SANTA ANA, Calif. – A woman was sentenced to two years in county jail today for committing a hate crime, grand theft, and vandalism for stealing three gold statues from a Buddhist temple in Santa Ana.

Circumstances of the Case

• Between Feb. 26, 2016, and March 6, 2016, Pham took three separate gold Buddha statues from a Buddhist temple in Santa Ana.
• A volunteer at the temple noticed that the statues were missing and contacted Santa Ana Police Department, who investigated this case.
• The defendant was observed on surveillance cameras near the statues that were stolen from the temple and was arrested by SAPD on March 18, 2016.

Prosecutor: Senior Deputy District Attorney Jess Rodriguez, Special Prosecutions Unit

*Defendant was out of custody after being convicted of vandalism of religious property

Orange County District Attorney / Case # 16CF0751 / July 5, 2017