A trip to court on an auto theft case got even worse for one Salinas man this week, after deputies say he showed up behind the wheel of yet another stolen car. The driver was taken into custody yesterday in the parking lot of the Monterey County courthouse in downtown Salinas, then detained outside a courtroom before he could step in front of a judge. The courthouse bust quickly turned heads among staff and visitors.
According to NBC Bay Area, citing the Monterey County Sheriff's Office, deputies identified the driver as 41-year-old Ricardo Otero and said the vehicle he arrived in had been reported stolen in San Jose. Deputies arrested Otero on counts the outlet listed as unlawful driving or taking of a vehicle, commission of a felony while released on bail, and driving with a suspended license. NBC Bay Area also reported it was not immediately known whether Otero had an attorney who could comment.
Where the arrest happened
The Monterey County Superior Court lists the Salinas Courthouse at 240 Church St. in downtown Salinas. The facility handles criminal hearings and maintains public calendars, according to the Superior Court of California, County of Monterey.
Case status and next steps
Per NBC Bay Area, Otero had been scheduled to appear on a pending auto-theft case when deputies moved in. The outlet reported he was booked on the listed charges before he had a chance to appear before a judge. The report did not include information on whether prosecutors had filed any additional counts at that time or on Otero's booking status.
