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A deputy sheriff and two corrections officers were arrested Thursday on charges that they smuggled cellular phones and drugs into the county jail in Redwood City for use by an inmate and criminal street gang member, District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe said on Friday.
The deputy is Juan Pablo Lopez, who has served as a deputy for 26 years in the San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office and was a candidate for sheriff in the June election.
Also arrested were county jail corrections officers George Ismael, in Redwood City, and Michael Del Carlo, in San Jose. Mr. Lopez also worked in the jail, driving prisoners to and from court and medical appointments.
All three men are accused of smuggling cellphones into the county jail, obstructing justice and gang involvement. The charges against Mr. Ismael include bringing into the jail a controlled substance — oxycontin, Mr. Wagstaffe said — and providing it to prisoners.
The three are accused of allowing an inmate, identified by Mr. Wagstaffe as a “validated criminal street gang member,” and fellow street gang members to use the prohibited phones and drugs inside the jail, Mr. Wagstaffe said.
The three were arrested on $100,000 warrants. Mr. Lopez bailed out of Alameda County jail and is scheduled for arraignment in San Mateo County Superior Court on Dec. 16, according to David Washington, his attorney.
The charges stem from an investigation that began in December 2013, after the District Attorney’s Office learned from the Sheriff’s Office of a cellphone smuggled into the jail, Mr. Wagstaffe said.
Mr. Lopez is on administrative leave, but not as a result of this criminal investigation, Mr. Wagstaffe said.
Asked to comment, Deputy Rebecca Rosenblatt of the Sheriff’s Office said that Mr. Lopez has been on leave since July. The leave is not connected to this investigation, she said.
At the time of his arrest, Mr. Lopez was outside his house in Newark. Officers from an Alameda County task force arrived with sirens wailing and lights flashing, Mr. Washington said. The officers, with guns drawn, ordered Mr. Lopez to put his hands in the air and get down on his knees, and he was then handcuffed, Mr. Washington said.
Plainclothes officers from San Mateo County were also on the scene, but arrived later.
Mr. Lopez was taken to a holding area in the Alameda County jail where he remained, alone, for one and a half hours, Mr. Washington said.
Mr. Ismael has 15 years of service with the San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office and Mr. Del Carlo, 19 years.
Mr. Ismael was arrested in San Mateo County, but given that he is a San Mateo County jail employee, Mr. Ismael was immediately transferred to Alameda County jail, Mr Wagstaffe said.
The same would have happened to Mr. Lopez or Mr. Del Carlo had they been arrested in San Mateo County, Mr. Wagstaffe said.
While this part of the investigation is over, a wider investigation continues, Mr. Wagstaffe said. “We believe there are some people involved in addition to these three,” he said. “We’re looking at every individual who might have been connected with it in the jail.”
● May 21, 2014, story: Deputy challenges incumbent sheriff in write-in campaign
That’ll teach you mess around with Munks and Wagstaffe, Mr. Lopez!!
Sirens for election fraud?
Yes, you would think Lopez had committed a murder. I don’t recall Wagstaffe issuing an eight person team of armed undercover police officers to arrest San Mateo citizens caught with child porn.
Overkill much? Things are coming apart at the seams in San Mateo County.
connecting the dots, Today’s Palo Alto Daily Post pg 6 Story by Angela Ruggiero titled City sued for failing to provide records about FIGHT. It’s about Belmont Police and City Attorney failing to respond for months to a request about an alleged break in and assault by a San Mateo County Sheriff Deputy named Jason Edward Peardon. This is very similar to the recent Colin t. Smith case, there is one big difference here, This did not make Steve Wagstaffe’s news e-mail list, didn’t get investigated/charged and he got promoted.
Another story from the Mercury News: http://www.mercurynews.com/san-mateo-county-times/ci_26938900/san-mateo-county-sheriffs-deputy-arrested
Lopez has just hired high profile San Francisco attorney Stuart Hanlon to represent him. Hanlon represented members of the Symbioses Liberation Army back in the 1970s.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stuart_Hanlon
I meant to say Symbioses Liberation Army. Sure wish the Almanac had an “edit” button.
Damn, still couldn’t spell “Symbionese” right. Almanac: can’t you start working on getting an “edit” button?
It’s good that Lopez has hired an attorney from outside San Mateo County.
“Lopez has just hired high profile San Francisco attorney Stuart Hanlon ”
This statement is jumping the gun, not happened yet.
