Santa Ana's top news & views blog

Santa Ana's top news & views blog

Monthly Archives: August 2016

Vietnamese entertainer from Garden Grove convicted of sexually assaulting a minor boy

Posted on by Posted in Crime, Garden Grove, Huntington Beach, OCDA Leave a comment

ORANGE COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY PRESS RELEASE

Case # 16WF0648

Date: August 10, 2016

VIETNAMESE ENTERTAINER “MINH BEO” CONVICTED OF SEXUALLY ASSAULTING MINOR BOY AND ATTEMPTING TO COMMIT LEWD ACT ON FICTITIOUS MINOR

WESTMINSTER, Calif. – Vietnamese entertainer “Minh Beo” was convicted today of sexually assaulting a minor boy and attempting to commit a lewd act on a fictitious minor. Minh Quang Hong, who goes by the stage name “Minh Beo”, 38, Garden Grove, pleaded guilty today to one felony count of oral copulation of a minor and one felony count of attempting to commit a lewd act upon a child under the age of 14. Hong is expected to be sentenced to 18 months in state prison and mandatory lifetime sex offender registration at his sentencing on Dec. 16, 2016, at 8:30 a.m. in Department W-2, West Justice Center, Westminster. Continue reading→

Man who stabbed a concert-goer at Underground DTSA to be tried for murder

Posted on by Posted in Crime, Santa Ana Leave a comment

Juan Angel Rivera, a 22-year-old man, can face trial for stabbing a fellow concert-goer to death during a punk show at Underground DTSA , a downtown Santa Ana club, a judge ruled Wednesday, according to the O.C. Register.

Prosecutors are also going to pursue a murder charge against Rivera  in connection to the fatal March 3 fight  involving Rivera and Nathan Joe Alfaro inside the club. Continue reading→

Missing elderly woman from Santa Ana found at a medical rehab center

Posted on by Posted in Garden Grove, Santa Ana Leave a comment

Santa Ana Police Department

Advisory: UPDATE: MISSING PERSON LOCATED AT A MEDICAL REHABILITATION CENTER IN GARDEN GROVE

On 08/10/2016 SAPD Detectives were contacted by a medical rehabilitation center in Garden Grove in response to our Silver Alert. Missing Carolyn Monty was sent there by the hospital for treatment for injuries she received from a fall. Detectives have contacted her and are giving her a ride back home today. Continue reading→

Man gets three years in prison after pimping two women from Fresno in Orange County

Posted on by Posted in Costa Mesa, Crime, OCDA Leave a comment

ORANGE COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY PRESS RELEASE

August 9, 2016

Case # 16WF1638

MAN SENTENCED TO THREE YEARS IN PRISON FOR PIMPING AND PANDERING TWO WOMEN HE DROVE FROM FRESNO TO ORANGE COUNTY TO SOLICIT COMMERCIAL SEX

SANTA ANA, Calif. – A man was sentenced to three years in state prison today for pimping and pandering two women he drove from Fresno to Orange County to solicit commercial sex. Kurtis Chappell, 23, Fresno, pleaded guilty to two felony counts of pimping, two felony counts of pandering by procuring, and one misdemeanor count of driving a motor vehicle without a license. Continue reading→

Former Santa Ana Planning Commissioner Sean Mill appointed to the Riverside Airport Commission

Posted on by Posted in Airplanes, Santa Ana, Sean Mill Leave a comment

Former Santa Ana Planning Commissioner Sean Mill, who recently moved to Riverside after getting married, was appointed today by Riverside City Councilman Chris MacArthur to the City of Riverside’s Airport Commission.

Mill’s appointment was supported by Riverside Mayor Rusty Bailey and the entire Riverside City Council. Continue reading→

Santa Ana Summer Youth Talent Show set for August 13

Posted on by Posted in Parks and Recreation, Santa Ana, Youth Activities Leave a comment

City of Santa Ana, Downtown Orange County

Community: 17th Annual City of Santa Ana Youth Talent Show / 17a anual de talento de jóvenes de la ciudad de Santa Ana

Summer Ends…But Memories Last Forever – 17th Annual City of Santa Ana Youth Talent Show

The community of Santa Ana continues its traditional neighborhood youth gathering in the spirit of a friendly competition to demonstrate the creative talents in the performing arts.

Youth from the City’s Summer Vacation Recreation Programs from the centers of Memorial, Santa Anita, Logan, Garfield, El Salvador, Salgado, and Jerome facilities will be performing on Saturday, August 13, 2016 from 1:00p.m. – 4:00 p.m. at the Salgado Recreation Center. Continue reading→

The SAPD is looking for a missing 82 year-old woman

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Santa Ana Police Department

Advisory: SAPD looking for missing 82 year-old female

Missing Person: Carolyn Monty (Santa Ana)

Description: 82 year-old female, Caucasian, 5’05, 105 lbs., Light Brown Hair, Brown Eyes.

Last seen: On 8/3/16, at 1030 a.m. 1030 W. MacArthur Blvd., Santa Ana

Synopsis: Carol Monty was last seen on 8/3/16, she told a neighbor she had fallen from a ladder and was going to seek medical attention. She walked toward the security gate toward Bristol St. and has not been seen or heard from since. Carol frequents the merchants in the area of South Bristol St. Continue reading→

Suspect in Circle K stabbing-murder arrested in Long Beach

Posted on by Posted in Costa Mesa, Crime, Long Beach, Santa Ana Leave a comment

Santa Ana Police Department

Advisory: SAPD – August 7th, 2016 Homicide Suspect Taken Into Custody By Long Beach PD

Victim/Deceased: Jason Paul Torres (40) Costa Mesa

Suspect: Logan James Cunningham (27) Long Beach

Charge: PC 187(a) – Homicide, Bail: $1,000,000
Details: On Sunday, August 7, 2016, at 9:07 pm, SAPD Officers responded to a report of a stabbing near the Circle K convenience store at 710 East Dyer Road. The officers found an adult male stabbing victim and a nearby crime scene. The victim later identified as Jason Paul Torres was transported to a local hospital where he was pronounced deceased.

