Times coverage: Plea agreement for one defendant in killing of deputy

Sept. 15, 2010, 12:29 p.m.

Photo: Sheriff Deputy Juan Abel Escalante A man initially charged with the death of an off-duty Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputy pleaded no contest this week to the lesser charge of voluntary manslaughter.

Arnold Pineda, a 29-year-old Latino, agreed Tuesday to cooperate with prosecutors and testify in the case in exchange for a sentence of 14 years in prison, said Los Angeles County Deputy Dist. Atty. John Colello.

Sheriff's Deputy Juan Abel Escalante, a 27-year-old Latino, was shot several times Aug. 2, 2008, outside his parents' Cypress Park home. He was preparing to leave for work as a guard at the Men's Central Jail in downtown.

Prosecutors said Pineda drove the vehicle that was used in the shooting but that investigators believe he was forced to drive at gunpoint. Pineda is expected to testify against two other defendants -- including the accused gunman, Carlos Javier Velasquez, a 24-year-old Latino and alleged member of the Avenues gang.

Photo: Sheriff's Deputy Juan Abel Escalante. Credit: Sheriff's Department

13 reader comments

— Jag, why do we want to move into a neighborhood where violence and decay is the norm?

I prefer to live where I am because "nothing ever happens". And I want it to stay that way.

As for cell phones in prisons; did you know it is the FCC that has mandated that no cell phone blocking devices can be used at prisons and jails? Their reasoning is police and fire need the cell phones in case they have to respond to those locations. Even though they cannot get into the facilities without permission in the first place.

Bureaucratic insanity if you ask me!

As for corruption by the jailers and deputies? Not likely. More like incompetence. I did debate my CJ instructor about it and he too was hard pressed to defend incidents like this.

— syscom3 Sept. 27, 2010 at 3:25 p.m.

Tony, you are absolutely right. Inmates even have cell phones and continue to carry their business and crime from jail. John 3 16, Just Say'n and Citizenjohn are in the dark and in denial on how corrupted cops are. John 3 16, I don't have a rap sheet and I don't even have a traffic violation in my record. If I was to prove to you that I don’t have a rap sheet as you claim, then what? Do you find it hard to believe that abiding citizens dislike incompetent and wanna be above the law cops? Just Say'n, your statement of law abiding citizens not having regular run-ins with the Police clearly shows how ignorant you really are. There are a lot of abiding citizens that happened to live in the wrong neighborhood and have constants run-ins with above the law cops. You along with Syscom3 should move in to a neighborhood where cops don't respect your rights and harass you for no reason. Just make sure you don’t look too white and you will get a glance of how things really are.

— Jag Sept. 27, 2010 at 9:48 a.m.

Hey Lou, your views are very sick and twisted. Firstly, you've come to the conclusion that "Cops get away with murder everyday". What do you base that on? Are you one of these knuckleheads like Jag who automatically assume that if there was an officer involved shooting, the cop just did it because he hates minorities (oh, please excuse me, I mean people of color).? Do you really believe a police officer would risk his entire career and his freedom just to go out and kill some innocent person because of their race? Because that's completely false and the reason you think so is you have a gigantic chip on your shoulder. Most police officers never fire their weapon except to practice and very very few ever kill anybody. So you think when someone does get killed, that cop finally saw his opportunity to do a murder he's been waiting to do; to off some scumbag black or latino, right? How ridiculous. And in answer to your question, "why should i (I) care when a cop gets murdered?", I would hope everyone cares when anyone gets murdered. Apparently you are just a little too far gone to see that though, sadly.

— Citizenjohn Sept. 20, 2010 at 1:51 p.m.

The Homicide Report

Times coverage: Plea agreement for one defendant in killing of deputy

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