New Santa Ana | Category Archives: Crime

Children’s book author facing trial for sexually assaulting two little girls

Posted on October 30, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in Crime, Orange County Leave a comment

ORANGE COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY PRESS RELEASE

Case # 11HF0852

Date: October 29, 2014

CHILDREN’S BOOK AUTHOR TO FACE TRIAL FOR SEXUALLY ASSAULTING 12-YEAR-OLD RELATIVE AND 9-YEAR-OLD CHILD OF FAMILY FRIEND

SANTA ANA – A children’s book author will face trial tomorrow for sexually assaulting a 12-year-old relative and a 9-year-old child of a family friend. Michael William Snyder, 47, San Clemente, is charged with five felony counts of committing lewd acts upon a child under 14 years old and one felony count of oral copulation or sexual penetration with a child 10 years old or younger with a sentencing enhancement for committing lewd acts against more than one victim. If convicted, Snyder faces a maximum sentence of 90 years to life in state prison. Opening statements are scheduled to begin tomorrow, Thursday, Oct. 30, 2014, at 9:15 a.m. in Department C-44, Central Justice Center, Santa Ana.

Between Jan. 1, 2008, and Sept. 7, 2010, Snyder is accused of having then 9-year-old Jane Doe #2 in his San Clemente home before taking her to San Diego Zoo and orally copulating her. Continue reading→

Luis Antonio Garcia Morales charged with stabbing murder of ex girlfriend in Santa Ana

Posted on October 30, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in Crime, OCDA, Santa Ana Leave a comment

ORANGE COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY PRESS RELEASE

Case # 12CF3351

Date: October 29, 2014

MAN TO FACE TRIAL FOR SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES STABBING-MURDER OF FORMER GIRLFRIEND IN SANTA ANA ALLEYWAY

SANTA ANA – A man is scheduled to face trial tomorrow for stabbing and murdering his former girlfriend in a Santa Ana alleyway. Luis Antonio Garcia Morales, 26, Santa Ana, is charged with one felony count of special circumstance murder by lying in wait with a sentencing enhancement for the personal use of a deadly weapon. If convicted, Morales faces a sentence of life in state prison without the possibility of parole. Opening statements are scheduled to begin tomorrow, Oct. 30, 2014, at 9:00 a.m. in Department C-35, Central Justice Center, Santa Ana.

On the evening of Nov. 13, 2012, Morales is accused of arranging to meet with 21-year-old Maria Isabel Cerrillo, with whom he had a previous romantic relationship, by pretending to be someone else. The defendant is accused of meeting his ex-girlfriend in an alleyway in Santa Ana, murdering her by stabbing her repeatedly, and fleeing the scene. The victim died from multiple stab wounds. Continue reading→

Team Pulido is in a dead heat with the faltering Team Santa Ana

Posted on October 27, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in 2014 Elections, Alex Padilla, Crime, David Benavides, Education, Michele Martinez, Miguel Pulido, Mike Gonzalez, Mirna Velasquez, Politics, Sal Tinajero, Santa Ana 15 Comments

The election is almost upon us and the latest news is not good for the splintered Team Santa Ana. A major labor association has conducted secret polling that shows that Santa Ana Mayor Miguel Pulido’s team of City Council Candidates are in a dead heat with the splintered Team Santa Ana.

This is huge news as the Team Pulido slate, which includes Ward 2 candidate Mirna Velasquez, Ward 4 candidate Alex Padilla and Ward 6 candidate Miguel Gonzalez, has much less political experience than the longtime Council incumbents they are facing off against – Councilman David Benavides, Councilwoman Michele Martinez and Mayor Pro Tem Sal Tinajero. Continue reading→

Teacher/soccer coach goes to prison for having sex with a 14-year old girl

Posted on October 27, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in Crime, Education, Orange County Leave a comment

ORANGE COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY PRESS RELEASE: October 27, 2014

TONY RACKAUCKAS, District Attorney

Case # 12HF0258

FORMER TEACHER SENTENCED TO THREE YEARS AND FOUR MONTHS IN PRISON FOR UNLAWFUL SEX ACTS WITH 14-YEAR-OLD FEMALE HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT AFTER SNEAKING HER PAST HIS ROOMMATES

SANTA ANA – A former JSerra Catholic High School (JSerra) teacher was sentenced Friday to three years and four months in state prison and mandatory lifetime sex offender registration for 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 on May 29, 2014, of three felony counts of lewd acts upon a child.

