| For Immediate Release Case # 09WF0394
February 19, 2009 |
Susan Kang Schroeder Public Affairs Counsel Office: 714-347-8408 Cell: 714-292-2718 Farrah Emami |
SECOND-STRIKER PAROLEE TO BE ARRAIGNED ON CHARGES FOR A STRING OF ROBBERIES AT “CHECK INTO CASH” LOCATIONS
WESTMINSTER – The Orange County District Attorney filed multiple felony robbery charges on a second-striker parolee for a string of robberies and attempted robberies of check cashing businesses in Cypress, Brea, and Anaheim between December 2008 and January 2009. Rudy Noriega, 25, Monterey Park, was charged with six felony counts of second degree robbery, three felony counts of attempted robbery, and sentencing enhancements for a prior strike for dissuading a witness along with three prison priors. If convicted on all counts, he faces a maximum sentence of 31 years in state prison. Noriega is scheduled to be arraigned today, at 1:30 p.m. in Department W-15, West Justice Center, Westminster. The People will be requesting the bail to be set at $500,000, and require him to prove that any bail money he posts is from legitimate sources. There is a parole hold on Noriega.
On Dec. 4, 2008, at about 4:45 p.m., Noriega is accused of walking into a “Check Into Cash” location on Katella Avenue in Cypress. The defendant is accused of wearing a dark hooded sweatshirt and a Halloween mask, pointing what appeared to be a small handgun at the worker, demanding money, grabbing $977 in cash, and running out of the store. There was a security camera which captured the incident.
On Dec. 20, 2008, at about 3:50 p.m., the defendant is accused of entering the same business, wearing a black hooded sweatshirt with the hood pulled over his head, pointing what appeared to be a small handgun at the worker, demanding money, grabbing $995 in cash, and running out of the store. There was a security camera which captured the incident.
On Dec. 31, 2008, at about 3:30 p.m., the defendant is accused of trying to enter the same business, wearing a black hooded sweatshirt and a Dracula mask, knocking on the front door of the establishment with what appeared to be a gun, then pulling on the door, and running off when he realized the door was locked. One of the workers present in the store was the same victim as the two prior times.
On Jan. 3, 2009, at about 10:29 a.m., Noriega is accused of walking into a “Check Into Cash” location on West Imperial Highway in Brea. The defendant is accused of wearing a dark beanie and jacket, pointing what appeared to be a small handgun at two workers, demanding money, forcibly taking approximately $4,000 in cash, and running out of the store.
On Jan. 5, 2008, at about 3:30 p.m., the defendant is accused of trying to enter the same Cypress business, wearing a black hooded sweatshirt, pulling on the door, and running off when he realized the door was locked. The two workers present in the store were the same victims as the two prior times.
On Jan. 14, 2008, at about 10:19 a.m., the defendant is accused of trying to enter a “Check Into Cash” location on East Lincoln Avenue in Anaheim.