San Diego Criminal Defense Lawyer Blog

San Diego man accused for killing his ex-wife pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Justin Meltzer pleaded not guilty to two counts of assault with a semiautomatic weapon for supposedly threatening neighbors with a gun, as well as counts of murder and use of a firearm. Meltzer is looking at 61 years to life in prison if convicted. The accused was arraigned Thursday morning in the hospital after undergoing surgery. The 42-year-old alleged shooter was arrested Friday evening at his home on Larkspur Drive in Alpine. Officers took action following reports of a man pointing a gun to the head of a woman who was identified as 40 year-old Deborah Meltzer. Carlos Campbell, Deputy District Attorney, reported that “a witness heard screaming, heard a fire alarm, approached where he heard it, which was the defendant’s house. [The witness saw the victim near the door of the defendant’s residence; handcuffed with a dog leash attached to handcuffs…She was screaming. She was asking for help. She was saying he has a gun, he’s going to shoot me”.

After an exchange of gunfire, the victim was hauled into the home with the man at which time the defendant was shot in the leg. Campbell also reported that “Sherriff’s deputies did respond, they attempted to save her. They were unsuccessful, firing shots. He then dragged the victim into the house. At that time sheriff’s deputies did hear several rounds. They went inside and found her with I believe seven shots from a 9 mm in her chest”.

Dawn Beebee, Justin Meltzer’s San Diego criminal defense attorney, argued for no bail due to the fact that Meltzer does not have a previous criminal record. Despite her argument, Judge William McGrath set the defendant’s bail at $2 million. The suspected shooter remains in the hospital in recovery under 24-hour surveillance by San Diego County sheriff’s deputies.

Man Accused Of Killing Ex-Wife Pleads Not Guilty, 10news.com, December 29, 2011

Alpine man pleads not guilty to killing ex-wife, fox5sandiego.com, December 29, 2011

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San Diego Man accused of stabbing a man riding the trolley then carjacking an elderly man’s vehicle is being ordered to stand trial.

Gregory Charles Davis, 54, is being charged with attempted murder, carjacking, elder abuse, and two misdemeanor counts of hit-and-run. Davis is accused for stabbing a fellow trolley rider as well as carjacking a 75-year-old man’s car near Old Town on September 26. Davis pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity following his preliminary hearing at the downtown courthouse. Preceding the trial, the defendant is to be examined by a psychiatrist and psychologist that is court-appointed. If the defendant is convicted of these charges he faces 15 years to life but if he is also found insane he could be sent to a state mental hospital.

Witness Kirstie Moss testified that Davis appeared to be frantic in the back of the trolley when he headed down the aisle, yelled something unintelligible and then stabbed victim James Novae in the neck. The victim had to have emergency throat surgery due to the life threatening wound. Another witness who was on the trolley during the incident testified that Davis seemed to be acting a bit strange and did not seem to be mentally secure when he attacked Novae.

According to prosecutor Christopher Moon, after exiting the trolley the defendant allegedly went up to an elderly man demanding the keys to his Buick. Davis then struck the man and recklessly drove away causing two hit-and-run accidents. The stolen Buick was spotted heading south along Interstate 805. Officers used a service dog to search an open brush area which the carjacker had been spotted after pulling over on the freeway. At around 4 p.m. Davis was taken into custody.

Carjacking Suspect Ordered To Stand Trial, 10news.com, December 19, 2011

Insanity trial ordered trolley stabbing case, fox5sandiego.com, December 20, 2011

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San Diego teens accused of kidnapping and rape had their hearings rescheduled for December 12.

The two teenage boys are being tried as adults for the Rancho Penasquitos rapes of two young teen girls. According to Deputy District Attorney Wendy Patrick, the 16 year-old boys, Leonel Contreras and William Steven Rodriguez are each possibly facing up to 325 years to life behind bars if convicted of all of their charges. They are charged with 16 counts of kidnapping, forcible rape and sodomy by force.

The two teenage victims had gone for a walk during a family party on September 3 at around 8:15 p.m. Patrick told a judge at the defendant’s September arraignment that the two boys walked past the young girls with hooded jackets on and demanded they go to an isolated area across the street. The teenage victims complied and were then ordered to remove their clothes. The girls were assaulted for about 30 to 40 minutes until family members started to call their names looking for them.

The defendants then threatened the victims saying “don’t scream, I don’t want to have to hurt you”. The boys then took off on their bicycles that had been hidden away in some bushes nearby. The girls had never met the accused boys prior to the assault. The defendant’s are each being tried as adults and are looking at 25 years to life for each of the 13 charges out of 16 therefore if convicted could face up to 325 years in prison.

Hearing Rescheduled For Teens Accused Of Kidnapping, Rape, 10news.com, November 15, 2011

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San Diego man who killed both of his parents with a machete was sentenced on Thursday.

47 year-old Dennis Gluck was sentenced to 32 years to life in prison for the killing of his elderly parents in their Carlsbad home. The married couple, Harry and Jean Gluck, was hacked up with a machete by their son. The bodies were discovered in a bedroom of their home on January 18, 2009 and had died from “chop” wounds inflicted upon them with a machete. According to the authorities, Gluck had always shown hostile behavior towards his parents. The defendant escaped to Mexico after murdering his parents but was arrested a month later in Ensenada and charged with second-degree murder.

