Santa Ana's top news & views blog

Santa Ana's top news & views blog

Author Archives: Art Pedroza

Santa Ana man gets a new longer prison sentence after he sodomized a 3-year old relative

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Kevin Jonas Rojano-Nieto, a 21-year old Santa Ana man, got lucky when County Superior Court Judge M. Marc Kelly sentended him to a 10-year prison sentence on April 3, 2015, after Rojano-Nieto sodomozed a 3-year old relative. Kelly could have sentenced Rojano-Nieto to a state-mandated life term in prison. The outcry after Kelly’s lame sentence led to an aborted attempt to recall the Judge.

On Friday Rojano-Nieto’s luck ran out as the California State Supreme Court rejected a defense appeal, clearing the way for the Fourth Appellate District in San Diego to finalize its reversal of the sentence Friday, according to the O.C. Register. Continue reading→

Sovereign Grace Church is starting a new congregation in DTSA

Posted on by Posted in Churches and Religion, Santa Ana 2 Comments

Live, Work, Play, and Worship

A New Movement of Neighborhood Churches in Orange County

Santa Ana, CA – May 12, 2017 – Sovereign Grace Church in Old Towne Orange announces plans for a new congregation in Downtown Santa Ana. As in Orange, Santa Ana is becoming an attractive place to live, work, and play. Sovereign Grace want to add worship to the list.

“Remember back when neighborhoods had churches?” asks Pastor Eric Turbedsky. “The average church- goer in Orange County passes numerous churches on their way to a Sunday service. No wonder we find it so hard to love our neighbors. We don’t know our neighbors.” This move to worship where you live, not unlike the “buy local” movement, encourages people to invest in the life of their community. Continue reading→

The SAPD competed in the Desert Dog K9 trials last weekend

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Santa Ana Police Department

Advisory: SAPD K-9 Unit Competes In The Desert Dog K9 Trials

This past Cinco de Mayo weekend, the SAPD K9 Unit competed in the Desert Dog K9 Trials in Mesa, Arizona. The competition was held at Sloan Park, the spring training camp for the World Champion Chicago Cubs. Fifteen law enforcement agencies from Arizona, California, and Mexico were represented by 52 police dogs. The K9 teams competed in a variety of events to simulate real life scenarios as they demonstrated obedience, tackled obstacle courses, and searched for suspects. Continue reading→

Tustin woman facing felony charges after filing a fraudulent insurance claim

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ORANGE COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY NEWS RELEASE

Case # 17CF0915

Date: May 11, 2017

MAN AND WOMAN TO BE ARRAIGNED FOR CONSPIRING TO FILE FRAUDULENT INSURANCE CLAIM AND FALSELY ALLEGING POLICE MISCONDUCT

SANTA ANA, Calif. – A man and a woman are scheduled to be arraigned tomorrow for conspiring to file a fraudulent insurance claim and falsely alleging police misconduct when the accident report was not consistent with their untrue statements.

Defendants: 

  • Sylvia Bustillos Camarillo, 31,Tustin
  • Lamont Kenneth Goodwin, 33, Inglewood

Continue reading→

Free smoke alarms to be installed this Saturday in select Santa Ana neighborhoods

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City of Santa Ana

Community: Smoke Alarm Installation Event This Saturday May 13, 2017 / Evento de Instalaciones de Detectores de Humo Este sábado, 13 de mayo de 2017

SANTA ANA – Join the Orange County Fire Authority (OCFA), the American Red Cross, the City of Santa Ana, and community volunteers as we install free smoke alarms and provide residents with fire safety information. Teens at least 14 years of age are welcome with parent/guardian permission. Continue reading→

Raitt/Myrtle community outreach meeting set for May 23

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City of Santa Ana

Community: Raitt/Myrtle Community Outreach Meeting / Junta de Enlace Comunitario Raitt/Myrtle

SANTA ANA – Area residents and the general public are invited to participate in the upcoming community outreach meeting on Tuesday, May 23, 2017 at 6:00 p.m. at El Salvador Center –  1825 W Civic Center Drive, Santa Ana, CA 92703. This meeting is being hosted by the City in an effort to inform the public of the procurement of the parcel in the area of Raitt and Myrtle to develop a community park.

Topics to be covered include a brief history of the area, a presentation and solicitation of feedback, and park conceptual plan discussion. Light refreshments will be served. For more information, please contact Community Services Supervisor William Sandoval at (714) 571-4258 or wsandoval@santa-ana.org. Continue reading→

The SAPD is conducting a DUI and Drivers License Checkpoint on Friday night

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Santa Ana Police Department

Advisory: SAPD conducting a DUI/Drivers License checkpoint on Fri, May 12th, 2017, 9:30 PM to 2:30 AM, 1500 E. McFadden Avenue

SANTA ANA POLICE STEP UP DUI ENFORCEMENT

The Santa Ana Police Department will be conducting a DUI / Drivers License checkpoint on Friday, May 12th, 2017. It will begin at 9:30 p.m. and is scheduled to conclude at 2:30 a.m. It will be conducted in the area of 1500 E. McFadden Ave., in the City of Santa Ana.

