Category: Southern California

Former US Marshal Gets 10 Years for Framing Ex-Girlfriend in Anaheim Condo Dispute

LOS ANGELES—A former deputy U.S. marshal from Glendora was sentenced June 30 to 10 years and one month in federal prison for framing his ex-girlfriend for sexual assault in an apparent effort to gain sole ownership of a condo they purchased together. Because of the scheme run by Ian R. Diaz, 45, and his then-wife,…


Irvine Woman Pleads Guilty to Stealing From Cancer-Stricken Grandmother

A 36-year-old woman pleaded guilty on June 30 and was immediately sentenced to six months in jail for stealing thousands of dollars from her cancer-stricken grandmother in Irvine. Lashawn Ellesse Owens pleaded guilty to two counts of grand theft. As part of her plea deal with prosecutors, two counts of theft from an elder adult…


Thousands on Bicycles Kick Off Fourth of July Celebrations in Huntington Beach

Clad in red, white, and blue, thousands of patriotic cyclists gathered in Huntington Beach to celebrate the Fourth of July on the morning of July 1, many waving American flags and some even balancing their large pets from handlebar baskets while cruising through the city. “When I started this ride four years ago, 1,000 people…


California Teachers’ Union Threatens Local School Board With Legal Action Over Flag Policy

California’s statewide teachers’ union sent a letter June 27 to the Chino Valley Unified School board criticizing its recent decision to allow only government flags on school property—and threatening to take legal action against the board if the policy is not reversed. The board voted 4–1 June 15 to allow only the California and U.S….


Newport Beach Votes to Ban Homeless Encamping, Increase Shelter Beds

The Newport Beach City Council voted unanimously June 27 to ban homeless encampments that block public access to such facilities as schools, daycare centers, and public restrooms, as well as “unpermitted structures”—such as those made of wood pallets or lean-tos—of any kind even if the city’s only shelter is full. Tents, tarps, and sleeping bags—as…


A California Scholar’s Research Into a Flowering Shrub Took Him to Mexico and a Violent Death

LOS ANGELES—For four years, Gabriel Trujillo trekked the breadth of the United States and south into Mexico in search of a flowering shrub called the common buttonbush. The plant is native to the varied climates of Canada, the U.S., and Mexico. Trujillo, a 31-year-old Ph.D. student at the University of California–Berkeley, wanted to know why…


2 Dead, 4 Seriously Injured in Lake Balboa Crash

A collision involving an alleged wrong-way driver in Lake Balboa left a 60-year-old woman and a 5-year-old boy dead and four other people injured, authorities said June 30. The collision was reported around 9:35 p.m. on June 29 on Woodley Avenue north of Burbank Boulevard, according to the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD). According to…


El Dorado County Group Mulls Secession from California

Frustrated by what they call a lack of representation, some residents of El Dorado County, east of Sacramento, are exploring a plan to split from the Golden State and form their own state. If enough residents support the idea, the Republic for El Dorado State group will take the matter directly to Congress, bypassing the…


5 Killed in Crash on 710 Freeway in Long Beach ID’d

A car crashed into an attenuator on the Long Beach 710 Freeway and burst into flames killing five on June 26. Authorities have now identified all five people who were killed. The crash was reported at 4:12 a.m. Monday on the northbound freeway at the transition to the eastbound Artesia 91 Freeway, according to the…


Construction Worker Severely Beaten by Crowd in Garden Grove, Suspects Wanted

Authorities are asking anyone with information related to the June 20 assault of a construction worker to come forward, after the man was attacked in Garden Grove by a group of men, resulting in skull fractures and severe brain injuries. Carlos Ayala, 54, was beaten while working a job with co-workers paving the parking lot…