New Santa Ana | Monthly Archives: December 2013

OCDA adopts 149 kids from the Monte Vista Elementary School for the holiday

Posted on December 15, 2013 by Art Pedroza Posted in Charities, OCDA, Santa Ana, SAUSD Leave a comment

Orange County District Attorney Press Release

For Immediate Release: December 13, 2013

OCDA ADOPTS 149 CHILDREN FROM 42 FAMILIES IN 15TH ANNUAL ADOPT-A-FAMILY HOLIDAY CELEBRATION

SANTA ANA – Children from 42 families will celebrate the holidays this weekend at the Orange County District Attorney’s Office (OCDA) 15th Annual Adopt-A-Family event. The event will be held tomorrow, Saturday, Dec. 14, 2013, from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at Monte Vista Elementary School in Santa Ana.

OCDA staff, affiliates, friends, and family have adopted 149 children from 42 families, who were identified as needing assistance during this holiday season by school principals from Diamond Elementary School, Monte Vista Elementary School, and staff from the Santa Ana Corbin Family Center. Each child will receive donated gifts and toys and their families will be provided with grocery gift certificates for a holiday dinner. Continue reading→

Man convicted of renting O.C. homes that he didn’t own

Posted on December 15, 2013 by Art Pedroza Posted in Anaheim, Crime, OCDA Leave a comment

Orange County District Attorney Press Release

For Immediate Release, Case # 10CF1450: December 13, 2013

MAN SENTENCED TO FOUR YEARS IN PRISON FOR $3.5 MILLION FRAUDULENT SCHEME OF FALSELY TRANSFERRING DEEDS ON RESIDENTIAL PROPERTIES

SANTA ANA – A man was sentenced today to four years in state prison for recording false quitclaim deeds on several residential properties as part of an elaborate scheme to possess and rent out properties valued at over $3.5 million. Blair Christopher Hanloh, 50, Long Beach, was convicted by a jury Oct. 30, 2013, of five felony counts of recording false and forged instruments.

The Court ruled today that Hanloh could not be sentenced to a state prison term due to current prison realignment legislation and sentenced the defendant to serve his state prison sentence in county jail. Continue reading→

Pair murdered a Santa Ana man they followed from the Hawaiian Garden Casino

Posted on December 15, 2013 by Art Pedroza Posted in Crime, OCDA, Santa Ana, Vietnamese Leave a comment

Orange County District Attorney Press Release

For Immediate Release, Case # 10CF2478: December 13, 2013

MAN AND WOMAN CONVICTED OF MURDERING 55-YEAR-OLD MAN AFTER FOLLOWING VICTIM HOME FROM HAWAIIAN GARDEN CASINO

*Third co-defendant in this case was convicted of second degree murder

SANTA ANA – A man and woman pleaded guilty today to murdering a 55-year-old man after following the victim home from Hawaiian Gardens Casino to rob him of $10,000 in gambling winnings. Tad Allen Carroll, 45, formerly of Buena Park, pleaded guilty today to one felony count of first degree murder. Barbara Ann Hamel, 50, Long Beach, pleaded guilty today to second degree murder. Carroll is expected to be sentenced to 25 years to life in state prison and Hamel is expected to be sentenced to 15 years to life in state prison at their sentencing Feb. 21, 2014, at 9:00 a.m. in Department C-40, Central Justice Center, Santa Ana. Continue reading→

Man charged with operating a brothel in Irvine

Posted on December 14, 2013 by Art Pedroza Posted in Crime, irvine, OCDA Leave a comment

Orange County District Attorney Press Release

For Immediate Release, Case # 13HF3673: December 13, 2013

MAN ARRAIGNED ON CHARGES OF CONSPIRACY TO COMMIT PIMPING AND PANDERING BY OPERATING BROTHEL IN IRVINE

*Co-defendant charged in this case is a fugitive with a warrant out for her arrest

SANTA ANA – A man was arraigned today on charges of conspiracy to commit pimping and pandering by operating a brothel in Irvine and another in Torrance. Gao Yang Zhou, 34, Rowland Heights, is charged with 12 felony counts including three felony counts each of pimping, pandering, money laundering, and one felony count each of conspiracy to commit pimping, conspiracy to commit general pandering, conspiracy to commit money laundering, with a sentencing enhancement for money laundering over $50,000. If convicted on all charges, Zhou faces a maximum sentence of 11 years and eight months in state prison. The People requested Zhou be held on $500,000 bail at his arraignment today, and he must prove the money is from a legal and legitimate source before posting bond. He is scheduled for a pre-trial hearing Dec. 20, 2013, at 9:00 a.m. in Department H-1, Harbor Justice Center, Newport Beach. Continue reading→