Gluck was kept from standing trial for two years due to a mental illness however in August he was able to proceed with a trial because treatment and medications helped his condition improve. Gluck appeared to be vacant and inexpressive during his sentencing. Gluck’s brothers spoke at his sentencing and expressed their dissatisfaction with the state’s mental health system. Mitch Gluck said “even though Dennis bears some of the responsibility for what has happened, I’m also aware of how inadequate the mental health system is, much less than criminal system”. According to both Mitch and Richard Gluck, Dennis started showing signs of mental illness in his 20’s.

This isn’t Gluck’s first run in with the law. Some years before the murder of his parents, Gluck was arrested for assaulting a person with a machete at a homeless camp in Oceanside. During his sentencing, Gluck’s brothers did not ask Superior Court Judge Aaron Katz to be lenient on him. Richard Gluck’s ending statement was “we stand before him and this court with nothing but love and forgiveness in our hearts. Dennis, you are and always will be our brother and we love you”.

Man who hacked parents to death sentenced, fox5sandiego.com, Nov. 3, 2011

Man Who Killed Parents With Machete Sentenced, 10news.com, Nov. 4, 2011

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San Diego man is accused of molesting three young children who are enrolled in his wife’s home day-care in Southcrest.

53 year-old Hector Herrera is being accused of molesting three related children who attend his wife’s home day-care service. Judge Melinda Lasater ruled Monday after hearing all the evidence presented at the accuser’s preliminary hearing that Herrera must stand trial on four felony charges for the molestations. The defendant is being charged with three counts of child molestation and one count of oral copulation on a child under 10. Deputy District Attorney Harrison Kennedy says that if convicted, Herrera faces 60 years to life behind bars.

According to SDPD Lt. Rudy Tai, a 4 year old girl who attended the Shining Stars Daycare in the 3900 Block of Boston Avenue told her mother about being molested by Herrera in early May. The young girls two older brothers who are ages 6 and 8 also told their mother that they were touched inappropriately by Herrera. The accused was arrested by the San Diego authorities on May 18 of this year.

The defendant’s wife, and owner of the Shining Stars Daycare, said she did not know of her husband’s alleged crimes. Her day care was also temporarily shut down for an investigation being conducted by the Community Care Licensing Division of the state Department of Social Service. The San Diego criminal is to be back in court on Monday October 31 for arraignment in Superior Court.

Man Accused In Day Care Molestations To Stand Trial, 10news.com, October 17, 2011

Man Accused of Molesting Children In Wife’s Home Day-Care; Bail Set at $500,000, sandiego6news.com, May 20, 2011

Continue reading "San Diego Man Is to Stand Trial for Day Care Molestations" »

San Diego Man was found guilty for sexually assaulting his 13-year-old relative.

30-year-old, Imshay Segrest, was sentenced on Friday to 12 years in state prison for sexually assaulting his 13-year-old relative. The victim was attacked in her Serra Mesa home and is mentally disabled having a mental capacity of an 8 or 9 year-old. Segrest was charged for commiting a forcible lewd act on a child and was later found guilty. According to Judge Amalia Meza, the defendant was sentenced to an aggravated term because his actions brought long lasting trauma to the young girl.

The judge stated “What he did was a very frightening act on a child who was disabled. You can’t victimize people like that”. The defendant has had previous trouble with the law, according to Deputy District Attorney Nicole Rooney he has been in trouble with using drugs, carrying a concealed weapon, associating with gang members, and leading police on chases. The defendant has been sent to prison twice for felony evasion in 2003 and 2004 and for possession of cocaine in 2003. At the time he committed the sexual assault, Segrest was on probation.
Segrest’s mother, Patricia, asked the judge to be lenient on him because he had a rough childhood.

According to Patricia she was hooked to crack cocaine when her son was growing up. She said to the judge “my son Imshay is not a bad person. He made a mistake. I do believe in second chances”. Segrest’s San Diego criminal defense attorney, Charles Luckman, said claimed that the defendant was under the influence of drugs and alcohol when he attacked the girl.

Man Sentenced In Sex Assault On Mentally Disabled Relative, 10news.com, October 7, 2011

Man gets prison for molesting disabled child, fox5sandiego.com, October 7, 2011

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San Diego suspect was arrested for the random freeway shooting spree.

24-year-old Enrique Ayon was arrested Tuesday for being linked with the shootings that occurred on two major San Diego interstates. During a traffic stop in Los Angeles County early Tuesday morning, Ayon of Lancaster, was taken into custody by the California Highway Patrol and was then booked into San Diego Central Jail later that evening. He was booked on several charges including assault, discharge of a firearm causing injury, attempted murder, and shooting at an inhabited vehicle.

