Olngeschang Mengidab, also known as “Sachang,” is escorted by a Corrections officer to a bail hearing Monday morning.
Photo by Bryan Manabat
FOLLOWING his arrest for vandalizing the BankPacific ATM last week, Olngeschang Mengidab, also known as “Sachang,” is now being accused of burglarizing a vehicle and stealing a wallet containing a debit card, which he then used to make purchases.
The Office of the Attorney General’s Criminal Division has charged Mengidab, 43, with burglary and theft.
At a bail hearing on Monday morning before Superior Court Judge Joseph N. Camacho, Mengidab appeared in the custody of the Department of Corrections. Assistant Public Defender Molly Dennert was appointed to represent him, while Assistant Attorney General Heather Barcinas appeared for the government.
Barcinas asked the court to maintain the cash bail at $10,000, citing the defendant’s previous arrests and problems with court appearances.
Judge Camacho maintained the $10,000 cash bail, remanded Mengidab to the custody of Corrections, and ordered him to return to court for a preliminary hearing on July 30 at 10 a.m. and for arraignment on Aug. 11 at 9 a.m.
According to the complaint, Mengidab admitted to police that, after being released from custody last week, he burglarized a 2017 Toyota Tacoma parked at the former AK Toyota location in San Jose.
He provided investigators with a wallet containing a debit card and a driver’s license.
Mengidab told police he used the stolen debit card to make purchases at two business establishments totaling $23.05.
Last week, he was arrested for vandalizing the BankPacific ATM after surveillance footage showed him forcibly detaching the machine from its slot but leaving empty-handed.
In March, Mengidab was charged with stealing Marianas Variety’s service vehicle and unlawfully entering the establishment. Police said he confessed to committing the offense.
He was charged with burglary, vehicle theft, theft, and driving without a license.
The Superior Court later issued a bench warrant for his arrest after he failed to appear for arraignment on June 30. Bail was set at $5,000. He was arrested and appeared in a bail hearing on July 14 while in the custody of Corrections.
