Sheriff’s deputies step in to help save south Modesto teen’s quinceañera

Leonela Osuna had been saving up for her quinceañera, a rite of passage for teenage girls in some Latino cultures.

But sometime Tuesday, someone broke into her south Modesto home and stole her dream.

According to Stanislaus County sheriff’s Deputy Barry Ballance, the family members left home for school and work about 7:30 a.m. When they returned about 5 p.m., they found the front door had been kicked in and someone had made off with laptops, jewelry and other items.

The burglar or burglars also took $2,000 from a dresser drawer, Ballance said. Leonela had been saving up, and the money for her dress and a hall rental in Hughson was due soon for the Aug. 8 ceremony.

That’s where deputies stepped in to do more than investigate the crime.

“Our K-9 Association has helped families in the past,” Ballance said in an email. “The members put out a request, and usually it gets passed.”

Often, those requests center around Toys for Tots holiday activities and the like. This request was more personal.

Ballance said he immediately got agreement from his fellow K-9 unit deputies, so he went to the bank and took out $500 to give to the family.

“When I handed her the money, both mother and daughter started crying,” Ballance said. But that wasn’t all.

Later, a Special Weapons and Tactics team sergeant heard about the burglary and that team also donated. Deputies from the graveyard shift also contributed; and a post on the K-9 Association’s Facebook page drew offers from volunteers to photograph the event and provide a guestbook.

Sheriff Adam Christianson said he was pleased but not surprised.

“Once again, our team has demonstrated very clearly their commitment to being guardians of the community, and their compassion is commendable,” Christianson said in an email. “When the residential burglary information went out in the Watch Report and everybody started offering up to replace the stolen money, I thought, ‘What a tremendous act of kindness this is.’”

Ballance returned to the home Wednesday night to deliver the rest of the donated money.

“She is an A student with a good family living in the South Modesto Gang Injunction zone,” he said. “We are just doing our best to help those in that area make it.”

A delighted Leonela couldn’t thank Ballance enough when he handed her the envelope containing the money.

If you’re looking for Ballance on Aug. 8, he’ll be busy: He’s been invited to Leonela’s quinceañera.

This story was originally published April 15, 2015 at 9:23 PM with the headline "Sheriff’s deputies step in to help save south Modesto teen’s quinceañera."