Adrian Muñoz, a former Los Angeles County coroner, pleaded no contest on Friday to charges of stealing from the dead. The 36-year-old entered the plea for one felony count of grand theft and one misdemeanor count of petty theft.
Key Takeaways
Adrian Muñoz, a former LA County coroner, pleaded no contest to stealing valuables from deceased individuals while on duty. Surveillance footage captured him taking a gold crucifix necklace from a warehouse worker who died in 2023. A search of his desk revealed rare antique coins linked to another case he handled in 2022. Muñoz is expected to receive probation, jail time, and must pay restitution.
- Adrian Muñoz pleaded no contest to one felony count of grand theft and one misdemeanor count of petty theft
- Surveillance footage showed Muñoz taking a gold crucifix necklace from a deceased warehouse worker in 2023
- Rare antique coins linked to another case were found during a search of Muñoz's desk
- Muñoz is expected to receive six months in jail, two years of probation, and must pay restitution
The charges stem from an incident in January 2023 when Muñoz responded to a death investigation involving Miguel Solorio, a warehouse worker who died of a heart attack. Surveillance footage captured Muñoz taking a gold crucifix necklace from Solorio's neck and placing it in his medical bag without documenting the item.
A subsequent search of Muñoz's desk revealed rare antique coins with a receipt matching the name of another deceased individual whose case Muñoz had handled in November 2022. According to prosecutors, Muñoz did not return or document these items either.
Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan J. Hochman condemned the actions, stating that 'there is something especially appalling about stealing from the dead.' As part of his plea agreement, Muñoz will serve six months in jail, two years on probation, and must pay restitution to the victims' families. He has also been ordered to resign permanently from the Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) program.
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