Thread: Police say burglaries, MS-13 gang linked

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Police say burglaries, MS-13 gang linked
January 24, 2006 3:44 am
By DONNIE JOHNSTON
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Three men have been arrested and another is being sought on charges stemming from a series of Culpeper burglaries.

All are believed to be members of the MS-13 gang, with ties to Northern Virginia, according to Culpeper town Police Lt. Pat Coffey.

The burglaries occurred between Dec. 12 and Jan. 19 in the Belle Avenue area, a new subdivision near Dominion Square Shopping Center, Coffey said.

The first break in the case came when Detective Marcus Taylor, while on a stakeout, saw someone leaving the rear of a residence that did not appear to be occupied, Coffey said.

Detectives J.C. Welch, Dan Art, Bill Hayes and Coffey then obtained search warrants on three homes and identified stolen property that led to charges against four suspects, Coffey said.

Victor Medina-Barahona, 19, Richard Hernandez, 26, and a 17-year-old juvenile were arrested.

Medina-Barahona is charged with one count of breaking and entering with the intent to commit larceny, one count of grand larceny and one count of receiving stolen property.

Hernandez is charged with two counts of breaking and entering and two counts of grand larceny. The juvenile is charged with three counts of breaking and entering, three counts of grand larceny and one count of receiving stolen property.

A fourth suspect, Javier Medina, 21, is being sought. He faces two counts of breaking and entering and two counts of grand larceny.

Medina was last seen running out the rear of his Cottontail Drive residence yesterday morning while police arrested Medina-Barahona, Coffey said.

Town police arrested Javier Medina and Victor Medina-Barahona in September of last year on burglary charges in the same neighborhood, Coffey said.

"I want to commend my detectives for their tireless effort in bringing this case to a conclusion," Capt. Ricky Pinksaw said. "They worked as a team and stayed here almost all weekend, long after their shifts had ended."



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Authorities ID suspects in burglaries
Liz Mitchell - Staff Writer
Culpeper Star Exponent
Tuesday, January 24, 2006


Culpeper Police are close to bringing a string of Belle Avenue burglaries to an end.

Four suspects, who are believed to be members of the MS-13 gang, have been identified in the daytime break-ins, which occurred from Dec. 12 to Jan. 19, according to Culpeper police.

Javier Medina, 21, is the only suspect that remains “wanted� for two counts each of breaking and entering and grand larceny.

He is the brother of Victor Medina-Barahona, 19, who was charged with one count each of breaking and entering, grand larceny and receiving stolen property.

Both brothers were arrested by the Culpeper Police Department in September for burglary and larceny in the same neighborhood.

The two other suspects are Richard Hernandez, 26, and a 17-year-old male.

Hernandez was charged with two counts of breaking and entering and two counts of grand larceny.

The juvenile, who is unidentified because he is a minor, was charged with three counts each of breaking and entering and grand larceny and one count of receiving stolen property.

Lt. Patrick Coffey said there are other suspects, one of whom is a juvenile, pending investigation.

Detective Marcus Taylor identified one of the suspects leaving the rear of a residence that appear unoccupied while observing the area Friday.

A few minutes later, Detective Dan Art and Sgt. J.C. Welch identified a group of suspects who had stolen property in their possession.

Detectives worked tirelessly through the weekend, Capt. Rick Pinksaw said.


“It was a total team effort,� he said. “They did a really great job through what I call good, old-fashioned police work with surveillance and communication skills.�

With the evidence found on the suspects, police were able to obtain search warrants for three residences. All suspects are Culpeper residents and have ties to the Northern Virginia area, where MS-13 is prevalent.

While some warrants were still being served Monday afternoon, court records indicate Hernandez is charged with stealing a digital camera, an Apple iPod and a Gateway laptop.

Coffey said the items stolen consist primarily of electronic equipment and jewelry that totals a value between $55,000 and $60,000.

Hernandez, who has pending charges of DUI and felony endangerment, is scheduled to appear in court Feb. 1 at 8:30 a.m.

Liz Mitchell can be reached at 825-0771 ext. 110 or emitchell@starexponent.com.