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→

Herbert Calderon arrested for fatal DUI collision on Bristol and Central

Posted on October 26, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in Accidents, Alcohol, Crime, Santa Ana Leave a comment

Santa Ana Police Department

Advisory: SAPD Traffic Investigation- fatal collision Bristol/Central driver arrested DUI

ARRESTED: Herbert Granados Calderon (23) Santa Ana

On 10/25/14 at approximately 2121 hours, officers responded to a traffic collision at Bristol St. and Central Av. Officers arrived on scene and located three vehicles that were involved in the collision. Each vehicle had multiple passengers and there were several injuries. Paramedics further determined that an 18 year old male passenger in a Honda had been killed in the collision.

A Lexus traveled southbound on Bristol St. and failed to stop at the red light at Central Av. The Lexus broadsided a Honda and the force of that collision caused the Honda to collide with a Chevrolet pick-up truck. Continue reading→

Anaheim Police arrest two suspects in Murder of 9-year old Ximena Meza

Posted on October 26, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in Anaheim, Crime, Gangs Leave a comment

Anaheim Police Department

Raul Quezada, Chief of Police

PRESS RELEASE, FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 25, 2014

Subject: Anaheim Police Arrest Two Suspects in Murder of Ximena Meza – Press Conference Scheduled to Discuss the Investigation

Incident Overview

On Wednesday, October 22, 2014 around 7:15 P.M. Anaheim Police Officers were called to the 2300 block of W. Greenacre Ave. to investigate the shooting of 9 year-old Anaheim resident Ximena Meza. Meza had been to the front of her apartment complex playing with her sisters when gunshots rang out. Meza was struck once in her chest by an assailant’s bullet. She was rushed to a local hospital and succumbed to her injuries around 8:00 P.M. Continue reading→

Brea Mall purse robber caught at his halfway home in Santa Ana

Posted on October 24, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in Brea, Crime, Orange County, Santa Ana Leave a comment

Area of halfway home at 1700 W. Myrtle block of Santa Ana, Picture Courtesy of Google

Police pursued a fleeing vehicle on surface streets to a home in Santa Ana in connection with a purse robbery by a suspected named Charles Dorsey, 49, that occurred on Thursday, at about 1:40 p.m., at the Macy’s at the Brea Mall, according to a Lt. Derrin Deveroux with the Brea Police Department, as reported by KTLA.

Dorsey is reported to have stolen three purses valued at $700 around 1:38 p.m. from the Macy’s women’s department at the Brea Mall before getting into an altercation with loss-prevention officers, according to the O.C. Register. Continue reading→

Janet Nguyen donors admit to laundering political contributions

Posted on October 23, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in 2014 Elections, Crime, Janet Nguyen, Politics, Republican Party, Santa Ana, Vietnamese Leave a comment

From the OC Politics Blog

Orange County media’s two best investigative news sources are R. Scott Moxley at the OC Weekly, and the Voice of OC website.

Late this afternoon, Thy Vo at the Voice nailed SD1 County Supervisor Janet Nguyen, who is running for the 34th State Senate District against Democrat Jose Solorio, with this news about her campaign funders: Six Nguyen Donors Admit to Political Money Laundering. Their lead:

Six donors to County Supervisor Janet Nguyen have admitted to illegally receiving reimbursements for campaign contributions, according to newly obtained documents from the state’s Fair Political Practices Commission by Voice of OC.

Continue reading→

Reyna blows off the Santa Ana Police Officers Association and loses their support

Posted on October 22, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in 2014 Elections, Crime, Politics, Public Safety, Roman Reyna, Santa Ana 1 Comment

The OC Register and the Voice of OC continue to ignore the biggest story in the 2014 Santa Ana City Council races as the Santa Ana Police Officers Association (SAPOA) has asked Santa Ana Councilman Roman Reyna to explain why he was caught posing with hard core gang bangers in a picture that was circulated on Facebook.

