New Santa Ana | Monthly Archives: February 2015

Mission Viejo husband arrested in homicide of his wife

Posted on February 3, 2015 by Art Pedroza Posted in Crime, Orange County Leave a comment

NEWS, FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contacts: Lt. Jeff Hallock, 714.904.7042, JHallock@ocsd.org; Emily Osterberg, 714.647.1840, EOsterberg@ocsd.org

Suspect Arrested in Mission Viejo Homicide

MISSION VIEJO, Calif. – (February 3, 2015) – On Tuesday, February 3, 2015, Gary Lee Parsons, 74, Mission Viejo, was arrested in connection with the homicide of his wife, Barbara Parsons, 73, Mission Viejo. Gary was arrested following a homicide investigation at the couple’s residence in the 27000 block of Pueblo Nuevo in the city of Mission Viejo.

At approximately 12:35 p.m., Orange County Sheriff’s deputies responded to a 911 call from Gary who indicated he had killed his wife. Responding deputies arrived and detained Gary as he sat in his vehicle, parked in front of the residence. Deputies entered the residence and located Barbara, deceased inside the residence. Sheriff’s investigators responded and assumed responsibility for the investigation. Continue reading→

First District Special Election recount set to begin on Feb. 9

Posted on February 3, 2015 by Art Pedroza Posted in 2015 Elections, Andrew Do, Lou Correa, Orange County, Politics, Santa Ana Leave a comment

Public Notice First District Recount

February 3, 2015 – Pursuant to California Elections Code section 15628 the Orange County Registrar of Voters will be conducting a recount of the ballots cast in the 2015 Orange County Board of Supervisors’ First District Special Election.

The election was conducted on January 27, 2015. The recount process will begin at the Registrar of Voters office,1300 South Grand Avenue, Building C, Santa Ana, on Monday, February 9, 2015 beginning at 9 a.m. Continue reading→

Solorio hired by the law firm that was involved in the OC Fairgrounds fiasco

Posted on February 3, 2015 by Art Pedroza Posted in Democratic Party, Jose Solorio, Lawyers, OC Fair, Orange County, Politics 1 Comment

Former State Assemblyman Jose Solorio was badly beaten last November in the race for the 34th State Senate District, by then Supervisor Janet Nguyen. However things are now looking up for Solorio as he has landed a new job.

Solorio was retained by Nossaman LLP to serve as a Senior Policy Advisor.

Here is Nossaman’s official press release with my comments appearing afterwards: Continue reading→

Correa demands a recount even as Do gets sworn in

Posted on February 3, 2015 by Art Pedroza Posted in 2015 Elections, Andrew Do, Lou Correa, Orange County, Politics, Santa Ana Leave a comment

Andrew Do gets sworn in as the First District Supervisor

Former state Sen. Lou Correa — who lost his bid for a seat on the Orange County Board of Supervisors to Andrew Do by a 43-vote margin — has officially sought a recount of last Tuesday’s special election, according to the L.A. Times.

In a statement Monday night, Correa wrote that (according to the O.C. Register): Continue reading→

Measure M’s 24th Annual Public Hearing set for Feb. 10

Posted on February 3, 2015 by Art Pedroza Posted in Entertainment, Measure M, OCTA, Orange, Transportation Leave a comment

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Feb. 2, 2015

FOR MORE INFORMATION: Joel Zlotnik (714) 560-5713, Eric Carpenter (714) 560-5697

Annual Measure M Public Hearing Set for Feb. 10 for Taxpayer Oversight Committee

Half-cent sales tax is driving force behind local transportation improvements

ORANGE – The Measure M Taxpayer Oversight Committee is conducting its 24th annual public hearing on Measure M, Orange County’s half-cent sales tax for transportation improvements at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 10.

Measure M, administered by the Orange County Transportation Authority, was approved by voters in 1990 and renewed by a vote of nearly 70 percent in 2006. Each year, the committee seeks public input on how funds are being spent. Continue reading→

Man convicted for stealing Oakley sunglasses meant for the U.S. Military

Posted on February 2, 2015 by Art Pedroza Posted in buena park, Crime, OCDA, Orange County Leave a comment

ORANGE COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY PRESS RELEASE

Case # 14NF4930

Date: February 2, 2015

CONTRACT TRUCK DRIVER CONVICTED OF ILLEGALLY SELLING OAKLEY EYEWEAR INTENDED FOR SOLDIERS IN U.S. MILITARY ON EBAY AFTER REPEATEDLY STEALING SHIPMENTS FROM DHL PROCESSING CENTERS

FULLERTON – A contract truck driver was convicted today of illegally selling Oakley eyewear intended for soldiers in the U.S. Military on eBay after repeatedly stealing shipments from DHL processing centers. Luis Albert Quintanilla, 47, Buena Park, pleaded guilty to 10 felony counts of grand theft with sentencing enhancements for aggravated white collar crime over $100,000 and property loss over $200,000. Quintanilla is expected to be sentenced to three years and four months in state prison, $299,000 restitution, and pay a $580,000 fine at his sentencing May 4, 2015, at 8:30 a.m. in Department N-12, North Justice Center, Fullerton.