Security videos lead to arrest of MainPlace Mall robbery and rape suspect

Posted on December 13, 2013 by Art Pedroza Posted in Crime, Santa Ana Leave a comment

Santa Ana Police Department Advisory: Arrest details in Santa Ana Mall robbery/sexual assault arrest

On December 11th, Santa Ana Police investigated the reported attack of a 19 year old woman who was robbed and sexually assaulted in a mall parking structure. Officers responded to reports of a robbery at the Westfield MainPlace mall, at 530 PM. The victim told the officers that as she was getting into her car a man pushed her into the vehicle, brandished a knife and sexually assaulted her. The victim told officers that she was able to escape and that as she ran for help the suspect stole some of her property and fled on foot.

Detectives took over the case and during their initial investigation of mall security tape they located a video from the Verizon store located in the mall. On this video detectives observed the suspect later identified as as 18 year-old Raymund Martin Daniel Boykin (DOB: 08-15-95) / Residence Unknown was in possession of the victim’s purse. Boykin had entered the Verizon store after committing the robbery/sexual assault and was using the victim’s cash money to purchase a cell phone. Detectives also learned that the suspect had been in the same store prior to committing the crime and had attempted to purchase the same type phone however was lacking $20.00 to complete the purchase. Continue reading→

SAPD DUI Checkpoint set for Friday, 12/13 on 4th St.

Posted on December 13, 2013 by Art Pedroza Posted in Crime, Santa Ana 4 Comments

SAPD Advisory: Police Department conducting a DUI/Drivers License checkpoint Friday, Dec 13th 7:30PM – 1:30AM, 1000 E. Fourth Street.

SANTA ANA POLICE STEP UP DUI ENFORCEMENT

The Santa Ana Police Department will be conducting a DUI/Drivers License checkpoint on Friday, December 13th, 2013. It will begin at 7:30PM and is scheduled to conclude at 1:30AM. It will be conducted in the area of 1000 E. Fourth Street, in the City of Santa Ana. Continue reading→

OC Clerk-Recorder to open on Saturday for marriage licenses and ceremonies

Posted on December 13, 2013 by Art Pedroza Posted in Entertainment, OC Clerk-Recorder Leave a comment

Saturday Hours in December

By: Orange County Supervisor Pat Bates

The offices of the Orange County Clerk-Recorder Department will be open Saturday, Dec. 14 from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM for marriage licenses and ceremonies, as well as passport services. The Clerk-Recorder has opened office doors one Saturday each month since June to help customers who are unable to visit during regular weekday hours. Continue reading→

Former school maintenance painter charged with child porn felonies

Posted on December 13, 2013 by Art Pedroza Posted in Crime, Fountain Valley, Huntington Beach, OCDA, Orange County Leave a comment

Orange County District Attorney Press Release

For Immediate Release, Case # 13WF3614: December 13, 2013

FORMER SCHOOL MAINTENANCE PAINTER TO BE ARRAIGNED FOR POSSESSING AND DISTRIBUTING CHILD PORN ON INTERNET

WESTMINSTER – A former school maintenance painter is scheduled to be arraigned Monday for possessing child pornography on his computer and distributing it through the Internet. Roger Scott Hewson, 51, Fountain Valley, is charged with one felony count of distributing obscene matter and one felony count of possession and control of child pornography. If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence off three years and eight months in state prison and mandatory lifetime sex offender registration. He is out of custody on $100,000 bail and is scheduled to be arraigned Monday, Dec. 16, 2013, at 8:30 a.m. in Department W-2, West Justice Center, Westminster. Continue reading→

Santa Ana based contractor wins a $72.7 million Orange County contract

Posted on December 13, 2013 by Art Pedroza Posted in Business, Orange County, Santa Ana, Traffic, Transportation Leave a comment

La Pata Avenue Gap Closure Project

By: Orange County Supervisor Pat Bates

The Board selected Sukut Construction, Inc. of Santa Ana in the amount of $72.7 million to construct the La Pata Avenue Gap Closure Project, which is more than $5 million below the engineer’s estimate.

