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Santa Ana's top news & views blog

Category Archives: Crime

Westminster man charged for butt-grabbing in Huntington Beach

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Matthew Andrew Linville

Orange County District Attorney  Press Release

For Immediate Release,  Case # 13WF2913: September 20, 2013

MAN ARRAIGNED ON SEX CHARGES FOR GROPING FOUR WOMEN BY GRABBING THEM ON THE BUTTOCKS

WESTMINSTER – A man was arraigned today on sex charges for groping four women by grabbing them on the buttocks in public. Matthew Andrew Linville, 19, Westminster, is charged with one felony count of false imprisonment by violence and four misdemeanor counts of sexual battery. If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of three years in state prison and mandatory lifetime sex offender registration. Linville is being held on $100,000 bail and is scheduled for a pre-trial hearing Sept. 30, 2013, 8:30 a.m. in Department W-1, West Justice Center, Westminster.

At approximately 6:45 a.m. on Aug. 28, 2013, Linville is accused of approaching 34-year-old Jane Doe #1 as she was jogging through a neighborhood in Huntington Beach. The defendant is accused of grabbing the victim on the buttocks, pushing her to the ground, and groping her. The defendant is accused of fleeing from the scene after a neighbor heard the victim’s screams and came out and yelled at defendant. Continue reading→

Group sues the City of Orange over sex offender Halloween sign ordinance

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California Reform Sex Offender Laws, an advocacy group, has filed a federal lawsuit challenging a Halloween ordinance in Orange that requires sex offenders to post a sign on the front door of their residence notifying trick-or-treaters that no candy is available, according to the O.C. Register.

The signs, which are mandated by the city, read “no candy or treats at this  residence,” and must be no smaller than 12 inches by 24 inches. The ordinance, passed in 2010, also bans sex offenders from putting out  holiday decorations, leaving outdoor lights on, and answering the door for  children on Oct. 31, according to KTLA. Continue reading→

DUI driver sentenced for crash that killed his brother and hurt his nephew

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Felix Jacobo Brito

Orange County District Attorney Press Release

For Immediate Release,  Case # 11HF1960: September 18, 2013

DUI DRIVER SENTENCED TO FOUR YEARS AND FOUR MONTHS IN PRISON FOR KILLING BROTHER AND INJURING NEPHEW IN SINGLE-CAR CRASH

SANTA ANA – A drunken driver was sentenced yesterday to four years and four months in state prison for killing his brother and injuring his nephew by crashing his truck while driving at an unsafe speed. Felix Jacobo Brito, 37, Costa Mesa, pleaded guilty to the court yesterday, Sept. 19, 2013, to one felony count of vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated without gross negligence, one felony count of driving under the influence causing bodily injury, one misdemeanor count of driving a motor vehicle without a valid license, and sentencing enhancements and allegations for causing bodily injury and death to more than one victim and causing great bodily injury. Continue reading→

SAPD nabs robbers who stole over $200K in cash and jewelry from a Mini Mall

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Santa Ana Mini Mall Map

Jesus Garfias, 28, and Pedro Lugo, 43, were taken into custody Tuesday and booked on suspicion of commercial burglary of more than $200,000 worth of cash and jewelry from three Orange County businesses at the Santa Ana Mini Mall, according to the O.C. Register.

Garfias was busted during a routine traffic stop in the 3400 block of West 17th Street around 4 a.m. Officers said his pockets were stuffed full of jewelry and he had a business card for the swap mall. A few minutes later, police said they discovered Lugo, along with several duffel bags full of additional valuables, according to CBS News. Continue reading→

