ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. – An Orange County deputy who was arrested over the weekend in connection to a carjacking near Winter Springs bonded out of jail.
Francisco Estrella, 33, was arrested Sunday on charges of interception of wire, oral or electronic communication; disclosure of wire, oral or electronic communication; disclosure or use of confidential criminal justice information; unlawful use of a two-way communication device; and accessing computer or electronic devices without authorization or exceeding authorization.
In a motion filed Tuesday, Estrella’s lawyer asked the judge to “set a reasonable bond” and said Estrella’s incarceration is causing “tremendous financial hardship” on the family. He also said if released from jail, Estrella would stay in contact with his lawyer and attend all court hearings.
On Thursday, a judge approved a total $15,000 bond, setting $3,000 for each charge Estrella is facing.
Estrella bonded out later Thursday evening.
The arrest stems from a brazen armed carjacking last week near Winter Springs. The Seminole County Sheriff’s Office said 31-year-old Katherine Altagracia Guerrero De Aguasvivas, of Homestead, was stopped Thursday at a traffic light at the intersection of East Lake Drive and Tuskawilla Road in her Dodge Durango when a masked gunman carrying a 10mm automatic handgun got out of a green Acura and entered her SUV, apparently forcing her to drive off at gunpoint.
Less than two hours later, a vehicle similar to the Durango was found ablaze in Osceola County after witnesses reported hearing gunshots at a construction site near Boggy Creek Road, the sheriff said, adding that the vehicle was damaged so badly that it could not be identified. A body believed to be Aguasvivas was found in the vehicle, officials said. As of Thursday morning, the body had not been positively identified.
Sheriff Dennis Lemma said the woman’s brother and her husband, Miguel Aguasvivas, reached out to Estrella’s wife, who was a childhood friend. An arrest warrant affidavit shows that Estrella had called one of the Seminole County sheriff’s investigators involved in the carjacking investigation, identifying himself as “Francisco Archuela” and claiming to be Aguasvivas’ cousin.
Estrella explained he was concerned about the investigation and Aguasvivas’ safety, and he asked for details about how the investigation was going, the affidavit states. However, the investigator told Estrella that she couldn’t share those details, as the investigation was still active.
Estrella was hired at the Orange County Sheriff’s Office in September 2022. He has been relieved of all law enforcement duties without pay while the criminal case is under way. Once the criminal proceedings are complete, an OCSO administrative investigation will be conducted, and the results of that investigation will be public.
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