Think Together is hosting a BraveParenting program today at 2101 East 4th St., in Santa Ana, from 9 am to 12 noon.
The workshop is designed to help you help your child find motivation, direction, and life success. Continue reading
Author Archives: Art Pedroza
JSerra Catholic H.S. teacher convicted of having sex with a 14-year old student
Orange County District Attorney Press Release
For Immediate Release, Case # 12HF0258: May 29, 2014
SANTA ANA – A former JSerra Catholic High School (JSerra) teacher was convicted by a jury today of engaging in unlawful sex acts with a 14-year-old girl he met at the school. Ricardo Aldana, 40, was found guilty by a jury of three felony counts of lewd acts on a child. He faces a maximum sentence of four years and four months in state prison and mandatory lifetime sex offender registration at his sentencing on July 11, 2014, at 9:00 a.m. in Department C-34, Central Justice Center, Santa Ana.
At the time of the crime, Aldana was a Spanish teacher and boys’ soccer coach at JSerra in San Juan Capistrano. He met 13-year-old Jane Doe while she was a student at the school. He befriended the victim and gained her trust. Continue reading
57-year old man convicted of having sex with a boy he met on Craigslist
Orange County District Attorney Press Release
For Immediate Release, Case # 10WF2381: May 30, 2014
FULLERTON – A 57-year-old man was sentenced today to three years in state prison and mandatory lifetime sex offender registration for engaging in illegal sexual conduct with a 14-year-old boy he met on Craigslist. Mark Aime Brosseau, Stanton, was found guilty by a jury Oct. 30, 2013, of one felony count each of lewd acts upon a child, contacting a child with the intent to commit lewd acts, and meeting a child with the intent to engage in lewd conduct.
On the night of Sept. 25, 2010, Brosseau parked his Ford pick-up truck in a parking structure at Bella Terra Mall in Huntington Beach and engaged in sexual conduct with 14-year-old John Doe in the vehicle. The defendant had previously met the victim on Craigslist in late June 2010. Continue reading
Another drive by shooting results in the arrest of two gang members
Two gang members were arrested Friday after reports of someone in an SUV firing gunshots at a passer-by in a Santa Ana neighborhood, police said, according to the OC Register.
Officers shortly after 9:30 a.m. responded to reports of a passenger in an SUV firing a handgun at a pedestrian or pedestrians near Daisy Avenue and Myrtle Street, Santa Ana police Cpl. Anthony Bertagna said. He also said police were unable to locate any victims. Continue reading
Who will run for Santa Ana Mayor if Pulido opts to retire in November?
I am hearing from several sources that Santa Ana Mayor Miguel Pulido is quite serious about defending himself as he is investigated for various issues stemming from campaign finances and real estate shenanigans. He is telling friends that his priority is his legal defense – so what if he ends up retiring from politics and not running again in November? Who will run?
First term Santa Ana Councilman Roman Reyna is in but no one is taking him very seriously. If Pulido pulls out you can expect much bigger names to jump in.
I am told that former Santa Ana Mayor Pro Tem Claudia Alvarez, an Assistant Orange County District Attorney who currently serves on the Rancho Santiago Community College District’s Board of Trustees, is already planning to run. Continue reading
Santa Ana apartment murder victim identified as Victorino Cruz, 58
Santa Ana Police Department
Victim: Victorino Cruz (58) Santa Ana
Detail: On 5-28-2014 at approximately 1:20 AM, patrol officers responded to the apartment complex located in the 1300 block of North Harbor Blvd. Residents of an apartment at that complex found their roommate deceased inside their apartment. Based on the suspicious circumstances of the death Homicide Detectives were called to the scene. Continue reading
SAPD DUI checkpoint set for May 30 at 1100 W. First St.
Santa Ana Police Department
The Santa Ana Police Department will be conducting a DUI/Drivers License checkpoint on Friday, May 30th, 2014. It will begin at 9:00PM and is scheduled to conclude at 3:00AM. It will be conducted in the area of 1100 W. First Street, 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
SAUSD seniors got to showcase and sell their art at the Bowers Museum
Students get rare opportunity to showcase their original art pieces at the Bowers Museum and sell their work like professional artists –
Foundation presents college scholarships to high school seniors
May 29, 2014 – When Santa Ana High School student Antonio Calderon learned that his drawing had received top honors – Best in Show – among all of the submitted art pieces by students throughout the Santa Ana Unified School District, his reaction was summed up in one word, “Incredible!” Antonio was among dozens of artists in grades K-12 who participated in the 2nd Annual Artspiration and Scholarship Awards Ceremony sponsored by the Santa Ana Public Schools Foundation (SAPSF) in partnership with the Santa Ana Unified School District. The event, held Wednesday, May 28, 2014, at 5:00 p.m. at the beautiful Bowers Museum in Santa Ana, provided students with an opportunity to showcase their talents to their family, friends, teachers, and the broader community. “It says a lot about the talents of our young people to have their artwork on display at the Bowers Museum,” said Rob Richardson, President of SAPSF and member of the Santa Ana Unified School District Board of Education. Continue reading
The SAPD arrests a man suspected in an apartment complex murder
Salvador Barragan
Santa Ana Police Department
Detail: On 5-28-2014 at approximately 1:20 AM, patrol officers responded to the apartment complex located in the 1300 block of North Harbor Blvd. Residents of an apartment at that complex found their roommate deceased inside their apartment. Based on the suspicious circumstances of the death Homicide Detectives were called to the scene.
