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Category Archives: Westminster

Wannabe pastor found guilty of molesting two young male relatives

Posted on by Posted in Churches and Religion, Crime, OCDA, Westminster Leave a comment

OCDA Seal

Orange County District Attorney Press Release

For Immediate Release, Case # 09WF1805: February 19, 2014

SELF-APPOINTED PASTOR/BIBLE STUDY LEADER SENTENCED TO 15 YEARS TO LIFE IN PRISON FOR SEXUALLY ASSAULTING TWO YOUNG MALE RELATIVES

WESTMINSTER – A self-appointed pastor who hosted regular “church” meetings and Bible studies in his Westminster home was sentenced today to 15 years to life in state prison for sexually assaulting two young male relatives beginning when the victims were 12 years old. James Ray Guerrero, 54, Westminster, was found guilty by a jury Nov. 27, 2013, of eight felony counts of lewd acts upon a child under 14, one felony count of distributing pornography to a minor, and sentencing enhancement allegations for substantial sexual conduct with a child and lewd acts on more than one child. Continue reading→

Why was the trial of Kim Pham’s alleged murderers moved to Westminster?

Posted on by Posted in Courts, Crime, OCDA, Santa Ana, Westminster 3 Comments

Candace Brito and Vanesa Zavala

I am trying to figure out why the trial of Vanesa Tapia Zavala, 25, and Candace Marie Brito, 27, who have both been charged with the brutal murder of 23-year old Chapman grad and writer Kim Pham, was moved from the Central Justice Center in Santa Ana, to Newport Beach and then, late Monday, it was assigned to West Court, in Westminster, according to the O.C. Register.

As I understand it prospective jurors will be drawn from a Countywide pool, but moving the trial into, essentially, Little Saigon, and out of Downtown Santa Ana, sure looks like a big favor to Santa Ana’s City Council – and to the gentrifiers/hipsters in DTSA.  The trial is going to be a media circus and holding it in Santa Ana would have been a daily reminder of how dangerous DTSA can be, for some. Continue reading→

Vietnamese man sentenced for stabbing a man to death at a Garden Grove party

Posted on by Posted in Crime, Garden Grove, OCDA, Vietnamese, Westminster Leave a comment

Khanh Van Le

Orange County District Attorney Press Release

For Immediate Release, Case # 09WF2495: February 3, 2014

MAN SENTENCED 16 YEARS TO LIFE IN PRISON FOR STABBING-MURDER OF PARTY-GOER FOLLOWING ARGUMENT

WESTMINSTER – A man was sentenced Friday, Jan. 31, 2014, to 16 years to life in state prison for the stabbing-murder of a party-goer following an argument. Khanh Van Le, 43, Westminster, was found guilty by a jury, Oct. 21, 2013, of one felony count of second degree murder with a sentencing enhancement for the personal use of a knife.

Co-defendant Thao Thi Nguyen, 44, Anaheim, pleaded guilty, Nov. 22, 2013, to one felony count of accessory after the fact for lying to police about Le’s actions. Thao Nguyen was sentenced to 45 days in jail and three years of formal probation after the Court reduced the felony charge to a misdemeanor over the objection of the People. Continue reading→

OCDA to participate in the annual Tet Parade and Tet Festival in Westminster

Posted on by Posted in OCDA, Vietnamese, Westminster Leave a comment

OCDA Seal

Orange County District Attorney Press Release

For Immediate Release: January 31, 2014

OCDA CELEBRATES “YEAR OF THE HORSE” THIS WEEKEND AT ANNUAL TET PARADE

ORANGE COUNTY – The Orange County District Attorney’s Office (OCDA) wishes the Vietnamese community a Happy New Year, “Year of the Horse.” In honor of the Vietnamese New Year, the OCDA is proud to participate in the annual Westminster Tet Parade, Saturday, Feb. 1, 2014. District Attorney Tony Rackauckas will participate in the Tet Parade beginning at 10:00 a.m. and the Tet Festival’s opening ceremonies at 1:30 p.m. Continue reading→

Business owner charged with embezzling over $950K

Posted on by Posted in Crime, OCDA, Santa Ana, Westminster 2 Comments

OCDA Seal

Orange County District Attorney Press Release

For Immediate Release, Case # 13WF2843: January 22, 2014

BUSINESS OWNER SENTENCED TO NINE YEARS AND EIGHTS MONTHS IN PRISON FOR EMBEZZLING OVER $950,000 FROM CLIENT/EMPLOYER

SANTA ANA – A business owner was sentenced to nine years and eight months in state prison for defrauding over $950,000 from his client/employer. Carino Torres, 45, Westminster, pleaded guilty yesterday, Jan. 21, 2014, to three felony counts of forgery, one felony count of grand theft, and one felony count of writing non-sufficient fund checks with sentencing enhancements for committing an aggravated white collar crime over $500,000 and property loss over $200,000. Continue reading→

Simon Youth Foundation seeks applicants for $1 million in scholarships

Posted on by Posted in Education, Santa Ana, Westminster, Youth Activities Leave a comment

SYF 2014 Community Scholarship

Simon Youth Foundation seeks applicants for $1 million in scholarships

ORANGE COUNTY, Calif. (January 2, 2014)– For a fourteenth straight year, Simon Youth Foundation, a national nonprofit that provides educational opportunities for at-risk high school students, will award a college scholarship to one student from every community that is home to a Simon property.

