A 42-year-old parolee, Alejandro Navarrete Mendoza, is now behind bars following his apprehension last week by authorities as he reportedly attempted to cross the border. Santa Ana police have confirmed Mendoza's arrest, noting he is being held on a parole violation and faces severe accusations, including multiple instances of molesting a relative in Santa Ana. The successful apprehension underscores ongoing efforts by law enforcement to address public safety concerns within Orange County.
Santa Ana police reported that Mendoza has been booked on suspicion of multiple felony charges, including lewd and lascivious acts with a child, assault with intent to rape, and kidnapping. These grave allegations trace back to a report made on August 30, 2019. On that date, a relative came forward to police to report that Mendoza had allegedly molested a 15-year-old girl relative. The alleged offenses are reported to have occurred over a period of approximately six months, according to detailed court records.
Prior to his recent arrest at the border, there were indications that Mendoza had fled the country. A former roommate of Mendoza's told police that the parolee had gone to Mexico, according to court records. This information, documented in court records, suggests a deliberate attempt to evade justice before his eventual capture.
Mendoza's record includes a prior arrest in 2018 on suspicion of domestic violence. Following his release from custody after posting bail in that case, the victim informed police that Mendoza had continued to contact her through text messages and phone calls, according to court documents. When authorities subsequently attempted to make contact with Mendoza, he reportedly stated that he would report to his parole officer. However, court records indicate that he never fulfilled this obligation, which led to the current parole violation for which he is being held.
The parolee’s history further includes a conviction from January 2014, when Mendoza pleaded guilty to assault with force likely to produce great bodily injury. For this offense, he was sentenced to four years in state prison. The details of these repeated interactions with the justice system, culminating in the current serious charges, highlight the ongoing challenges in ensuring the safety of our communities.
