Crime
Jake Haro, father of baby Emmanuel Haro pleaded guilty to all charges in the murder case
RIVERSIDE, Calif. — The father of missing 7-month-old Emmanuel Haro has pleaded guilty to all charges, including second-degree murder, in connection with the infant’s death.
During what was scheduled as a felony settlement conference on Thursday, Jake Haro entered his guilty plea before a Riverside County judge.
Haro appeared visibly emotional and cried as he admitted to killing his infant son, whose remains have still not been found since his disappearance in May.
Prosecutors said the plea was entered directly to the judge, without any negotiated agreement between the defense and prosecution.
The charges include second-degree murder, assault of a child under eight causing great bodily injury resulting in death, and filing a false police report.
Haro now faces a potential sentence of 25 years to life in prison. His sentencing hearing is scheduled for November 3 in Riverside County Superior Court.
Meanwhile, Emmanuel’s mother, Rebecca Haro, who is also charged with murder and filing a false police report, has pleaded not guilty.
Her preliminary hearing is set for the same day as her husband’s sentencing, during which the court will determine if there is sufficient evidence to proceed to trial.
The case began in August, when Rebecca Haro initially reported that her son had been kidnapped outside a Yucaipa store following an alleged assault.
Law enforcement officers, assisted by K-9 units, launched an extensive search for the missing infant. However, investigators later uncovered inconsistencies in her account, leading authorities to reclassify the case.
On August 22, both Jake and Rebecca Haro were arrested in Cabazon after detectives concluded that the reported kidnapping had been fabricated.
Four days later, at a press conference, Riverside County District Attorney Mike Hestrin announced that investigators had evidence Emmanuel had been “severely abused over time” and said they had a strong indication of where his remains might be located, though none have yet been recovered.
Both parents have remained in custody on $1 million bail since their arrests.
As of now, investigators continue efforts to locate Emmanuel’s remains and gather additional evidence in the ongoing case.
Crime
Venezuelan national Julio Cesar Sosa-Celis shot in the leg by an immigration agent in Minneapolis
On January 14, 2025, federal law enforcement personnel were engaged in a targeted enforcement operation involving Julio Cesar Sosa-Celis, a Venezuelan national who has been present in the United States since 2022.
The operation escalated into a high-speed pursuit, a physical confrontation, and an ambush by multiple subjects, necessitating the use of a defensive firearm discharge by a federal agent.
At approximately 6:50 PM, federal officers initiated a targeted traffic stop of a vehicle operated by Sosa-Celis.
The subject refused to comply with law enforcement commands and attempted to flee the scene.
During the pursuit, the subject’s vehicle collided with a stationary, parked car.
Following the collision, the subject abandoned the vehicle and fled the scene on foot.
A federal agent pursued the suspect on foot and successfully intercepted him. As the agent attempted to effect an arrest, the subject became combative, resulting in a violent struggle on the ground.
During this confrontation, two additional male subjects emerged from a nearby residence to intervene.
These individuals reportedly ambushed the agent, utilizing a snow shovel and a broom handle to strike the officer.
The situation escalated when the primary suspect, Sosa-Celis, regained his footing and joined the two additional subjects in the assault.
Reports indicate the suspect struck the agent with a blunt object (identified as either the shovel or broom handle).
Citing an immediate threat to his life while being outnumbered and actively assaulted by three individuals, the agent discharged his service weapon in self-defense.
The discharge struck Sosa-Celis in the lower extremity (leg). Following the shot, all three suspects retreated into a nearby apartment complex and initiated a barricade situation.
Following a brief standoff, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) successfully secured the perimeter and apprehended all three individuals without further injury.
Both the federal agent and Sosa-Celis were transported to a local medical facility for treatment.
Images from the scene showed Sosa-Celis conscious and alert during transport.
All three subjects involved in the assault are currently in the custody of ICE.
Further charges related to the assault on a federal officer and resisting arrest are pending review by the U.S. Attorney’s Office.