Tony Rackauckas, District Attorney
401 Civic Center Drive West
Santa Ana, CA 92701

CHP OFFICER ARRESTED FOR
BREAKING INTO EVIDENCE ROOM

SANTA ANA -- The Orange County District Attorney (OCDA) and Santa Ana Police Department, in cooperation with the California Highway Patrol (CHP), arrested a CHP officer and recovered several kilograms of cocaine that had been stolen from CHP headquarters in Santa Ana. Joshua Blackburn, 32, of Murrieta, a 6-year veteran of CHP, is being held on $4 million bail at the Orange County Jail. The CHP has been cooperating fully in the investigation. The OCDA will be filing charges and the defendant will be arraigned on Wednesday, December 26, 2007, at the Central Justice Center at a time and courtroom to be determined.

On December 21, 2007 at about 4 a.m., officials at the CHP office in Santa Ana discovered a break in their evidence locker room. There were signs of forced entry. CHP immediately notified Santa Ana Police who asked OCDA to head the investigation. The stolen cocaine was evidence involving another incident in which two suspects were arrested. The original case involving the cocaine is still pending.

During the early morning hours of December 21, 2007, Blackburn is accused of breaking into the evidence room, taking the cocaine, and hiding it. OCDA investigators have recovered all of the stolen cocaine, which had a wholesale value of $1 million.

The OCDA is continuing to investigate the case. Assistant District Attorney Walt Schwarm of the Major Narcotics Unit is prosecuting the case.

Case Number: 07CF4145 Printable Version

Defendant: Blackburn, Joshua Wendall

Demographics... Eyes: Green Hair: Black Height (ft/in): 6'5" Weight (lbs): 185

Names... One name found.1 Last Name First Name Middle Name Type Date of Birth Blackburn Joshua Wendall Real Name 09/1975

Case Status: Open

Details... Case Stage: - Release Status: Remanded Warrant: N DMV Hold: N Charging Document: Complaint Mandatory Appearance: Y Amendment #: 0

Counts 5 counts found, displaying all counts.1 Seq S/A Violation Date Section Statute OL Violation Plea Plea Date Disposition Dispo Date 1 0 12/20/2007 459-460(b) PC F Burglary ; second degree NOT GUILTY 02/29/2008 2 0 12/21/2007 11351 HS F Possession of controlled substance with intent to sell NOT GUILTY 02/29/2008 2 1 12/21/2007 11370.4(a)(5) HS F ENH-Substance exceeds 40 KGM DENIED 02/29/2008 3 0 12/21/2007 11352(a) HS F Sale or transport of controlled substance NOT GUILTY 02/29/2008 3 1 12/21/2007 11370.4(a)(5) HS F ENH-Substance exceeds 40 KGM DENIED 02/29/2008 Priors No priors found for this defendant Co Defendants No co-defendants found for this case Participants 2 professionals found, displaying all professionals.1 Role Badge Agency Name Vacation Start Vacation End Retained Attorney RETAT Barnett, John D. District Attorney OCDA Schwarm, Walter