Results tagged “courts” from News 24/7
An Upland woman accused of murdering her husband with a sword last year re-entered not guilty pleas in West Valley Superior Court this morning to three felony charges.
Prosecutors say Naomi Valdivia, 34, murdered her husband, 34-year-old Jose Luis Gonzalez, on April 26, 2008 following an argument between the couple at their apartment in the 800 block of West Orchid Court.
Valdivia, a mother of five, claims her husband came at her first with the sword, and she acted in self-defense during the struggle, according to Valdivia's family members.
Read more at Inland Empire Courts.
will.bigham@inlandnewspapers.com
SACRAMENTO (AP) -- A federal judge is blocking a portion of a crime victims' rights measure approved by California voters in November.
U.S. District Judge Lawrence Karlton in Sacramento says a federal injunction that had been agreed to by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's administration trump<NO1>ZZTO<NO>s the section of Proposition 9 that limits legal rights for parole violators.
The administration agreed in 2004 to provide at taxpayers' expense, lawyers for ex-convicts who risk being sent back to prison for violating parole.
Karlton on Thursday rejected the argument that voters' approval of the ballot measure nullifies the administration's settlement of the class-action suit. Schwarzenegger lawyers have said they are required by state law to appeal Karlton's decision.
U.S. District Judge Lawrence Karlton in Sacramento says a federal injunction that had been agreed to by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's administration trump<NO1>ZZTO<NO>s the section of Proposition 9 that limits legal rights for parole violators.
The administration agreed in 2004 to provide at taxpayers' expense, lawyers for ex-convicts who risk being sent back to prison for violating parole.
Karlton on Thursday rejected the argument that voters' approval of the ballot measure nullifies the administration's settlement of the class-action suit. Schwarzenegger lawyers have said they are required by state law to appeal Karlton's decision.
A proposal to phase out benefits for San Bernardino County judges was tabled for two weeks by the Board of Supervisors on Tuesday after a public hearing.
Supervisor Neil Derry, who is proposing the discontinuance of judicial benefits, requested the continuance because Supervisor Josie Gonzales was unable to attend Tuesday's board meeting and wants to be in on the discussion.
Derry is proposing the cuts as a cost savings measure to address the county's gaping budget deficit. Eliminating the benefits would save the county $1.4 million over six years.
Supervisor Neil Derry, who is proposing the discontinuance of judicial benefits, requested the continuance because Supervisor Josie Gonzales was unable to attend Tuesday's board meeting and wants to be in on the discussion.
Derry is proposing the cuts as a cost savings measure to address the county's gaping budget deficit. Eliminating the benefits would save the county $1.4 million over six years.
Continue reading Judge benefits proposal put on hold.
SANTA ANA (AP) -- Probation officers have recommended that former Orange County Sheriff Michael Carona serve six years in federal prison for a witness-tampering conviction, according to a document filed Tuesday in federal court.
The recommendation was revealed in a footnote to a government motion opposing Carona's bid for acquittal or a new trial. The document says the probation department made its recommendation on Friday. The full report is under seal.
Carona's attorney, Jeff Rawitz, had no comment.
The recommendation was revealed in a footnote to a government motion opposing Carona's bid for acquittal or a new trial. The document says the probation department made its recommendation on Friday. The full report is under seal.
Carona's attorney, Jeff Rawitz, had no comment.
Continue reading 6-year sentence recommended for ex-OC sheriff Carona.
An LA/Ontario International Airport police officer was arrested last week on suspicion of beating his wife.
Officer Francisco Santiago, 46, was arrested at his Rancho Cucamonga home March 17, around 5 p.m., and booked at West Valley Detention Center in Rancho Cucamonga, according to jail records.
Santiago was charged March 19 with a misdemeanor count of corporal injury to a spouse.
Deputy District Attorney Ted Smith, who reviewed the case, would not discuss details of the case. He said when deciding whether to charge Santiago with a felony or misdemeanor, he would have taken into consideration the circumstances of how the injury took place and the extent of the injury.
Los Angeles World Airports Sgt. Jim Holcomb would not say whether Santiago was still working as a police officer or how long he has worked there.