It took just two police officers to arrest Dr. William Ayres- the most prolific child molester in recent California history. They didn’t force Ayres to get down on the ground. There’s a photo in the San Francisco Examiner of Ayres being led quietly away by the officers. They didn’t draw their guns.
Why did San Mateo feel the need to have eight armed officers take down Lopez for election fraud and giving cell phones to inmates?
Wasn’t Munks caught going into a brothel for underaged trafficked prostitutes in Las Vegas? Isn’t that crime a tad bit worse than what he is alleging his former election rival to have done?
@M. Stogner: Wasn’t Juan Lopez the candidate you were recommending for Sheriff?? I guess this would be a looser 4 looser?
Could Lopez be that dumb or arrogant? Hard to imagine. This is very fishy.
“gang involvement.” I can honestly say this after attending every day of the Jesse Wilson Trial in San Mateo County.
I’m not confident that our District Attorney would know how to recognize gang involvement.
“A San Mateo County Sheriff’s deputy who ran for his boss’s job this year has been arrested along with two correctional officers on suspicion of conspiracy to smuggle cellphones, drugs and other contraband to gang members in jail, authorities said.
Deputy Juan Pablo Lopez and correctional officers Michael Del Carlo and George Ismael were arrested Thursday.”
Michael Stogner: are you implying this alleged activity didn’t happen?
That it is politically motivated?
What’s missing from the story is how the illegal activities were uncovered and who paid the cops to smuggle stuff into the jails and how much was paid.
Michael Stogner: are you implying this alleged activity didn’t happen?…I’m not saying that
What I am saying is that up until this evening neither Juan Lopez or I or his attorney knew what he was being charged with. When he was arrested they didn’t tell him, when I called the jail they didn’t know because they hadn’t booked him at that time. The charges seem to be different depending on media so let’s let the dust settle and then get to the jurors.
I challenge you all to look into articles about the D.A., and Sheriff.
The average resident in San Mateo County is too busy making a living and raising a family, meaning they do not have the time to take on the reading of articles about D.A. Wagstaffe & Sheriff Munks.
98% of residents do not know what is going on in San Mateo County.
Why am I not one of the 98%?
About 2 years ago, a friend of mine who had a physical disability was killed by a punk half his age. The D.A.’s office was not aware that he was disabled. I had to get my friends physical therapist involved with the D.A.’s office to prove his disability.
Open your eyes, to the San Mateo County D.A. and Sheriff’s office.
Deputy Juan Lopez is a good man.
I will, along with other persons, tell you all about upcoming hearings that will bring out the truth.
I laughed out loud when I read Sheriff Munks’ comment to the San Mateo Daily Journal today that he turned over information about Lopez and the cellphone to DA so that the investigation would be impartial. Everyone remembers how Wagstaffe defended Munks to the hilt in emails after he was caught at the brothel for underaged prostitutes in Las Vegas.
From the Daily Journal:http://www.smdailyjournal.com/articles/lnews/2014-11-15/jail-workers-snagged-for-contraband-former-sheriff-candidate-others-arrested-for-sneaking-phone-and-drugs-to-inmate/1776425133421.html
Excerpt:
The arrests were the culmination of a 10-month investigation by the District Attorney’s Office prompted by both a tip from within the jail and, according to Sheriff Greg Munks, finding a cellphone during an inmate cell search. Munks said his office turned the investigation over to Wagstaffe’s office when it became apparent Lopez was interested in running for sheriff.
“We decided we should turn it over to the DA to keep impartiality and make sure there are no allegations we were going after him,” Munks said.
One wonders if the reporters from the Almanac and other papers are curious as to why Wagstaffe never alerted the press about Menlo Park police officer Jeffrey Vasquez (story broken by the Almanac) and the assault arrest of Colin Troy Smith and yet the press was notified immediately about Juan Lopez?
Mark De Paula:
1. are you implying this alleged activity didn’t happen?
2. That it is politically motivated?
I would ask Scoop and the other posters, but it is obvious they think this man is innocent and this is a politically motivated setup. Scoop? Robert?
Recap of events we know about.
July 2014 Juan Lopez is placed on Administrative leave from the Sheriff’s Office. He is interviewed by the DA’s Office, It’s a short meeting.
His cell phone is taken from him, His Drivers License is taken from him by DA’s office.
He is ordered to stay home everyday till six.
