header image

[Sign Up Now] to Receive Our FREE Daily SCVTV-SCVNews Digest by E-Mail

Inside
Weather


 
Calendar
Today in
S.C.V. History
October 26
1970 - Permanent COC Valencia campus dedicated [story]
COC dedication ceremony program


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.

Comment On This Story
COMMENT POLICY: We welcome comments from individuals and businesses. All comments are moderated. Comments are subject to rejection if they are vulgar, combative, or in poor taste.
REAL NAMES ONLY: All posters must use their real individual or business name. This applies equally to Twitter account holders who use a nickname.

3 Comments

  1. 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.

Leave a Comment


SCV NewsBreak
LOCAL NEWS HEADLINES
Friday, Oct 25, 2024
County Launches Survey on Chiquita Canyon Landfill Odors, Health Impacts
As Chiquita Canyon Landfill’s operator, Waste Connections, inches closer to completing the installation of a geomembrane cover over the closed portion of the landfill that is emanating noxious odors, a new health effort will launch to see if it’s working or not.
Friday, Oct 25, 2024
Oct. 28: Chiquita Canyon Town Hall, Protest
A special in-person Community Advisory Committee Town Hall will be held on Monday, Oct. 28 at Castaic Middle School, with elected officials to discuss the Chiquita Canyon Landfill.
Friday, Oct 25, 2024
Vote Centers Will Open This Weekend for the 2024 General Election
Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk Dean C. Logan announced that 122 Vote Centers will open Saturday, Oct. 26, for the 2024 General Election.
Keep Up With Our Facebook

