Pasadena: February 2012 Archives

PASADENA -- A jury Friday convicted a Duarte man of the murder of his brother, who was found shot to death in the parking lot of the Rose Bowl nearly a year ago.

Pasadena Superior Court jurors deliberated for not much more than an hour before finding Clifton Ashley Cass, 57, guilty of the first-degree murder of his brother, 57-year-old Victor Cass of Duarte.

The jury of eight women and four men also convicted Clifton Cass of being a felon in possession of a firearm, and found true the special allegation that he personally used a handgun to murder his brother.

Clifton Cass's polite and mild-mannered courtroom demeanor contrasted starkly with the brutal crime which he had just been convicted of.

Wearing a grey shirt and blue jeans, the large-framed killer with a salt-and-pepper mustache reached out to shake the hand of the lead police investigator in the case -- Pasadena police Detective Keith Gomez -- immediately after the verdict was read.

He sat quietly and showed no emotion as the court clerk informed him of his conviction.

He waived his right to a jury trial on the issue of his prior offenses and admitted to the court he had received at least five previous felony convictions, making him eligible for sentencing under California's Three Strikes Law.

The convict said he wanted to get the process, "over with, and get to wherever I'm going."

The body of 57-year-old Victor Cass of Duarte was discovered by a maintenance worker in the parking lot of the Rose Bowl on Feb. 28, 2011.

Clifton Cass, angered by perceived disrespect displayed by Victor Cass toward their mother, lured his brother to the Rose Bowl under the ruse of a cocaine deal before shooting him and trying, unsuccessfully, to decapitate him with a machete, Deputy District Attorney Debra Archuleta argued during the trial.

Clifton Cass was defended by attorney Bill Jacobson.

Judge Janice Croft ordered Clifton Cass back to court March 14 for sentencing.

Friends and family members of the killer and victim did not wish to comment following the verdict.

A key piece of evidence in the case was an audio recording of an interview with a third Cass brother, Gregory Cass, who said on tape that Clifton confessed the killing to him.

Complicating the case, however, Gregory Cass suffers from serious memory problems. When he testified in court, he displayed difficulty even recognizing Clifton Cass, and said he had only a vague recollection that he had lost a brother.

According to Gregory Cass' recorded statement, Clifton was infuriated at Victor Cass because he was bringing home women and using drugs in their mother's home, as well as eating her Meals on Wheels dinners.

Clifton Cass was jailed in April of last year after being found with drugs and weapons during a traffic stop, officials said. A search at his home yielded yet more drugs and guns.

A second suspect in the case, Dwayne Sims, 60, of Duarte pleaded no contest late last year to charges of being an accessory after the fact for helping clean up evidence following the killing and being a felony with five previous convictions in possession of a firearm, Los Angeles, district attorney's officials said.

Sims is due back in Court March 2 for sentencing.

PASADENA -- Jurors have reached a verdict in the murder trial for a Duarte man accused of shooting and trying to decapitate his brother with a machete in the parking lot of the Rose Bowl, court officials said.

Clifton Ashley Cass, 57, is charged with the murder of 57-year-old Victor Cass of Duarte, as well as possession of a firearm by a felon with five prior convictions, according to Los Angeles County District Attorney's Officials.

Authorities announced Friday that after only a few hours of deliberation, the jury had reached a verdict, which was scheduled to be read Friday afternoon in Pasadena Superior Court.

The body of 57-year-old Victor Cass of Duarte was discovered by a maintenance worker in the parking lot of the Rose Bowl on Feb. 28, 2011.

Authorities allege that Clifton Cass, angered by perceived disrespect displayed by Victor Cass toward their mother, lured his brother to the Rose Bowl under the ruse of a cocaine deal before shooting him and trying, unsuccessfully, to decapitate him with a machete.

Clifton Cass was jailed in April of last year after being found with drugs and weapons during a traffic stop, officials said. A search at his home yielded yet more drugs and guns.

