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A Menlo Park resident accused of causing more than $60,000 in damage to businesses in downtown Redwood City was previously released against the wishes of the San Mateo County District Attorney’s Office after not showing up to court over a three-year period.
Roman Leon Contreras, 25, allegedly carved the letter “R” into large windows of businesses in downtown Redwood City on July 12, 2025, and is facing 16 counts of felony vandalism.
Before that, Contreras had been arrested in 2022 for allegedly damaging a former classmate’s car. He failed to appear in court in that case, prompting a warrant to be issued for his arrest. He was arrested in March 2025 for that warrant, but was released on his own recognizance, and missed the next hearing in April.
“Welcome to 2025,” District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe said. “He was granted (release on his own recognisance) over our objection. I don’t know why (the judge) would do that given he hadn’t shown up in three years.”
After skipping the April court date, Contreras was caught on security cameras using a rock to etch the letter “R” into business windows and admitted to the vandalism, Wagstaffe said. He allegedly told the police he wanted to carve his signature on every business in downtown Redwood City.
His attorney has declared doubt as to whether Contreras is mentally fit to stand trial. The court will review a doctor’s report in September.
The earlier case is from a May 2022 incident in which Contreras allegedly broke car windows and caused $15,000 in damage to a vehicle belonging to the mother of a former classmate.
Wagstaffe said the victim, a 19-year-old East Palo Alto resident, encountered Contreras in her neighborhood on May 21, 2022. Although they had gone to school together, she had not spoken to him in a long time.
The next day, he appeared at her home and damaged the vehicle. Contreras allegedly told the classmate they were “destined to be together.”
He allegedly admitted to the crime later that day, saying he was “traumatized by his dreams.”
Despite the allegations, court records show Contreras received a summons for arraignment rather than being booked into jail. He did not appear and a warrant was issued for his arrest.
Three years later, on March 18, 2025, Contreras was arraigned in the 2022 case, after being arrested again. San Mateo County Superior Court Commissioner Timothy Elliott released him on his own recognizance, despite objections from the District Attorney’s Office, and ordered him to appear on April 20. Elliott typically handles civil cases.
Contreras failed to appear for his April 20 court date, prompting another warrant.
Contreras was brought back into custody for the 2022 case after his arrest in the July 2025 vandalism spree. He is now in jail with bail set at $25,000.
Both cases are suspended until the court receives the doctor’s report. The next hearing is set for Sept. 17, 2025.