Two of his homes have the front doors kicked in after he supplied keys and permission to search, the young girls at one home end up, up close and personal to a Male Officers private area during the search.
The search warrants were not at the courts records office when they should have been…where were they? They showed up after I sent e-mails. sealed
Arrested guns drawn, he would have walked in if he knew about the warrant.
Still not clear what he is charged with today, I think it is 1 cell phone sold to one inmate. How much $$
This is Deputy who earned over $240,000 last year, seems a big risk,
Don’t forget his attorney just sued the City of Belmont for failing to provide information on Sgt.Jason Edward Peardon
Mr. Stogner, are you claiming everything in your post is a fact? For example, your source for this? “the young girls at one home end up, up close and personal to a Male Officers private area during the search”
How does “Don’t forget his attorney just sued the City of Belmont” apply to this case? Why are you including this? What do you really mean by that?
Moreover: Where is you previous attitude? “so let’s let the dust settle and then get to the jurors.”
You seem quite content to keep the dust stirred up. I think a great many of us have learned that time is required for to let the “dust settle”. We learned from Ferguson, MO that a lot of noise that came out in blogs and through the media was, in fact, just ridiculous.
Fair questions. Okay for some to call for calm and wait for facts, while posting all sorts of unsubstantiated claims?
Matt why is this confusing to you, it is just what happened.
How does “Don’t forget his attorney just sued the City of Belmont” apply to this case? Why are you including this? What do you really mean by that?
The Palo Alto Daily Post just did a story on Juan Lopez’s attorney suing City of Belmont for failure to provide records about Sgt.Jason Edward Peardon.
Juan Lopez gets arrested the next day just a fact. Not saying one caused the other, just what happened.
Well, the sun rose today, and a cop is accused of working with a prisoner in jail. Not saying one caused the other, just what happened.
Mr. Stogner, are you claiming everything in your post is a fact? For example, your source for this? “the young girls at one home end up, up close and personal to a Male Officers private area during the search”
Correction:
July 2014 Juan Lopez is placed on Administrative leave from the Sheriff’s Office. He is interviewed by the DA’s Office, It’s a short meeting.
August 4, 2014 Deputy Juan Lopez was placed on Administrative leave.
“the young girls at one home end up, up close and personal to a Male Officers private area during the search”
My source: The mother, and the young girl,
Matt, big difference from being accused to being charged, this is very serious.
“Well, the sun rose today, and a cop is accused of working with a prisoner in jail.”
Have reporters from the Almanac or any other news organization noticed that in the Mercury News’ editorial on May 30 , 2014 where they urged voters to write in Juan Lopez’s name on the ballot for Sheriff that Munks refused to speak with or meet with reporters from that paper to talk with them on his own very serious brush with the law at the brothel in Las Vegas ?
And yet how eager he was to chat up the press about the charges against Lopez today .Given the emails that Wagstaffe sent to Munks in support of Munks after he was caught in the FBI sting in Las Vegas (“to those who matter…”)does Munks take us for fools to think that the DA can be impartial here? If Munks wanted true impartiality he should have handed off Lopez’s case to the US Attorney’s office and/or the FBI.
Mercury News op- ed which comes down hard on Mnks for stonewalling those who want to know what happened in Las Vegas
http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_25870116/write-juan-lopezs-name-ballot-sheriff-and-see
Scoop:
yes, Munks takes u for fools as does Wagstaff. SM county voters keep electing them. They think they are untouchable. One can only hope that someday the Attorney General gets tired of their shenanigans and launches an investigation. I won’t be holding my breath.
We live in a corrupt county.
Everyone at the sheriffs office knew Lopez was dirty for a while. Once Lopez knew the gig was up, in desperation he decides to run for sheriff because he knew this game was coming and planned to claim retaliation.
Everyone watched and laughed as Stogner instantly took Lopez under his wing. Stonger calling him “brave” and helping the perhaps most crooked cop the sheriffs office has ever seen.
I almost died from laughter last night in your tv interview when you said “you know Lopez didn’t do it because you talked to him and he told you so”.
Stogner, you have been played and you don’t even realize it.
Deputy Juan Lopez will have his hearing on December 4, 2014, Civil Service Commission. He has been waiting for months for this hearing. Deputy Lopez has asked for a opened hearing.
So supporters & doubters may attend.
The hearing will be at 455 County Center 4th floor, Redwood City.