"We just prefer to just let them do their investigation," he said of he local agencies.
Officer Francisco Santiago, 46, was arrested at his Rancho Cucamonga home March 17, around 5 p.m., and booked at West Valley Detention Center in Rancho Cucamonga, according to jail records.
Santiago was charged March 19 with a misdemeanor count of corporal injury to a spouse.
Deputy District Attorney Ted Smith, who reviewed the case, would not discuss details of the case. He said when deciding whether to charge Santiago with a felony or misdemeanor, he would have taken into consideration the circumstances of how the injury took place and the extent of the injury.
Los Angeles World Airports Sgt. Jim Holcomb would not say whether Santiago was still working as a police officer or how long he has worked there.
"We just prefer to just let them do their investigation," he said of he local agencies.
A Loma Linda father and son who were union officials pleaded not guilty Monday to charges of filing a false annual financial report by not including payments from a secret fund to themselves and one of the men's daughters, officials said.
The men, 63-year-old John Romero and 45-year-old John J. Romero, were previously president and treasurer, respectively, of the Amalgamated Industrial Workers Union.
They were indicted by a grand jury Thursday and arrested Friday. According to a U.S. Attorney's news release, a 2003 financial report that must be signed by the president and treasurer under penalty of perjury, did not include more than $98,000 in five bank accounts. They didn't disclose payments from those funds to the two men and to John Romero's daughter.
The men face a maximum penalty of five years in prison.
The men, 63-year-old John Romero and 45-year-old John J. Romero, were previously president and treasurer, respectively, of the Amalgamated Industrial Workers Union.
They were indicted by a grand jury Thursday and arrested Friday. According to a U.S. Attorney's news release, a 2003 financial report that must be signed by the president and treasurer under penalty of perjury, did not include more than $98,000 in five bank accounts. They didn't disclose payments from those funds to the two men and to John Romero's daughter.
The men face a maximum penalty of five years in prison.
Jim Erwin, County Supervisor Neil Derry's chief of staff, was arrested this morning on suspicion of 10 felony counts.
In count six, prosecutors accuse Erwin, 46, of failing "to disclose receipt of prostitution and masseuse services on or about January 30, 2007 on Fair Political Practice Commission Statement of Economic Interest form 700."
Read the complaint here.
will.bigham@inlandnewspapers.com
In count six, prosecutors accuse Erwin, 46, of failing "to disclose receipt of prostitution and masseuse services on or about January 30, 2007 on Fair Political Practice Commission Statement of Economic Interest form 700."
Read the complaint here.
will.bigham@inlandnewspapers.com
Deputies arrested a 27-year-old man Wednesday after a woman he met on myspace accused him of raping her in Victorville.The 24-year-old woman, whose city of residence was not released, went into the sheriff's Victorville station Tuesday at 5:38 p.m.to report that she had been raped that afternoon, according to a sheriff's news release.
The woman met German Chala on myspace and met for the first time March 13 without any problems. The woman, who was looking for work, had told Chala, and he offered to help her Tuesday. They met at his house in the 15900 block of Nisqualli Road and were sitting on his bed when he raped her, but then let her leave, the woman told investigators.
Investigators served a search warrant at Chala's apartment and arrested him. He was boooked at Victor Valley Jail in Victorville on suspicion of forcible rape.
He had previously been deported to Mexico because of other convictions, according to the release.
He has previous charges of using false citizenship documents, but has not been convicted, according to court records.
The woman met German Chala on myspace and met for the first time March 13 without any problems. The woman, who was looking for work, had told Chala, and he offered to help her Tuesday. They met at his house in the 15900 block of Nisqualli Road and were sitting on his bed when he raped her, but then let her leave, the woman told investigators.
Investigators served a search warrant at Chala's apartment and arrested him. He was boooked at Victor Valley Jail in Victorville on suspicion of forcible rape.
He had previously been deported to Mexico because of other convictions, according to the release.
He has previous charges of using false citizenship documents, but has not been convicted, according to court records.
