A story of a Crescent City man who was allegedly robbed by a former correctional officer during a drug bust in March of 2015, has gone viral.
The Del Norte Triplicate reported on Monday that James Banuelos, who stands trial on Jan. 25 for possession of more than a pound of meth allegedly discovered in a safe hidden beneath his floor, later presented hidden camera footage of the bust depicting multiple officers laughing as they search his wallet and pocket the cash.
The video resulted in former Pelican Bay State Prison Correctional Officer Matthew Yates, who assisted in the raid, being charged with misdemeanor theft.
Banuelo’s attorney also claims several items also mysteriously disappeared from his client’s residence following the search, including a gold chain which seemed to be for sale on Craigslist days after the search, and a trailer that ended up in the possession of a sheriff’s deputy who assisted in the search.
The Triplicate reports that Deputy District Attorney Annamarie Padilla filed a motion to exclude footage of Yates’ alleged misconduct earlier this week as it may compromise the outcome of the case.
Read more on The Triplicate’s website.