New Santa Ana | Monthly Archives: February 2014

Man sentenced for damaging his hotel room with an explosion and fire

Posted on February 28, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in Crime, Fountain Valley, OCDA Leave a comment

Orange County District Attorney Press Release

For Immediate Release, Case # 12CF3471: February 28, 2014

FIFTH STRIKER SENTENCED TO 33 YEARS TO LIFE FOR CAUSING EXPLOSION THAT STARTED FIRE INSIDE HIS MOTEL ROOM

SANTA ANA – A fifth striker was sentenced today to 33 years to life in state prison for causing an explosion that started a fire inside his motel room. Thanh Van Quang, 39, Fountain Valley, was found guilty by a jury Oct. 30, 2013, of one felony count each of arson of an inhabited property and possession of a flammable material with sentencing enhancements for arson with use of an accelerant. The defendant has four prior strike convictions from 1998 for voluntary manslaughter, assault with a firearm, and two felony counts of robbery. In addition to his prison sentence, Quang was ordered to pay over $177,000 in restitution. Continue reading→

Court rules that party hosts who require cover charge can be held liable

Posted on February 28, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in Alcohol, Crime, Santa Ana Leave a comment

California Supreme Court Rules Party Hosts Who Require Payment of Cover Charge Can Be Liable if Underage Drinkers Harm Selves or Others

By: OC Supervisor Todd Spitzer

This week, the California Supreme Court ruled that party hosts who ask their guests to pay a cover charge to enter a gathering may be held legally responsible if an underage drinker then hurts himself or others. The ruling was unanimous, sending a clear message that underage drinking has led to many potentially dangerous and/or fatal situations. The court’s rationale was that a cover charge amounts to a sale of alcohol – and state law creates liability for the sale of alcohol to those that are underage.

Underage drinking and underage drinking and driving continue to be an epidemic here in Orange County. According to the California Department of Motor Vehicles, there were nearly 1,000 underage drinkers who were convicted of misdemeanor DUIs in Orange County in 2010. The California Highway Patrol has found that there were 150 people underage drinkers who caused serious bodily injury or death in a DUI collision in Orange County in 2010. Continue reading→

Sandbags available for local businesses and residents at the City Yard

Posted on February 28, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in Santa Ana 1 Comment

City of Santa Ana, Downtown Orange County

Advisory: Santa Ana Corporate Yard Announces Sandbags Available For Businesses And Residents During Storm

SANTA ANA, CA (February 28, 2014) – The City of Santa Ana has made sandbags available to City residents and businesses during the current winter storm. Continue reading→

Ride Metrolink to the Festival of Whales this Saturday, March 1

Posted on February 27, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in Metrolink, OCTA, Orange, Santa Ana, Transportation Leave a comment

Ride Metrolink Free* to the Festival of Whales

The Festival of Whales is coming to Dana Point March 1, 2, 8 and 9. Rain or shine, the event will feature contests, exhibits, whale watching and more. Start the fun with OCTA at the Orange Station this Saturday, Mar. 1 at 9 a.m. The first 50 guests can ride Metrolink to the festival for FREE! Stop by and enjoy:

Free round-trip Metrolink tickets (limited quantity)
Free food courtesy of Ruby’s Diner
Live music performed by Headshine
A prize wheel for visitors who bring a food donation** Continue reading→

Nominations now being accepted for the Women Making a Difference Award

Posted on February 27, 2014 by Editor Posted in Lou Correa, Santa Ana, Women Leave a comment

2014 WOMEN MAKING A DIFFERENCE AWARDS & AFTERNOON TEA RECEPTION

February 18, 2014

The call for nominations is now open!

Each year Senator Lou Correa (D-Santa Ana) honors women who are making a positive difference in the community. Honorees represent all sectors of the community including veterans, teachers, nonprofits, healthcare, government, trade and professional organizations. Continue reading→

Meth dealer who killed an Anaheim man who stole his drugs to face trial

Posted on February 27, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in Anaheim, Crime, Drugs, OCDA Leave a comment

Orange County District Attorney Press Release

For Immediate Release, Case # 12CF1289: February 27, 2014

DRUG SUPPLIER TO FACE TRIAL FOR SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES SHOOTING-MURDER AS REVENGE FOR STOLEN DRUGS

