Activist, Reporter Arrested in String of Store Thefts

NEWPORT BEACH —  A Latino activist from Costa Mesa and a free-lance reporter have been arrested in connection with a string of thefts from the Neiman Marcus department store in Fashion Island, authorities said.

Albert Quintanilla, 45, a store salesman and a leader of Latinos Costa Mesa, was taken into custody Friday after detectives viewed videotapes showing the suspect removing items from display cases in the men’s department, Newport Beach Police Sgt. Andy Gonis said.

Police allege that Quintanilla gave some of the stolen goods to 30-year-old Mary Anne Perez, a free-lancer whose stories have appeared in The Times Orange County Edition. Perez was arrested on Monday, three days after she exchanged stolen wallets, jewelry and men’s accessories for refunds amounting to $1,386.34.

Both Quintanilla and Perez were booked on suspicion of grand theft. Each was released after posting $10,000 bail.

Quintanilla, who is also a bilingual teacher’s aide at Wilson Elementary School in Costa Mesa, did not return calls for comment Wednesday.

Perez denied the charges Wednesday, predicting that the matter will “be resolved in my favor.”

“I believe I was taken advantage of by a trusted friend for whom I was doing a favor,” Perez said, declining to elaborate.

In a statement to police, Quintanilla acknowledged that he had taken about $5,000 in merchandise from the Fashion Island store during the last year, Gonis said.

Quintanilla would give the items to Perez and another suspect who is being sought by police, and they would return them to the store for cash refunds, Gonis said.

“Quintanilla admitted that he would use the cash . . . for the purchase of cocaine,” Gonis added.

According to a police report on Quintanilla’s arrest, he told detectives that the two recipients of the goods knew that the merchandise was stolen.

In a separate statement to police, Perez denied any knowledge that the merchandise was stolen.