H.B. parolee goes to jail again for molesting a 4-year old female relative

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Gordon Ray Bodkin

Orange County District Attorney  Press Release

For Immediate Release,  Case # 11WF1947: September 16, 2013

PAROLEE SENTENCED TO 55 YEARS TO LIFE FOR MOLESTING 4-YEAR-OLD FEMALE RELATIVE WHILE BABYSITTING

SANTA ANA – A parolee was sentenced Friday to 55 years to life in state prison and mandatory lifetime sex offender registration for sexually assaulting a 4-year-old female relative while he was babysitting her and solely responsible for her care. Gordon Ray Bodkin, 47, Huntington Beach, was found guilty July 23, 2013, by a jury of one felony count of unlawful sexual intercourse with a child under 10, and one felony count of sexual penetration of a child under 10. He has a prior strike conviction for residential burglary in 2009. Continue reading→

AZ mom who killed her kids at a Santa Ana hotel facing felony murder charges

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Marilyn Edge

Orange County District Attorney  Media Advisory

For Immediate Release,  Case # TBA: September 16, 2013

MEDIA ADVISORY

WHO: Marilyn Kay Edge, 42, Scottsdale, Arizona

WHAT: Has been charged today with two felony counts of special circumstances murder. The special circumstances sentencing enhancements include committing multiple murders and murder by poisoning. She faces a minimum sentence of life in state prison without the possibility of parole if convicted. The People will be requesting the defendant be held without bail at her arraignment. Edge is accused of murdering her two children, 13-year-old Jaelen E. and 10-year-old Faith E. on Sept. 14, 2013. The ongoing investigation is being conducted by the Santa Ana Police Department. Continue reading→

O.C. Sheriff’s attempt to identify Stanton suspect who murdered an Anaheim man

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Banda

Orange County Sheriff’s Department

NEWS, FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contacts: Lt. Jeff Hallock, (714) 904-7042/Gail Krause, (714) 647-1840

Attempt to Identify Homicide Suspect

STANTON, CA – (September 17, 2013) – On Sunday, September 15, 2013, an altercation occurred in front of the Oasis Bar which led to the fatal shooting of Francisco Salgado Torres, 48 years old of Anaheim. The suspect fatally shot Torres multiple times and fled the scene on foot. Continue reading→

AZ mother who killed her children at a Santa Ana hotel, poisoned them

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Authorities have learned more about the mother who tried to kill herself this weekend in Costa Mesa – and whose comments to police led them to the bodies of her two children, at the Santa Ana Hampton Inn.

Marilyn Kay Edge, of Scottsdale, Ariz., is charged with two counts of murder with special circumstances in the deaths of her daughter Faith and son Jaelen, according to the Huffington Post.

The Orange County Coroner’s office determined today that the children were poisoned.  Their  mother, 42-year-old Edge, has been charged with their murders in  what seems to be a tragic ending to a bitter custody battle, according to Fox News. Continue reading→

Two more men busted for agreeing to have paid sex with a fake prostitute

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OCDA Seal

Orange County District Attorney

For Immediate Release,  Case # 13CM05987/13NM09072: September 16, 2013

TWO SEX PURCHASERS CONVICTED FOR AGREEING TO ENGAGE IN COMMERCIAL SEX WITH WOMAN

SANTA ANA – Two sex purchasers were convicted and sentenced Thursday for agreeing to engage in commercial sex with a woman whom they believed to be a prostitute. Elijah David Venegas, 30, Whittier, and Jason Paul Smith 33, Buena Park, each pleaded guilty Thursday, Sept. 12, 2013, to one misdemeanor count of agreeing to engage in prostitution. Venegas was sentenced three years of informal probation, 10 days in jail with the possibility of CalTrans in lieu of jail, and must submit to AIDS testing and education. Smith was sentenced three years of informal probation, 30 days in jail with the possibility of CalTrans in lieu of jail, and must submit to AIDS testing and education. Continue reading→

There were 22 crimes reported in Santa Ana on Sunday, 9/15

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SAPD talk to protesters at the Fiestas Patrias

There were 22 crimes reported in Santa Ana on Sunday, Sep. 15, 2013, according to our friends at CrimeMapping.  That is a rather low crime total considering how many people were in our Downtown area for the annual Fiestas Patrias event this weekend.

Here is our latest Daily Santa Ana Crime Report: Continue reading→