http://fredericksburg.com/News/FLS/2006 ... 006/162568

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."



To reach DONNIE JOHNSTON:
Email: djohnston@freelancestar.com