Posted on 04/21/2006 12:35:40 PM PDT by LNewman
An Anaheim man imprisoned after two police officers and a civilian were killed in a 1987 helicopter crash while pursuing him has been charged with selling methamphetamine.
Vincent William Acosta, 38, who authorities say is a north Orange County leader of the Mexican Mafia, is also charged with possessing a gun and drugs. He appeared in court Wednesday where a $1-million bond was set.
He could receive a 136-year prison sentence if convicted on all counts.
Acosta was arrested in 1987 after police helicopters from Newport Beach and Costa Mesa collided while chasing him. He was driving a stolen car.
Killed were Costa Mesa Officers James D. Ketchum, 39, and John W. Libolt, 39, and Jeffrey A. Pollard, 27, a civilian observer from Tustin who was riding with them.
Acosta led officers from five agencies on a 45-minute nighttime chase during which he drove as fast as 90 mph, without lights and on the wrong side of the road, before he fled on foot and was captured.
He spent about 10 years in prison for vehicular manslaughter after an appellate court overturned his conviction on three counts of murder.
Since his 1994 parole, Orange County prosecutors say, Acosta has served time in prison for felony child abuse, negligent discharge of a firearm, possession of a firearm by a felon, robberies, a residential burglary and assault with a firearm.
Acosta, who is only now eligible to be prosecuted under the three-strikes law, was arrested March 1 in the drug case.
snip ...
(Excerpt) Read more at latimes.com ...
"NEW SHOT-CALLER FOR MEXICAN PRISON GANG CHARGED WITH SIXTH STRIKE FOR CONSPIRING TO TRAFFIC METHAMPHETAMINE WHILE POSSESSING A FIREARM AND ENGAGING IN STREET TERRORISM
Scheduled to be arraigned this morning at 10 a.m. in North Justice Center
A reputable drug dealer.
Only just now eligible for the 3-strike law? Seems there's about a dozen convictions just in the article.
"Acosta was arrested in 1987 ..."
"He spent about 10 years in prison..."
"Since his 1994 parole..."
Let's try this again:
He was arrested in 1987 and paroled in 1994.
During that time he spent how many years in prison?
More like 7 years, and at most 8 short years.
Definitely not 'about 10 years'.
He will be back on the street in no time.Remember,it is California.
Yeah, but next time he 'hits the street' it'll be face down.
Bank on it.
We can only hope!
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