Court Briefs: Watsonville Drug Dealer Gets More Prison Time

A paroled gang member caught selling drugs was sent back to prison for five more years Wednesday, the reported.

Rosalio Cortez, 29, of Watsonville was arrested March 15 when Watsonville police gang investigators searched him and found heroin and methamphetamine, authorities reported.

Cortez was on parole for a past drug sales conviction. His rap sheet includes other priors, including a robbery conviction, according to the D.A.'s Office.

He pleaded guilty in late April to allegations he was an active gang member and possessed heroin and meth for sale. Wednesday, Judge Paul Burdick sentenced him to state prison.

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A car burglar caught with the help of a father and son——was sentenced to three years in state prison on Thursday, the District Attorney's Office reported.

Oscar Cruz pleaded guilty to gang allegations, felony assault on a police officer, misdemeanor assault, burglary, theft and possessing stolen property.

Cruz broke into a Ford Mustang parked on Peace Drive early on Nov. 28, 2010. Watsonville police officer Brian Fulgoni caught the call and tried to get Cruz out of the car to arrest him, but Cruz refused to and then tried to escape.

Cruz and Fulgoni scuffled, and the car burglar choked off the officer's air supply for 10-15 seconds. Richard Dallimonti, who owned the Mustang, happened on the altercation and helped Fulgoni—who had gotten out of the headlock and was trying to pin Cruz to the pavement—hold down Cruz until other officers arrived.

Dallimonti's son, Jon, got there first and was able to inform the incoming cops of what was going on.

Cruz had stolen property taken from numerous other vehicles he had burglarized that night, including a laptop and an iPod. That night, he also had gang-affiliated clothing on, a gangster hairstyle and a history of gang association, according to the D.A.'s Office.

The Dallimontis were honored with the Good Samaritan Award from the Red Cross last month for their assistance.

Assistant District Attorney Charlie Baum, who prosecuted the case, said he wanted a longer prison sentence for Cruz but was glad the burglar would be off the streets for awhile.

"This defendant chose to escalate a simple encounter into a life-threatening incident," he said. "There could have been serious injury to the officer, to the defendant himself—if the officer had been forced to use his firearm—or to bystanders."

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District Attorney Bob Lee reported on his Facebook page Thursday that Abraham Santoyo, 19, and Jordan "Bugsy" Macias, 21, the two gang members who pleaded guilty to a brazen attack inside the now-defunct Cabrillo Lanes bowling alley in March 2010 were sentenced to state prison.

Macias stabbed a young man in the neck several times while Santoyo fired at the victim and missed. The bullet then struck a 7-year-old boy, Lee reported. Both victims have recovered.

Santoyo and Macias were sentenced to 42 years behind bars. be eligible for parole in 2046.