The primary purpose of a DUI Checkpoint is to deter impaired driving, not to increase arrests. All too often, members of our community are senselessly injured or killed on local roadways by impaired drivers. This DUI / Drivers License checkpoint is an effort to reduce those tragedies, as well as ensuring drivers have a valid driver’s license. The DMV reports that unlicensed drivers are 4.9 times more likely to cause a fatal crash than a licensed driver. Continue reading→

Recall election campaigns against S.A. Councilmen Benavides and Tinajero approved

Posted on by Posted in 2018 elections, Civic Affairs, David Benavides, Politics, Sal Tinajero, Santa Ana Leave a comment

A Santa Ana City Hall insider confirmed today that Santa Ana City Clerk Maria Huizar has accepted the signatures to mount a recall election against Santa Ana City Councilman David Benavides. She had previously approved a recall election against Councilman Sal Tinajero.

The forces that are working to recall Benavides and Tinajero have money and they have volunteers. Now we will find out if Benavides and Tinajero can defend themselves. It will likely be very difficult for them to raise money. Continue reading→

SAPD police officer recognized for his vehicle theft recovery efforts

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SAPD Office Mike Gibbons

Santa Ana Police Department

Advisory: SAPD Patrol Officer Recognized For His Hard Work And Accomplishments In Vehicle Theft Recovery

Officer Mike Gibbons received his 4th Master and Lifetime Achievement Awards.

In 2016, Officer Gibbons recovered 81 unoccupied stolen vehicles and 48 occupied stolen vehicles resulting in 59 arrests. The total estimated value of those recoveries was $783,600.00.

Officer Gibbons is the first Santa Ana Officer to earn the Lifetime Achievement Award. According to A.T.A.C., “He is the third officer in our Division, which covers Orange, San Diego, Imperial and part of Riverside County. Only two other officers have previously received this award; Officer A. Plata from Indio P.D. in 2016 and Officer J. Quintero from CHP in 1995.” Continue reading→

The SAUSD’s graduation rates have increased by 11.5%

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Saddleback High School 2016 graduates

Santa Ana Unified School District Celebrates 11.5% Gain In Graduation Rates, Surpassing Both State And Orange County Averages

The District is using unique methods – including online learning, evening school and more intervention services – to help students recoup lost credits

(May 10, 2017) – As the school year winds down, and students are working hard to finish their final projects and exams, the Santa Ana Unified School District is celebrating a significant increase of 11.5% in graduation rates over the last seven years.

The District, which serves approximately 53,000 students in grades K-12, has a 91.6% graduation rate, surpassing the state average of 83.2% and the county average of 90.8%. Continue reading→

Man charged with molesting a 9-year old relative in Santa Ana 19 years ago

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Olegario Sigifredo Sorianosantos, a 47-year-old man, was charged Tuesday, May 9, with sexually assaulting a 9-year-old female relative in Santa Ana 19 years ago, according to the O.C. Register.

Sorianosantos is facing felony charges of two counts of lewd or lascivious acts with a minor and two counts of forcible lewd acts on a child, as well as a sentencing enhancement allegation for substantial sexual conduct. Continue reading→

Fontana man charged with pimping a minor in Santa Ana

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ORANGE COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY NEWS RELEASE

May 9, 2017

Case # 17CF1135

FONTANA MAN ARRAIGNED FOR TRAFFICKING MINOR FROM SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY AND PIMPING VICTIM IN SANTA ANA

SANTA ANA, Calif. – A Fontana man was arraigned yesterday for trafficking a minor girl from San Bernardino County and pimping the victim in Santa Ana.

  • Defendant: Armani Montrale Green, 20, Fontana
  • One felony count each of:
    • Human trafficking of a minor
    • Pimping a minor
    • Pandering a minor
  • One misdemeanor count of:
    • Driving without a valid driver license
  • Maximum Sentence: 13 years in state prison
  • Six months in county jail
  • Court Date: Pre-trial hearing: May 16, 2017, 8:30 a.m. at Department C-55, Central Justice Center, Santa Ana

Continue reading→

The City of Santa Ana is spending one million a year to clean up graffiti!

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The city of Santa Ana spends over $1 Million a year removing graffiti in our city. YES ONE MILLION DOLLARS A YEAR to remove graffiti is what our taxpayers are paying.

You want money for youth programs in our city? Here’s an idea, tell the gangbangers and taggers to stop vandalizing our city with their moronic graffiti! Continue reading→

New appointee to the O.C. Veterans Advisory Council is from Santa Ana

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A vacancy on the Orange County Veterans Advisory Committee has been filled by Marine Corp Veteran Mario Munoz, appointed by Supervisor Andrew Do. Munoz will represent the First District of Orange County on the committee.

Mario Munoz is a post-9/11 Veteran and Orange County native that served in both Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom. He attended Santa Ana High School, Santa Ana College, and California State Dominguez Hills for Ecology and Environmental Science. Continue reading→

City of Santa Ana appoints Cynthia Kurtz as Interim City Manager

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City of Santa Ana

Community: City of Santa Ana Appoints Cynthia Kurtz as Interim City Manager

The Santa Ana City Council extended an offer and approved an Interim City Manager agreement at its City Council meeting last Tuesday, May 2, 2017. Today, retired City Manager Cynthia Kurtz accepted the offer to serve as Santa Ana’s Interim City Manager. Ms. Kurtz has served in numerous management positions, including City Manager of the City of Pasadena for ten years, the Interim City Manager of the City of Covina, and the Ethics Advisor Consultant to the City of Vernon with Former California State Attorney General John Van de Kamp. She brings extensive public infrastructure experience as well as economic development experience to Santa Ana as she is a former Public Works Director and served as the President and CEO of the San Gabriel Valley Economic Partnership.

“It is an honor to be selected as Santa Ana’s Interim City Manager. During my interviews, I was impressed with the Mayor and Council’s dedication. I look forward to helping them implement their vision.” said Kurtz. Continue reading→