Tag: Felony Warrant

Brian Hook Facing Multiple Felonies for Having Sex with Underaged Minor

The Orcutt Resident is a Social Sciences Teacher and Girl’s Basketball Coach

by Jae Brattain | posted 02.25.2014

Detectives from the Santa Maria Police Department investigated Brian Thomas Hook after there were accusation that he had multiple inappropriate relations with a student at Pioneer Valley High School.  The first incident took place around January 14th.  There was also a second occurrence, which happened around February 13th.  The name of the alleged victim was not, and likely will not, be released because she is only 16-years old.

Brian Thomas Hook

Authorities from the Santa Maria Joint Union High School District contacted local law enforcement on February 19th.  They had been alerted of the sexual encounters by Pioneer Valley High staff members.  Brian Hook, who is 53-years old, was said to have committed several sexual assaults against one of the students over a 4-month period.

The next day, police obtained a search warrant and went to Hook’s home.  They also investigated other locations related to the crime, but the specific areas were not identified.  Once they served the warrant, Hook was taken into custody and transported to Santa Barbara County Jail.

At the time of his incarceration, he was being charged with oral copulation, unlawful intercourse, and penetration of a foreign object.  Each of the charges have to do with a minor and all are felony level.  His bail bond was set at $100,000.

Pioneer Valley girls basketball coach Brian Hook talks to his team during a timeout against St. Joseph on Jan. 15, 2014.

 

As a certificated teacher and coach, Hook was in a position of authority.  Due to the fact that investigation is still in progress, not many details have come to light.  District authorities have only indicated that they are working with law enforcement.  Police are urging that anyone with information about this case contact their detective bureau.  The detective in charge is Sgt. Paul Van Meel.

According to Santa Barbara County District Attorney Joyce Dudley, the defendant will be facing four felony charges total for his sexual encounter with the minor.  He will be going to court in the Santa Maria Cook division of the Santa Barbara County Superior Court.

Santa Barbara Police Bust Robert Banks for Narcotics Sales

Suspect Sold Heroin from Los Angeles Area to Local Dealers

by Jae Brattain | posted 01.15.2014

Robert Keith Banks

On January 8, 2014, officer from the Santa Barbara Police Department placed Robert Keith Banks under arrest for narcotics sales.  The suspect had 9.75 ounces of heroin in possession at the time.  Officers also discovered a collapsible police baton, which is considered unlawful under Penal Code 16590 (m) in the State of California.  He also had an outstanding arrest warrant of $20,000 for a probation violation.

Investigators believe that Banks is a major player in the illicit heroin trade around Santa Barbara.  The suspect is based out of Inglewood, a city in southwestern Los Angeles County.  He had been transporting large amounts of narcotics to local dealers in Santa Barbara.  Detectives were able to establish contact and subsequently located him in the Carpinteria area.  The arrest was made at the McDonald’s parking lot on Casitas Pass Road, near the 101 freeway.

McDonald’s, 1115 Casitas Pass Road in Carpinteria

Banks had been suspected of illegal narcotics sales and investigated by the police for the past three months.  Detectives started the process in October 2013.  The arrest was a cumulative effort that resulted in the 46-year old man being taken into custody.  According to police, the approximate value of the heroin in his possession at the time of arrest was $9,300 on the streets.

After his detainment, police transported Banks to Santa Barbara County Jail.  Besides the $20,000 warrant for violating his probation, he was also booked for the sale and transportation of narcotics, as well as unlawful weapon possession.  The bail bond for the new charges was set at $30,000.

Salvador Munoz of Buelton Caught with Child Pornography

Thousands of Lewd Photos of Kids Discovered on iPhone and Computer

By Jae Brattain | Posted 01.08.2014

Salvador Gallegos Munoz

On December 19, 2013, Salvador Gallegos Munoz went to a Sprint Store in Santa Barbara to exchange his iPhone 4S to a newer iPhone 5 model.  The store technician took the older phone and hooked it up with the new one.  He began transferring the data between devices, when he noticed images of pre-teen boys performing lewd acts.  The employee contacted his corporate office security division about the situation, in which they instructed him to call the Santa Barbara Police Department.

Officer arrived on scene and confiscated the iPhone 4S for evidence.  After receiving a search warrant to go through the device, detectives discovered three photos of children engaged in sexual conduct.  One image showed two boys, who appear to be 10 to 12-year old in age, performing lascivious acts with each other.  Shortly afterwards, the detectives were able to get a $20,000 warrant issued for the arrest of Munoz.  In addition, another search warrant was obtained from a judge to search his home near Pea Soup Andersen’s in Buelton.

400 Block of Central Avenue near Pea Soup Andersen’s in Buelton

Execution of the warrants took place at approximately 7:00 am on Tuesday, January 7, 2014.  Munoz was immediately taken into custody by officers and his computer was searched thoroughly.  Detectives discovered thousands of images and videos on his hard drive.  By his own admission, Munoz indicated that he had been accumulating child pornography for at least eight years.  He also exchanged images and videos with other users over the Internet during that time period.  During the interrogation, Munoz denied being involved in any physical sexual acts or abuse.

Detectives are investigating the situation further.  Munoz was transported to the Santa Barbara County Jail where his bail bond has been set in the amount of $20,000.