Today SAPOA sent a second letter to Reyna, stating “In no way was this letter meant to be judge and jury of your active participation or association with known criminal enterprises however as supporters of your 2012 City Council campaign we felt strongly that a formal response was necessary.” Continue reading→

Free anti-prostitution concert set for 10/24 at Chapman University

Posted on October 22, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in Crime, music, Orange, Orange County Leave a comment

Orange County District Attorney Press Release

For Immediate Release: October 21, 2014

“THE BOW STREET RUNNERS” BAND FORMED BY MULTI-PLATINUM ARTISTS IN ORANGE COUNTY TO END MODERN-DAY SLAVERY

*DONATING ARTISTS INCLUDE STAN FRAZIER AND MURPHY KARGES OF SUGAR RAY, RYAN SHUCK AND AMIR DERAKH OF JULIEN-K (FORMERLY ORGY), AND LEWIS RICHARDS (PRODUCER OF DIRTY HEADS AND SLIGHTLY STOOPID)

SANTA ANA – “The Bow Street Runners” featuring Stan Frazier and Murphy Karges of Sugar Ray, Ryan Shuck and Amir Derakh of Julien-K (formerly Orgy), Lewis Richards (producer of Dirty Heads and Slightly Stoopid), Quinn Archer and the Outriders, Griffith Clawson, Foster, Sabrina Hong, Tony Howell (Parkaimoon), and Damon Tucker (Parkaimoon) will perform live on Friday, Oct. 24, 2014, at Chapman University at 5:30 p.m. The concert is free for everyone to attend at Chapman University’s Attallah Piazza. Free concert shirts will be handed out to the first 700 guests.

The name for the band is derived from the first police force established in Bow Street, London in the early eighteenth century. In 1753, upon the recommendation of the magistrate and novelist Henry Fielding, more forces were created in London. The Bow Street Runners served writs and arrested offenders on the authority of the magistrates, traveling nationwide to apprehend criminals. Continue reading→

Judith Ware to sponsor anti-prostitution OCDA rally at Chapman University

Posted on October 22, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in Crime, OCDA, Orange, Orange County, Politics Leave a comment

Orange County District Attorney Press Release

For Immediate Release: October 20, 2014

JUDITH WARE, OF WARE DISPOSAL, TO SPONSOR “BE-WARE OF H.E.A.T.” LUNCHEON AT 2ND ANNUAL “KEEP CALM AND BEAT H.E.A.T. ROCKING & RALLY”

SANTA ANA – The Orange County District Attorney’s Office (OCDA) and the Orange County Human Trafficking Task Force (OCHTTF) are pleased to announce that Judith Ware and Ware Disposal Company, Inc. (Ware Disposal) will sponsor the “Be-Ware of H.E.A.T.” luncheon at the 2nd annual “Keep Calm and Beat H.E.A.T. Rocking and Rally” at Chapman University. The luncheon will feature elected officials, dignitaries, VIP guests, and a question and answer session with three brave human trafficking survivors.

Ware Disposal

Ware Disposal’s operations in Orange County provide vital services to homes, schools, businesses, and government facilities. Ware Disposal is committed to lessening their carbon footprint, running a fleet of 100 compressed natural gas trash hauling trucks. The central focus at Ware Disposal is making communities cleaner, safer, and stronger. The family-owned company embraces the opportunity to be a good corporate citizen and is involved in local community and business organizations in addition to making donations and offering support services to a variety of local events. Continue reading→

Man to join three family members in prison over $16M in real estate fraud

Posted on October 22, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in Crime, Newport Beach, OCDA, Orange County, Santa Ana, Tustin Leave a comment

Orange County District Attorney Press Release

For Immediate Release: October 20, 2014

Case # 10CF0477/11ZF0120

MAN SENTENCED TO SEVEN YEARS IN PRISON FOR CONSPIRACY TO COMMIT OVER $16 MILLION IN REAL ESTATE FRAUD

*Three additional co-defendants were previously convicted and sentenced

SANTA ANA – A man was sentenced Friday to seven years in state prison for conspiring with three other family members to commit over $16 million in real estate fraud by forging documents and purchasing homes using “straw buyers.” A straw buyer is a person who knowingly and willingly allows their credit to be used for the purchase of a property they never intend to control.