The Project consists of three components, identified in the Project Plans & Specifications as Schedule A, Schedule B and Schedule C. Continue reading→

OC Animal Care to host pet photos with Santa this month

Posted on December 13, 2013 by Art Pedroza Posted in Charities, Entertainment, Orange, Orange County, Pets Leave a comment

Photo with Santa

By: Orange County Supervisor Pat Bates

Bring your pet to OC Animal Care – December 14, 21 & 22 from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM – for a photo with Santa! OC Animal Care is located at 561 the City Drive, in Orange. Continue reading→

Free workshop on how to create a culture of engagement set for 12/18

Posted on December 13, 2013 by Art Pedroza Posted in Business, Education, Entertainment, irvine Leave a comment

Dale Carnegie Training of Orange County is hosting a complimentary workshop, “How Great Organizations Create a Culture of Engagement” on December 18, 2014 – 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM, at Concordia University, in Irvine, located at 1530 Concordia.

How Great Organizations Create a Culture of Engagement is a two hour workshop developed exclusively to introduce how leaders can build a culture of engagement. This workshop is unique because it leverages Dale Carnegie’s research to provide you with specific ideas and insights that can help you make the most impact while developing a culture of engagement. Get the tools you need to drive employee engagement in your organization today! Continue reading→

Laguna Hills murder suspect may be headed for Nicaragua

Posted on December 13, 2013 by Art Pedroza Posted in Crime, Orange County Leave a comment

SPECIAL BULLETIN – PERSON OF INTEREST

NAME: GODINEZ, HENRY NUNEZ (04.08.1991) AKA: NUNEZ, HENRY

On Wednesday, December 11, 2013 at approximately 11:30 p.m., Laguna Hills patrol deputies responded to a welfare check call. Deputies made entry and located a deceased male inside the residence. Based on preliminary information, this case is being investigated as a homicide. Continue reading→

Free flu shots on Thursdays and Saturdays for the uninsured

Posted on December 13, 2013 by Art Pedroza Posted in Health and Medical, Orange County, Santa Ana Leave a comment

Get a Flu Vaccination for a Healthy Holiday Season
Special Saturday Clinics

(Santa Ana) – The Orange County Health Care Agency reminds people that the best way to prevent the flu is by getting vaccinated. Peak flu season has not yet arrived and it is not too late to vaccinate. Flu vaccine is recommended for everyone six months of age and older, and is especially important for infants, young children, pregnant women, adults over 50, and for those with chronic medical conditions. Continue reading→

Johnny Rockets makes a splash as they open for business at the MainPlace Mall

Posted on December 13, 2013 by Art Pedroza Posted in Business, Food Leave a comment

I stopped by the VIP Grand Opening celebration of Johnny Rockets at the MainPlace Mall this afternoon. The private event included an official ribbon cutting, samples of their signature, mouthwatering hamburgers and hand-spun shakes, a live “ketchup” artist in action, gift bags, interview and a chance to meet Chris Carver, Johnny Rockets Senior VP Operations and Cozette Phifer-Koerber, VP Brand Management and Communications, who came up from the corporate office in Aliso Viejo.

This location is owned by Mike Hashim and his son Karim, who were also at the event. Mike has over 25 years in the restaurant business and he said he opened this franchise, his first Johnny Rockets location, in Santa Ana after searching all over Orange County for a good mall location. This restaurant is located near JCPenney, right by Genki Sushi and several other eateries that have clustered near this northern entrance to the Mall. Continue reading→

The Daniel Chavez Moran Award is seeking literature ideas from youths

Posted on December 13, 2013 by Art Pedroza Posted in Education, Latinos, Literature, Youth Activities Leave a comment

Daniel Chavez Moran Award Seeking Literature Ideas from Youths

A new writing contest is giving Orange County students a shot at finding solutions to Latin America’s poverty crisis. The literature award, open to 12 to 18 year-olds, was created by Daniel Chavez Moran, a member of the United Nations Development Program’s security advisory council. The UNDP encourages developing countries to protect human rights and works to help curb poverty globally.

The Daniel Chavez Moran Award welcomes submissions from youths who live in the United States aged twelve to eighteen to submit their best ideas on how to combat the serious problem of poverty in Latin America through the use of essays, short stories, testimonials and poetry.

Full contest details, terms and conditions as well as an application form can be found at http://danielchavezmoranaward.com/award/literature/. Continue reading→