SANTA ANA – A drug supplier will face trial today for the special circumstances kidnapping and shooting-murder following a drug deal where his drugs were stolen. Jose Felix Zepeda, 41, Los Angeles, is charged with one felony count of special circumstances murder during the commission of a robbery, one felony count of kidnapping for ransom, reward, extortion, and to exact from another person money and other valuable things, and one felony count of conspiracy to commit a crime with a sentencing enhancement for possession of a substance to distribute exceeding one kilogram. If convicted, Zepeda faces a maximum sentence of life in state prison without the possibility of parole. Opening statements are scheduled to begin this morning, Feb. 27, 2014, at 9:30 a.m. in Department C-28, Central Justice Center, Santa Ana. Continue reading→

Drunken parolee convicted of murdering innocent driver while fleeing police

Posted on February 27, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in Anaheim, Crime, OCDA, Santa Ana 3 Comments

Orange County District Attorney Press Release

For Immediate Release, Case # 09NF1691: February 27, 2014

FLEEING DRUNKEN PAROLEE CONVICTED OF MURDERING INNOCENT DRIVER AND INJURING TWO WHILE RECKLESSLY EVADING POLICE IN HIS TRUCK

WESTMINSTER – A fleeing parolee driving under the influence of alcohol was convicted today of killing an innocent driver and causing great bodily injury to two people while recklessly running from the police. Oscar Javier de la Torre Villalobos, 27, Menifee, was found guilty by a jury of one felony count each of second degree murder, driving under the influence and causing bodily injury, driving under the influence with a blood alcohol level of over .08 percent causing bodily injury, and evading the police while driving recklessly and causing serious bodily injury and death. The sentencing enhancement allegations for personally inflicting great bodily injury on non-accomplice victims, driving with a blood alcohol content over .20 percent, and two prior prison convictions of possessing a firearm as a felon and felony domestic violence were found true. He faces a maximum sentence of 21 years and four months to life in state prison at his sentencing May 2, 2014, at 1:30 p.m. in Department W-9, West Justice Center, Westminster. Continue reading→

Did a SAUSD Trustee tip off a developer who sold property to the district?

Posted on February 27, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in Miguel Pulido, Rob Richardson, Santa Ana, SAUSD 2 Comments

Two investment groups and a developer connected to Santa Ana Mayor Miguel Pulido were involved in a real estate flip in 2003 that resulted in the Santa Ana Unified School District paying nearly twice as much for a piece of land slated for an elementary school than it had previously offered. And in the process, the developer realized a more than $600,000 profit, according to the Voice of OC.

I wrote about that deal years ago on another blog. I am pretty sure that if someone tipped off the developer who flipped that land, Kris Kakkar, it was SAUSD Board Member Rob Richardson, who joined the SAUSD School Board in 2003, according to his bio. Richardson may have leaked details about the land transaction to a friend, such as Mayor Pulido, who in turn may very well have shared that info with Kakkar. Continue reading→

UnitedHealthcare donates wheelchairs to Lestonnac Free Clinic patients

Posted on February 26, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in Charities, Health and Medical, Orange, Santa Ana Leave a comment

UnitedHealthcare Donates Wheelchairs to Lestonnac Free Clinic Patients

Orange County Residents to Receive Wheelchairs on International Wheelchair Day

WHAT: In honor of International Wheelchair Day, UnitedHealthcare will donate 10 wheelchairs to the Lestonnac Free Clinic. Lestonnac Free Clinic is a volunteer-run organization working with local physicians and hospitals to meet the needs of low- and no-income families of Los Angeles, Orange and Riverside counties. In the last three years, the Lestonnac Free clinics in Orange, Yorba Linda, Los Alamitos, Artesia, Compton, and Riverside have treated nearly 20,000 patients. Continue reading→

Sheriff Hutchens is committed to fighting human trafficking

Posted on February 26, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in Crime, Orange County Leave a comment

NEWS, FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contacts: Lt. Jeff Hallock, (714) 904-7042, Gail Krause, (714) 647-1840

Sheriff Hutchens Committed to Dedicating Resources to Combat Human Trafficking

SANTA ANA, Calif. – (February 26, 2014) – Law enforcement continues to see a trend involving Human Trafficking in Orange County. Human Trafficking involves the illegal trade of people for exploitation purposes or commercial gain. Victims are often sexually exploited or involved in forced labor arrangements. Human Trafficking is a violation of a person’s human rights and manifests itself in our modern day lives. Sheriff Hutchens is committed to ongoing efforts to support operations that will positively impact the fight against Human Trafficking. Continue reading→

Will the Council try to find a better candidate than Reyna to oppose Pulido?

