Recently in Westchester Category

If you don't want to be upset while eating your Cheerios, I suggest you don't click on the 2nd District Court of Appeal's opinion, issued Wednesday, in the sexual assault case against former Westchester chiropractor Thomas Dickershaid.

While we knew about the allegations against Dickershaid (our last story on his sentencing is after the jump), we didn't hear any of the victims testify during his trial. Dickershaid, it seemed, liked to hug every woman who came through his office, and convinced the victims that their back and neck pain could be alleviated by his uninvited sexual molestations.

Dickershaid lost his appeal and will continue serving his 24-year prison sentence.

Sorry, folks, for the delay on this and a few other stories! Been off for a few days and I'm playing catch-up.

On Friday, Francis Miguel Cuellar was sentenced to 161 years to life for molesting a Westchester boy, who was a family friend, and three others years ago in Pico Rivera.

Look for the full report later in the Daily Breeze and at www.dailybreeze.com, which will include some details of some of the things said before he was sentenced. (Hint: Cuellar said he didn't do it.)

Previous entries on the case are here.

 

Airport Courthouse jurors returned 21 guilty verdicts today against Francis Miguel Cuellar for molesting an 8-year-old Westchester boy, who was a family friend, and three others in the 1990s.

He returns to court Feb. 27 for sentencing.

We'll have the full story in tomorrow's Daily Breeze.

P.S. Jurors began deliberating just before 9:30 a.m. this morning, so it's likely most of them did not get to see the inauguration....

Previously: Westchester boy testifies about molestation

His little head was barely visible behind the microphone on the witness stand. But his voice was certainly heard.

Today, a now 10-year-old boy told an Airport Courthouse jury about how family friend Francis Miguel Cuellar, 40, wrote "S-E-X" on the boy's chest with his finger before kissing his cheek and fondling him. (Watch for the full story later on dailybreeze.com).

It's never nice to watch any victim testify, ever. But something happens to a courtroom when a child takes the stand. You can almost hear everyone holding their breath as some very real, heart-wrenching tale of innocence lost is told from the mouth of a babe.

The story of the missing Silah boys, who were abducted by their fathers and have been missingsince July, will be on Dr. Phil's show today.

It airs at 4 p.m. on Channel 2.

Alex and Zaven Silah, and their cousin, Greg, have not been heard from since their fathers, George and John Silah of Westchester, failed to return them to their mothers following summer custody visitations. Both men have been charged with kidnapping.

Alex and Zaven's mother, Zanni Meguerian, and Greg's mother, Christine Jeanbart, will appear on the show. Here's a link to the Dr. Phil show's story

Every time I get another update on this case, it amazes me that the national media has blown it off. I just don't get it. Three kids are missing with men who might take them out of the country. Their mothers haven't seen them since June.

Anyway, the Westchester Lutheran Church choirs -- kids and adults -- will perform Thursday at the school to raise money to help search for the boys.

Students Alex and Zaven Silah, and their cousin, Greg, have not been heard from since their fathers, George and John Silah, failed to return them to their mothers following summer custody visitations. Both men have been charged with kidnapping.

In addition to student and adult choirs, Alex's seventh grade classmates will perform a song in his honor.

Alex and Zaven's mother, Zanni Meguerian, will speak during the program. A representative of the Association for the Recovery of Children also will address the case.

The fundraiser will begin at 7 p.m. at the school at 7831 S. Sepulveda Blvd.
Donations also can be sent to the school office, made payable to ARC with the designation of "Silah Boys."

Contact the school office at 310-670-5422 for more information.

The FBI and Los Angeles police department are investigating the case. A reward has been offered for information leading to the boys return and the Silahs arrests.

Mothers plead for help

I've written a number of entries about the search for Christine Jeanbart's and Zanni Meguerian's sons.

Their ex-husbands, George and John Silah, took off with the kids after failing to return them from summer custody visitations.

The L.A. City Council has offered a reward, the D.A.'s office has charged both men, the women have gone to the media and the FBI and LAPD are investigating. Nothing has happened, unfortunately, to bring Alex, Zaven and Greg home.

Back on Aug. 6, the women stood before the media and pleaded for their sons' return. They spoke directly to their husbands and kids. I taped them on my digital audio recorder, but didn't have the ability to post their words here at the time. Now I figured it out.

So here are the women's pleas. The man introducing them is their attorney, Ronald Brot:

ZanniMeguerian.wav 

ChristineJeanbart.wav

Here is a transcript.

A couple of South Bay blogs have posted photographs of burglars inside and outside of a Playa del Rey home. I tried to confirm all of this with LAPD, but didn't get very far, so I'm going to trust my fellow bloggers.

The crime occurred Aug. 17 in the 7900 block of 81st Street. The photos show the burglars and their car.

David Markland at La.Metblogs has a story.

Westchester parents broke the story.

I stole their photos. Here's a very clear one. If you know him, call the Pacific Division at 310-482-6313.