Crime & Safety

Burglary Suspect Has Jewelry, DVD Player at Home

Deputies find suspicious man near the scene of a crime, then find stolen loot when they take him home.

Rancho Santa Margarita deputies on Saturday found and arrested a 28-year-old man following the report of an early evening burglary. 

The incident began on Mirlo when breaking glass was heard by a neighbor. Orange County Sheriff deputies stopped a suspicious man in the area, Ricardo Luis Pena.

According to Lt. Brian Schmutz, chief of police services for RSM, further investigation by the deputies revealed a broken bedroom window at the residence in question. Pena also had allegedly stolen items on his person.

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Deputies took Pena to his residence where he confessed to having other stolen goods, and a consent search revealed stolen jewelry and a DVD player, Schmutz said.

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It's the second time in two months that Pena has been busted. He was cited March 28 for possession of drug paraphernalia, a misdemeanor; he pleaded not guilty to that charge on Tuesday in Orange County Superior Court along with a not guilty plea to the most recent charge, first degree burglary.

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A pretrial hearing is scheduled for May 16 and a preliminary hearing is scheduled for May 18.

Bail is set at $50,000.

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