13 Arrests, 12 Pandemic Releases: LA Man Keeps Stealing Cars: DA

LOS ANGELES, CA — A Los Angeles man is facing a slew of felony charges for stealing cars almost as soon as he was released from jail due to the coronavirus pandemic, over and over again, according to prosecutors. On a single day in May, he was arrested twice.

Prosecutors allege Jose Enrique Esquivel stole over a dozen cars between March and June. Esquivel was first arrested on March 30, but released the same day as per the COVID-19 emergency bail schedule. He was again arrested and released on 11 separate occasions between April 28 and June 15, including twice on May 14. He was most recently taken into custody on June 23 for allegedly stealing another truck, but kept in jail because the emergency release fund had ended.

Esquivel pleaded not guilty and bail was set at $550,000. A hearing this week was continued to continued to September 3.

In total, Esquivel faces 13 counts of driving or taking a vehicle without consent, and one count of second-degree burglary. He could spend up to 17 years in prison if convicted, according to Deputy District Attorney Alexander Karkanen.