Crime & Safety

Substance Abuse Leads To Chronic Arrests Of One Lake Elsinore Man

Sgt. Patrick J. Chavez of the Riverside County Sheriff's Department reported that John Bryon Mejia, 24, has a long history of drug abuse problems.

A Lake Elsinore man who has been arrested multiple times over the last 15 months is behind bars again.

John Bryon Mejia, 24, was arrested early Monday in Lakeland Village in the 18000 block of Janisse Lane for allegedly being under the influence of a controlled substance, obstructing/resisting a police officer, vandalism, and a failure to appear – all misdemeanors.

He is being held in lieu of $5,000 bail and he has a court date of Feb. 2013.

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Mejia is known as a “frequent flyer” by officials. For example, a few weeks after being convicted on a misdemeanor charge of public intoxication, in September 2011 Mejia was taken into custody at the Lake Elsinore Sheriff’s Station after being picked up at the Janisse Lane location for allegedly being under the influence of illegal drugs. Once at the station, Mejia attempted to flee police and was wrestled to the ground by deputies, according to Sgt. Patrick J. Chavez of the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department. During the scuffle, Mejia received injuries and had to be transported to a local hospital.

Days following the Sept. 2011 arrest, Chavez reported that the young suspect already had a long history of drug abuse problems and once he was at the hospital he continued to display “combative behavior.”

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Mejia was eventually convicted on a charge of being under the influence and a charge of resisting arrest stemming from the Sept. 2011 incident, according to court records. He was sentenced to 36 months probation.

Then in January of this year, Mejia was again arrested near the JP Morgan Chase Bank on Canyon Estates Drive in Lake Elsinore for allegedly being under the influence, resisting arrest, and battery on a police officer.

According to Riverside County Sheriff’s Sgt. Tony Hoxmeier, deputies were called to the scene due to reports of “a man yelling and screaming in front of a business and displaying signs of being under the influence of a narcotic.”

Mejia was again convicted and again sentenced to a 36-month probation, court records show.

Weeks later, in February Mejia was picked up for vandalism and in August was convicted and again sentenced to a 36-month probation period.

This time around, if found guilty Mejia may not find much sympathy from a judge. He owes the court back fines, and if he's convicted he's in violation of his probation.


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