DA Rages at Courts as Suspected $16K Walgreens Thief is Released

A man accused of organized retail theft of more than $16,000 in goods from a Noe Valley Walgreens has been released by the court — a move that enraged San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins.

Marcos Smith-Pequeno, 28, pleaded not guilty Feb. 28 to charges that include organized retail grand theft with intent to sell, second-degree commercial burglary, grand theft, petty theft with prior convictions, vandalism, and resisting arrest.

Despite the district attorney’s request for pretrial detention, the court released Smith-Pequeno on his own recognizance with orders to contact case management weekly and stay away from the Walgreens on Castro Street.