Greenfield man sentenced to State Prison

Monterey County District Attorney Dean D. Flippo announced on Tuesday, April 24 that Judge Carrie Panetta sentenced 54-year-old Salomon Calderon Medina of Greenfield, to 2 years in state prison for residential burglary of an elderly King City couple on May 6, 2017. Judge Panetta also sentenced Medina to 180 days for unlicensed contracting and not having workers’ compensation insurance. Following the elderly couple’s complaint, the Monterey County District Attorney’s Consumer Protection Unit began investigating Medina in early June 2017. Investigators learned that he approached the couple in the parking lot of the King City Safeway, where he offered his services as a contractor and never disclosed that he was not a licensed contractor. The couple invited Mr. Medina into their home where he promised to remodel their bathroom. The couple paid him $3,600 for remodeling work and other work on their property. Although Medina came to their property on one occasion with 2 workers and did some general yard work, he never started the remodel. During

the investigation, investigators learned that Medina had prior felony convictions for elder abuse, diversion of contractor funds and fraud. The Contractors State Licensing Board (“CSLB”) assisted the District Attorney with its investigation. On June 14, 2017, the CSLB invited Medina to an undercover operation at a Monterey County residence. The undercover “sting” targeted individuals who were believed to be engaged in unlicensed contracting. Medina accepted the invitation, appeared at the property on June 14 and made a bid for work requiring a contractor’s license. The CSLB cited Medina for unlicensed contracting, a misdemeanor, and not having workers’ compensation insurance, also a misdemeanor.  On August 31, 2017, the District Attorney’s Workers’ Compensation Fraud Unit filed felony charges for residential burglary and financial elder abuse as well as misdemeanor charges for unlicensed contracting and failing to have workers’ compensation insurance. On March 13, 2018, Mr. Medina pleaded guilty to the burglary and misdemeanor charges for unlicensed contracting and not having workers’ compensation coverage. At the sentencing, Judge Panetta agreed that the defendant’s criminal record and his behavior with the King City couple called for a state prison sentence. Medina was ordered to return to Court on May 8, 2018 where he would be remanded to start serving his sentence. The case was investigated by District Attorney Investigators Steve Guidi, George Costa and Martin Sanchez as well as CSLB Enforcement Representative Georgia Solórzano.