Latest Additions to SCVNews.com
1970 - Permanent COC Valencia campus dedicated [story]
COC dedication ceremony program
As Chiquita Canyon Landfill’s operator, Waste Connections, inches closer to completing the installation of a geomembrane cover over the closed portion of the landfill that is emanating noxious odors, a new health effort will launch to see if it’s working or not.
County Launches Survey on Chiquita Canyon Landfill Odors, Health Impacts
A special in-person Community Advisory Committee Town Hall will be held on Monday, Oct. 28 at Castaic Middle School, with elected officials to discuss the Chiquita Canyon Landfill.
Oct. 28: Chiquita Canyon Town Hall, Protest
Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk Dean C. Logan announced that 122 Vote Centers will open Saturday, Oct. 26, for the 2024 General Election.
Vote Centers Will Open This Weekend for the 2024 General Election
The State of California has delivered significant safety and infrastructure investments for Santa Clarita Valley schools this week, issuing funds to College of the Canyons and three school districts.
State Awards Safety, Infrastructure Funding to SCV Schools
The California Department of Education is announcing updated School Outdoor Air Quality Activity Recommendations intended to provide California’s local educational agencies with resources to make informed decisions about conducting school activities and closures based on local air quality conditions when communities are impacted by wildfire smoke.
Department of Education Offers Updated Guidance on Wildfire Smoke Days
A Veterans Day Ceremony will be held Monday, Nov. 11, at 11 a.m. at the Veterans Historical Plaza, 24275 N. Walnut St., Newhall, CA 91321.
Nov. 11: Veterans Day Ceremony at Veterans Historical Plaza
The College of the Canyons Foundation will host a Meet-and-Greet with David C. Andrus, J.D., the College of the Canyons interim president on Wednesday, Oct. 30.
Oct. 30: Meet-and-Greet with COC Interim President
1898 - Newhall pioneer Henry Clay Wiley (Wiley Canyon) dies in Los Angeles [story]
HC Wiley obituary
The Acton Agua Dulce Arts Council will host its annual Adult Fine Art Show Nov. 2-3 at its art gallery in Acton. This open-themed art show will be judged by Andi Campognone, senior curator at the Lancaster Museum of Art and History.
Nov. 2-3: Acton Agua Dulce Arts Council Adult Fine Art Show
On the nine year anniversary of the Alison Canyon gas blowout groups gathered on Wednesday, Oct. 23 to call for closure of the facility by 2027.
After Nine Years Residents Still Demand Shut Down of Aliso Canyon
The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department was awarded a $38,500 grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety to fund new equipment and testing for the presence of drugs and alcohol.
LASD Awarded $38,500 Grant to Improve DUI Testing
Beware the Dark Realm, scaring the wits out of the residents of the Santa Clarita Valley for more than 20 years, will return with a new free haunt experience for 2024.
Beware the Dark Realm – Sugar Pine Sawmill and Mining Co.
The Boys and Girls Club of Santa Clarita Valley and city of Santa Clarita presents the Halloween Carnival and Haunted Jailhouse, 10 a.m.- 3 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 27 at the Santa Clarita Sheriff's Station, 26201 Golden Valley Road, Canyon Country, CA 91350.
Oct. 27: Halloween Carnival, Haunted Jailhouse
During this fall season, our city has launched the third annual Hiking Challenge–just another way to encourage our community to get outdoors and enjoy the fresh air.
Bill Miranda | Ready to Hike a Marathon?
The 21st Annual Dixon Duck Dash, presented by Samuel Dixon Family Health Center, made a splash on Sunday, Oct. 6, at the Santa Clarita Aquatic Center with more than 300 guests attending the event.
The 21st Dixon Duck Dash Attracts Over 300 to Santa Clarita Aquatic Center
The Santa Clarita Valley Economic Development Corporation is actively seeking a dynamic and results-driven individual for Vice President of Business Development to join the team and spearhead strategic initiatives that foster economic growth and innovation in the region.
SCVEDC Seeking Vice President of Business Development
The nonprofit Santa Clarita Valley Quilt Guild will host its quilt show, “Where Quilts and Friendships Bloom” 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 26, at the Santa Clarita Valley Senior Center at Bella Vida.
Oct. 26: SCV Quilt Guild Hosts Show at SCV Senior Center
The Santa Clarita Valley Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with the city of Santa Clarita, invites the community to join in honoring the veterans who have not only demonstrated an unwavering commitment to serving the nation, but have also shown exceptional leadership within the SCV business community at the 14th Annual Salute to Patriots.
Nov. 7: Honoring Veterans at the 14th Annual Salute to Patriots
On Monday, Oct. 21, President Joseph R. Biden presented the National Medals of Arts to the 2022 and 2023 recipients at the White House during a private ceremony. Among those named for the prestigious award are California Institute of the Arts alums Carrie Mae Weems (Art BFA 1981) and Mark Bradford (Art BFA 1995, MFA 1997).
CalArtians Win National Medals of Arts, Honored in White House Ceremony
The city of Santa Clarita invites the community to make a splash at the Floating Pumpkin Patch on Saturday, Oct. 26, 4:30-7 p.m. at the Santa Clarita Aquatic Center, 20850 Centre Pointe Parkway Santa Clarita, CA 91350.
Oct. 26: Floating Pumpkin Patch at the Santa Clarita Aquatic Center
The WiSH Education Foundation will host a Webinar Wednesday event on Wednesday, Nov. 6, 5-6:30 p.m. that will demystify the recruitment process for student-athletes.
Nov. 6: WiSH Webinar ‘College Athletic Recruiting’
ARTree Community Arts Center’s Flutterby Open Studio is celebrating its seventh year. Every first Saturday, of the month, artists of any age can enjoy free art-making together from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. in its studios. This month's event is Nov. 2.
Nov. 2: ARTree’s Flutterby Free Open Art Studio
California State Parks has announced the partial reopening of the Hungry Valley State Vehicular Recreation Area on Friday, Nov. 1, nearly four months after the devastating Post Fire tore through more than 10,000 acres of the park and forced its closure.
Nov. 1: State Parks to Reopen Hungry Valley State VRA After Post Fire
SCVNews.com