The SAPD Homicide Detectives responded to the scene and took over the investigation. During their investigation, Detectives identified Logan James Cunningham (27) as the suspect in this homicide. Continue reading→

Former Santa Ana postal worker pleads guilty to stealing and selling more than 6,000 credit cards

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Chinh Vuong, 48, of Garden Grove, a former processing clerk at a United States Postal Service center in Santa Ana, pleaded guilty on Monday to stealing more than 6,000 credit cards from undelivered mail, according to the O.C. Register.

Vuong pleaded guilty to charges of conspiracy to commit bank fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft. He could end up in prison for two to 32 years. Continue reading→

70-unit affordable workforce housing project breaks ground in Santa Ana

Posted on by Posted in Affordable Housing, Civic Affairs, Development, Housing, Michele Martinez, Santa Ana Leave a comment

City of Santa Ana

Community Alert: 70-Unit Affordable Workforce Housing Project Breaks Ground in Santa Ana

C&C Development and Orange Housing Development Corporation broke ground on their new affordable housing project in Santa Ana last week. The groundbreaking ceremony was held on August 4th for the Depot at Santiago, a 70-unit, workforce housing project.

Partners from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), the County of Orange, the Kennedy Commission, and the City of Santa Ana, including Council Members Michele Martinez and David Benavides, participated in the groundbreaking ceremony. Continue reading→

The Santa Ana Public Library’s main branch is closing for a remodel

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City of Santa Ana

Community Alert: Santa Ana Public Library Main Branch Closing for Remodel / Biblioteca Pública de Santa Ana Cierra por Remodelación

The Santa Ana Public Library Main Branch will be closed August 12th through August 28th to refurbish the main floor public space. The library was last remodeled in 1991. In the twenty-five years since, trends in library design have moved toward a more open design.

The remodeled space will feature expanded seating in an opened configuration that will provide patrons with easier access to materials and staff assistance. New furniture and modern flooring is included in the design. Continue reading→

The OCDA is hosting a summer youth education conference for students interested in law enforcement

Posted on by Posted in Education, OCDA, Orange County, Public Safety, Santa Ana, Youth Activities Leave a comment

ORANGE COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY PRESS RELEASE

Date: August 8, 2016

OCDA HOSTS 17TH ANNUAL SUMMER YOUTH EDUCATION CONFERENCE FOR STUDENTS INTERESTED IN LAW ENFORCEMENT

SANTA ANA, Calif. – Local high school students will have the opportunity this week to get a behind-the-scenes look at what it’s like to be a prosecutor, defense attorney, police detective, and judge during the 17th annual Summer Youth Education Conference. This weeklong program began today and will include 35 to 40 hours of hands-on activities, culminating in a mock trial and a graduation ceremony on Friday, Aug. 12, 2016.

“This program is a great way for young people in our community to learn about the criminal justice system,” said District Attorney Tony Rackauckas. “Some of these students will one day serve our community as the next generation of prosecutors, police officers, and judges.” Continue reading→

Deputy Sheriff from Santa Ana charged with illegally viewing criminal histories

Posted on by Posted in Crime, OCDA, Orange County, Santa Ana Leave a comment

ORANGE COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY PRESS RELEASE

Case # 16CM07158

Date: August 8, 2016

OCSD DEPUTY CHARGED WITH UNAUTHORIZED ACCESS OF LAW ENFORCEMENT DATABASE TO VIEW CRIMINAL HISTORIES

SANTA ANA, Calif. – An Orange County Sheriff’s Department (OCSD) deputy has been charged with unauthorized access of a law enforcement database to view criminal histories. Angel Lora Guerrero, 57, Santa Ana, is charged with two misdemeanor counts of receiving unauthorized privileged information. If convicted, Guerrero faces a maximum sentence of one year in county jail. The defendant is scheduled to be arraigned Sept. 6, 2016, at 8:30 a.m. in Department C-54, Central Justice Center, Santa Ana.

At the time of the crimes, Guerrero was employed as an OCSD deputy for approximately 16 years. Continue reading→

The OCTA awards $20 Million for more bike trails in the First District

Posted on by Posted in Andrew Do, Bicycles, OCTA, Orange County, Parks and Recreation, Santa Ana Leave a comment

OC Transportation Authority Awards $20 Million for More Bike Trails

Half of Projects Located in Santa Ana, Garden Grove & Westminster

By: Supervisor Andrew Do

(Santa Ana, California)— Orange County’s transportation agency is investing $20 million to expand and improve the county’s bike trails and pedestrian walkways. The biggest winners: residents of Santa Ana, Westminster and Garden Grove.

“Orange County is making it easier for people to get out and be active,” said Orange County Supervisor Andrew Do, who represents the First District on the Orange County Transportation Authority. “This multi-million dollar investment will make it easier for kids in Santa Ana to enjoy a recreational ride and help Garden Grove residents get to and from work.” Continue reading→

Santa Ana man arrested after a police pursuit from South Coast Plaza

Posted on by Posted in Costa Mesa, Crime, Santa Ana Leave a comment

Police arrested an unidentified driver on suspicion of DUI, speeding and red-light violations after a high-speed pursuit that began near South Coast Plaza and ended in Santa Ana early today, according to the O.C. Register.

The Costa Mesa police responded initially to the South Coast Plaza due to an alarm that went off. When they got there they heard screeching tires and began to pursue the suspect’s vehicle. Continue reading→