ARRESTS MADE IN HOMICIDE...

WCPD and West Goshen officers arrested four subjects at a residence on the 600 block of Goshen Road on the West Chester/West Goshen township line. At least one of the suspects was arraigned last night by Judge Bruno for the murder of Christian Oliveras, 21, at his home on the 300 block of South Adams Street shortly after midnight yesterday. Oliveras was scheduled for trial next week in Common Pleas Court (which was documented in yesterday's postings).

At around 19:30, Det. Sgt. Louis DeShullo requested an officer assist at the location for what was initially reported to be a shots fired call. Units responded to the scene and placed the four under arrest, with two of the subjects being taken to West Goshen Police headquarters and the other two taken to WCPD. After interviews with the persons in custody, one of the two actors police were searching for was charged with Oliveras' murder.

Trent Larelle Jackson, 19, of Coatesville, was arraigned last night on charges of Criminal Homicide, First Degree Murder, Second Degree Murder, two counts of Aggravated Assault, two counts of Recklessly Endangering Another Person, Possession of an Instrument of Crime, and eight conspiracy charges. He was committed to Chester County Prison without bail. His preliminary hearing is scheduled for Friday in front of Judge Knapp, though it will likely be continued (15-1-04, CR-0000221-07).

The second actor was reportedly arrested early this morning in Atlantic City, New Jersey under rather unusual circumstances. Efrain Molina, 28, of West Chester, was reportedly involved in a two-car accident in Atlantic City at around 05:30 this morning. The other operator of the vehicle was reported to be under the influence of alcohol at the time of the accident and reportedly placed under arrest.

A records check by the Atlantic City Police Department revealed the homicide warrant for Molina. At present, Molina is in custody in New Jersey and will likely face an extradition hearing in the near future, though a date has not been set as of yet (15-1-04, CR-0000222-07).

It appears that both suspects have had prior criminal arrests in the past few years, with Molina having a very extensive criminal record dating back nearly 10 years in West Chester and Philadelphia:

• On December 14, 1996 at around 20:25, P/O Christopher Craig arrested Molina during a ped stop on the 300 block of Patton Alley; Molina was found to be in possession of an "8-inch double-edged throw knife", according to the criminal complaint filed with former District Judge Dawson R. Muth and was charged with Possession of an Offensive Weapon (CP-15-CR-0000254-1997). In a further indication of how far back this particular case goes, the two constables who handled Molina's transport to Chester County Prison were Greg Cugino - now a WCPD officer - and current District Judge Mark Bruno. For some odd reason, it slipped my mind that Judge Bruno was a constable before becoming a District Judge...
• Three days later, at around 17:39, P/O Craig again arrested Molina, this time on the 300 block of West Chestnut Street, and was charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance and Possession of Drug Paraphanalia (CP-15-CR-0000255-1997). On March 18, 1997, Molina was sentenced to 2 years probation in the 1996 cases by Judge Jacqueline Carroll Cody.
• On September 20, 1997 at around 12:41, former P/O Sean Stephen (now with the DEA) spotted Molina on the 100 block of Courthouse Alley and was arrested on a bench warrant. In a search incident to arrest, Molina was found to have been in possession of 13 packets of what would later test positive for cocaine, 8 pills of what was later identified as Zanax, and $43.65 in cash. On January 21, 1998, he pled guilty to Possession of a Controlled Substance With Intent to Deliver and was sentenced to 4-to-23 months at Chester County Prison with credit for time served by Judge Katherine Platt (CP-15-CR-0003757-1997).
• On October 9, 2000, Molina was arrested in Philadelphia and charged with Possession With Intent to Deliver and Possession of a Controlled Substance. In a jury trial, Molina was found not guilty of the PWID charge, but convicted of the PCS charge. He was sentenced to 6-to-23 months in the Philadelphia House of Correction (CP-51-CR-0103721-2001).
• On November 26, 2000 at around 21:32, while awaiting trial on the Philadelphia charges, P/O Dave Stuart and P/O Stephen observed three subjects in the hallway of an apartment building at 340 West Washington Street, where Molina resides. Upon arrival, the officers reported a strong odor of what appeared to be marijuana. Molina dropped a cigarette pack wrapper on the floor which contained marijuana and was also found to have 1 small bag containing cocaine. On May 21, 2001, he pled guilty to Possession of a Controlled Substance and was sentenced to 1 year probation by Judge Lawrence Wood (CP-15-CR-0000484-2001).
• On July 19, 2001 at around 23:55, Sgt. Daniel Dixon (ret.) arrested Molina at the 340 West Washington apartment complex after observing Molina placing a plastic bag in a white pot amongst the flowers adjacent to the complex's entrance. A bag containing marijuana was recovered and Molina stopped at the Lukoil at Hannum Avenue and Wayne Street. Also recovered was a cell phone, walkie-talkie, and a large roll of an undermined amount of cash. On March 12, 2002, Molina was sentenced to 2-to-23 months at CCP after pleading guilty to Possession of a Controlled Substance in front of Judge Juan Sanchez (CP-15-CR-0005411-2001).
• On June 25, 2002 at around 23:23, Det. Andrew McFarlane observed Molina in possession of an open container of alcohol. A subsequent search resulted in discovery of marijuana laced with PCP in his possession. On December 12, 2002, Molina pled guilty to Possession of a Controlled Substance and was sentenced to 3-to-23 months in CCP, with credit for time served by Judge Paula Francisco Ott (CP-15-CR-0003534-2002).
• On October 13, 2003 at 00:59, Molina was driving westbound on the 800 block of West Chester Pike where a West Goshen police officer clocked him at 55.77 mph in a 35 mph zone. Molina failed to pull over when the officer turned on his overhead lights and sirens. After chasing Molina along Gay Street to the 340 West Washington complex, Molina was arrested, taken to West Goshen Police headquarters, and performed field sobriety tests. Subsequent blood testing showed his BAC at .03, however it was also determined that he was under the influence of controlled substances, including marijuana. It was also determined that his license was suspended. On May 25, 2004, Molina was sentenced to 2-to-12 months in CCP by Judge Thomas Gavin after pleading guilty to DUI (CP-15-CR-0000680-2004).
• On Decmeber 2, 2003, Molina was arrested in Philadelphia by 25th District officers and charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance; on January 26, 2006, he was sentenced to 2 years probation (MC-51-CR-1202671-2003).

Meanwhile, Jackson hasn't exactly been a model citizen himself...

He has a case pending on Judge Riley's next trial list starting Monday on charges of Possession of Marijuana and Possession of Drug Paraphanalia relating to an incident on January 4 processed by P/O Jeffrey Gallo of WCPD (15-1-01, CR-0000009-07; CP-15-CR-0002064-2007). Jackson waived his right to a preliminary hearing on May 15 and the case was bound to the Court of Common Pleas. I would suspect that this particular case might be put on hold...

A recap of today's rather uneventful Criminal Day at 15-1-01 as well as a recap of the past two days at Common Pleas Court will be posted later today or tonight (time permitting).