Man Charged in Alleged Retaliation Theft from Former Peninsula Employer

MENLO PARK, CA — A man who allegedly broke into his former employer's construction site in Menlo Park in December pleaded not guilty to burglary and theft charges Tuesday, according to the San Mateo County District Attorney's Office.

Prosecutors said Filimon Paredes, 26, of San Jose entered a construction site in the 100 block of Independence Drive in the early morning hours of Dec. 7.

Officers on patrol found an unoccupied vehicle near a hole cut into a security fence on the 7-acre construction site and preceded to enter.

Upon further investigation, police found nearly $9,000 worth of power tools in a pile, according to the district attorney's office.

Prosecutors said officers ordered several intruders, including Paredes, to come out, but only Paredes came forward. Two other suspects remained hidden until officers warned that a canine unit would be used.

According to prosecutors, Paredes had recently been fired from the site just before Thanksgiving and the three committed the crime in retaliation. The other two suspects, Faustino Carreramorales and Rafael Perezmosqueda, were also arrested and charged in the burglary.

The site had been victim to ongoing thefts and break-ins for several months prior to the December arrest.

Paredes is charged with one count of felony burglary, grand theft and resisting arrest, prosecutors said.

He pleaded not guilty to all charges in court in Redwood City and was ordered to return to court on March 23.

He is out of custody on $25,000 bail.

The other two suspects will be back in court on Jan. 20 and are scheduled for trial on Feb. 14. They are also out of custody on $25,000 bail, prosecutors said.

— By Bay City News Service / Image via Shutterstock