Edhat StaffSource: Santa Barbara Police Department
On August 10, 2017, at approximately 0335 hours, Officers and Detectives from the Santa Barbara Police Department arrested 42 year old Carlos Rio Sosa Jr. and 39 year old, Ana Maria Espinosa of Lancaster, CA, for a string of armed robberies dating back to, January 5th, 2017. There were 4 separate incidents involving a total of 7 victims. All of the robberies occurred within the City of Santa Barbara with the most recent one taking place on August 2nd, 2017. Sosa and Espinosa were both taken into custody without incident near the intersection of Islay and Bath Streets. Detectives located evidence of the crimes in both their vehicle and residence.
Detectives had obtained an arrest warrant for Sosa for the following charges prior to the arrest:
- 6 counts of Robbery.
- 7 counts of assault with a firearm.
- 5 counts of possession of personal information.
- 1 count of dissuading a witness.
- 1 count of conspiracy.
All of the above listed charges are classified as felonies.
As a result of the arrest made on Sosa, he was additionally booked on the following charges:
- Possession of a loaded firearm, a felony.
- Possession of a firearm, a felony.
- Prior conviction of a felon in possession of a firearm, a felony.
- Unlawful possession of ammunition, a felony.
- Unlawful possession of a high capacity magazine, a misdemeanor.
- Possession of cocaine, a misdemeanor.
- Child endangerment, a misdemeanor.
Sosa is being held in the Santa Barbara County Jail on $1,000,000 bail and a California State Parole hold.
Espinosa was booked for the following charges:
- Robbery, a felony.
- Conspiracy, a felony.
- Child endangerment, a misdemeanor.
Espinosa is being held in the Santa Barbara County Jail on $50,000 bail.
This remains an active investigation and NO further information is available at this time.
