James Ochcha, 52, was released to a qualified third party custodian subject to several conditions.
Among the conditions, according to Chief Judge Alex R. Munson, Ochcha has to appear in all proceedings, refrain from any use of alcohol, observe a 6 a.m.-6 p.m. curfew and “shall remain in the custody of a third party custodian.”
Ochcha, who is represented by attorney Robert T. Torres, is also not allowed to relocate to another residence without permission from the court.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Beverly McCallum represented the federal government.
Ochcha was indicted on the charge of conspiring with Dominic Chipwelong and Masaoishy Daikichi Sallem in stealing and selling metal lighting units with an estimated value of more than $1,000 from American Memorial Park in November last year.
Ochcha pleaded guilty to the charges and the court scheduled his sentencing for Oct. 27, 2008.
Ochcha was also indicted separately for the destruction of veteran memorials. This was for unlawfully destroying metal lighting units, structures and monuments located at the Court of Honor and on park property near the Beach Road entrance of American Memorial Park
The indictment stated that Ochcha accompanied co-defendant Chipwelong on or about the morning of Nov. 1, 2007 to sell a portion of the metal lighting units they stole to the employees of Huang Zheng recycling center.
