Search warrant leads to man charged in Good Hope murder

GOOD HOPE — A search warrant at a large, rural property last Thursday morning, April 11, led to the arrest of several people, including one man who was charged with last January’s murder of 29-year-old, Rafael Quintero of Good Hope.

Quintero’s lifeless body was found in a culvert in the unincorporated area of Good Hope, north of Canyon Lake, Tuesday morning, Jan. 29.

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On April 11, deputies and investigators from the Perris Sheriff’s Station, Perris Homeless Outreach Program, Riverside Auto Theft Interdiction Detail, Sheriff’s Marijuana Eradication Team, Perris Animal Control and Code Enforcement, and the Sheriff’s Central Homicide Unit, served a search warrant on a 5-acre parcel of land in the area southeast of Phillips St. and Robles Ln. Perris, Riverside Sheriff’s Sgt. Ben Ramirez said yesterday in an updated press release. The location is about 1.5 miles north of the area where Quintero’s body had been discovered last January.

“During the service of the search warrant, several occupants were contacted at several camping trailers and tents,” Ramirez explained. The warrant service also uncovered an illegal marijuana grow operation which officials later dismantled.

Several people were arrested during the service of a Good Hope search warrant, including Gerardo Jimenez, who was arrested for the January 29 murder of Rafael Quintero, of Good Hope. RSO booking photos

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During interviews conducted that day, a suspect in Quintero’s murder was identified, according to Ramirez, who said Central Homicide Unit investigators ultimately arrested Gerardo Jimenez, 48, of Perris for Quintero’s death. Jimenez was subsequently booked into Cois Byrd Detention Center on suspicion of first-degree murder and being a felon in possession of a firearm. Jail records indicate he remains in custody on $1 million bail.

Also arrested that day were Gerald Ibarra, 41, Juan Garcia, 32, and Brenda Martinez, 34. All are Perris residents. Ibarra was later booked on suspicion of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition, Garcia was booked for an outstanding stalking warrant, and Martinez was booked for an outstanding warrant for driving a stolen vehicle.

Anyone with information regarding this investigation is encouraged to contact Investigator Cardinale at the Lake Elsinore Sheriff Station (951) 245-3300 or Investigator Barajas with the Central Homicide Unit at (951) 955-2777. Callers can refer to incident file number F190290009 and can remain anonymous. Citizens may also submit a tip using the Sheriff’s Homicide Tipline online form.

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Contact the writer: [email protected]

Trevor Montgomery, 47, moved last year to the Intermountain area of Shasta County from Riverside County and runs Riverside County News Source and Shasta County News Source. Additionally, he writes for several other news organizations; including Riverside County based newspapers, Valley News, The Valley Chronicle, and Anza Valley Outlook; as well as Bonsall/Fallbrook Village News in San Diego County and Mountain Echo in Shasta County.

Trevor spent 10 years in the U.S. Army as an Orthopedic Specialist before joining the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department in 1998. He was medically retired after losing his leg, breaking his back, and suffering both spinal cord and brain injuries in an off-duty accident. (Click here to see segment of Discovery Channel documentary of Trevor’s accident.)

During his time with the sheriff’s department, Trevor worked at several different stations; including Robert Presley Detention Center, Southwest Station in Temecula, Hemet/Valle Vista Station, Ben Clark Public Safety Training Center, and Lake Elsinore Station; along with other locations.

Trevor’s assignments included Corrections, Patrol, DUI Enforcement, Boat and Personal Water-Craft based Lake Patrol, Off-Road Vehicle Enforcement, Problem Oriented Policing Team, and Personnel/Background Investigations. He finished his career while working as a Sex Crimes and Child Abuse Investigator and was a court-designated expert in child abuse and child sex-related crimes.

Trevor has been married for more than 28 years and was a foster parent to more than 60 children over 13 years. He is now an adoptive parent and his “fluid family” includes 13 children and 15 – but soon to be 16 – grandchildren.