A second suspect in the case, Dwayne Sims, 60, of Duarte pleaded no contest late last year to charges of being an accessory after the fact for helping clean up evidence following the killing and being a felony with five previous convictions in possession of a firearm, Los Angeles, district attorney's officials said.

Sims is due back in Court March 2 for sentencing.

PASADENA -- Police are planning to hold a checkpoint late Friday, officials said.

The checkpoint will be held from 7 p.m. Friday to 3 a.m. Saturday on South Fair Oaks Avenue, near the city's southern limit, Pasadena police officials said in a written statement.

"Checkpoints are placed in locations that have the greatest opportunity for achieving drunk and drugged driving deterrence and provide the greatest safety for officers and the public," according to the statement.

"Drivers caught driving impaired can expect jail, license suspension, and insurance increases, as well as fines, fees, DUI classes, court probation and other expenses that can exceed $10,000," the police statement said.

The checkpoint is being funded by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

PASADENA -- A 61-year-old man chased down and tackled a would-be car thief Tuesday, restraining him with the help of a good Samaritan until police arrived, authorities said.

Cole Decosta, 22, of Pasadena was booked on suspicion of attempted auto theft in connection with the 5:30 a.m. incident at the Ramada Inn, 2156 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena police Lt. Rick Aversano said.

The victim went to his work truck parked at the hotel when he spotted a man -- later identified as Decosta -- inside of it, the lieutenant said.

The man confronted the thief, who ran, Aversano said. The 61-year-old chased down and tacked the much-younger man and held him down with the help of a bystander until police officers arrived and arrested him.

According to county booking records, Decosta was being held in lieu of $35,000 bail pending arraignment Thursday in Pasadena Superior Court.

PASADENA -- Someone shot out a window at Pasadena Superior Court early Friday with what was initially believed to be a shotgun, authorities said.

Employees arrived at the courthouse, 300 E. Walnut Ave., about 7:30 a.m. and discovered one of the windows had apparently been shot out, Pasadena police Sgt. Ed Calatayud said.

Police initially suspected the window had been shattered by a blast from a shotgun, he added.

Police had responded to a call reporting a gunshot in the same area about 1 a.m., the sergeant said, however officers found no signs of a shooting at the time.

PASADENA -- A parked SUV appeared to be the only target of a Summit Avenue shooting late Tuesday, police said.

Residents of the 1900 block of North Summit Avenue arrived home about 10 p.m. to find several bullet holes in a 1989 Jeep Cherokee left parked in the neighborhood, Pasadena police Lt. Rick Aversano said.

After investigating, police believed the shooting took place about 8 p.m., the lieutenant said.

No further details were available.

STAFF PHOTO by Walt Mancini

PASADENA -- A man snatched a purse from a woman in Old asadena early Sunday, but was captured hiding in some bushes nearby, police said.

Keith Patterson, a 36-year-old transient, was arrested on suspicion of robbery, Pasadena police Lt. Diego Torres said.

A woman in her early 20s was walking at Union Street and De Lacey Avenue about 1:30 a.m., returning to her car from Old Pasadena, when a man ran up from behind her and grabbed her purse from her shoulder, Torres said.

The man ran off after snatching the handbag and the woman was not injured, the lieutenant said.

Police spotted Patterson hiding in some bushes in the 100 block of West Walnut Street and jailed him in connection with the crime, Torres said. The woman's purse was recovered.

PASADENA -- A Pasadena man is accused of drunken driving after backing out of a gas station and crashing through the front window of a department store late Saturday, authorities said.

William Garrett, 50, of Pasadena was booked on suspicion of driving under the influence, Pasadena police Lt. Diego Torres said.

He was backing out of a Mobile gas station at Lake Avenue and San Pasqual Street about 8:30 p.m. when he struck and shattered the window of a Ross department store across the street, the lieutenant said.

