Category: Santa Ana

‘Dangerous and Violent’ Teen Convicted of Matricide Rearrested: Authorities

SANTA ANA, Calif.—An 18-year-old convicted killer described by authorities as “dangerous and violent” was taken back into custody Sunday after freeing himself of his electronic monitoring device and escaping from a halfway house in Santa Ana. Ike Nicholas Souzer was arrested Sunday by the Orange County District Attorney’s AB 109 Task Force, OC District Attorney…


Santa Ana Business Owners Call for Reparations Due to Impacts of Construction

ORANGE, Calif.—Several Santa Ana Business owners who have been impacted by the Orange County Transportation Authority’s (OCTA) streetcar project asked for reparations during an April 11 board meeting. The owners argued that the shutdown of 4th Street for streetcar construction in downtown Santa Ana caused their buildings to become dirty, have endless construction noise, created…


Transient Charged with Hurling Concrete at Passing Motorist

SANTA ANA, Calif.—A 30-year-old transient was charged Monday with heaving a chunk of concrete at a passing driver in Garden Grove. Lonnie Duante Johnson was charged with single felony counts each of assault with a deadly weapon, assault with force likely to produce great bodily injury, and throwing a missile with the intent to do…


Woman’s Attorneys’ Fees Award Dwarfs Jury Verdict Amount

LOS ANGELES—A Santa Ana woman who won more than $300,000 after a jury found she was targeted for disparate treatment in her human resources job at Amazon has been awarded more than $2 million in attorneys fees. Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Michael Linfield on April 8 granted $2.47 million in attorneys’ fees to Thu…


Couple Ordered to Stand Trial in Fatal Road-Rage Shooting

SANTA ANA, Calif.—A Costa Mesa couple was ordered Wednesday to stand trial in connection with the fatal road rage shooting of a 6-year-old boy on a freeway in Costa Mesa. Marcus Anthony Eriz, 25, and Wynne Lee, 23, were both held to answer on charges following a preliminary hearing Wednesday. They were scheduled to be…


The Art of Bubble Making in Orange County

SANTA ANA, Calif.—“Oh my gosh!” a child said while jumping out of his seat in an attempt to grab a laser shining through thousands of bubbles. “I can’t even believe this!” Children and guardians watched Discovery Cube’s Bubblefest March 31 performed by world-renowned bubble artist Melody Yang, 31, who has traveled the world displaying a…


Santa Ana City Council Considers Art Murals to Cover Graffiti

The City of Santa Ana is considering using murals as a graffiti prevention tool, both to cover up existing graffiti and to give artists a creative and legal source of expression. The idea was introduced by Santa Ana City Councilman Ryan Hernandez in a Dec. 21 council meeting as city officials were discussing increased graffiti…


OC Streetcar Contractor Sues Transportation Authority for $50 Million

SANTA ANA, Calif.—The Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) is getting sued for $50 million by a company it hired to construct the rail system for the OC Streetcar, according to a lawsuit filed earlier this month in the county’s Superior Court. Walsh Construction, the company hired by the transit authority, said in the Mar. 4…


Santa Ana Bans Sale of Flavored Tobacco

SANTA ANA, Calif.—The ban on the sale of flavored tobacco products in Santa Ana is finalized and is expected to go into effect next month, after the City Council voted unanimously for the ban on March 15. The ban applies to flavored tobacco products, including e-cigarettes, vapes, hookah, cigars, and pipe tobacco. The council’s decision…


Piano Teacher Convicted of Molesting 8 Girls in Orange County

SANTA ANA, Calif.—An Orange County piano instructor was convicted on March 14 of molesting eight girls—with a ninth testifying as a witness in his trial—over 18 years. John Mordecai Scott, 65, was initially accused of molesting 11 girls, but one did not wish to participate in the non-jury bench trial before Orange County Superior Court…