Lisa Barden, of Rancho Cucamonga, pleaded not guilty in Riverside Superior Court this morning to 276 felony charges alleging she obtained prescription drugs using patients' stolen identities.
She is next due in court April 16 for a felony settlement conference.
Read more at Inland Empire Courts.will.bigham@inlandnewspapers.com
For weeks, jurors in the capital trial for Esperanza Fire arsonist Raymond Lee Oyler have been listening to testimony about the Beaumont man who started the blaze that killed five firefighters.
Those 12 men and women will now make one of the biggest decisions of the trial: Whether Oyler should die for his actions or spend the rest of his life in state prison.
Lawyers in the Oyler case wrapped up their closing arguments for the penalty phase of the trial Tuesday in Riverside Superior Court, sending the case to the jury for deliberation.
Those 12 men and women will now make one of the biggest decisions of the trial: Whether Oyler should die for his actions or spend the rest of his life in state prison.
Lawyers in the Oyler case wrapped up their closing arguments for the penalty phase of the trial Tuesday in Riverside Superior Court, sending the case to the jury for deliberation.
Continue reading Jurors now faced with deciding whether Esperanza arsonist should die.
Sam Clauder, who served as spokesman and finance chair for the San Bernardino County Democratic Central Committee and as a representative for Congressman Joe Baca, has been charged with felony possession of child pornography.
Clauder, 57, of San Bernardino, pleaded not guilty to the charge during his arraignment March 11 in San Bernardino Superior Court. He posted bond on $25,000 bail and will next appear in court on April 20 for a pretrial hearing. He faces a maximum of three years in prison if convicted, Deputy District Attorney Angela Sonico said.
Clauder was charged with the alleged crime on Feb. 24, which occurred on or about April 16, 2008, according to court records.
Read more at Behind the Story.joe.nelson@inlandnewspapers.com
San Bernardino will be able to serve the management of Flesh Showgirls, but not all the employees, with a 2007 court order, following a court hearing Monday.
The club, formerly known as the Flesh Club, reopened Friday as an "eating place" with food, drinks and topless dancing, after a judge ordered it temporarily closed in 2007 and the City Council late last year wouldn't let it open as a bar with topless dancing.
Before the club opened Friday, city employees tried to get all the club's employees to review the 2007 order, but the management refused.
The club, formerly known as the Flesh Club, reopened Friday as an "eating place" with food, drinks and topless dancing, after a judge ordered it temporarily closed in 2007 and the City Council late last year wouldn't let it open as a bar with topless dancing.
Before the club opened Friday, city employees tried to get all the club's employees to review the 2007 order, but the management refused.
Continue reading UPDATE: Split decision in San Bernardino's Flesh hearing.
As two independent probes into alleged misconduct at the San Bernardino County Assessor's Office remain under investigtion, the Board of Supervisors has yet to initiate a process for replacing disgraced former Assessor Bill Postmus.
Postmus resigned from office Feb. 13 following an arrest for suspected methamphetamine possession and a spate of allegations that the office he oversaw was used for political purposes. He has not been charged with a crime.
The District Attorney's Office continues its investigation into alleged political malfeasance at the Assessor's Office. John Hueston, the trailblazing attorney who successfully prosecuted key figures in the Enron scandal and was commissioned by the county to do his own investigation into the Assessor's Office, has yet to report his findings to the Board of Supervisors.
Read more at Behind the Story.
joe.nelson@inlandnewspapers.com
The former manager of an area strip-club chain was taken into police custody this morning after being sentenced in West Valley Superior Court to 270 days in jail.
As a result, Ryan Ward Welty -- whose father owns Tropical Lei in Upland and two other strip clubs -- will not stand trial in Colorado Tuesday as scheduled for allegedly soliciting sex over the Internet with a 9-year-old girl.
Welty, of Rancho Cucamonga, was arrested in rural Fremont County, Colo. in June 2008 after he traveled there to allegedly meet a woman he believed was willing to involve her young daughter in sex.
The woman Welty met online was actually an undercover Colorado police detective, and Welty, 38, was arrested when he arrived at a predetermined meeting place.
