In the Pasadena Courthouse This Week

This week, two high-profile Pasadena criminal cases will move forward in the Pasadena Courthouse of the Los Angeles County Superior Court. Here’s an update and profile of each of these cases.

Arraignment for Richard Henry Solis, December 16

Richard Henry Solis, 57, of Arcadia, is charged with scamming eight elderly victims in the Pasadena area. He faces two felony counts of grand theft from an elder and six misdemeanor counts of petty theft from an elder.

The complaint includes an allegation that Solis was convicted in 2006 and 2009 of seven counts of first-degree burglary. He pleaded not guilty during his arraignment on December 2.

The alleged crimes happened between September 2018 and October 2019, and involved the defendant claiming that the victims had injured him with their vehicles and then asking for money for medical expenses or stealing their belongings, the prosecutor said. Solis reportedly stole more than $100,000 from the victims, who ranged in age from 65 to 91 years old, according to the Los Angeles District Attorney’s Office.

If convicted as charged, Solis faces a possible maximum sentence of 16 years in state prison. The case remains under investigation by the Pasadena Police Department.

Deputy District Attorney Melanie Drew is prosecuting.

Preliminary Hearing Setting for Mary Jean O’Connor, December 19

Mary Jean O’Connor, 42, a transient in the North Hollywood area faces one count of murder for the killing of a 75-year-old woman at her Pasadena home.

O’Connor pleaded not guilty to the charge in January.

The Pasadena Police Department said officers found the victim, Jeri Douglas, strangled to death as they performed a welfare check on December 2018.

If convicted as charged, O’Connor faces a possible maximum sentence of 25 years to life in state prison. Bail is set at $2 million.

Deputy District Attorney Ryan Erlich is prosecuting.