| For Immediate Release November 16, 2007 |
Contact: Susan Kang Schroeder Farrah Emami |
TWO SOUTH ORANGE COUNTY RIVAL GANGS ENJOINED
FROM TERRORIZING NEIGHBORHOODS
AND VIOLENTLY WARRING IN THE COMMUNITY
SANTA ANA – Two injunctions were signed today by the Honorable Daniel Didier against rival South Orange County criminal street gangs to enjoin 94 San Clemente and 132 San Juan Capistrano gang members from terrorizing their respective communities and acting as a public nuisance. These injunctions, the third and fourth in Orange County, are the first to be signed on the same day against rival gangs.
The gang injunctions were served individually to each named gang member, as well as to the parents of juveniles, on October 17, 2007 by more than 300 officers representing 16 agencies throughout Orange County. The injunction was a cooperative effort between the City of San Clemente, City of San Juan Capistrano, Orange County District Attorney, and Orange County Sheriff’s Department (OCSD).
WHAT IS AN INJUNCTION?
A gang injunction is a civil order that restricts or prohibits documented gang members from participating in specific acts or activities that may not be criminal. The terms are designed to curb intimidating or harassing behavior. If an enjoined gang member violates the terms, he or she will be arrested and face prosecution. This can be misdemeanor prosecution for disobeying a court order or felony prosecution if the violation was for the benefit of the criminal street gang. The defendant will be placed on gang probation terms or be sent to state prison for up to three years.
The defendants named in the injunction are known to be active participants in the San Clemente and San Juan Capistrano criminal street gangs. Only the most active and well-documented gang members are enjoined. Each gang member has been documented by personal admission of affiliation, associating with known gang members, dressing in the style of the gang or having gang tattoos, possessing gang paraphernalia, and/or committing crimes for the benefit of the gang.
The terms of the San Clemente and San Juan Capistrano gang injunctions include a restriction that prohibits any association of named defendants with any other named defendant of their respective gang. Association includes standing, sitting, walking, driving, bicycling, gathering, or appearing anywhere in public or public view with any known member of the gang. The terms also maintain that there can be no intimidation, drugs, alcohol in public, guns or dangerous weapons, fighting…