Read more at Inland Empire Courts.
will.bigham@inlandnewspapers.com
NOTE: An updated version of this story has been posted online.
San Bernardino lost its bid to create a roster of Flesh Showgirls employees, the club's lawyer said Monday.
The club reopened Friday as an "eating place" with drinks and topless dancing, after a judge ordered it temporarily closed in 2007 and the City Council last year wouldn't let it open as a bar with topless dancing.
Before the club opened Friday, city employees tried to get all the club's employees to review the 2007 order, but the club's management refused to let that happen.
The City Attorney's Office announced Friday that Monday it was going to court on an emergency basis to get an order to have the employees review the 2007 order so they would know what kinds of activities were not permitted.
Three lawyers from the City Attorney's Office went to the hearing, and City Attorney James F. Penman argued the matter himself, said Flesh lawyer Roger Jon Diamond.
Diamond said Penman wanted a roster of all the employees, including photographs, and signed proof of receipt of the court order from every employee.
"The city attorney wanted to be able to go back into court should there be any possible minor violation," Diamond said.
Diamond said the club's management volunteered to accept the court orders. He said police officers have been at the club since it opened, monitoring what goes on there and have been ordering meals while there.
Penman did not return a call seeking comment.
San Bernardino lost its bid to create a roster of Flesh Showgirls employees, the club's lawyer said Monday.
The club reopened Friday as an "eating place" with drinks and topless dancing, after a judge ordered it temporarily closed in 2007 and the City Council last year wouldn't let it open as a bar with topless dancing.
Before the club opened Friday, city employees tried to get all the club's employees to review the 2007 order, but the club's management refused to let that happen.
The City Attorney's Office announced Friday that Monday it was going to court on an emergency basis to get an order to have the employees review the 2007 order so they would know what kinds of activities were not permitted.
Three lawyers from the City Attorney's Office went to the hearing, and City Attorney James F. Penman argued the matter himself, said Flesh lawyer Roger Jon Diamond.
Diamond said Penman wanted a roster of all the employees, including photographs, and signed proof of receipt of the court order from every employee.
"The city attorney wanted to be able to go back into court should there be any possible minor violation," Diamond said.
Diamond said the club's management volunteered to accept the court orders. He said police officers have been at the club since it opened, monitoring what goes on there and have been ordering meals while there.
Penman did not return a call seeking comment.
An Upland woman accused of killing her husband with a sword last year must stand trial on murder and other charges, a West Valley Superior Court judge has ruled.
Prosecutors accuse Naomi Valdivia, 34, of stabbing 34-year-old Jose Luis Gonzalez to death following an argument in the couple's apartment in the 800 block of West Orchid Court.
Judge Elia V. Pirozzi ruled Friday at the conclusion of a preliminary hearing that Valdivia must stand trial on three felony charges: murder, assault with a deadly weapon, and inflicting corporal injury on a spouse.
Valdivia's family members have said Valdivia was acting in self-defense the day her husband was killed.
Read more at Inland Empire Courts.
will.bigham@inlandnewspapers.com
The former manager of a local strip-club chain is set to stand trial in Colorado on Tuesday for allegedly traveling to meet a police detective posing as a mother willing to involve her 9-year-old daughter in sex.
Ward Ryan Welty, 38, whose family owns Tropical Lei in Upland and two other strip clubs, communicated online and by phone with the undercover detective for nearly a year before his June arrest in rural Fremont County, Colo.
Welty's father, Waldon Randall Welty, is the owner of Manta Management, the parent company of Tropical Lei, the Flesh Club in San Bernardino, and the Hawaii Theatre in the City of Industry. Ryan Welty has been identified in past news reports as the owner or manager of Tropical Lei and the Flesh Club. Diamond has said those descriptions are inaccurate. Welty has no current role in his father's company, he and Diamond have said.
Read more at Inland Empire Courts.
will.bigham@inlandnewspapers.com
LOMA LINDA (AP) -- A jury has told Loma Linda University Medical Center to pay $5.8 million to one of its doctors who claimed a botched back operation left him with chronic pain.
