New Santa Ana | Tag Archives: fountain valley

Woman convicted for having sex with her son’s 12-year old friend

Posted on February 21, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in Crime, Fountain Valley, OCDA Leave a comment

Orange County District Attorney Press Release

For Immediate Release: February 21, 2014

Case # 11WF2588, # 13WF0360

45-YEAR-OLD WOMAN SENTENCED TO SIX YEARS IN PRISON FOR UNLAWFUL SEX WITH SON’S 12-YEAR-OLD FRIEND

*Defendant also convicted of forging Deputy District Attorney’s name on fake legal letter

SANTA ANA – A 45-year-old woman was sentenced today to six years in state prison and lifetime sex offender registration for having sex with a 12-year-old boy who was friends with her son. Patricia Ann Serrano, 45, Fountain Valley, pleaded guilty Jan. 6, 2014, to three felony counts of lewd acts on a child under 14 with the sentencing enhancement for substantial sexual conduct with a child. In a separate, related case, the defendant pleaded guilty Jan. 6, 2014, to one felony count of forgery and one misdemeanor count of attempted petty theft and was sentenced today to two years in state prison, to be served concurrent to the six year sexual assault sentence. Continue reading→

Former school maintenance painter charged with child porn felonies

Posted on December 13, 2013 by Art Pedroza Posted in Crime, Fountain Valley, Huntington Beach, OCDA, Orange County Leave a comment

Orange County District Attorney Press Release

For Immediate Release, Case # 13WF3614: December 13, 2013

FORMER SCHOOL MAINTENANCE PAINTER TO BE ARRAIGNED FOR POSSESSING AND DISTRIBUTING CHILD PORN ON INTERNET

WESTMINSTER – A former school maintenance painter is scheduled to be arraigned Monday for possessing child pornography on his computer and distributing it through the Internet. Roger Scott Hewson, 51, Fountain Valley, is charged with one felony count of distributing obscene matter and one felony count of possession and control of child pornography. If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence off three years and eight months in state prison and mandatory lifetime sex offender registration. He is out of custody on $100,000 bail and is scheduled to be arraigned Monday, Dec. 16, 2013, at 8:30 a.m. in Department W-2, West Justice Center, Westminster. Continue reading→

Special Olympics Fall Games set for Dec. 14-15 in Irvine and Fountain Valley

Posted on December 11, 2013 by Art Pedroza Posted in Charities, Entertainment, Fountain Valley, irvine, Sports Leave a comment

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Kelly Kloepping, 562.522.8554, kkloepping@sosc.org

Fountain Valley and Irvine to Draw in More than 4,000 for Championship Games

Scrubs Actor John C. McGinley and Olympic Gold Medalist Rafer Johnson to Make Appearance

***Saturday, December 14 – Sunday, December 15***

WHO:

Special Olympics Southern California (SOSC) Fall Games (www.sosc.org/fallgames) is expected to attract more than 4,000 athletes, coaches, volunteers, and spectators over the course of the two-day event. Athletes from San Luis Obispo to San Diego counties in Southern California will compete for gold, silver and bronze medals, while families, friends, and volunteers cheer them on including “Scrubs” actor John C. McGinley, Global Ambassador for Special Olympics. Continue reading→

Third striker convicted for causing explosion that burned his motel room

Posted on October 30, 2013 by Art Pedroza Posted in Crime, Fountain Valley, OCDA, Santa Ana Leave a comment

Orange County District Attorney Press Release

For Immediate Release, Case # 12CF3471: October 30, 2013

THIRD STRIKER CONVICTED OF CAUSING EXPLOSION THAT STARTED FIRE INSIDE HIS MOTEL ROOM

SANTA ANA – A third striker was convicted today of causing an explosion that started a fire inside his motel room. Thanh Van Quang, 39, Fountain Valley, was found guilty by a jury today of one felony count each of arson of an inhabited property and possession of a flammable material with sentencing enhancements for arson with use of an accelerant. Continue reading→

Man faces trial for causing explosion that damaged a Santa Ana hotel

Posted on October 23, 2013 by Art Pedroza Posted in Crime, Fountain Valley, OCDA, Santa Ana Leave a comment

