The Orange County Criminal Lawyer Blog
After the police were notified by a property owner about an abandoned vehicle on their land they discovered that the people allegedly responsible for leaving it there were suspected as being the same people who had escaped the authorities during a vehicle pursuit a few days prior.
When the owner of a piece of property saw an unfamiliar car hidden in an obscure place on the land late in the afternoon on July 13, they called the authorities to report the vehicle.
When officers arrived they saw that the vehicle appeared to be intentionally concealed, and upon identifying it they believed that it was the same car that had been pursued by law enforcement two days earlier in Adams County.
The K9 officer at the scene allegedly detected a scent coming from the vehicle that indicated there may have been narcotics inside.
During the investigation, a vehicle was seen driving into the area which caused suspicion due to the fact that it was rather remote. When the people inside of the car saw the deputies they allegedly quickly turned in the opposite direction and left the premises.
A deputy followed the car and reported that the inhabitants of the vehicle resembled the identities of the people who had been involved in the incident in Adams County days prior.
After pulling them over successfully, both vehicles, along with the personal effects of the people, 26-year-old Nissa Waaben and 35-year-old Michael Casias, underwent a search. Methamphetamine, cocaine, heroin, prescription medication, and several pieces of paraphernalia were allegedly found, in addition to ID cards and social security cards that the authorities suspect were stolen.
Casias and Waaben were booked into the Yuma County Jail on warrants, and both are facing charges of three counts of unlawful possession of a controlled substance, one count of unlawful distribution of a controlled substance, one count of 3rd degree criminal trespass, attempt to influence a public servant, criminal impersonation, and criminal possession of an identification document.
Casias was additionally charged with a misdemeanor count of obstructing a peace officer.
If you or someone you love is suspected of a drug crime, contact Orange County criminal defense lawyer Staycie R. Sena at (949) 477-8088 for a consultation now.