Six people are facing felony charges stemming from an incident Monday night in Goleta in which two people were threatened with a firearm in a motel parking lot, according to the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Department.
Shortly after 8 p.m., deputies responded to the Motel 6 on the 5800 block of Calle Real after receiving a 9-1-1 call of suspects pointing a firearm at two victims, said Raquel Zick, sheriff’s public information officer.
When deputies arrived, they identified a vehicle and found a hotel room associated with the suspects.
“While deputies were searching for the armed suspects, two women exited the hotel room with three young children, Zick said. “Deputies warned the women about the potential danger in the area, and asked if they knew anything about it.
“The women said that they didn’t know anything about the incident, they were the only people in the hotel room, and they did not have a vehicle at the hotel.”
However, deputies soon determined that one of the women — Ana Sanchez, 24, of Santa Barbara — was the registered owner of the vehicle involved, and also was the person to whom the motel room was registered.
At that point, Sanchez and Yesenia Ybarra were arrested on suspicion of obstructing a peace officer, and their children were turned over to a family member, Zick said.
While Sanchez’s vehicle was being towed after her arrest, deputies discovered a loaded shotgun on the rear floorboard, between two child car seats.
The motel’s managers asked that Sanchez’s belongings be removed from the room since she would not be returning due to her arrest.
“When deputies attempted to enter the room that they were told was empty, they found the slide lock engaged and saw four subjects inside,” Zick said.
Deputies broke down the door and arrested four Goleta men: Brandon A. Topete, 25; Gilberto Solis, 24; Jorge A. Fernandez, 18; and Dylan A. Jaregui-Salinas, Zick said.
All six were taken to Santa Barbara County Jail.
» Solis was booked on suspicion of felony conspiracy, assault with a firearm, being a felon in possession of a firearm, being a felon in possession of ammunition, and possession of a firearm while on probation. He was being held without bail.
» Topete was booked on suspicion of felony conspiracy and assault with a firearm. He remained in custody Tuesday night, with bail set at $50,000.
» Fernandez was booked on suspicion of felony conspiracy and assault with a firearm. He remained in custody Tuesday night, with bail set at $50,000.
» Jaregui-Salinas was booked on suspicion of felony conspiracy and assault with a firearm. He remained in custody Tuesday night, with bail set at $50,000.
» Ybarra was booked on suspicion of felony child cruelty and being an accessory, and misdemeanor obstructing a peace officer.
» Sanchez was booked on suspicion of felony child cruelty and being an accessory, and misdemeanor obstructing a peace officer.
The two women were released from custody due to COVID-19 pandemic emergency rules.
— Noozhawk executive editor Tom Bolton can be reached at tbolton@noozhawk.com. Follow Noozhawk on Twitter: @noozhawk, @NoozhawkNews and @NoozhawkBiz. Connect with Noozhawk on Facebook.