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Gang bust is a job for Santa clues

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All he wants for Christmas is a good defense attorney.

A man ordered by a civil court judge not to associate with members of his street gang was charged with violating that injunction by flashing gang signs in a photo taken with Santa Claus at an Orange shopping center.

Uriel Oliva, 18, of Anaheim faces 18 months in jail if he is convicted of three misdemeanors. He is being held on $15,000 bail.

Authorities allege that Oliva and two other gang members had their photograph taken Dec. 16 at the Village Mall.

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“It shows three gang members sitting on or standing around Santa Claus,” Orange Police Sgt. Dan Adams said.

Santa appeared unfazed, Adams said.

“Typical Santa look. Doing his job.”

The next day, an officer assisting on a probation check found a key chain with the photo in Oliva’s pocket.

Oliva was later arrested on charges of disobeying a court order. A juvenile who is in the photo was also arrested and another juvenile is being sought, Adams said.

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mike.anton@latimes.com

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