Man charged in Menlo Park burglary gets 11-year sentence

A 21-year-old Redwood City resident who pleaded no contest to charges of burglary in Menlo Park, evading an officer in East Palo Alto and gang-related assault at the San Mateo County jail was sentenced to 11 years in state prison on Thursday, Nov. 3.

Christopher Ontiveros Alcazar was arrested Jan. 4, 2016, with two others in East Palo Alto, according to a report by the San Mateo County District Attorney’s office.

He, with Hernan Green-Villalobos of East Palo Alto, allegedly committed three strong-arm robberies – using force or threats but no weapons – to steal money and cell phones from people in East Palo Alto.

Later that day, East Palo Alto police officers attempted to stop a car carrying Mr. Alcazar, Mr. Green-Villalobos and two others. Mr. Alcazar, who was driving, sped away, going 60 mph in a 25 mph zone.

The chase ended when the car crashed into a vacant commercial building at 2377 University Ave. in East Palo Alto and its occupants were arrested, according to District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe.

It was a second-strike case for Mr. Alcazar, according to the District Attorney’s Office. He was alleged to be one of three men who in January 2015, on Robin Way in Menlo Park, had committed two residential burglaries and attempted a third. He was arrested by police and allegedly gave a false name. He pleaded no contest to one count of residential burglary.

While in the San Mateo County Jail in May 2016, Mr. Alcazar was allegedly involved in a gang-related fight that resulted in injuries to a correctional officer who intervened. He pleaded no contest to one count of felony assault for gang-related purposes, Mr. Wagstaffe said.

Mr. Alcazar will get credit for 560 days served, and will have to pay $400 in fines, and receive genetic-marker testing.

He is in custody on $350,000 bail. On Dec. 15, the court will evaluate how much he will be required to pay in restitution.