It is being reported by CBS Los Angeles that Mr Espinoza has pleaded guilty to to false imprisonment charges stemming from his attempted kidnapping of a 10-year-old boy in broad daylight. Espinoza has been given a 32-month-prison sentence after further charges of ‘street terrorism’ and enhancement of gang activity were dropped after he pleaded guilty to the lesser charge.

According to another publication, LAist Espinoza approached his victim (in October of 2012) – who was on his way to soccer practice – and asked the boy if he wanted to ‘see his gang tattoo’.

Witnesses then claimed that Espinoza grabbed the boy and sniffed his arm, before the child escaped and ran away. The boy ran tearfully to his soccer coach, to whom he pointed out Espinoza. The soccer coach then confronted the heavy-set gangster, tackling him to the ground (which must have taken some strength) and tried to restrain him, although he escaped.

“The little boy came crying at me, saying that man wanted to take him. He said that he grabbed him and he started smelling him,” the coach, who wished to remain anonymous, told ABC Los Angeles.

Police, who knew Espinoza from over 40 previous convictions – which include drug possession, assault with a deadly weapon and attempted murder – approached his arrest carefully. Eventually the 190 kilogram man was arrested after a police helicopter captured infrared footage of him hiding in a car yard.

A Santa Ana police spokesperson described the suspect as an “old time, old school gangster”.

A bit of prison food and a little time lifting weights in the yard might do Mr Espinoza’s health the world of good.  

Image: Huffington Post