Posted on February 25, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in 2014 Elections, Politics, Roman Reyna, Santa Ana 6 Comments

As I was driving to work today I heard the allegations against Santa Ana Mayor Miguel Pulido on talk radio. Just like that the story has jumped from the Voice of OC to the L.A. Times to talk radio.

Is it any surprise then that now the local TV stations have picked up the story? Click here to check out the CBS version of the scandal.

Will this story stick? Will this damage Pulido in the long term? Who knows? November is many months away. But if this does become a major chink in Pulido’s armor, are his enemies on the Santa Ana City Council prepared to take him out? Continue reading→

Woman charged with stabbing-murder of her care home roomie

Posted on February 25, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in Crime, Garden Grove, OCDA 1 Comment

Orange County District Attorney Press Release

For Immediate Release
Case # TBA

February 25, 2014
WOMAN CHARGED WITH STABBING-MURDER OF CARE HOME ROOMMATE

WESTMINSTER – A woman has been charged with the stabbing-murder of her roommate in a Garden Grove care home. Lucie Wardell, 49, is charged with one felony count of murder with a sentencing enhancement for the personal use of a knife. If convicted, she faces a maximum sentence of 26 years to life in state prison. The People will be requesting Wardell be held on $1 million bail at her arraignment today, Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2014, at 1:30 p.m. at the West Justice Center, Westminster. The Department is to be determined. Continue reading→

Driver to be charged for not helping woman who fell from his truck and died

Posted on February 25, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in Crime, Santa Ana 1 Comment

Orange County District Attorney Press Release

For Immediate Release, Case # 14CF0239: February 25, 2014

TRUCK DRIVER TO BE ARRAIGNED FOR FAILING TO HELP WOMAN AFTER SHE FELL TO HER DEATH FROM HIS MOVING VEHICLE ON FREEWAY

SANTA ANA – A truck driver will be arraigned tomorrow on charges of failing to stop and render aid or call the police after a woman fell to her death from his moving vehicle on the freeway. Jaqwun Laerin Turner, 33, Hawthorne, is charged with one felony count of hit and run causing death and faces a maximum sentence of four years in state prison if convicted. He is out of custody on $50,000 bail and is expected to be arraigned tomorrow, Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2014, at 8:30 a.m. in Department C-57, Central Justice Center, Santa Ana. Continue reading→

The L.A. Times piles on Santa Ana Mayor Miguel Pulido

Posted on February 24, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in 2014 Elections, David Benavides, Michele Martinez, Miguel Pulido, Santa Ana 7 Comments

Santa Ana’s longtime mayor is under investigation for his relationship with the owner of the Santa Ana location of NAPA Auto Parts, to whom the mayor sold a piece of downtown property and then voted in favor of giving an exclusive city contract, according to the L.A. Times.

We have heard all this before from the Voice of OC. Here is what it boils down to – an auto parts business owner in Santa Ana swapped a home in Westminster for a parking lot owned by Mayor Miguel Pulido’s father. Pulido later sold the home for a $197,000 profit. Continue reading→

The newly renovated Irvine OC Airport Wyndham Hotel is a real gem

Posted on February 23, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in Hotels, irvine, Orange County, Restaurants, Travel Leave a comment

The hotel we know today as the Wyndham Irvine – Orange County Airport opened on August 1, 1986 and was initially operated as a Holiday Inn. It was purchased by the Wyndham Hotel Group, the world’s largest and most diverse hotel company with approximately 7,490 hotels worldwide, in August of 2013.

The Wyndham Hotel Group invested ten million dollars in a renovation of their Irvine hotel and the rooms are now fully renovated. New furniture is going to be installed in the lobby this week along with new carpeting.

My wife and I decided to take a weekend “staycation” at the Irvine Wyndham Hotel this weekend. We don’t get to be by ourselves much but our adult daughter was happy to look after our ten-year-old son, and so we headed for Irvine. Continue reading→