Vista : Assemblywoman’s Son Ordered to Stand Trial

Craig Randall Mojonnier, son of Assemblywoman Sunny Mojonnier (R-Encinitas), was ordered Tuesday to stand trial on a felony charge of false imprisonment involving a 15-year-old Cardiff youth.

Mojonnier is accused of abducting Erick Huff from his home in Cardiff and holding him for four days. Gary Chavez, suspected of being an accomplice, is still wanted on suspicion of false imprisonment. Huff’s father received a demand of $100,000 for his son’s return.

During the daylong preliminary hearing in Municipal Court in Vista, Huff told Judge Tony Maino that he was lured from his home June 22 when Mojonnier came to the door and told him his sister had been hurt in a fight.

Chavez was waiting in a car and when Huff got in they sped off, Huff said. Huff said he was taken to a Ramada Inn in San Clemente where he spent the night with Mojonnier and Chavez.

Maino said false imprisonment only occurred for three minutes while Huff was deceived into getting into the car. Mojonnier’s attorney, Michael Pancer, said that from then on Huff participated willingly. Huff testified that while at the Ramada Inn, police came and made the group leave because they were causing a disturbance. Pancer said at that point Huff could have reported his situation to the police.

Huff’s father, Howard, testified that Chavez demanded $100,000 that Howard Huff’s oldest son, Michael, allegedly had stolen from Chavez.

But Maino said, “I don’t think this is a state prison case.” He said that he ordered Mojonnier bound over because he lacked jurisdiction to reduce the felony charge to a misdemeanor.

Pancer said, “I think the case got put in its perspective today. It’s clear this is not an aggravated case.”