Errant San Manuel tribal member will get another day in court
Less than three weeks after she was convicted for attempted murder, transportation of drugs and possession of drugs in jail, San Manuel tribal member Stacy Nunez-Barajas violated six terms of her probation.
Prosecutor Douglas Poston detailed those violations in a petition filed Friday in San Bernardino Superior Court during a probation revocation hearing. Judge Michael Dest continued the hearing to March 27, due primarily to scheduling conflicts.
Nunez-Barajas, 26, has been in custody at the West Valley Detention Center in Rancho Cucamonga since her Nov. 21 arrest outside San Manuel Indian Bingo & Casino on suspicion of trespassing. She had previously been banned from the casino by the tribe. She was ordered to violate no law at the time of her sentencing.
She and her brother, Erik Barajas, 36, were sentenced on Nov. 6 to probation and electronic monitoring for their role in a conspiracy with high ranking members of the Mexican Mafia to kill Leonard Epps in 2006. The conspiracy stemmed from an altercation Epps and Erik Barajas had at the now closed Brass Key bar in Highland, where Epps worked as manager.
Epps, who remains in hiding, has filed a $50 million civil suit against the Barajases, the tribe, former tribal chairman Henry Duro and casino manager Ron Mastandrea. Epps alleges that the Barajases used the VIP room at the casino to plan his murder, and passed his picture around to co-conspirators, according to the lawsuit.
San Manuel tribal Chairman James Ramos declined to comment Friday on the allegations in the Epps lawsuit.
According to Poston's petition, Nunez-Barajas failed to provide a copy of the terms of her probation to the deputy at the time of her arrest. That's because she didn't have a copy of those terms in her possession, as was ordered by the court.
In jail, she made several phone calls to convicted felon and gang member Jose Haro, whom Poston prosecuted along with Haro's brother, according to the petition.
Nunez-Barajas was ordered by the court not to associate with convicted felons or gang members at the time of her sentencing.
In addition, Nunez-Barajas failed to report immediately to the facility which administers electronic monitoring following her sentencing, as ordered by Dest. She didn't make that trip until a week later, on Nov. 13.
Nunez-Barajas' attorney, Albert Perez Jr., requested during Friday's brief hearing that bail be set for his client. Dest denied the request, citing public safety issues and Nunez-Barajas' exposure to lengthy prison time as a factor that could make her a potential flight risk, among other things.
Nunez-Barajas faces a maximum of 21 years in prison.
Nunez-Barajas' mother, Rachel Barajas, said her daughter is being unfairly singled out and punished by the tribe. The tribal council voted in December on a referendum to ban the Barajas siblings from the reservation for an undiclosed period of time and to fine each of them a substantial amount of money.
"They want to condemn her and put her away forever, anything they can find on her to keep her in (jail)," Rachel Barajas said outside the courtroom following Friday's proceedings.
Ramos said the tribe's actions are about holding errant tribal members accountable for their actions and maintaining the safety of tribal members, patrons and employees at the casino. He said the tribe's actions are not a personal vendetta for the black eye the Barajases have infliced upon the tribe and its casino.
Rachel Barajas said the public isn't seeing the good side of her daughter.
"Every time you guys talk about her, it's bad. Nothing good is ever said about her," Barajas said.
She said her daughter has a big heart, and never hesitates to do good when she sees a person in need. Most recently, Nunez-Barajas heard a news report about a Riverside family trying to scrape up enough money to bury their son.
"We were driving in the car, and she said, 'Mom, let's go,'" said Barajas of her daughter. She said the two drove to Riverside and gave $1,000 to the family.
"Families and people begging in the street, she'll stop and get them something to eat," Barajas said.
She said other tribal members have had scrapes with the law and have been given second chances. She believes her daughter deserves the same treatment.
"Everybody deserves a second chance, and they know what I'm talking about," Barajas said.
Perez said he's hoping to reach a stipulation agreement with the District Attorney's Office as to his client's disposition before the March 27 hearing.
Poston said that is unlikely.
"Given the (prison) exposure she's (Nunez-Barajas) facing, I don't see that happening," Poston said. "There will be a hearing."
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