Newport Burglary Suspect Pleads Not Guilty

A Corona man accused of a string of burglaries in and around Newport Beach has pleaded not guilty to three felonies, court documents show.

Richard Kevin Rocha, 47, pleaded not guilty Friday to two counts of first degree burglary and one count of second degree burglary, according to court records. Rocha is scheduled to return to court on Feb. 26 and remains jailed in Orange County in lieu of $150,000 bail, jail records show. 

Rocha was arrested on Feb. 13 as he left his home in Corona and was booked on suspicion of burglary, according to Kathy Lowe of the Newport Beach Police Department.

Detectives set up surveillance in the West Newport Beach area and connected Rocha to at least three home burglaries, and suspect him in as many as 30, during the past several months, Lowe said.

West Newport Beach has experienced a series of late night break-ins since 2009 in which burglars got into homes through unlocked doors or windows while the victims were asleep and took laptop computers, police said.

Anyone who may have information about the case is asked to call the Newport Beach Police Department at 800-550-NBPD or Det. Brandon Rodriguez at 949- 644-3786.