Simon Youth Foundation Community Scholarships are awarded through the Simon Youth Scholarships program and in partnership with local Simon properties. The application period is open now until Saturday, January 11, 2014. Continue reading→

Bible study leader convicted of molesting his young relatives

Posted on by Posted in Churches and Religion, Crime, OCDA, Santa Ana, Westminster 1 Comment

OCDA Seal

Orange County District Attorney Press Release

For Immediate Release, Case # 09WF1805: November 27, 2013

SELF-APPOINTED PASTOR/BIBLE STUDY LEADER CONVICTED OF SEXUALLY ASSAULTING TWO YOUNG MALE RELATIVES

WESTMINSTER – A self-appointed pastor who hosted regular “church” meetings and Bible studies in his Westminster home was convicted today of sexually assaulting two young male relatives beginning when the victims were 12 years old.

James Ray Guerrero, 54, Westminster, was found guilty by a jury of eight felony counts of lewd acts upon a child under 14, one felony count of distributing pornography to a minor, and sentencing enhancement allegations for substantial sexual conduct with a child and lewd acts on more than one child. He faces a maximum sentence of 123 years to life in state prison at his sentencing Feb. 14, 2014, at 1:30 p.m. in Department W-16, West Justice Center, Westminster. Continue reading→

Town hall forum regarding proposal to add toll lanes to the 405 set for 10/29

Posted on by Posted in Entertainment, OCTA, Orange County, Transportation, Westminster Leave a comment

405 Freeway Cities Coalition

405 Freeway Cities Coalition

FOR MORE INFORMATION: George Urch (714) 464-9125 (Cell)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 28, 2013

405 FREEWAY CITIES COALITION IN ORANGE COUNTY TO HOLD TOWN HALL FORUM THIS TUESDAY, OCTOBER 29, ON OCTA PROPOSAL TO ADD TOLL LANES ON I-405 FREEWAY

Forum Will Offer Opportunity For General Public To Voice Opinion On OCTA’s Proposal To Add Toll Lanes Along I-405 Freeway Between SR-55 And I-605 Freeways In Orange County

WHO: * Panel Made Up Of City Council Members From Each Of The 6 Member Cities Of The 405 Freeway Cities Coalition (Costa Mesa, Fountain Valley, Huntington Beach, Los Alamitos, Seal Beach, and Westminster)

* Remarks From A Wide Variety Of Electeds & Members Of Public Including: Continue reading→

Correa ObamaCare Town Hall meeting set for 10/25 in Westminster

Posted on by Posted in Entertainment, Health and Medical, Lou Correa, Westminster Leave a comment

Correa Obamacare

Senator Lou Correa is having a Town Hall on Health Care coverage (ObamaCare) on Friday, October 25, 2013 2:00pm – 4:00pm at the Westminster Senior Center 8200 Westminster Blvd. in Westminster.

The town hall discussion will include:

  • Who is eligible to enroll in Covered California
  • Financial assistance for those who qualify • What is covered by health insurance plans
  • Who is eligible to enroll in the Medi-Cal expansion  Continue reading→

Westminster man busted for trying to hook up with a fake Buena Park prostitute

Posted on by Posted in Crime, Santa Ana, Westminster Leave a comment

OCDA Seal

Orange County District Attorney  Press Release

For Immediate Release,  Case # 13NM09214: October 4, 2013

SEX PURCHASER CONVICTED FOR SOLICITING SEX FROM WOMAN WHOM HE BELIEVED TO BE PROSTITUTE

SANTA ANA – A man was convicted and sentenced today for soliciting sex from a woman whom he believed to be a prostitute. Joel Swank, 25, Westminster, pleaded guilty today to one misdemeanor count of agreeing to engage in prostitution. Swank was sentenced to 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. Continue reading→

Cambodian Family’s annual fundraising dinner set for 9/20

Posted on by Posted in Cambodians, Charities, Westminster, Youth Activities Leave a comment

The Cambodian Family invites you to support their efforts in “Empowering Families and Building Community” on Friday, September 20, 2013 from 6-9pm at The Grand Garden in Westminster. To RSVP, click here.

