Sex Offender Pleads No Contest in Escape From Peninsula Facility

SAN MATEO, CA: A registered sex offender who was in custody for failing to register pleaded no contest Tuesday to felony escape charges after walking away from an interview at a drug treatment program in San Mateo while his probation officer was out to lunch.

Salvador Velasquez Aguirre, 48, was dropped off for an admission interview at Project Ninety in the vicinity of Second Avenue and South Claremont Street by his probation officer on Feb. 24. He was not guarded, and
walked out the front door during a trip to the bathroom.

After a delay, the officer reported Aguirre's escape to San Mateo police. They searched the area and found Aguirre at a nearby Caltrain station.

Aguirre was apprehended after a short pursuit, according to San Mateo County prosecutors.

"When you're dealing with someone who's a sex offender and is doing time for a violation of his parole and then runs, that's a public safety issue," District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe said.

Aguirre was convicted in October 1998 of molesting a girl under the age of 13, which counts as a prior strike under California's Three Strikes law, according to Wagstaffe.

"That has the effect of doubling the sentence," Wagstaffe said.

Prosecutors initially asked the judge for a four-year sentence, but Aguirre is facing no more than 32 months of jail time when he returns to court for sentencing on June 13.

Defense attorney William Johnston has filed a Romero motion, which asks the court to overlook Aguirre's prior conviction, effectively "striking the strike," Johnston said.

"His conduct is not especially egregious," he said. "In some respects, it's sort of a walkaway."

Aguirre remains in custody on no-bail status.

-- By Bay City News Service; Image via Pixabay