Updated: 8:48 a.m.

Tustin police list 14 most wanted fugitives

By ELYSSE JAMES
THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

TUSTIN The Police Department has created a list of its most wanted criminals, spanning 1995 to 2008.

The 14 fugitives are wanted for a range of crimes, including murder, kidnapping, burglary, rape, child molestation and gang assault with a deadly weapon.

Tustin police list 14 most wanted fugitives
40 minutes ago

Officers have been working on this list for about four months and have sorted through every outstanding arrest warrant, said Lt. Tom Tarpley. The warrants could not be served because the suspects fled, left the country or created new identities, he said.

"A lot of our fugitives go into Mexico," Tarpley said.

A poster of the most wanted will be on display at the Tustin Police Department and online at http://www.tustinpd.gov

Anyone with information about the suspects is asked to call Suzanna Smedley at 714-573-3393 or e-mail ssmedley@tustinca.org .

•Juan Palacios, 51, of Santa Ana is wanted for murder in 2003 and faces $1 million bail. According to police, he knocked on a door, the person came outside to talk to him, an argument followed and the victim was shot. Palacios is 5 feet 5 inches tall, 170 pounds and has brown hair and hazel eyes.

Romelio Castaneda Bustos, 42, is wanted for murder in 1995 and faces $1 million bail. Bustos allegedly used a ruse to draw the victim out of an apartment and shot him. The victim was dating Bustos' estranged wife, according to police. He was last seen in Santa Ana and Pasco, Wash. Bustos is 5 feet 8 inches tall, 170 pounds and has black hair and brown eyes.

•Jose Trinidad Ramos, 42, was last seen in Tustin and Santa Ana. He's wanted for murder and faces $500,000 bail. During an argument in 1995 between two groups of people, police said, Ramos fired a gun and hit a person not involved in the argument. Ramos is 5 feet 8 inches, 150 pounds and has black hair and brown eyes.

Joel Munoz Marquez, 28, of Tustin is wanted for murder. The victim, according to police, was found dead in a cardboard barrel covered with a tarp. The victim's brother interrupted and was hit on the head with a rock before he escaped, police said. Marquez faces $500,000 bail. He is 5 feet 4 inches tall, 130 pounds, with brown hair and brown eyes.

Laura King Escalante, 47, of Irvine is being charged with involuntary manslaughter. Escalante allegedly ran an unlicensed medical clinic and gave an injection that killed an 18-month-old child, according to police. She faces $250,000 bail. Escalante is 5 feet 3 inches and 160 pounds. She has brown hair and brown eyes.

•Alejandro Zavala Sanchez, 29, of Ontario is wanted for carjacking and kidnapping in 2000. He allegedly stole a vehicle with infant triplets inside, police said. Sanchez is 5 feet 7 inches and 140 pounds. He has brown hair and brown eyes and is facing $250,000 bail.

Shadi Jamal Abbasi, 33, of San Bernardino is wanted for attempted murder during a 2000 drug deal in which the victim was shot in the hand, according to police. He's facing $150,000 bail. Abbasi is 5 feet 7 inches, 230 pounds, with black hair and brown eyes.

•Jesus Prieto Valdovinos, 39, is wanted for child molestation in which a 12-year-old had a sexual relationship with the adult roommate, according to the Tustin Police Department. Valdovinos was last seen in Tustin and Santa Ana. He's facing $100,000 bail. He's described as 5 feet 5 inches tall, 164 pounds, with brown hair and brown eyes.

•Paul Dennis Zukowski, 27, of Tustin is facing $100,000 bail and rape charges. Zukowski allegedly raped a woman in 2007 who passed out during a party at his house. He's described as 5 feet 6 inches, 115 pounds, with brown hair and brown eyes.

Ulises Vargas Contreras, 33, is wanted for a gang assault during a 1998 fight with a rival gang in which he's accused of assault with a wrench. He was last seen in Tustin and Los Angeles. When arrested, Contreras faces $50,000 bail. He's 6 feet tall, 210 pounds and has black hair and brown eyes.

Elipidio Salas-Flores, 42, of Tustin is wanted for child molestation of a family member in 2002. He's facing a $50,000 bail. Salas-Flores is 5 feet 5 inches, 162 pounds, with black hair and brown eyes.

Miguel Recinas Lopez, 48, was last seen in Los Angeles and Woodburn, Ore. He's wanted for child molestation of a family member and penetration with a foreign object in 1996. When arrested, he faces $50,000 bail. Lopez is 5 feet 7 inches tall, 140 pounds, with black hair and brown eyes, according to police.

Ratnesh Bhutani, 36, is wanted for child molestation in 2006. He's being charged with sodomy and a lewd act with a minor and penetration with a foreign object. When arrested, he faces $500,000 bail. He is 5 feet, 11 inches tall, about 155 pounds, with brown hair and brown eyes.

Robert James Krigmont, 27, is wanted for a 2008 residential burglary. Krigmont was described as 5 feet, 10 inches tall, 140 pounds, with brown hair and brown eyes. He's known to have lived in Orange, Mission Viejo and Seal Beach. When arrested, he faces $165,000 bail and two counts with no bail. Stolen items were found at his house after a residential burglary in 2008.

Contact the writer: 714-796-7949 or ejames@ocregister.com

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