Salinas man found guilty of theft at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca

A Salinas man was found guilty of petty theft for breaking into the administration building at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca.

Monterey County District Attorney Dean Flippo said 19-year-old Gustavo Santoyo Gonzalez broke into the building on the night of August 24, 2015. Gonzalez climbed through an unlocked office window to get inside.

During the trial, Gonzalez testified that when he entered the building his intent was to use the restroom and not steal anything. However, during cross examination, he admitted that he never actually used the restroom.

Gonzalez said as at the alarms sounded, he stole a number of items including two vehicle keys, an embroidered Laguna Seca Raceway shirt, an embroidered Laguna Seca Raceway vest, a tote bag, sunglasses, a Circuit of the Americas belt buckle and a water bottle.

Evidence during the trial also revealed that Gonzalez stole several items from a truck of a raceway employee the following morning.

Gonzalez was found later that day by raceway employees who noticed his suspicious behavior. They then contacted the Monterey County Sheriff’s Office. All the stolen items were later returned to the owners.

Gonzalez was charged with one count of second-degree commercial burglary, two counts of petty theft, and one count of providing false information to a police officer. The jury hung 11-1 in favor of guilty on the charge of second-degree commercial burglary, resulting in a mistrial.

The jury did find Gonzalez guilty on two counts of petty theft and not guilty for providing false information to a police officer.

Gonzalez will be sentenced on February 3.