Oceanside Treasurer Candidate Arrested, Subject of Emergency Weapons Warrant – San Diego Union-Tribune

A candidate for Oceanside City treasurer was arrested by the California Highway Patrol two months ago on suspicion of driving under the influence, although prosecutors have not yet filed criminal charges.

The case against Jack Fernandes, one of two people challenging incumbent Treasurer Victor Roy, remains under review, prosecutors said Friday.

Fernandes confirmed the arrest on August 6 but said he had done nothing wrong.

“I am aware that there was an arrest,” he said in a telephone interview. “I am aware that drink driving is suspected, but I blew a zero point zero (into a breathalyzer) and no charges were laid. I have not been accused of a crime and I have not committed a crime.”

Three weeks after his arrest, a San Diego Superior Court judge issued an emergency protective order against Fernandes on gun violence charges. This case was opened after Fernandes was involved in a seemingly unrelated “road rage” incident in La Jolla.

Records show San Diego police who responded to the incident seized weapons and ammunition.

“The suspect pointed a firearm at an individual during a traffic collision at 1100 Prospect Street,” the report states. “Fernandes was stopped in (his) vehicle and an unloaded firearm was located in a black bag belonging to Fernandes.

“Fernandes had a loaded magazine in the passenger seat,” the San Diego police report states. He also had a loaded firearm in a nearby gym bag, police said.

The candidate, who graduated from the UCLA School of Law and has been a member of the California State Bar since 2020, said, “I have not been involved in any traffic incidents.”

Regarding the court order request, Fernandes said a copy of the document obtained by the San Diego Union-Tribune and sent to the candidate was never filed in court. The stamp of the one-page protocol was received by the Superior Court on September 6, 2024.

“The order you sent has not been archived,” Fernandes said via email. “There is no record of me showing you anywhere.”

The San Diego City Attorney's Office said Friday that an investigation into the road rage incident is ongoing.

Fernandes, a 30-year-old biotech entrepreneur, ran for the state Assembly's 75th District seat in the March primary election earlier this year. In that East County race, he placed sixth out of six candidates with just under 3 percent of the vote.

Fernandes, who was elected to the Republican Party Central Committee last spring, said he will remain committed to helping Oceanside voters.

“I will continue to put our city first, even if it means my personal and professional life will be scrutinized and attacked with rumors and lies,” he said in a follow-up email. “I offer myself as the target of all attacks if it means I can protect O-minded people.”

Even before the arrests and firearms orders, the race for Oceanside treasurer had been causing a stir.

An independent investigation concluded in 2022 that incumbent Victor Roy violated several city rules and lied about his use of city library resources. The same investigation found that Roy had viewed inappropriate material in the library.

The third candidate in the race for Oceanside treasurer is Phyllis Dominguez, a retired energy company finance manager.

Originally published: October 5, 2024 at 5:00 am