Dinesh Valjeebhai Shah, 65, pleaded guilty to the court Friday, Oct. 17, 2014, to five felony counts of conspiracy to commit a crime, 13 felony counts of forgery, four felony counts of identity theft, four felony counts of recording false and forged instrument, five felony counts of grand theft, and sentencing enhancement allegations for loss over $100,000, property damage over $1.3 million, and aggravated white collar crime over $500,000. Dinesh Shah is also sentenced to pay $12,800 in restitution. Dinesh Shah was also sentenced to two years in state prison after being found guilty by a jury on June 25, 2014, of one felony count of filing a false tax return and two felony counts of failure to file any return or supply any information with intent to evade any tax (Case #11ZF0120). Continue reading→

Tustin man arrested for lewd acts with several children

Posted on October 19, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in Crime, irvine, Orange County, Tustin Leave a comment

Sherwin Ngo

City of Irvine Police Department

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, PRESS RELEASE #10/18/2014

Subject: Man Arrested for Lewd Acts on a Child

Contact : Julia Engen, Commander 949-724-7112, jengen@cityofirvine.org

IRVINE, CA (October 18, 2014): On October 17, Irvine Police Detectives arrested Sherwin Ngo (1-16-80) of Tustin for lewd acts on a child.
Ngo is believed to be responsible for luring or attempting to lure at least two under aged male victims by posting personal ads on Craig’s List. Ngo initially led those responding to the ad to believe he was a female offering sexual contact.

The first victim, a 15-year-old Irvine male, was identified after his mother found explicit emails on his tablet computer. A second victim, a 16-year-old male, from Mission Viejo has also been identified. Detectives believe there may be additional victims, based on a large number of emails discovered during the execution of a search warrant of Ngo’s email accounts. Detectives will be continuing the investigation in an attempt to identify and locate any additional victims. Continue reading→

Santa Ana scumbag who molested little girls he met at church is going to prison

Posted on October 18, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in Anaheim, Churches and Religion, Crime, Santa Ana, Tustin Leave a comment

Orange County District Attorney Press Release

For Immediate Release

Case# 14NF1995

October 17, 2014

MAN SENTENCED TO 30 YEARS TO LIFE IN PRISON FOR SEXUALLY ASSAULTING TWO GIRLS BETWEEN AGES 9 AND 12 AFTER MEETING THEM AT CHURCH AND BEFRIENDING THEIR FAMILIES

SANTA ANA – A man was sentenced today to 30 years to life in state prison for sexually assaulting two girls between ages 9 and 12 after meeting them through church and befriending their families. David Elifar Verduzco, 35, Santa Ana, was found guilty by a jury Oct. 1, 2014, of three felony counts of lewd acts upon a child under 14, one felony count of sexual penetration with a child 10 years or younger, one misdemeanor count each of child annoyance and disorderly conduct. The sentencing enhancement allegations for substantial sexual conduct with a child and lewd acts on multiple children were found true.

At the time of the crime, Verduzco was a parishioner of Agape House of Prayer in Anaheim, where he was a worship team leader and gave electronic keyboard lessons. The defendant met both of the victims and their families at the church and befriended them. Continue reading→

Janet Nguyen campaign donors are under investigation by the FPPC

Posted on October 17, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in 2014 Elections, Crime, Jose Solorio, Orange County, Politics, Santa Ana, Vietnamese 1 Comment

Folks in Little Saigon know they have to bribe Janet Nguyen with bags of money

The state’s Fair Political Practices Commission is investigating nearly a dozen people for political money laundering in connection to campaign contributions to county Supervisor and state Senate candidate Janet Nguyen according to Thy Vo and Nick Gerda at the Voice of OC.

The FPPC has issued 11 subpoenas to donors who made contributions to the political committee Friends of Supervisor Janet Nguyen between 2011 and 2012, as part of an investigation involving political contributions made in the name of persons other than the true contributor, according to court records, according to the Voice of OC. Continue reading→