SANTA ANA, Calif. – A driver and his two passengers are scheduled to be arraigned today on charges of identity theft and recklessly evading pursuing officers in a high-speed chase across Orange County and Los Angeles County. David Bryan Brown, 45, Jessica Smith Roten, 55, and Corey Dillon Richardson, 22, all of Anaheim, are each charged with one felony count of identity theft by retaining information on 10 or more victims with the intent to defraud. Brown is also charged with one felony count of evading while driving recklessly and sentencing enhancement allegations for prior prison convictions for the unlawful taking of a vehicle on two separate instances in 1993, possession of a controlled substance in 1994, second degree burglary in 1995, attempted grand theft, unlawful taking of a vehicle and evading while driving recklessly in 1996, receiving stolen property and possession of a controlled substance in 2000, second degree burglary and receiving stolen property in 2001, receiving a stolen vehicle and receiving stolen property in 2003, possession of a controlled substance in 2005, buying or receiving a stolen vehicle in 2006, second degree burglary in 2008, possession of a controlled substance and receiving stolen property in 2008, all in Orange County. If convicted, Brown faces a maximum sentence of 12 years and eight months in state prison. If convicted, Roten and Richardson face a maximum sentence of three years in state prison. The defendants are scheduled to be arraigned today, Dec. 22, 2015, in Department CJ-1, Central Jail, Santa Ana. The time is to be determined.

On Dec. 18, 2015, the defendants are accused of taking mail out of mailboxes across south Orange County, and possessing the personal identifying information of at least 21 victims. Brown is accused of driving the vehicle that the defendants used to take items from mailboxes.

A witness contacted the Orange County Sherriff's Department (OCSD), who began investigating this case. OCSD deputies located the vehicle on the northbound Interstate 5 and attempted to stop the vehicle. Brown is accused of refusing to stop and driving recklessly away from pursuing OCSD deputies including driving into oncoming traffic, failing to stop at traffic lights and stop signs and nearly hitting other vehicles. Roten and Richardson are accused of throwing the stolen items out of the car windows while the pursuit was underway.

Officers from the Downey Police Department assisted OCSD in the arrest of the defendants at the conclusion of the pursuit.

Orange County District Attorney / Case # 15HF1575 / December 22, 2015