Scuffle Between Wildomar Mayor’s Family And Bail Bondsmen Leads To Possible Misdemeanor Charges

Forty-eight hours after the district attorney’s office is reviewing misdemeanor battery and trespassing charges against the men.

John Hall, senior public information spokesman for the Riverside County District Attorney’s Office, said Wednesday afternoon that the case is being considered.

“The charges are still being reviewed by our office; we don’t have a timeline yet,” he said.

Fausto Atilano, 48, of Murrieta, and Bryan Stark, 46, of Murrieta, would face misdemeanor charges if the D.A.’s office accepts the case, said Lt. Mathieu Burden of the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department.

“They are misdemeanor charges of battery and trespassing,” Burden said.

Atilano is the owner of Fausto's Bail Bonds in Temecula.

On March 28, Wildomar Mayor Marsha Swanson was shaken up and her daughter was Tasered after the two bail bondsmen showed looking for a young woman they say failed to comply with the terms of her bail bond agreement.

At approximately 6:45 p.m. Monday, police were called to the home of Swanson’s 84-year-old mother, in the 21200 block of Shoemaker Lane in Wildomar. The mayor’s daughter Jamie Scranton and her family also live at the residence, including Scranton’s 27-year-old son who is an acquaintance of the young woman the bail bondsmen were seeking.

The mayor, who lives nearby and was at the scene, said the two men barged through her elderly mother’s front door posing as police officers.  

“They scared my poor mother half to death,” Swanson said Monday night. “They smashed my grandson’s face into the ground and broke his nose. There is blood everywhere.”  

Swanson said the two men pulled a gun at one point and used a Taser gun on her daughter, who had to be taken to the hospital for injuries to her stomach.

In response to the allegations, today Atilano released a press statement that read, “I was on a legally authorized bail recovery/bond surrender of a defendant on a felony bail bond.”

Atilano said the defendant, Erica Lynch, had failed to comply with the terms of her bail bond agreement and was “determined to be a flight risk for her court appearance.”

Atilano continued, “As authorized under the laws of the State of California, I contacted Erica Lynch at the residence in Wildomar.”

Atilano said in the statement that he identified himself and stated his purpose, which was to deliver Lynch to authorities for surrender on her bail bond.

“Upon contacting Erica Lynch, identifying myself and stating the purpose of my contact, I was jumped and attacked by at least four people who were also at the residence and a pit bull,” Atilano said. “This attack included the brandishing of a knife, being charged at with a 2x6 piece of lumber, being punched and kicked in the head and body, while I was on the ground.

“Fearing for my life, I defended myself and attempted to escape this attack,” Atilano continued. “I narrowly escaped this attack and was able to phone the sheriff’s immediately for assistance.

“As a result of this attack during the lawful performance of my duties as a bail agent, I was taken to Urgent Care and treated for head trauma and a dislocated finger,” Atilano added. “At the present time I am continuing treatment for injuries incurred during this attack. I have been (a) bail agent for over 16 years.”