Baby Brandon kidnapping suspects plead no contest
SAN JOSE, Calif. (KION-TV) UPDATE July 2, 5:34 p.m.- Tuesday in a Santa Clara County courtroom, the two people accused of kidnapping a San Jose baby in May have pled no contest to all counts they are charged with, according to KRON.
Defendants Yesenia Ramirez and Jose Portillo are charged with eight criminal counts: conspiracy to commit kidnapping, kidnapping, residential burglary, three counts of attempted kidnapping, and tampering with a motor vehicle.
Justice for Baby Brandon: His kidnappers, Yesenia Ramirez and Jose Portillo, PLEADED NO CONTEST to ALL COUNTS
— Amy Larson (@AmyLarson25) August 3, 2022
Count 1: Conspiracy to commit kidnapping
Count 2: Kidnapping
Count 3: Residential burglary
Counts 4-7: Attempted kidnapping
Count 8: Tampering with a motor vehicle pic.twitter.com/aWHJqYmb4y
DA: Baby Brandon kidnappers tried to steal the infant three other times
SAN JOSE, Calif. (KION-TV) UPDATE May 12, 3:06 p.m.-- Two people charged for the kidnapping of Baby Brandon in April tried to kidnap the infant at least three other times, said the Santa Clara District Attorney's Office.
The DA's office said that "Yesenia Ramirez and Jose Portillo plotted and unsuccessfully attempted to kidnap the 3-month-old San Jose infant at least three other times, dating back weeks before the actual kidnapping on April 25."
On one of those occasions, Portillo pretended to be a Child Protective Services worker who was there to take the baby into custody. The family didn't give up Brandon, said the DA.
The two were charged with additional kidnapping counts at their bail hearing on Thursday. They could face prison if convicted, said the DA's office.
“There are few things more terrifying than someone stealing a child, as if they’re a car or a wallet,” District Attorney Jeff Rosen said. “The more we investigate this case and the more troubling it gets, the more determined we are to prosecute those responsible to the fullest extent of the law.”
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UPDATE April 28, 12:16 p.m.-- San Jose Police said that one of the three suspects in the kidnapping of a three-month-old Monday has been released from custody.
Baldomeo Sandoval will not be facing any charges at this time, according to police.
2/ Since the beginning of this incident/investigation we emphasized that it is very complicated and multi-layered. As developments continue we will do our best to keep you updated without compromising this investigation. Thank you.
— San José Police Media Relations (@SJPD_PIO) April 28, 2022
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UPDATE April 26, 10:23 a.m.-- San Jose Police Department has revealed three people in-custody for alleged involvement in the kidnapping of a three-month-old in San Jose Monday evening.
Police say, Jose Roman Portillo, 28, Yesenia Guadalupe Ramirez, 43, and Baldomeo Sandoval, 37, all residents of San Jose have been arrested on charges of kidnapping, conspiracy to commit kidnapping, child abduction and home invasion.
The preliminary investigation identified Portillo as the man who unlawfully entered a residence and kidnapped an infant.
Detectives said that before the kidnapping suspect Ramirez had driven the victim and the victim's grandmother to run errands. Ramirez changed her statement several times during the investigation and police detained her as a person of interest.
Sandoval was identified as another suspect and was detained for questioning.
Based on their statements both Sandoval and Ramirez were placed under arrest, according to police.
On Tuesday morning April 26, San Jose Police served a search warrant at Portillo's residence and located the kidnapped infant.
The infant was unharmed but was taken to a local hospital out of an abundance of caution.
“This incident is a parent’s worst nightmare, and we are fortunate that we have the best Department in the Nation that helped bring forward a positive outcome. This case yet again highlights the dedication and commitment of our women and men who go above and beyond every day to keep our community safe,” said Chief of Police Anthony Mata. “I’d like to also thank our partners at the FBI, as well as the Santa Clara County Search and Rescue team for providing additional valuable resources.”
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SAN JOSE, Calif. (KION-TV) UPDATE April 26, 10:23 a.m.-- San Jose Police say three people are in custody in connection to the kidnapping of a three-month-old in a San Jose apartment Monday.
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UPDATE April 26, 9:17 a.m.-- San Jose police are providing new details on what led to the finding of a kidnapped 3-month-old after being taken from inside a San Jose home Monday evening.
The baby was found by San Jose Police safely early Tuesday and they have a person in custody.
Baby Brandon has been taken to a local hospital as a precaution but is okay, according to San Jose Police.
Police say they have a woman who is a "person of interest." She was with the baby's grandmother when the baby was kidnapped and she's changed her story several times.
They are sorting through inconsistencies in what they have been told, including by the boy's grandmother when she said she did not know the man.
Police said the kidnapper brought a baby carrier to the apartment in a planned incident.
Investigators said the baby was being watched by his grandmother while his mother worked. The grandmother had taken the baby into the apartment while unloading groceries.
“She took the baby in the apartment, went downstairs to unload some groceries, in that short about of time, someone entered the apartment, you guys have the images and the video of this person, and left with the baby,” San Jose Police Sergeant Christian Camarillo said.
Police say the father of Brandon Alexis Cueller is currently incarcerated but police don't know if that factored into the kidnapping.
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ORIGINAL STORY
Officers say they are searching for a man that kidnapped a three-month-old baby at around 1:03 p.m. Monday.
The family told police a man entered their residence on the 1000 block of Elm Street.
The baby is named Brandon Cuellar. He is wearing a white long sleeve onesie with dinosaurs on it.
The family said they do not recognize the suspect.
San Jose Police say the man is a dark completed Hispanic wearing black pants, a dark blue shirt, grey shoes with white trim a grey basketball hat and has short hair.