As part of their ongoing investigation Homicide Detectives contacted and interviewed an acquaintance of the victim, Salvador Barragan (37) Anaheim. Continue reading
Pulido lawyers up – should the Council Members do so as well?
Mayor Miguel Pulido
Santa Ana Mayor Miguel Pulido has received at least $25,000 in contributions toward a legal defense fund that he established in January as he is being investigated by the state’s political watchdog agency, according to the OC Register.
The “Miguel Pulido Legal Defense Fund” was set up in January, shortly after City Attorney Sonia Carvalho began investigating a real estate swap involving Pulido that ethics experts say looks like a bribe and could have violated state conflict of interest laws, according to the Voice of OC.
My sources tell he that a few of the Santa Ana Council Members may want to set up legal defense funds of their own. One pajarito in particular told me last week that the FBI is looking at conflict of interest by the Council Members with regard to real estate development on Bristol and Seventeenth and at the property formerly known as the Honer Plaza which is now called the Bristol Marketplace. Continue reading
The SAPD is trying to find the men who robbed Café La Me
Santa Ana Police Department
On 05/25/14, at 8:57 AM, suspect #1 and #2 entered the Café La Me after arriving in the suspect vehicle. Suspect #1 brandished a semi-automatic handgun and pistol-whipped an employee before taking undetermined amount of money from the cash register. Suspect #2, the driver of the suspect vehicle, entered carrying zip-ties and proceeded to zip-tie and pat down several patrons. The suspects fled eastbound from the Café in the suspect vehicle. Continue reading
Sex offender being monitored by GPS charged with pimping and pandering in Santa Ana
Orange County District Attorney Press Release
For Immediate Release, Case # 14CF1712: May 23, 2014
SANTA ANA – A parolee sex offender on GPS monitoring was arraigned today on charges of pimping and pandering an 18-year-old woman. Eddie Bridges, 36, Compton, was charged today with one felony count each of pimping and pandering by procuring and sentencing enhancements for serving separate prison terms and not remaining free for five years: two prior convictions in 1996 and 1998 in King County, WA, for possession with intent to sell a controlled substance, one prior conviction for possession of marijuana in Maricopa County, Ariz., one prior conviction in Los Angeles County in 2007 for pandering of a minor, and one prior conviction in Los Angeles County in 2011 for attempted pandering. If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of 11 years in state prison. He is being held on $100,000 bail and must prove the money is from a legal and legitimate source before posting bond. Bridges was arraigned today and is scheduled for pre-trial on June 3, 2014, at 8:30 a.m. in Department C-55, Central Justice Center, Santa Ana. Continue reading
Parolee charged with human trafficking and pimping a teenager in Santa Ana
Orange County District Attorney Press Release
For Immediate Release, Case # 14CF1730: May 27, 2014
SANTA ANA – A parolee was arraigned today on charges of trafficking a minor, and pimping and pandering her and another teenager. Dominique Legrand Lewis, 21, San Diego, was charged today with five felony counts including human trafficking, pimping a minor, pandering with a minor over 16 years old by procuring, pimping, and pandering, with a sentencing enhancement for a prior prison strike conviction for residential burglary in 2012. If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of 26 years and four months in state prison. He is being held on $100,000 bail and has a parole hold from the previous conviction. Lewis was arraigned today and is scheduled for pre-trial on June 4, 2014, at 8:30 a.m. in Department C-55, Central Justice Center, Santa Ana. Continue reading
Saddleback High School’s Spring Pops Concert set for tonight at 7 pm
Saddleback High School Spring Pops Concert
Saddleback High School Spring Pops Concert is set for tonight, Wednesday, May 28th from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the Saddleback High School Forum.
Come out and support Saddleback’s Wind Ensemble, Concert Band, Beginning Band, and Jazz Band as they preform music from popular movies like Inception, James Bond- Sky Fall, Transformers, Indiana Jones, Jaws, Incredibles, Back to the Future, Jurassic Park, and more! Continue reading
Local students win statewide suicide prevention video contest
Orange County Health Care Agency
Local Students Win Statewide Suicide Prevention Video Contest
(Santa Ana) – Local students and their high schools will receive recognition for participation in “Directing Change,” a student video contest that is part of a statewide effort funded by the Mental Health Services Act to prevent suicide, reduce stigma and promote wellness.
Proclamations from the Board of Supervisors will be presented to the students and their schools during a Mental Health Board Meeting on Wednesday, May 28 from 9:00 to 10:30 a.m. at the Board Planning Commission Hearing Room located at 333 W. Santa Ana Blvd. in Santa Ana. Continue reading