Jose Luis Aguilera, a 42, a Santa Ana man accused of molesting four girls aged 8 to 12 that he met at his Jehovah’s Witness congregation, is on trial this week, according to the O.C. Register.
Aguilera’s defense attorney, Sara Ross of the Orange County Public Defender’s Office, told the jury that her client was a victim of “false accusations.” That’s right – Ross essentially said that all of the girls Aguilera allegedly molested are liars. Continue reading
City of Santa Ana, Downtown Orange County
SANTA ANA – Mayor Pro Tem Michele Martinez was recently appointed to serve on the League of California Cities – Latino Caucus Board of Directors. The League’s Latino Caucus is a non-profit official affiliate of the League of California Cities. Established in 1990 as a community resource, the Latino Caucus continues its goal of improving quality of life through advocacy by addressing professional, socio economics, educational, cultural, and political issues.
“The Latino Caucus represents a large portion of California’s population and brings leadership representation to the League to bring awareness to both local and statewide issues that affect all of our cities,” said Mayor Pro Tem Michele Martinez. “I am honored to serve on the Board of Directors and I look forward to collaborating with other city leaders to advocate for and shape future policies that impact our communities,” she added. Continue reading
Santa Ana Police Department
Advisory: Robbery Detective Request Assistance In Identifying Armed Robbery Suspects
Location: 2509 S. Harbor Blvd., Santa Ana – Donut Star
Synopsis: On 3/29/17, at approximately 11:30 pm, the suspects approached a Donut Star employee in the parking lot behind the business. Suspect #1 brandished a silver revolver at the employee and demanded his cellphone and money. Suspect #1 remained with the employee outside, while Suspect #2 and #3 entered the business through the rear door, which led into the office and kitchen area. They encountered the second employee when Suspect #2 brandished a small black semi-auto handgun, ordering the employee to open the two cash registers. Fearing for her safety, the employee opened both cash registers, at which time; Suspect # 2 and #3 grabbed the money from inside and fled the business out the back door. All three suspects were last seen running eastbound on Warner Ave from the location. Continue reading
Santa Ana Police Department
Location: 7-Eleven – 902 W. 1st Street, Santa Ana, CA 92703
Synopsis: On 02/11/17, this suspect became violent and destructive after his credit card was declined. In a fit of anger, the suspect struck the cashier in the head, pushed one cash register and printer to the floor, threw bananas at the other cashier, and pushed the other register off the counter. The suspect caused $700 of damage to the store’s registers and printers. Continue reading
Costa Mesa Police Department
Alert: Missing Child: CMPD requesting public assistance
UPDATE – This missing young man has been located. The Costa Mesa Police Department reports that he is now home and safe.
The Costa Mesa Police Department is searching for a missing 12-year-old autistic male, Diego Garcia, from the 1200 block of Adams Ave. in Costa Mesa.
He was last seen by his parents last night, April 4, 2017, at approximately 9:00 p.m. It is believed that he might have been spotted by an OCTA bus driver in area of South Coast Drive and Harbor Boulevard at about 3:30 a.m. this morning. Continue reading
ORANGE COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY NEWS RELEASE
Case # 16CF0605
Date: April 4, 2017
SANTA ANA, Calif. – A man is scheduled to face trial tomorrow for stabbing and murdering a concert attendee during a live performance in downtown Santa Ana. Juan Angel Rivera, 23, Santa Ana, was charged on March 8, 2016, with one felony count of murder with a sentencing enhancement for the personal use of a knife. If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of 26 years to life in state prison.
Opening statements are scheduled to begin tomorrow, April, 5, 2017, at 9:30 a.m. in Department C-40, Central Justice Center, Santa Ana. Continue reading
Shot up car in Santa Ana
March was yet another violent month in Santa Ana! Per the Santa Ana Police Dept, there were 21 reported shooting incidents and 1 stabbing incident in March. This has been an ongoing trend in our city that reminds many of us of the late 80’s and early 90’s when gang violence was out of control. Continue reading
On Monday, April 3, at about 5 p.m., witnesses reporting a shooting in the area of 1600 South Cedar, in Santa Ana, according to SAPD Case # 17-08914. Continue reading
Santa Ana Police Department
Advisory: SAPD OFFICERS LOOKING FOR CRITICALLY MISSING ADULT, 84 YEAR-OLD MALE
Missing Person: Tai Tu (84)
UPDATE – The male has been located at an area hospital. OCFA located him at approximately 2:30 a.m. this morning after falling in the street. He was hospitalized as a John Doe. He is now receiving medical treatment and will be released once he recovers.
SAPD Officers currently looking for critical missing adult, 84-year old Tai Tu, lives alone at the 900 West block 1st Street. At approximately 8:50 a.m., his caretaker came by and discovered he was not at home. A check of the complex surveillance system showed Mr. Tu left the facility this morning at 12:30 a.m. Mr. Tu has severe dementia and is in need of medication. Continue reading
Here we go again! More violence in central Santa Ana and longtime Councilmembers like David Benavides and Sal Tinajero that represent much of that area, do not 
step up and push for more police services. Luckily, new Councilman Juan Villegas is very pro-public safety, but everyone on the Council should help.
As we reported earlier, today on n Sunday, April 2 at about 1:30 p.m. a man was riding his bicycle in the area of 700 South Pacific when he was confronted by a male pedestrian. A verbal confrontation occurred and the male pedestrian shot at the bicyclist.
On Sunday, April 2 at about 1:30 p.m. a man was riding his bicycle in the area of 700 South Pacific when he was confronted by a male pedestrian. A verbal confrontation occurred and the male pedestrian shot at the bicyclist.
The victim sustained a gunshot wound to the lower torso, according to SAPD Police Case # 17- 08805. Continue reading
Recalling the status quo in education
By ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER EDITORIAL BOARD
Teachers, administrators and parents were naturally upset when they took to the lectern at the Santa Ana Unified School District board meeting last Tuesday to address the issuing of pink slips to 287 employees.
Most of those pink slips went to educators, and a number of teachers who received the notices, or knew a teacher who received a notice, spoke of the good work they and their fellow educators are doing, and how harmful the cuts would be to their schools. But, somehow, the only board member who voted against issuing the pink slips also seemed to be receiving most of the blame. Continue reading
On Saturday, April 1 at about 3:30 p.m. SAPD police officers responded to the area of 500 East Pine regarding a shooting that had just occurred, according to SAPD Case # 17-08711.
Further investigation revealed a group in a vehicle got into an argument with a group of pedestrians and a shooting occurred were two males were struck. Continue reading
Santa Ana Police Department
Advisory: Detectives Arrest Uber Driver For Sexual Assault & Believe There May Be Additional Victims
Arrested: Angel Sanchez (37) Costa Mesa, Booked into the SAPD Jail on the Sexual Assault Charges and being held on $100,000 bail
During the evening hours of March 30, 2017, a female adult requested an Uber ride from a company gathering to her home in Santa Ana. The female victim was picked up by Uber driver Angel Sanchez in a 2016 Grey Toyota Sienna (similar to the one pictured), and driven to a street near her residence in Santa Ana. There, Sanchez sexually assaulted the victim in the Toyota Sienna.
After the sexual assault, the victim ran from the suspect’s vehicle and immediately called the police department for assistance. Continue reading