"He backed all the way across (San Pasqual Street) street into Ross," Torres said.

Officers who responded to the crash determined Garrett was drunk and arrested him on suspicion of DUI, police said.

According to county booking records, Garrett was released from jail Sunday morning on $30,000 bail pending his initial court appearance.

PASADENA -- Police jailed a local man early Saturday on suspicion of burglarizing a Lake Avenue pharmacy, authorities said.

Anthony Harris, 52, was booked on suspicion of burglary, Pasadena police Lt. Diego Torres said.

Officers responded to a burglary alarm about 2:30 a.m. at CVS Pharmacy, 900 N. Lake Ave., had been smashed, the lieutenant said.

Harris was spotted inside, and surrendered to officers who ordered him out of the business, he said.

It appeared that Harris had been filling a bag with merchandise from the store, Torres added.

He was being held in lieu $21,683 bail at the Pasadena Police Department's jail pending his initial court appearance, according to county booking records.

PASADENA -- A man is behind bars on suspicion of kidnapping and robbing another man late Thursday, polcie said.

Rasheed Mack, 24, of Las Vegas was booked on suspicion of robbery, with a charge of kidnapping expected to be added, Pasadena police Lt. Diego Torres said.

A man in his 30s was waiting at a bus stop at 160 N. Lake Ave. when another man demanded money, Torres said. No weapon was seen.

The victim handed over a small amount of cash, and the suspect forced him to walk to an ATM machine at a nearby grocery store and withdraw more money, the lieutenant said.

While at the store, the victim alerted security guards that he was being robbed, police said.

Store security called the police, who found and arrested Mack as he was walking in the area, Torres said.

According to county booking records, Mack was being held in lieu of $1 million bail pending his initial court appearance.

PASADENA -- Two unrelated robberies kept police busy Friday afternoon, officials said.

The first crime was reported about 12:45 p.m. at Marengo Avenue and Grandview Street, Pasadena police Lt. Diego Torres said.

A 70-year-old man was walking when he was approached by two other men, one of whom was armed with a large folding knife, Torres said.

The robbers demanded cash, and the victim turned over nearly $1,000, he said. 

One of the robbers was described as a Latino man in his 50s, about 5 feet 6 inches tall, of thin build, with short salt-and-pepper hair. He wore a light blue shirt and light blue pants.

The second robber was a Latino man in his mid-40s, about 5 feet 3 inches tall, 190 pounds, clean-cut, with short gray hair, police said. He wore a light blue business suit.

The robbers were last seen running north from the area.

A second robbery was reported about 2:30 p.m. at a gas station on Hill Avenue at Walnut Street, Torres said.

An employee was preparing to make a bank deposit when a robber armed with a stun gun confronted him and demanded the money, police said.

The victim, who is in his 60s, and the robber struggled briefly before the robber manage to get the money and run, Torres said. the employee was not hurt.

Police described the robber as a black man in his mid-30s, of dark complexion, with short black hair, wearing blue jeans and a black jacket.

PASADENA -- A woman pretending to be a police officer ended up in jail Thursday after an encounter with the real thing, officials said.

Sonia Yeretzian, 37, was booked on suspicion of impersonating a police officer, as well as outstanding warrants including one for a previous allegation of impersonating an officer in Pasadena, Pasadena police Lt. Diego Torres said.

The woman wore a blue shirt, blue pants and boots when she told firefighters she met in the 1100 block of Linda Vista Avenue Thursday afternoon that she was a police officer, Torres said.

The firefighters became suspicious and called police, who responded, found Yeretzian driving in the area and pulled her over, the lieutenant said.

She told Pasadena officers that she was a member of the Los Angeles Police Department, which turned out to be false, Torres said.

It was not clear why the woman claimed to be a police officer, he added.

According to county booking records, Yeretzian was being held in lieu of $64,500 bail pending her initial court appearance.

