Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) authorities have lodged a detainer on Justo Bueno-Palacios, a 27-year-old who’s been booked into County Jail 14 times since last October for a host of highly invasive but low-level offenses including hiding under the covers of a couple’s bed in their Westside apartment, hiding in the shower in another residence, and hiding in the tub of yet another. In the last two instances, the residents were women. In another case, Bueno-Palacios followed a 17-year-old female home from work on two occasions causing her fear.
Earlier this week, Santa Barbara Police issued a press release warning the public that Bueno-Palacios was about to be released from jail and that they should be on the watch for prowlers and people breaking into their residences. The issuance of that press release was an exceptional occurrence.
High-ranking prosecutor Ben Ladinig was assigned the case, and Bueno-Palacios was not released from County Jail as city police had feared. Instead, he remains in jail and faces nine charges. His bail has been set at $110,000. Bueno-Palacios will be arraigned Friday morning and assigned a public defender to represent him.