Matt have you read the latest report from Wagstaffe on the investigation into SAMTRANS / CALTRAIN?
Wagstaffe’s report said there were 2 accountants that came forward, there were 3 accountants.
I went to the D.A.’s office and asked to see and read the full report. The D.A. Chief Inspector said the public may not read the report, I asked why,and his reply was it is protected under California Code 6254F.
I urge you all to look into this Ca. Code.
I would highly recommend you to watch the 3 videos done by NBC Bay Area Investigates, enter SAMTRANS and watch May 7, 2014 video.
So Insider= San Mateo County Sheriff Deputy…I guess
“Everyone at the sheriffs office knew Lopez was dirty for a while. Everyone watched and laughed as Stogner instantly took Lopez under his wing. Stonger calling him “brave” and helping the perhaps most crooked cop the sheriffs office has ever seen.”
Can you explain to the residents what you personally did to report or did to get rid of this bad cop you knew about.
“ I almost died from laughter last night in your tv interview when you said “you know Lopez didn’t do it because you talked to him and he told you so”.
I saw the video this morning and had the exact same reaction, that was funny, 20 minutes of interview a couple seconds sound bite, he must have asked me that type of question 7 times, each time I said I don’t even know what the charges are yet so I can’t answer.
I say leave the So Insider comment up.
Get the IP address confirm who it is and if it is a SMC Sheriff Deputy the Jury will love to hear his/her testimony.
Colin T. Smith case had this kind of evidence, it was easy for the jury.
Deputy Juan Lopez will have his hearing on
December 4, 2014, Civil Service Commission
455 County Center 4th floor
Time: 9:00 AM
After reading the San Mateo Daily Journal’s story about Lopez last week, I have some questions that I am hoping that the
resourceful Almanac reporters can answer.
At the very end of the Journal story, reporter Michelle Durand reports a shocking allegation about Juan Lopez having sex in the courthouse.
The source for the first part of this DA Wagstaffe who talks about a 2007 internal investigation where a deputy was found naked with a woman in the courthouse.
First, this has nothing to do with what Lopez was charged with. Nothing at all. This is the kind of statement that The Bar disciplines prosecutors for.
Second of all when the press has asked Wagstaffe about other internal investigations by his office in other cases, he says the law precludes him from telling the press what the result was. He refused to tell the Almanac about the results of what happened in his internal investigation into Melissa Mckowan after she was disciplined by the Bar.
http://www.almanacnews.com/news/2013/03/15/deputy-da-reproved-by-state-bar-for-misconduct
So why has he changed the rules for Lopez?
Secondly where is the documentation of this investigation into Lopez in 2007? What Wagstaffe said is extremely damaging but it doesn’t sound as if he showed the reporter any documentation.
Then Wagstaffe tells the reporter that it is “widely assumed ” that Lopez had sex with the woman. That’s not a fact . It’s just some shocking tossed out speculation by a sitting District Attorney with no proof that it happened.
As the Almanac knows, because they were given official documentation by the California Bar last year, that the Bar sent Wagstaffe a warning about lying to the press about a defendant’s case before his trial.
As it is very rare for the Bar to issue any DA about lying to the press, I urge the Almanac reporters as responsible reporters to demand to see a copy of this 2007internal investigation into Lopez. Wagstaffe can’t have it both ways.
And if I were Lopez’s attorney, I would go after Wagstaffe for his unprofessional, irresponsible and gossipy unsubstantiated remark that it is widely assumed about Lopez and the woman. The Daily Journal itself could get into trouble for this.
Finally the California Bar in its code of regulations has strict rules about prosecutors using the press to spread unsubstantiated stories about defendants for their own gain.
I urge the Almanac to ask to see the documentation of this internal investigation and to ask Wagstaffe about his shocking” it is widely assumed” comment.
Holly L. Great post and questions.
December 4, 2014
9:00 AM
455 County Center 4th floor
Redwood City, Ca
Civil Service hearing for Juan Lopez
December 4, 2014
2:00PM
400 County Center Dept. 28 Hon. Judge George Miriam
Petition for Writ of Mandate, Belmont Police Department and Scott Rennie City Attorney
David W. Washington (Juan Lopez’s attorney)
Failure to produce information on incident from 2004-5 Involving San Mateo County Sheriff Deputy Jason Edward Peardon location was San Juan Blvd.
Robert asks a Great Question,
“Could Lopez be that dumb or arrogant? Hard to imagine. This is very fishy.”
