Category: Santa Ana

Bystander Rescues Boy Who Fell into Santa Ana Riverbed

SANTA ANA, Calif.—A bystander rescued a boy who fell into the Santa Ana Riverbed in Santa Ana March 12 and was swept downstream. The Orange County Fire Authority (OCFA) received a call about the boy at 2:05 p.m., according to a statement from the agency. “A little boy was swept away and traveled approximately half…


Santa Ana Urges State to Allow More Local Control Over Street Vending Safety Rules

Officials in Santa Ana, California, are urging the state government to allow more local control over street vending regulations, saying vendors violating safety rules are crowding the city’s sidewalks and posing health risks to residents. During a March 7 meeting, Santa Ana’s city council voted 5–2 to approve a resolution urging state legislators to amend…


Mission Viejo Man Accused of Choking School Teacher Mom to Death to Be Retried

SANTA ANA, Calif.—A mistrial was declared this week in the case against a 38-year-old Mission Viejo man charged with killing his mother, with jurors deadlocking 11-1 on a verdict. Jurors began deliberating Monday morning and said they could not reach a verdict as of Tuesday afternoon because of the holdout. A hearing was scheduled for…


Mission Viejo Man Accused of Chocking School Teacher Mom to Death to Be Retried

SANTA ANA, Calif.—A mistrial was declared this week in the case against a 38-year-old Mission Viejo man charged with killing his mother, with jurors deadlocking 11-1 on a verdict. Jurors began deliberating Monday morning and said they could not reach a verdict as of Tuesday afternoon because of the holdout. A hearing was scheduled for…


Big Eats in Store for Orange County Restaurant Week

Hungry diners will have dozens of options to satiate their appetites during the 15th annual Orange County Restaurant Week—no tickets or passes required—running from March 5 to 11th. One hundred and fifty restaurants will be participating with prices for any budget, including pre-chosen menus ranging from $15 to $70 per person. Dining options include multi-course…


Least Expensive Orange County Cities to Purchase a Home

With inflation showing no signs of stopping any time soon, many looking to purchase a home in Orange County, California, face heightened obstacles in the already pricey market to do so. According to the California Association of Realtors, the average median home price in the region is just under $1.2 million, according to their January…


Former Santa Ana Church Youth Pastor Sentenced to 12 Years for Molesting Girl

SANTA ANA, Calif.—A 60-year-old former Santa Ana church youth pastor pleaded guilty and was immediately sentenced Feb. 24 to 12 years in prison for sexually assaulting a 12-year-old girl. The victim came forward to police in October 2018 and said Jonathan Lamont Jenkins started making “sexual advances toward her” in January 2018, according to police….


Tustin Man Gets 40 Years for Molesting 3 Boys

SANTA ANA, Calif.—A 30-year-old Tustin man was sentenced Feb. 24 to 40 years in prison for sexually assaulting three boys. Martin Tovar pleaded guilty July 29 to 21 felony counts of sexual assaults on the three boys dating from February 2012 through February 2015, according to court records. Tovar, who was ordered to register as…


Landlords Sue Santa Ana Over ‘Unconstitutional’ Tenant Protections

An Orange County landlord group is seeking to overturn the protections against rent increases and evictions enacted by Santa Ana, Calif., in 2021. The Apartment Association of Orange County—who filed a complaint in the Orange County Superior Court against the city on Feb. 14—called the city’s rent control ordinance “unconstitutional” in a statement. “The city’s…


Ex-OC Deputy Charged with Showing Teenage Girl Pornography

SANTA ANA, Calif.—A former Orange County sheriff’s deputy who has been charged with showing pornography to an underage girl is scheduled to be arraigned on March 7, according to court records. Former Deputy Justin Ramirez was charged Feb. 16 with distributing or exhibiting pornography to a minor, according to court records. Ramirez, who was a…