history during his current incarceration is suggestive of continuing underlying antisocial tendencies, as demonstrated by his failures.