Couple sought in violent robberies arrested; new charges filed

Brian J. Sandoval, 19, of Las Vegas, was arrested Thursday night near Gonzales Street and San Miguel Street after running from Las Vegas police, according to a statement of probable cause filed in San Miguel Magistrate Court. Sandoval was booked into the San Miguel County Detention Center early Friday morning.

Adamina R. Esquibel, 19, of Las Vegas, was arrested Sunday morning and booked into SMCDC that afternoon.

The first of two arrest warrants for Esquibel was issued Sept. 8 after a man’s truck was stolen near United World College-USA. According to an arrest affidavit filed in San Miguel Magistrate Court, Esquibel distracted the man while another man stole his truck.

Days later, on Sept. 13, Las Vegas police responded to a call of an older man being physically attacked inside his home near Seventh Street and Legion Drive.

The man told police Sandoval knocked on his door to say that free food “for elderly people” was being given away at a nearby restaurant, then punched and kicked the man before stealing his wallet, according to affidavits filed in Magistrate Court. Esquibel waited outside the home in a running car, and after Sandoval beat the man unconscious, both Sandoval and Esquibel fled the area in the car. An arrest warrant was issued for Sandoval, and a second warrant was issued for Esquibel.

Documents filed in San Miguel Magistrate Court show that investigators with the Las Vegas Police Department had been investigating at least one other robbery in which Sandoval was a suspect. That investigation resulted in another arrest warrant for Sandoval being issued Friday, charging him in a Sept. 30 robbery in front of a home on Hot Springs Boulevard, near Taos Street.

Police were called to the home just before noon that Wednesday after a woman reported being “mugged” by Sandoval, according to the arrest affidavit filed in Magistrate Court. The woman told police she was walking on the sidewalk along Hot Springs where Sandoval was sitting on the stairs outside a home. He approached her and asked her to help him cash a check. She told him she could not help him, and that he was standing too close to her. He said, “If you give me your purse, I won’t take it from you,” according to the affidavit. Sandoval shoved the woman to the ground, and stole her purse.

LVPD caught up with Sandoval the next night in the same area, at a home on Mora Street, near Hot Springs. Police attempted to arrest Sandoval, who ran from officers, according to a probable cause statement filed in Magistrate Court. LVPD officers pursued Sandoval to an area near Gonzales and San Miguel, and after searching for a few minutes, located Sandoval hiding in some bushes between a garage and a fence.

Sandoval is charged with three counts of felony robbery, one count of felony aggravated battery causing great bodily harm, misdemeanor resisting arrest, and misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia.

Esquibel is charged with two counts of robbery, one count of felony aggravated battery causing great bodily harm, burglary of a vehicle, larceny, unlawful taking of a motor vehicle and conspiracy to commit burglary of a vehicle, all felonies.

During a hearing Friday, Judge Melanie Rivera set bond for Sandoval at $5,000, and under the conditions of release, if he were released from jail, he would be placed on house arrest with a GPS monitor.

At a Monday hearing, Judge Christian Montaño set bond for Esquibel at $5,000, and under the conditions of release, if she were released from jail, she would be placed on house arrest with a GPS monitor.

Fourth Judicial District Attorney Richard Flores told the Optic he was reluctant to comment because the case is ongoing.

“There’s not much I could add other than to thank law enforcement for their fine job in this matter,” Flores said.

Chief of Police Adrian Crespin did not respond to a request for comment on the arrests.

Sandoval and Esquibel remained in custody at SMCDC as of this writing. Sandoval is scheduled to appear in Magistrate Court Oct. 13 and Oct. 20 for preliminary hearings. Esquibel is scheduled to appear in Magistrate Court Oct. 15 and Oct. 20 for preliminary hearing.