Case # 16CF0751
Date: July 5, 2017
WOMAN SENTENCED TO TWO YEARS IN JAIL FOR HATE CRIME, GRAND THEFT, AND VANDALISM FOR STEALING THREE GOLD STATUES FROM BUDDHIST TEMPLE IN SANTA ANA
*Defendant was out of custody after being convicted of vandalism of religious property
SANTA ANA, Calif. – A woman was sentenced to two years in county jail today for committing a hate crime, grand theft, and vandalism for stealing three gold statues from a Buddhist temple in Santa Ana.
| Defendant | Charges | Sentence |
| Trang Thu Pham, 48, Santa Ana | Pleaded guilty today to felony counts of:
Sentencing Enhancement Allegation
|
Two years in county jail |
Circumstances of the Case
- Between Feb. 26, 2016, and March 6, 2016, Pham took three separate gold Buddha statues from a Buddhist temple in Santa Ana.
- A volunteer at the temple noticed that the statues were missing and contacted Santa Ana Police Department, who investigated this case.
- The defendant was observed on surveillance cameras near the statues that were stolen from the temple and was arrested by SAPD on March 18, 2016.
Prosecutor: Senior Deputy District Attorney Jess Rodriguez, Special Prosecutions Unit