A transgender car thief who admitted stealing a truck from a Chula Vista firefighter was sentenced April 3 to 32 months in state prison.
Carlos Olachea Jr., 31, who also goes by the first name of Carla, was ordered to pay $500 for car repairs to the victim by Chula Vista Superior Court Judge Kathleen Lewis. She gave Olachea credit for already serving 326 days in jail and imposed a $724 fine.
Olachea, of Chula Vista, wore jail clothing with her long hair in a braid and some hair strands dangled in front of her face. Her attorney, Denis Lainez, referred to his client with a female pronoun to the judge.
“She considers herself as a she,” said Lainez to a reporter afterwards.
The reason probation was denied was due to Olachea’s prior record, as she has served time in prison before for theft related offenses and assault. She was on parole for auto theft at the time of her arrest Aug. 30, 2011.
The firefighter told police he woke up at 3 a.m. after hearing his truck’s engine start up. The vehicle had a LoJack system which was activated. That led to a chase by Chula Vista Police and a spike strip was used on I-805 near state Route 54.
All four tires were flattened and Olachea was arrested with an assist from San Diego Police. At the time, Olachea was wearing feminine attire. In court, Olachea said nothing.
“The defendant will be committed to the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation for the term of 32 months,” said Lewis.
Olachea pleaded guilty March 2 to stealing the firefighter’s truck, and charges of felony evasion of police, receiving stolen property and driving without a license were dropped.
Olachea will first be sent to R.J. Donovan Correctional Facility for evaluation as to where she will be housed. Many transgender and gay inmates are sent to Mule Creek State Prison above Sacramento. Inmates who are considered at risk for sexual assault are often sent to Mule Creek, where there are 3,769 inmates.