VAN NUYS -- A judge sentenced a man to 21 years in prison Thursday for the fatal shooting of a popular Pasadena professor, officials said.

Steven Ronald Honma, 56, of Westlake Village, was convicted of voluntary manslaughter in November for the March 20, 2010 slaying of 50-year-old Norman Schureman of Altadena.

Schureman was a professor at the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena.

Honma received his sentence in Van Nuys Superior Court from Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Thomas Rubinson, Los Angeles County District Attorney's officials said in a written statement.

The shooting took place at a Persian New Year's Eve Party hosted by Schureman's mother-in-law in the 31700 block of Kentfield Court in Westlake Village, officials said.

"The defendant got into a fight and was asked to leave," according to the D.A.'s statement. "Honma left the party but returned with multiple concealed weapons, ammunition and a serrated knife."

Sheriff's officials said Honma had two guns with him at the time of the shooting, though only one was fired.

"When Honma was asked to leave a second time, a fight ensued and the defendant drew a handgun, fatally shooting Schureman," according to the statement.

Schureman taught product design at Art Center for nearly two decades.

He is survived by his wife and two young children. More than 1,000 mourners gathered for his memorial service at the school, and a scholarship has been established in his name. 

GLENDALE -- A former Pasadena City College assistant women's volleyball coach has been arrested on suspicion of taking cell phone video up a woman's skirt on an escalator, authorities said Wednesday.

John Puncel, 49, of Sylmar was booked on suspicion of taking "up-skirt" video, possession of child pornography, assault on a police officer and obstructing police, Glendale police Sgt. Thomas Lorenz said.

Glendale police officers assigned to a substation housed at the Glendale Galleria, 100 West Broadway, noticed Puncel holding a cell phone in his hand near the bottom of an escalator, the sergeant said.

"When this woman got onto the escalator, they could see him sticking (the cell phone) under her skirt," he said.

The officers immediately recognized Puncel's activity as a crime and approached him, however Lorenz said the officers and Puncel got into a brief scuffle over his cell phone.

"He tried to resist, push back from the officers," Lorenz said. "He didn't want the officers to get their hands on the phone."

One officer suffered abrasion to his arm during the scuffle, resulting in the additional charge of assaulting a peace officer, officials said.

The woman, 49, "was totally unaware of what was going on, Lorenz said.

When shown footage taken up her skirt on Puncel's camera, the alleged victim was "shocked and outraged," he said.

She herself placed Puncel under private person's arrest, under the supervision of officers, Lorenz said. "She wasn't going to tolerate it."

Detectives seized Puncel's phone and computer and were still in the process of examining them for evidence, Lorenz said.

Investigators Wednesday had already found "several" other suspicious images in Puncel's possession, including nude images of people who appear to be minors, Lorenz said. Other potential victims in the seized footage had not been identified Wednesday.

Puncel was released from jail Tuesday afternoon pending further investigation and the presentation of the case to the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office, Lorenz said.

A phone number listed in public records as belonging to Puncel no longer appeared to be valid Wednesday.

In addition to being an ex-assistant women's volleyball coach at PCC, Puncel is also listed as a board member on the website of the San Gabriel Valley Football Officials Association.

The SGVFOA helps provide referees for high school football games for more than 30 high schools throughout the region.

It was not clear if his work with the organization placed him on high school campuses. SGVFOA officials could also not be reached for comment.

PCC spokesman Juan Gutierrez said he was still working to collect information regarding Puncel's employment history at the school Wednesday afternoon.

A press released issued by the school welcomed him to the campus as an assistant women's volleyball coach in late 2006.

The occupation listed on his booking sheet was "landscaper," officials said.

Because of the nature of the alleged crime and the additional footage found in Puncel's possession, detectives reached out to the public for help with the investigation.

Anyone who believes they've had a suspicious encounter with Puncel is asked to call Glendale police at 818-548-3106.

PHOTO of John Puncel courtesy of the Glendale Police Department