Orange County District Attorney Press Release

For Immediate Release, Case # 12CF3471: October 23, 2013

THIRD STRIKER FACES TRIAL FOR CAUSING EXPLOSION THAT STARTED FIRE INSIDE HIS MOTEL ROOM

SANTA ANA – A third striker faces trial tomorrow for causing an explosion that started a fire inside his motel room. Thanh Van Quang, 39, Fountain Valley, is charged with one felony count each of arson of an inhabited property and possession of a flammable material with sentencing enhancements for arson with use of an accelerant, and four prior strike convictions from 1998 for voluntary manslaughter, assault with a firearm, and two felony counts of robbery. If convicted, Quang faces a maximum sentence of 31 years to life in state prison. Opening statements are expected to begin tomorrow, Thursday, Oct. 24, 2013, at 9:00 a.m. in Department C-28, Central Justice Center, Santa Ana. Continue reading→

Man caught videotaping women at Salvation Army dressing room

Posted on October 17, 2013 by Art Pedroza Posted in Crime, Fountain Valley, Public Safety, Women Leave a comment

City of Fountain Valley – Police Department

PRESS RELEASE: Oct 17, 2013

Additional Victims Sought

On 7-11-13 the Fountain Valley Police Department arrested Scott Ruvolo, 56 years of age from Victorville, after he was attempting to record women changing in the dressing room at the Salvation Army thrift store located at 16119 Brookhurst in Fountain Valley.

A search of Ruvolo’s cell phone revealed he recorded two additional unidentified female victims undressing at the same store just prior to his arrest. Other video footage indicates Ruvolo had his cell phone clipped to his belt and recorded women while walking around unknown Target stores and Starbucks. This occurred between June of 2013 to July of 2013. Continue reading→

Minority women donors sought for Healthy Breast Tissue Collection

Posted on September 9, 2013 by Art Pedroza Posted in Fountain Valley, Health and Medical, Santa Ana, Women Leave a comment

When Jane Ka’ala Pang learned she could donate a small amount of her healthy breast tissue to support groundbreaking breast cancer research, she immediately said “yes!” Earlier this year, Ka’ala Pang, along with Angela Acevedo and Charlene Kazner, traveled to the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Tissue Bank at Indiana University Simon Cancer Center as Orange County representatives to donate their healthy tissue.

Now, the three women are working with Komen Orange County to raise awareness and encourage participation for the first-ever West Coast healthy breast tissue collection on Nov. 2 – to be held right here in Orange County. The goal of the event is to collect 150 samples from women of Asian American, Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander, African American and Latina descent, in an effort to fuel global breast cancer research. Continue reading→

Fountain Valley man identified as motorcyclist who died in Santa Ana on 8/22

Posted on August 23, 2013 by Art Pedroza Posted in Fountain Valley, Motorcycles, Santa Ana Leave a comment

SAPD Advisory: Motorcycle Driver from 8/22/2013 fatal traffic collision 1st Street at Olive identified

Motorcyclist: Francisco Rincon (19) Fountain Valley

On August 22, 2013 at 9:55 am, a Ford F150 Pickup was making a U-turn from eastbound 1st Street to westbound at Olive Street. A Yamaha R6 motorcycle driven by Francisco Rincon was westbound on 1st Street. The Ford driver saw the motorcycle accelerating toward the intersection. The Ford driver stopped in the #2 westbound lane. The Motorcyclist (Rincon) attempted to brake, lost control and struck the pickup. Continue reading→

Gang member Nguyen found guilty of murdering fellow Viet gang banger

Posted on August 11, 2013 by Art Pedroza Posted in Crime, Fountain Valley, Gangs, OCDA, Orange County, Santa Ana, Westminster Leave a comment

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→

Car business owner and operator convicted of embezzling $200K

Posted on July 17, 2013 by Art Pedroza Posted in automobiles, Costa Mesa, Courts, Crime, Fountain Valley, OCDA Leave a comment

Orange County District Attorney Press Release

For Immediate Release, Case # 12CF3155: July 17, 2013

CAR BUSINESS OWNER SENTENCED FOR EMBEZZLING $200,000 IN PROCEEDS FROM CUSTOMER VEHICLES SOLD ON CONSIGNMENT

SANTA ANA – A car business owner and operator was convicted and sentenced today for embezzling $200,000 from the sale proceeds of rare and vintage vehicles sold on consignment. John Calicchio, 63, Costa Mesa, pleaded guilty to 14 counts of embezzlement by fiduciary of trust, two counts of diversion of funds, and four counts of money laundering with a sentencing enhancement for property loss over $200,000. Under the State sentencing law (AB 109), the court split the defendant’s sentence. Calicchio was sentenced to 16 months in jail, two years of mandatory supervision, and ordered to pay $177,000 restitution. Continue reading→

The OC DUI Task Force will be on patrol this Cinco de Mayo

Posted on May 3, 2013 by Art Pedroza Posted in Alcohol, Anaheim, Bars, Crime, Orange County, Public Safety, Santa Ana Leave a comment

SHERIFF-CORONER DEPARTMENT
PRESS RELEASE, FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact: Gail Krause, (714) 647-1840

The Orange County DUI Task Force on Special Patrols for Cinco de Mayo

SANTA ANA, CA – (May 3, 2013) – As the community celebrates Cinco de Mayo, party-goers may indulge themselves with their favorite margarita or tequila and then, unfortunately, choose to get behind the wheel.