At the time of the crimes, Quintanilla worked as an independent contract truck driver for DHL. Between October 2012 and May 2013, Quintanilla stole 10 shipments of Oakley eyewear from DHL processing centers intended for delivery to appropriate United States Postal Service facilities. He auctioned the eyewear on eBay from his home under the name “havetime2sell” by posting photos of the merchandise with the packaging box to emphasize their authenticity. Continue reading→

Rackauckas’ rips Spitzer’s allegations about the OCDA’s outsourcing

Posted on February 2, 2015 by Art Pedroza Posted in Orange County, Politics, Todd Spitzer, Tony Rackauckas 2 Comments

ORANGE COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY’S OFFICE

February 2, 2015

Via electronic & U.S. Mail

The Honorable Todd Spitzer, Chair Board of Supervisors, County of Orange Hall of Administration 333 West Santa Ana Blvd., 5th Floor Santa Ana, CA 92701

Dear Supervisor Spitzer:

I am once again disappointed in your uninformed and unproductive public comments made during the last Board of Supervisors meeting held on Jan. 27, 2015. As I have stated both verbally and in writing on many occasions, you are welcome to contact me, or any of my top managers, at any time if you have any questions or criticisms about any actions taken by the Orange County District Attorneys Office (OCDA). When you use the power of your position to grandstand, or “ready, fire, aim” with unsubstantiated and misleading allegations, the People are ultimately harmed because they are not getting the true information. Releasing misinformation to the public is bad government. I respectfully urge you to obtain facts before you speak and to discontinue unmeritorious attacks that affect the hard working professionals of the OCDA, and ultimately the public. Continue reading→

Orange County now has a majority Asian-American Board of Supervisors

Posted on February 2, 2015 by Art Pedroza Posted in 2014 Elections, 2015 Elections, Andrew Do, Asians, Janet Nguyen, Orange County, Politics, Santa Ana, Vietnamese 5 Comments

Andrew Do’s defeat of former State Senator Lou Correa in the Jan. 27 First District Special Election has made history by creating a majority Asian Board of Supervisors here in Orange County.

Other Asian County Supervisors include Michelle Steel, a Korean-American who replaced John Moorlach after moving into Orange County from Los Angeles County, and Lisa Barlett, a Japanese-American who replaced Pat Bates. Both Moorlach and Bates termed out. Continue reading→

Marine sentenced to prison for DUI accident that killed his friends

Posted on February 1, 2015 by Art Pedroza Posted in Alcohol, Crime, Military, Orange County Leave a comment

ORANGE COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY PRESS RELEASE

Case # 12CF1778

Date: January 30, 2015

DRUNKEN-DRIVER MARINE SERGEANT SENTENCED TO 11YEARS IN PRISON FOR KILLING THREE FELLOW MARINES BY CRASHING INTO TREE

SANTA ANA – A former Marine sergeant was sentenced to 11 yearsin state prison today for killing three friends and fellow Marines by crashing into a tree while driving under the influence of alcohol. Jared Ray Hale, 28, was found guilty by a jury on Dec. 10, 2014, of one felony count each of driving under the influence causing body injury and driving with a blood alcohol of .08% or more causing bodily injury with sentencing enhancements and allegations for driving with a blood alcohol level over .15 percent and causing great bodily injury.

At approximately 10:30 p.m. on Feb. 13, 2012, Hale arrived at Hennessey’s Tavern in Dana Point with three friends. The defendant and his friends were all Marines stationed at Marine Corp Base Camp Pendleton. The friends included Christopher Arzola, 21, of Mass., Jeremiah Callahan, 23, of Neb., and Jason Chleborad, 22, of S.D. Continue reading→

Silicone butt injection parties pose a risk to Santa Ana’s transgender population

Posted on February 1, 2015 by Art Pedroza Posted in Crime, Health and Medical, LGBT, Public Safety, Santa Ana 1 Comment

Santa Ana police are investigating the death of a 40-year-old transgender man who died at 7:06 p.m. on Jan. 21, from complications related to an injection received at a “silicone party” in the city, according to the O.C Register.

The victim attended the party sometime in December at an unknown location in Santa Ana where she “received some injections in the buttocks area for cosmetic reasons,” said Corp. Anthony Bertagna, with the Santa Ana Police Department, according to KTLA. Continue reading→

Could Loretta Sanchez lose her seat to Janet Nguyen in 2016?

Posted on February 1, 2015 by Art Pedroza Posted in 2016 Elections, Democratic Party, Janet Nguyen, Loretta Sanchez, Politics, Republican Party, Santa Ana 2 Comments

Janet Nguyen was just elected this past November to the 34th State Senate District but in two short years she will have a chance to challenge U.S. Rep. Loretta Sanchez in the 46th Congressional District.

Nguyen was elected to a four year State Senate term. She can run for her State Senate seat three times, for a total of 12 years of service. Sanchez has to run every two years but has no term limits. Continue reading→

Support the Santa Ana Boy Scouts at a pancake breakfast today

Posted on February 1, 2015 by Art Pedroza Posted in Charities, Entertainment, Family, Food, Youth Activities Leave a comment

Support Santa Ana’s historic Boy Scouts Troop 28, at a pancake breakfast today, from 8 to 10 am, at the First Congregational Church located at 2555 Santiago, in the Park Santiago neighborhood.

The pancake breakfast included freshly made fluffy pancakes, savory breakfast sausages and scrambled eggs. Continue reading→