Charges Dropped Against Bail Bondsmen Who Tasered Mayor's Daughter

Two bail bondsmen will not be going to court to defend themselves against accusations that they inflicted battery on the adult daughter of a Wildomar City Councilwoman.

Charges of misdemeanor battery and trespassing will not be filed against Fausto Atilano or Bryan Stark, confirmed John Hall, senior public information spokesman for the Riverside County District Attorney’s Office.

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

after the two bail bondsmen came looking for a young woman they said failed to comply with the terms of her bail bond agreement.

The men showed up at the home of Swanson’s elderly mother, in the 21200 block of Shoemaker Lane in Wildomar. Scranton and her family also lived at the residence, including Scranton’s then-27-year-old son who was an acquaintance of the young woman the bail bondsmen were seeking.

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

Arguing ensued and Swanson said the men used a Taser gun on Scranton, who had to be taken to the hospital for injuries to her stomach.

In response to the allegations, shortly after the incident 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.

Two days after the incident, Hall confirmed that the district attorney’s office was reviewing misdemeanor battery and trespassing charges against the men, and police said the conduct of the bail bondsmen crossed the line.

"We are going to file charges with the D.A.'s office against the bail bondsmen, " said Lt Mathieu Burden of the Riverside County Sheriff's Department.

But speaking through email Wednesday night, Hall said he could not comment on why charges against the men were dropped.