For over 33 years, The Cambodian Family has helped thousands of Orange County’s most vulnerable members of society achieve greater health, knowledge, and success, largely due to our dedicated staff, volunteers, partners, and funders. Over the years, they have successfully managed more than $25 million of public and private funding and have established deep roots in our community. Continue reading→

Gang member Nguyen found guilty of murdering fellow Viet gang banger

Posted on by Posted in Crime, Fountain Valley, Gangs, OCDA, Orange County, Santa Ana, Westminster Leave a comment

Giang Thuy Nguyen

Orange County District Attorney Press Release

For Immediate Release, Case # 09ZF0050: August 9, 2013

FOURTH VIETNAMESE CRIMINAL STREET GANG MEMBER SENTENCED TO LIFE IN PRISON WITHOUT PAROLE FOR 1995 COLD CASE EXECUTION-STYLE RETALIATORY MURDER

*All the defendants in this case were sentenced to life in state prison without the possibility of parole

SANTA ANA – A Vietnamese criminal street gang member was sentenced today to life in state prison without the possibility of parole for the 1995 cold case execution-style murder of a fellow gang associate in retaliation for abandoning them while committing a home invasion robbery one day earlier. Giang Thuy Nguyen, 37, Fountain Valley, was found guilty by a jury April 10, 2012, of one felony count of murder and one felony count of conspiracy to commit murder with sentencing enhancement allegations for murder by lying in wait and committing a crime for the benefit of a criminal street gang. The sentencing enhancements for murder to avoid arrest and crime-bail-crime against Giang Nguyen were found true. Continue reading→

Corona man on trail for sexually assaulting six O.C. females including minors

Posted on by Posted in Crime, Garden Grove, OCDA, Santa Ana, Westminster Leave a comment

Max Danilo Martinez

Orange County District Attorney, Press Release
For Immediate Release, Case # 09CF2979: July 9, 2013

MAN FACES TRIAL FOR SEXUALLY ASSAULTING SIX FEMALES, INCLUDING RAPING TWO MINORS, AFTER GIVING THEM ALCOHOL

SANTA ANA – A man faces trial tomorrow for sexually assaulting six females, including raping a 14-year-old and 17-year-old girl, after giving them alcohol. Max Danilo Martinez, 33, Corona, is charged with four felony counts of forcible rape, two felony counts of sexual penetration by foreign object by force, one felony count of oral copulation by force, one felony count of rape of an unconscious person, and sentencing enhancement allegations for sexual crimes against multiple victims. If convicted, Martinez faces a maximum sentence of 113 years to life in state prison. Opening statements are scheduled to begin tomorrow, Wednesday, July 10, 2013, at 9:15 a.m. in Department C-43, Central Justice Center, Santa Ana. Continue reading→

Senator Correa to host Westminster Family Fitness Day on 7/13

Posted on by Posted in Entertainment, Family, Health and Medical, Lou Correa, Santa Ana, Sports, Westminster Leave a comment

WESTMINSTER FAM FIT.jpg

SENATOR LOU CORREA HOSTS WESTMINSTER FAMILY FITNESS DAY

(Santa Ana, CA) – Senator Lou Correa in collaboration with other local organizations is hosting the annual Westminster Family Fitness Day at Sigler Park.

The event will take place on Saturday, July 13th, 2013, from 10:00 am – 1:00 pm at Sigler Park located at 7200 Plaza Street, Westminster, CA 92683.  Continue reading→

O.C. man arrested after illegal fireworks blow up in his garage

Posted on by Posted in Crime, Orange County, Santa Ana, Westminster Leave a comment

OCDA Seal

Orange County District Attorney, Press Release
For Immediate Release, Case # 13WF1909: June 26, 2013

MAN FACES CHARGES FOR POSSESSING EXPLOSIVE DEVICE MATERIALS AND FIREWORKS AFTER CAUSING EXPLOSION IN HIS GARAGE

WESTMINSTER – A man was arrested today for possession of explosive device materials and illegal fireworks after he caused an explosion in his garage. Michael Livingston Parr, 49, Westminster, is charged with one felony count of possession for sale of a controlled substance, one felony count of possession of a controlled substance with a firearm, one felony count of possession of materials with intent to make an explosive, one felony count of possession of a zip gun, one misdemeanor count of possession of illegal fireworks, with a sentencing enhancement for possessing 28.5 grams or more of methamphetamine with intent to sell. If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of six years and four months in state prison. The People will request Parr be held on $500,000 bail and he is expected to be arraigned tomorrow, Thursday, June 27, 2013, at the West Justice Center, Westminster. The time and Department are to be determined. Continue reading→