Deputy Sheriff Says He Didn't Help Smuggle Cell Phones to Inmates

By Bay City News Service:

A San Mateo County Sheriff’s deputy accused of conspiring with corrections officers and a known gang member to smuggle cellphones and drugs into a county jail pleaded not guilty to two felony charges on Tuesday, District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe said Wednesday.

Juan Pablo Lopez, 51, is charged with conspiracy to commit a crime with a gang enhancement and conspiracy to obstruct justice with a gang enhancement, Wagstaffe said.

In November, authorities arrested Lopez along and two corrections officers on suspicion of smuggling cellphones and drugs to a member of the Hells Angels at a county jail in Redwood City.

Prosecutors said an independent investigation revealed the men delivered cellphones, oxycodone, alprazolam and ibuprofen to inmate Dionicio Lopez while he was in custody between April and December 2013.

Dionicio Lopez had been placed in custody after he was charged with shooting into a Daly City home where he mistakenly thought a rival gang member was living in 2011, narrowly missing two young children who were inside watching television.

While Dionicio Lopez was in custody for those charges, two corrections officers - George Ismael and Michael Del Carlo - allegedly delivered at least two cellphones to him after communicating with his sister, Amanda Lopez, 25, and girlfriend Roxanne Ingebretsen, 28, outside of the jail, according to prosecutors.

Dionicio Lopez’s mother, Leticia Lopez, 55, allegedly bought a cellphone and handed it off to Ingebretsen, who gave it to Ismael.

Dionicio Lopez is suspected of selling a cellphone to another inmate, only to be replaced by a second cellphone that Ismael allegedly brought into the jail.

At one point, Deputy Juan Lopez allegedly took a photo of two other inmates with one of the contraband pones, according to a criminal complaint.

Wagstaffe said prosecutors have found no family relationship between Juan Lopez and Dionicio Lopez.

Dionicio Lopez was able to use the cellphones to communicate to his mother, sister, girlfriend and fellow Hells Angels members while in jail, prosecutors said.

Both Ismael and Del Carlo have more than a decade of experience with the sheriff’s office and Juan Lopez has 26 years on the job. He ran unsuccessfully to unseat Sheriff Greg Munks in June, receiving 1.4 percent of the vote.

Police arrested Juan Lopez in Newark and booked him in the Alameda County Jail on a $100,000 warrant.

Juan Lopez waived his right to a speedy preliminary hearing and Wagstaffe said his case was continued to Friday at 9 a.m. to set a preliminary hearing date.

Del Carlo, a correctional officer for 19 years, was arrested in San Jose on suspicion of conspiracy to bring an unauthorized communication device into jail, conspiracy to obstruct justice, and a gang enhancement.

He was booked in the Santa Clara County Jail on a $100,000 warrant and is scheduled for an initial felony arraignment on Dec. 31 at 9 a.m.

Ismael, a correctional officer for 15 years, was arrested in Redwood City and is charged with bringing unauthorized communication devices into the jail, conspiracy to obstruct justice, conspiracy to bring controlled substances into the jail, furnishing controlled substances to in-custody inmates and a gang enhancement.

He pleaded not guilty to the charges against him on Dec. 2 and remains free on a $100,000 bail. He is next set to appear in court on Dec. 19 along with Dionicio Lopez, his girlfriend, mother, and sister.

(Image via Shutterstock)