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March 28
1934 - Bouquet Canyon Reservoir, replacement for ill-fated St. Francis Dam & reservoir, begins to fill with water [story]
Bouquet Reservoir


A Poway woman known as the “blonde scammer” pleaded no contest last week after accusations that she victimized several Santa Clarita Valley women with ID theft.

Under the terms of a plea deal, Pilar Abalos, 44, of Poway, pleaded no contest to one count, and is expected to receive a three-year suspended sentence later this year, according to Ricardo Sandoval, spokesman for the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office.

idtheft021313aShe agreed to restitution on the remaining counts, and she’s also expected to receive three years of formal felony probation, 50 days of community labor and six months in a residential drug program, at her scheduled sentencing March 12.

A suspended sentence means she will not serve any jail or prison time unless she violates the terms of her probation.

Abalos was going to be charged with two counts of identity theft and six counts second degree commercial burglary, according to court records.

Abalos is suspected of being involved in an ID theft ring whereby wallets of victims — whose appearance is similar to Abalos — are stolen, and then Abalos allegedly used her likeness to steal more from the victims.

Abalos made her court appearance at Los Angeles Superior Court in March of 2013, and was then arrested for charges stemming from Ventura County thefts.

idtheft021313cOn Feb. 5, 2013, deputies with the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station arrested Valerie Lynne Ray, 54, of Los Angeles, on charges related to three local incidents of identity theft.

Ray was sentenced to three years in a Los Angeles County jail in April, according to court officials.

She was being held on charges related to three local incidents.

Sheriff’s Department detectives believed Ray was Abalos’s accomplice, officials said. Ray stole the wallets and purses of women who looked similar to Abalos, who then used the information to make big-ticket purchases.

A detective with the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station was responsible for the capture of a suspect who is being looked at in cases throughout Southern California.

“Through hours of investigation and diligent police work, a detective with the Sheriff’s Department was able to catch this suspect who is thought to have scammed thousands of dollars from victims throughout Southern California, including the Santa Clarita Valley,” said Deputy Josh Dubin of the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station, at the time of Abalos’ initial arrest.

The court views a no contest plea as the same as a guilty plea, although it’s treated differently in civil matters that may stem from the criminal prosecution.

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3 Comments

  1. Jose Franco Jose Franco says:

    She scammed the DA too it seems.

  2. She must have had a very good attorney. Who paid for him…the first victim?

  3. anne carter says:

    i can’t believe she scammed her way out of jail time. i’ve known her for along time, 10 yrs. this crime was her lowest of lows and basically she got away it. i hope she takes advantage of her 6 mos. in treatment, but i felt she should of done some time.

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