Man accused of car theft released on felony charge before trial | News

A man who was released pretrial after being charged with burglary and theft in August was charged Wednesday with motor vehicle theft, a second-degree felony, according to a complaint filed by a magistrate judge in Superior Court.

Terrence Greg Santos Pablo, 28, also received a tip that a felony had been committed while on bail for a felony.

On October 21, a man reported his 2019 Mazda CX-5 stolen. His home had previously been broken into and his car keys were among the items taken. In the images captured on security cameras, a person was seen getting into the vehicle and leaving the parking lot.

On Monday, police were contacted by a woman suspicious of a car she had recently purchased. On November 8, a school friend told him he knew of a Mazda for sale for $300, and he agreed to buy it. An hour later, the man told her the price was $500, and she accepted the higher amount. The friend arrived in a Mazda CX-5.

The woman asked for the documents, which her friend quickly showed her, before putting them back in the glove compartment. When he discussed the purchase with his father, who had access to the vehicle registration database, he noticed that neither the vehicle chassis number nor the license plate matched the Mazda.

He advised her to contact the police.

Later, his former classmate Pablo contacted him via Facebook Messenger. He said the car belonged to his uncle and he had to return it. He said he would give her $500 and threatened to go to the police if she didn’t.

Instead he went to the police.

Police determined the plates were stolen from a Kia Optima and the Mazda was also stolen in October.

Pablo continued to contact her, and on Tuesday the woman returned to police for a follow-up interview. While she was at the police station, Pablo texted her and said he was in a parking lot near her house and that he would come pick up the car from her.

Police went to the parking lot and caught Pablo trying to escape, according to the complaint.

If convicted, he could face up to 33 years in prison. He was ordered held on $1,500 cash bail.

Previous expenses

In August, Pablo was charged with theft of a motor vehicle as a second-degree felony, fraudulent use of a credit card and theft as a misdemeanor, and receiving stolen property as a misdemeanor.

He was accused of stealing a car in Talo’fo’fo, then taking a debit card from his wallet and using it to make purchases. When questioned by police, Pablo also admitted to purchasing a laptop stolen during a burglary at Talo’fo’fo’ Elementary School.

A judge ordered Pablo, who faces 12 years in prison on these charges, to be released on $5,000 personal recognizance bail.