This year, the “Avoid the 38” Orange County DUI Task Force is joining with other law enforcement acrossthe nation to encourage everyone to plan ahead this Cinco de Mayo and to never drink and drive. Continue reading→

Former SAPD cop turned P.I. convicted for defrauding his clients

Posted on May 3, 2013 by Art Pedroza Posted in Courts, Crime, Orange County, Public Safety, Santa Ana Leave a comment

Kevin Michael Sianez

Orange County District Attorney Press Release

For Immediate Release, Case # 10CF1569: May 2, 2013

FORMER POLICE OFFICER CONVICTED AND SENTENCED FOR DEFRAUDING CLIENTS BY STEALING PAYMENT FOR UNPERFORMED, UNLICENSED PRIVATE INVESTIGATOR WORK

SANTA ANA – A former police officer working as an unlicensed private investigator was convicted and sentenced today for defrauding his clients. Kevin Michael Sianez, 56, Fountain Valley, pleaded guilty to a court offer to 17 felony counts of grand theft by false pretense, 11 felony counts of fraudulently using an access card, two felony counts of identity theft, four felony counts of possession of a firearm by a felon stemming from a 1998 conviction for stalking, six felony counts of obtaining services through false representation, and one felony count each of perjury by declaration, computer access and fraud, and possession of ammunition by a prohibited person. Sianez also pleaded guilty to one misdemeanor count each of unlawful representation as a private investigator, engaging in the business of private investigation, and doing business without a valid license with sentencing enhancements for aggravated white collar crime over $100,000 and property damage over $65,000. Sianez was sentenced to four years in state prison stayed and ordered to serve one year in jail and make monthly restitution payments of $5,000 until he fulfills the total losses of over $187,000. Continue reading→

Fountain Valley Summerfest continues through Sunday with car show today

Posted on June 9, 2012 by Art Pedroza Posted in automobiles, Entertainment, Family, Food, Fountain Valley, Santa Ana, Youth Activities Leave a comment

The Fountain Valley Summerfest Committee, in partnership with the City of Fountain Valley is launching its 4th annual community celebration called “Fountain Valley Summerfest” to be held from June 710, at the Fountain Valley Sports Park at Brookhurst and Heil. Admission is FREE!

This 4-day celebration will include carnival rides, food and beverage booths, game booths, local entertainment, exhibitors, non-profit organizations, live music, beer/wine garden, Battle of the Bands, Live Sports Tent, the Fountain Valley Classic Car & Truck Show, and the Dog Day Afternoon event. Continue reading→

Off Limits TV show to feature the O.C. Groundwater Treatment station

Posted on May 15, 2012 by Editor Posted in Fountain Valley, Santa Ana, Water 1 Comment

OFF LIMITS, Tuesday, May 15 at 10:00 p.m., ET/PT

Don Wildman crisscrosses the United States, taking viewers behind locked doors to uncover the secrets of the country’s man-made world. Whether traversing obscure or familiar turf, his journey is full of fun and surprises.

In an all-new episode at 10:00 p.m., ET/PT, Wildman goes to the top of a 525 foot tower to see the new earthquake-safe Bay Bridge, gets special access to the largest sugar mill in the U.S., takes a drive in the Mars Rover at Johnson Space Center and visits the U.S. Mint in Denver to see how millions of coins are made each day.

He also handles a deadly shark at the Monterey Bay Aquarium and goes behind the scenes at OC Groundwater in Orange County, California, where more than 70 million gallons of drinking water are produced each day. Continue reading→

Who is Kenneth K. Nguyen?

Posted on May 13, 2012 by Art Pedroza Posted in 2012 Elections, Education, Fountain Valley, Orange County, Politics, Santa Ana, Vietnamese 10 Comments

Who is Kenneth K. Nguyen? He is one of several candidates for the Orange County Board of Education, Area One, in the June primary. But what do we really know about him?

We know he serves on the Santa Ana Parks and Recreation Commission, which he listed as his occupation on his ballot statement. And he appears to have been the owner of a company called Keynet Corp., in Fountain Valley. Continue reading→