MoVal Felon Sentenced For Resisting Arrest In Lake Elsinore

RIVERSIDE COUNTY, CA – A convicted felon who tried to elude deputies attempting to detain him for violating a domestic violence restraining order in Lake Elsinore pleaded guilty Monday to resisting arrest and was immediately sentenced to three years probation.

Brian Daniel Chiaffino, 37, of Moreno Valley was arrested last month after he ducked inside a store and had to be flushed out by a Riverside County sheriff's K9 team.

Chiaffino admitted the misdemeanor count during an arraignment before Superior Court Judge Emma Smith at the Riverside Hall of Justice. Smith imposed the sentence stipulated by the prosecution and defense, ordering the defendant to serve two months in a sheriff's work release program, in addition to probation.

Sheriff's Sgt. Chad Thompson said deputies received word Chiaffino was trying to forcibly enter a woman's home in the 28000 block of Haygood Way, in violation of a restraining order filed by the victim against him, about 12:40 p.m. on April 24. While heading to the location, deputies witnessed the suspect inside a shopping center at Dexter and Central avenues, Thompson said.

He said that when deputies approached Chiaffino, he bolted, running inside a store in the 29000 block of Central. Deputies surrounded the business and initiated a search using a K9 unit, leading to the defendant's apprehension a short time later, according to Thompson.

No one was hurt during the search and arrest.

According to court records, Chiaffino has prior convictions for domestic assault, felony evading and assault with a deadly weapon.

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--City News Service/Image via Lake Elsinore Sheriff's Station