Criminal Justice and Public Safety Reporter

Robert Salonga

Robert Salonga covers criminal justice and public safety for The Mercury News. A San Jose native, he attended UCLA and has a Master's degree in journalism from the University of Maryland, and was part of a reporting team awarded the 2017 Pulitzer Prize for Breaking News Reporting. He previously reported in Washington, D.C., Salinas and the East Bay, and is a middling triathlete. Reach him the low-tech way at 408-920-5002.

Authorities say they matched cold-case forensic evidence with a DNA sample taken from Thomas John Loguidice after his separate 2012 sexual abuse conviction in San Benito County.

Crime and Public Safety |
San Jose cold case: Imprisoned man charged with 1994 Oakridge Mall kidnapping

January 17, 2023 at 1:38 p.m.

Authorities say they matched cold-case forensic evidence with a DNA sample taken from Thomas John Loguidice after his separate 2012 sexual abuse conviction in San Benito County.

Police say an apartment complex altercation on New Year's morning ended with a man hitting another with his vehicle.

California News |
Man’s death after being hit by car In South Bay investigated as homicide

January 17, 2023 at 9:00 a.m.

Police say an apartment complex altercation on New Year's morning ended with a man hitting another with his vehicle.

The Yerba Buena High School teacher has been charged based on an allegation from when he taught at Silver Creek High School.

Crime and Public Safety |
Bay Area teacher arrested after student sex assault accusation

January 16, 2023 at 10:29 a.m.

The Yerba Buena High School teacher has been charged based on an allegation from when he taught at Silver Creek High School.

The victim died Monday, marking the city's first homicide of the year.

California News |
Arrest made after man dies from New Year’s Day downtown San Jose shooting

January 11, 2023 at 8:30 a.m.

The victim died Monday, marking the city's first homicide of the year.

The woman reported to police that she got separated from her husband Saturday night and woke up in a strange apartment with a man sexually assaulting her.

Crime and Public Safety |
Bay Area man arrested on suspicion of kidnapping, rape

January 10, 2023 at 7:45 p.m.

The woman reported to police that she got separated from her husband Saturday night and woke up in a strange apartment with a man sexually assaulting her.

John Arthur Getreu now faces sentencing in Santa Clara County for the death of Leslie Perlov; he was already convicted in San Mateo County for killing Janet Ann Taylor during the same era.

Crime and Public Safety |
Stanford cold cases: Convicted man pleads guilty to second 1970s slaying of woman near campus

January 10, 2023 at 10:51 a.m.

John Arthur Getreu now faces sentencing in Santa Clara County for the death of Leslie Perlov; he was already convicted in San Mateo County for killing Janet Ann Taylor during...

Police went to Idaho to detain the suspect in a November homicide, and he was extradited back to the Bay Area last week.

Crime and Public Safety |
Man with Bay Area connections arrested in Idaho for fatal shooting at South Bay home

January 9, 2023 at 10:19 a.m.

Police went to Idaho to detain the suspect in a November homicide, and he was extradited back to the Bay Area last week.

Raymond Calderon had his grandmother and sons captive when he fatally shot his friend, then drove to the Central Valley and shot his child's mother before confronting police in a home standoff.

Crime and Public Safety |
DA clears officers who shot man who kidnapped family and killed two in San Jose, Modesto

January 6, 2023 at 2:41 p.m.

Raymond Calderon had his grandmother and sons captive when he fatally shot his friend, then drove to the Central Valley and shot his child's mother before confronting police in a...

A 29-year-old man is accused of recruiting a person he thought was a 16-year-old San Jose girl but was actually an undercover cop; arrest coincides with National Human Trafficking Prevention Month campaign.

Crime and Public Safety |
Man arrested on suspicion of recruiting, for sex work, a person he thought was a 16-year-old San Jose girl

January 6, 2023 at 6:00 a.m.

A 29-year-old man is accused of recruiting a person he thought was a 16-year-old San Jose girl but was actually an undercover cop; arrest coincides with National Human Trafficking Prevention...

A day after a powerful atmospheric river storm roared ashore in Northern California, Bay Area emergency crews and residents on Thursday began assessing the damage from their latest bout of wind and rain.

Weather |
Thousands without power as damage assessments begin, with more storms to follow

January 5, 2023 at 8:11 a.m.

A day after a powerful atmospheric river storm roared ashore in Northern California, Bay Area emergency crews and residents on Thursday began assessing the damage from their latest bout of...

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