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Homeless man convicted of trespassing — at Collier shelter
Juan Trejo chose St. Matthew’s House, but unfortunately, it was a construction site and he was tossed back in jail after his release for shoplifting
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St. Matthew’s House has been full for the past three years, so homeless people have to find places to spend the night. Juan Gabriel Trejo Salazar found a nice, cool construction site and was arrested for trespass.
Ironically, it was St. Matthew’s old soup kitchen, the former E. Naples firehouse, which was being remodeled.
“This guy only wanted a place to sleep,” said Trejo’s attorney, Assistant Public Defender Michael Mummert. “St. Matthew’s House is the last place you would think would press charges.”
Vann R. Ellison, the shelter’s executive director, said he was unaware of the prosecution, but had heard about it after Trejo’s April 21 arrest. “We did not initiate the arrest and have not been contacted about the prosecution,” Ellison said Thursday, adding, however, that all construction sites are no-trespass areas and the building was well marked.
On Monday, Trejo pleaded no contest and Hardt adjudicated him guilty, sentencing him to 90 days in the county jail — time he’d already served because he’d spent 97 days in the county jail. But he’s being held for deportation to Mexico.
Trejo had faced up to five years in a state prison for the third-degree felony, but was sentenced as part of a plea agreement negotiated by Assistant State Attorney James Chandler and Mummert.
After repeated prompting by the judge, the defendant, who was listed in court records as Salazar, admitted through an interpreter that his real last name wasn’t Salazar, but Trejo and gave his full name. He’d been arrested under the name Juan Salazar with an alias of Juan Gabriel Trejo.
An arrest report says Collier Sheriff’s Cpl. Richard Garcia was on routine patrol around the Collier County Government Complex and spotted Trejo lying on the floor of the building, at 2691 Airport-Pulling Road, where signs at the front and rear say, “No Trespassing.”
He arrested Trejo, who said he’d just been released from the Immokalee Jail Center and had no place to go. Court records show he’d just been sentenced to time served, 10 days, in jail for petty theft after he was caught shoplifting at Albertson’s.
Outside court, Mummert questioned why the case went this far. “These people are just looking for a way to get out of the elements,” he said. “We have homeless people who live outside my office, at the Public Defender’s Office.”
Under federal law, Ellis said, homeless people are allowed to sleep on public property if shelters are full. Locally, that’s been upheld in Florida by a District Court of Appeal case. But the homeless people who come to St. Matthews are warned that St. Matthew’s former soup kitchen is being remodeled and is a construction site.
“We’ve been full for the last three years,” Ellis said, adding that the 123-bed shelter is at 130 percent capacity and most residents — 80 percent — are male. “But illegal aliens in America tend to be very afraid to ask for assistance from anyone in authority.”
The shelter’s insurer wanted the construction site secure due to liability and it’s now locked, but may not have been fully built and locked in April, when Trejo slept there. “We did request extra patrols by the sheriff’s office when we were in the demolition phase because it was dangerous,” he said, referring to November and December.
“We typically patrol the property ourselves,” he said. “We’re trying to be a good neighbor to the church next door, E. Naples Methodist Church.”
The building under construction is awaiting its certificate of occupancy and will add 18 more beds.
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This is a very tragic situation, and one which could be prevented by well-meaning staff at St. Matthew's Homeless Shelter.
And yet, they wonder why donations are low this year.
I don't think the economy has anything to do with it either.
Donors want to know they are supporting a "good cause."
St. Matt's decision to NOT support this individual is a "good" decision?
NOooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
I don't think so.
#1 Posted by beetlejuice on August 3, 2008 at 10:21 p.m. (Suggest removal)
This person is homeless because he's in the wrong country illegally. Maybe and just maybe when this tax burden i.e. arrest, housing, conviction and deportation of this "homeless man" is returned to his homeland of Mexico will he actually find himself homeless.
#2 Posted by NaplesCritic on August 3, 2008 at 11:09 p.m. (Suggest removal)
He won't be homeless in Mexico for long. He'll be back in the U.S. in no time!
#3 Posted by Sharpie on August 4, 2008 at 12:05 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Why was he released after the 10 day stay for shoplifting? Why wasn't an ICE hold put on him? And I quote from the above article...
"He arrested Trejo, who said he’d just been released from the Immokalee Jail Center and had no place to go. Court records show he’d just been sentenced to time served, 10 days, in jail for petty theft after he was caught shoplifting at Albertson’s."
#4 Posted by mothernature on August 4, 2008 at 6:26 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I don't understand either! He's to be deported...so why let him out of jail to begin with?
#5 Posted by eaglebeak on August 4, 2008 at 6:55 a.m. (Suggest removal)
#2 Posted by beetlejuice
Read the article again , more slowly this time.
Especially the third paragraph, "“We did not initiate the arrest and have not been contacted about the prosecution,”
Get it now? St. Matts had no idea he was even arrested and being tried for trespassing. It is up to the ADA's office to pursue charges. And if you read and comprehend the article he has been in jail for 97 days and was adjudicated guilty and sentenced to 90 days, time already served. He would've been released if not for ICE.
The only reason he has not been released is because of ICE holding him for deportation.
That is probably why he was arrested to begin with, they ran a check on him and it came up he was illegal or some only issue with ICE.
#6 Posted by Jadip811 on August 4, 2008 at 9:57 a.m. (Suggest removal)
#8 Posted by eaglebeak
Read the article again, especially the fifth paragraph.
"But he’s being held for deportation to Mexico"
#7 Posted by Jadip811 on August 4, 2008 at 10 a.m. (Suggest removal)
CutThroat Thanks!
I knew there was something I was forgetting <spit>.
#8 Posted by NaplesCritic on August 4, 2008 at 10:26 a.m. (Suggest removal)
WOW cutthroat, sounds like you are speaking of Jesus. Pretty remarkable, for a liberal like yourself.
#9 Posted by Pigsaw on August 4, 2008 at 10:59 a.m. (Suggest removal)
There should be an additional armed force in this country. One in charge of guarding the borders(NORTH AND SOUTH) and not to be deployed to any other country. Just to stay here. Thats it. And every person(male and female) should serve a year in this force. May be as a requirement for student financial aid. There goes your community service. But thats just my opinion
#10 Posted by ricky369 on August 4, 2008 at 2:32 p.m. (Suggest removal)
yes cutthroat its far left liberals like you and your democratic friends who are making america a third world toilet.
If you have so much compassion get him a lawyer and help him other wise slow down so michael moore can catch up to you
#11 Posted by grouper25 on August 4, 2008 at 2:58 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Ricky we have that already its called the US Border Patrol and it has been being increased in the last 2 years by 50% however its not enough because 90% of illegals are already on the streets of south Florida burdening our already burdened law enforcement. Instead of worrying about the ones crossing the border lets get rid of the ones who already made the swim. Fortunately, Collier County Sheriffs Office headed up training its deputies to process illegals for deportation which many other Law enforcement agencies do not have such resources.
#12 Posted by NaplesCritic on August 4, 2008 at 3:43 p.m. (Suggest removal)
hey naplescritic check out all the rearrested illegals on the ccso site, seems Hunter isn't sending to many illegals to ice as he says.
#13 Posted by grouper25 on August 4, 2008 at 7:29 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Naplescritic: I know the Border Patrol. As a Matter of fact I have family in the Border Patrol. You missed the part about making everyone serve a year on it. Thats the important point. Like the draft. But for border security.
#14 Posted by ricky369 on August 4, 2008 at 11:16 p.m. (Suggest removal)
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