Burglary charges were withdrawn against two former market security guards today, but only after one of them spent 5 months on remand.

Those men are 43 year old Athony Ortiz and 46-year-old Richard Escalera. Escalera was charged for burglary after he was accused of breaking into a stall at the Michael Finnegan Market while on duty, and Ortiz was charged for abetment to burglary, accused of assisting Escalera in the crime.

The incident happened in March of 2024, and the duo were accused of stealing up to $2,050 worth of items from Elmer Rio's business place.

Both men appeared in court today before Magistrate Lois Young where they learned that Rios withdrew court action against them. Rios told the court he believed the men have, quote "learnt a lesson" and so he wanted no further court action. With that they were free to go.

And while you might think they were relieved, today both men said they could not see what lesson they were to learnt when after going to jail:

Anthony Ortiz, Burglary Charges Withdrawn
"Well, first, I didn't learn no lesson beside that the system has not a function... does their job properly because if they did their job properly. They would have known that this man and I have nothing with each other. Never met this man in my life."

Reporter:
"What did they say you all did when you burglarized the place? What was stolen?"

Anthony Ortiz, Burglary Charges Withdrawn
"They said that I assisted him on something that I don't know nothing about it. He's saying that he don't know nothing about."

"This was at the market, right? The Micheal Finnegan Market?"

Anthony Ortiz, Burglary Charges Withdrawn
"Yes. I was at work. I was a security giard"

Reporter:
"You were a security guard there when that transpired."

Anthony Ortiz, Burglary Charges Withdrawn
"Yes when that happened, I'm the one that made the call."

Reporter:
"And how about you sir?"

Richard Escalera, Burglary Charges Withdrawn
"Escalera."

Reporter:
"Okay. What do you have to say?"

Richard Escalera, Burglary Charges Withdrawn
"Anybody could tell you, you can't be two places at the same time. If my house come showed me at a time home how can I be at Brodies the same time. You get the sense. Come on. The police they know that that I didn't do that. You get the sense? They just tarnish my name Plus I get emprisoned for five months."

"You get the sense? For nothing, but... justice system. Come on."

Reporter:
"So based on today's outcome, will you guys be filing any kind of civil civil case against the government?"

Richard Escalera, Burglary Charges Withdrawn
"God will tell."