Motivation? a cell phone? What is the payoff for that?
26 year veteran soon to retire,
I could see 5100 lbs of Marijuana on the coast with no witnesses being a temptation but a cellphone to an inmate?
San Mateo County Sheriff Greg Munks has filed a complaint against Sheriff Deputy Juan Lopez today and had him served at his home. Here is the tricky part 2-01 3(F)
Employees shall not commit or attempt to commit any act which is a violation of any state Federal, County, or City Law, ordinance or regulation. Members also shall not engage in any activity or behavior which will bring discredit upon the San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office…….
Does Sheriff Greg Munks remember he was caught as a customer of Human trafficked Sex Slaves some underaged? Operation Dollhouse FBI Sting April 21, 2007 Las Vegas that was Illegal….This is going to be interesting.
Welcome to San Mateo County.
What a hypocrite we have for a Sheriff.
Posted by Michael G. Stogner
a resident of another community
on Nov 18, 2014 at 6:44 am
Michael G. Stogner is a registered user.
Holly L. Great post and questions.
December 4, 2014
9:00 AM
455 County Center 4th floor
Redwood City, Ca
Civil Service hearing for Juan Lopez
December 4, 2014
2:00PM
400 County Center Dept. 28 Hon. Judge George Miriam
Petition for Writ of Mandate, Belmont Police Department and Scott Rennie City Attorney
David W. Washington (Juan Lopez’s attorney)
Failure to produce information on incident from 2004-5 Involving San Mateo County Sheriff Deputy Jason Edward Peardon location was San Juan Blvd.
What were the outcomes?
Both delayed.
The City of Belmont has retained a large law Firm located in Walnut Creek for some reason, The City manager told reporter Angela of the PADP that this was a simple case he was going to win, or something close to that.
I guess after he looked into the allegations he decided he better get an attorney.
Criminal break-in by a San Mateo County Sheriff Deputy and assault of a citizen, no arrest, no charges and the guy gets promoted to Sgt.
This is very similar to the Colin T. Smith case where he will be sentenced this month,
Update: I just got off of the phone with Deputy Juan Lopez, As of today he still does not know what he is being charged with.
Welcome to San Mateo County
Michael:
he still hasn’t been arraigned?
Has Mr. Lopez secured counsel ? And if so, who is it? Will the Almanac and other papers try to get to the bottom of this story?
Menlo Voter, asks
Michael:
he still hasn’t been arraigned?
That is correct December 16, 2014 at 8:30 AM is his arraignment.
Well, if it isn’t postponed I guess we’ll know what Deputy Lopez is being charged with on the 16th.
Time will tell, what I do know is not one of our 7 media businesses (papers) have contacted Steve Wagstaffe to inform the public as to the exact charges of San Mateo County Sheriff Deputy Juan Lopez.
Instead of being arraigned the day after his arrest like almost everybody else in SMC his is a month later, to guess at what he is going to be charged with. That adds to his legal defense costs, not to mention the mental stress.
I have never seen this type of abuse so open before, It can only be happening because the media businesses are keeping the Village uninformed.
Are the media businesses acting as good citizens?
San Mateo County Sheriff Deputy Juan Lopez was in court this morning with both of his attorneys.
The DDA did not have copies of the charges for anybody, the Court, The bailiff, Juan Lopez’s attorneys.
That is pretty abusive, charge a person with some crime, don’t tell him to keep his expenses high.
At this moment I can report I don’t know what Sheriff deputy Juan Lopez is charged with.
I have asked the Almanac to find out and report it, they have declined to do so.
Mr. Stogner:
Who is the prosecutor on Deputy Sheriff Lopez’s case?
Prosecutorial Misconduct is alive and well in San Mateo County. The Board of Supervisors support it.
Susan Navratil said it crystal clear at a Board of Supervisor Meeting in 2003….11 Years ago. I was with her when she said it.
DEEP LEVEL OF CORRUPTION in the District Attorney’s Office. Michelle Durand reported her statement in an article.
Third comment down is the link to SMDJ article.
http://legalpad.typepad.com/my_weblog/2009/07/ninth-dings-wagstaffe-for-cutting-black-jurors.html
Is Juan still out on $100,000 bail? What are the charges?
Jack, asks
“Is Juan still out on $100,000 bail? What are the charges?
Yes on out on bail and we still don’t know what he is charged with other than conspiracy.