Category: Orange County District Attorney’s Office

Cheerleader Coach Accused of Molesting 6 Girls in Orange County

SANTA ANA, Calif.—A cheerleader coach made his first appearance in court on May 10 on charges of molesting six girls in Orange County. Erick Joseph Kristianson, 44, of Antioch, Tennessee, was booked into the Orange County Jail on May 8 on multiple charges of molesting girls from 2002 through 2006, according to court and jail…


California Convicted Triple-Murderer Freed From Life Sentence Under ‘Compassionate Release’

A former Westminster attorney and co-founder of an Orange County motorcycle club who has been incarcerated for nearly 40 years for three murders in 1980 has been ordered to be released within 48 hours due to California’s compassionate release laws after he was diagnosed with terminal cancer, authorities announced Feb. 16. Thomas F. Maniscalco, 78,…


Knife-Wielding Man Fatally Shot by Tustin Police

TUSTIN, Calif.—Tustin police officers killed a bloodied, knife-wielding man Jan. 9. The officers responded at about 8:35 a.m. to a call about a suspicious subject holding a large knife with blood on his hands and clothing in the area of Warner and Red Hill avenues, according to Tustin police Sgt. Colt Kirwan. Arriving officers located…


Extreme Risk Protection Orders Double at Orange County, New York, District Attorney’s Office

The number of extreme risk protection orders handled by the Orange County District Attorney’s Office has doubled to 62 following the expansion of red flag law in New York, according to District Attorney David Hoovler on Nov. 3. An extreme risk protection order (ERPO) is a court order under state law that prevents a person…


DNA Helps Orange County Authorities Solve 2 Murders

SANTA ANA, Calif.—Orange County authorities Monday announced that advances in DNA technology helped solve two murders dating back to 1987 and 1989. The suspect in the killings was identified as Reuben J. Smith, who was 39 when he took his own life with a gun in Las Vegas in 1999, according to Garden Grove police…


Friends Mourn Kelly Ernby: ‘A Fighter for Rule of Law and American Freedom’

Kelly Ernby was known to the public as an OC Deputy District Attorney, but her loved ones remember her as being a strong force that was full of life with a warm embrace. Ernby was 46 years old when she died from complications of COVID-19 Jan. 3. Lisa Foster said she met Ernby when she…


‘A Fighter for Rule of Law and American Freedom’: Friends Mourn Kelly Ernby

Kelly Ernby was known to the public as an OC Deputy District Attorney, but her loved ones remember her as being a strong force that was full of life with a warm embrace. Ernby was 46 years old when she passed Jan. 3. Lisa Foster said she met Ernby when she moved into the same…


Friends Mourn the Loss of Kelly Ernby

Kelly Ernby was known to the public as an OC Deputy District Attorney, but her loved ones remember her as being a strong force that was full of life with a warm embrace. Ernby was 46 years old when she died from complications of COVID-19 Jan. 3. Lisa Foster said she met Ernby when she…


Orange County DA Partners With Police to Reduce Catalytic Converter Thefts

The Orange County District Attorney’s (OCDA) office recently teamed up with Buena Park, La Palma, and Cypress police to combat catalytic converter thefts. During the June 12 event, residents could bring their vehicles to Buena Park, Calif. to have their catalytic converters etched with their license plate numbers, connecting the converters to the vehicles in the event…


Garden Grove Police Officer Charged with Assaulting the Homeless

A 12-year veteran of the Garden Grove Police force is facing charges following allegations he assaulted and threatened homeless people while on duty. Officer Kevin Dinh was charged with two misdemeanor counts of unlawful beating by a police officer, two misdemeanor counts of simple battery, and four misdemeanor counts of attempted criminal threats, according to the Orange County District…