Press Release: People v. Ortega, Felipe, 6/29/09

June 29, 2009
Bradford R. Fenocchio

District Attorney
PLACER COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY

10810 Justice Center Drive, Suite 240
Roseville, California 95678

PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release
Date: June 29, 2009

Contact:

Art Campos

Public Information Officer

916-543-8076

Scott Owens

Acting Assistant District Attorney

916-543-8000

THREE DEFENDANTS ORDERED FOR TRIAL IN TWO CASES IN WHICH MOTORISTS WERE ROBBERY TARGETS

Three defendants have been ordered to stand trial in Placer County for a pair of incidents in which motorists were followed home from a Sacramento nightclub and were targeted for carjacking or robbery.

In one case, a victim was robbed, carjacked and kidnapped at gunpoint, according to the Placer County District Attorney’s Office. In the other, a victim stopped his vehicle but drove away as he was fired upon by a gunman on a Rocklin street, the office said. No one was injured in the two incidents.

Held to answer on charges of conspiracy, robbery, kidnapping and carjacking were Felipe Ortega, 26, Omar Lozano Villicana, 19, and Mirna Corral, 35, all of Sacramento. In addition, Ortega was held to answer on a charge of possession of a firearm by an ex-felon.

Placer County Superior Court Judge Larry D. Gaddis, who presided at a preliminary hearing for the defendants on June 22 and 23, set a trial date of August 17.

The carjacking incident occurred November 22 in North Highlands. The second incident, in which a shot was fired at the fleeing victim, occurred in Rocklin. The two cases were consolidated for prosecution in Placer County, said Placer Deputy District Attorney Rick Opich.