A San Bernardino County Superior Court jury awarded damages Wednesday to Mark Macknet and his wife, Michelle, in a medical negligence lawsuit.
Macknet, an anesthesiologist at the hospital, sued over a 2004 back surgery. He claimed surgeons used unsterilized equipment that caused an infection and forced him to undergo five more surgeries, said his attorney, Jeffrey Raynes of Redlands.
At trial, the lawyer presented evidence that Macknet will need to take pain medication for the rest of his life and will have to retire earlier than planned.
The hospital disagreed with the verdict, spokeswoman Katie Ellis said.
"While we respect the jury process, we believe that they came to the wrong conclusion in this case," she said in a statement. "We are going to explore all of our options, including appeal."
A San Bernardino County Superior Court jury awarded damages Wednesday to Mark Macknet and his wife, Michelle, in a medical negligence lawsuit.
Macknet, an anesthesiologist at the hospital, sued over a 2004 back surgery. He claimed surgeons used unsterilized equipment that caused an infection and forced him to undergo five more surgeries, said his attorney, Jeffrey Raynes of Redlands.
At trial, the lawyer presented evidence that Macknet will need to take pain medication for the rest of his life and will have to retire earlier than planned.
The hospital disagreed with the verdict, spokeswoman Katie Ellis said.
"While we respect the jury process, we believe that they came to the wrong conclusion in this case," she said in a statement. "We are going to explore all of our options, including appeal."
NEWPORT BEACH (AP) -- Prosecutors charged a man Friday with vehicular manslaughter in the death of a mixed martial arts promoter known as "Mask" who co-founded an international clothing line and appeared in a reality TV show about the sport.
Jeffrey David Kirby, 51, of Costa Mesa was charged with one felony count of vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence and one felony count of driving under the influence causing bodily injury.
Prosecutors are also seeking sentencing enhancements for fleeing the scene and causing bodily injury to more than one person.
Jeffrey David Kirby, 51, of Costa Mesa was charged with one felony count of vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence and one felony count of driving under the influence causing bodily injury.
Prosecutors are also seeking sentencing enhancements for fleeing the scene and causing bodily injury to more than one person.
Continue reading Man charged in death of mixed martial arts figure.
Flesh Showgirls opened Friday around noon on San Bernardino's Hospitality Lane.
The club, formerly known as the Flesh Club, will no longer feature nude dancing. In 2007, a judge ordered it closed, and the club's attempts to re-open as a bar that featured topless dancing did not win the approval of the City Council.
Flesh Showgirls will serve food, drinks and offer topless dancing, after receiving approval to operate as a general eating place from Alcoholic Beverage Control.
There was a minor hiccup Friday morning, around opening time, originally scheduled for 11 a.m. City officials showed up, and the club's employees felt they were being asked to sign paperwork.
"It was just rude and interference by Penman," Flesh's lawyer, Roger Jon Diamond, said, referring to City Attorney James F. Penman."He shoud welcome any small business that's trying to open in the city."
Senior Deputy City Attorney Jolena Grider said an investigator and a police officer went to the club with the 2007 court order to explain to the club's employees what they could and could not do.
But, she said, the club's owner would not let the officer and the investigator talk to the employees, so the officer and investigator left.
The club, formerly known as the Flesh Club, will no longer feature nude dancing. In 2007, a judge ordered it closed, and the club's attempts to re-open as a bar that featured topless dancing did not win the approval of the City Council.
Flesh Showgirls will serve food, drinks and offer topless dancing, after receiving approval to operate as a general eating place from Alcoholic Beverage Control.
There was a minor hiccup Friday morning, around opening time, originally scheduled for 11 a.m. City officials showed up, and the club's employees felt they were being asked to sign paperwork.
"It was just rude and interference by Penman," Flesh's lawyer, Roger Jon Diamond, said, referring to City Attorney James F. Penman."He shoud welcome any small business that's trying to open in the city."
Senior Deputy City Attorney Jolena Grider said an investigator and a police officer went to the club with the 2007 court order to explain to the club's employees what they could and could not do.
But, she said, the club's owner would not let the officer and the investigator talk to the employees, so the officer and investigator left.
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