According to the authorities, Early Monday morning, the suspect’s car which was later identified as a white 2006 Chevrolet Malibu, was believed to be involved in a hit-and-run on East San Ysidro Boulevard. Shortly after, the first shooting took place on Interstate 805 headed northbound toward East Plaza Boulevard in National City. Darryl Hoover, the San Diego police Lt., said that a bullet hit a passing car but no one in the vehicle was injured. Not long after another firearm assault happened near on the 805 freeway in Serra Mesa, injuring a 26-year-old man in the calf. Another two shootings occurred on the 805 which was targeted at an officer who was assisting a motorist, and then again in the Del Mar Heights area heading northbound on the Interstate 5 where an ambulance was aimed at. No one was hurt in these later attacks.

According to Hoover, there was no communication between the victims and the shooters prior to and after the attack. Ayon has had previous arrests for possession of marijuana, and unlawful carrying and possession of weapons. Art Athans, CHP officer, reported that evidence shows that the shots “were all from the same gun and of the same caliber”.

Suspect In Freeway Shootings Booked Into Jail, 10news.com, October 5, 2011

Suspect in freeway shootings arrested, fox5sandiego.com, October 4, 2011

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In the Rancho Penasquitos sexual assault of two teenage girls, the two young men arrested and charged for the rapes have pleaded not guilty.

The two 16 year-old boys, Leonel Contreras and William Rodriguez are being tried as adaults. The two boys held two teenage girls at knifepoint in a Rancho Penasquitos park and allegedly raped them over Labor Day weekend. On Monday the two accused teens plead not guilty to 16 felony charges which includes forcible rape, sodomy by force and kidnapping. Bail was set for $5 million each. 13 of the 16 charges have a potential sentence of 25 years to life in prison which if convicted can be up to a total 325 years to life in prison, according to Deputy District Attorney Wendy Partick.

The prosecutor told reporters “The nature of the crimes, the duration of the crimes, the number…the brutality of the crimes, the callousness..the stranger-rape nature of this offense justified charging them as adaults.” Contreras’s older brother Ivan disagreed with the severity of the charges saying “the charges they’re giving are obviously too much. How are you going to get him as an adult?”

The San Diego Crime occurred on September 3 when two girls, age 15 and 16, were attending a family party and walked to a nearby park. According to the prosecutor, the defendants were wearing jackets with hoods when they came up behind the girls and ordered forced them into a secluded area across the street. The two boys held the girls at knifepoint then sexually assaulted the two girls for about 30 to 40 minutes until a family member of one of the girls was heared calling their names. Patrick told the judge “this included every kind of rape you could imagine.” The defendants then left on a bicycle.

2 Teens Plead Not Guilty In Rancho Penasquitos Rape Case, 10news.com, September 12, 2011

2 teens plead not guilty to raping girls in park, fox5sandiego.com, September 12, 2011

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San Diego culprits of kidnapping and assaulting a 21 year-old woman were arrested Friday. Police identified 33 year-old Christopher Carrera and 47 year-old Catherine McCoy as the suspects of an assault against a 21 year-old woman. According to the San Diego Police Lt. Andra Brown, the pair was taken into custody on Friday. The man and women are believed to have attacked a young woman as she walked to her home in the City Heights area at around 7:30 p.m. Police have reason to believe that the woman knew her attackers. The suspects allegedly kicked and punched the young woman and then forced her into a white SUV. McCoy proceeded to beat and sexually assault the woman while Carrera drove. McCoy also threatened to kill the woman.

On State Route 125, Carrera suddenly stopped the SUV and dragged the victim by her hair over to an embankment and then fled the scene. A passing driver witnessed the incident and called the police at about 8:30 p.m. California Highway Patrol Sgt. Kevin Mensior said the witness “saw a male dragging the victim up the side of the hill by her hair…by the time they got turned around they were gone or in the process of leaving”. The victim was taken to a Chula Vista Hospital and suffered extensive injuries.

Both Carrera and McCoy were arrested on Friday during follow-up investigations. The two are being charged with attempted murder in the first degree and kidnapping with the intent to commit robbery and rape. Carrera was booked into County Jail and McCoy in Las Colinas and are being held without bail.

2 Arrested In Connection With Kidnapping, Sexual Assault Case, 10news.com, August 20, 2011

Two arrested for kidnapping, assault of woman found naked on roadside, cbs8.com, August 20,2011

Continue reading "San Diego Man and Woman Arrested for Kidnapping and Sexual Assault " »

San Diego sexual assault and murder of Dan Williams trial has begun.

Philong Huynh, 40, is being charged with drugging, sexually assaulting, and killing 23-year old Dan Williams, a resident of Huntington Beach. According to Deputy District Attorney Gretchen Means, Huynh would scope out heterosexual men in the Gaslamp Quarter of Downtown San Diego where he would drug and sexually abuse them. Huynh would look for young men who were intoxicated and offer to take them to Tijuana where he promised he would take them to strip clubs or hotel rooms with women. The defendant would then drug and sexually assault his victims.

According to the victim’s friends and family Williams was a hard-working man and was absolutely “girl crazy”. Williams resided with his family in Huntington Beach and disappeared on January 26, 2008. The victim was last seen leaving the Hard Rock Café at about 2 a.m. after working a fashion show at the House of Blues in the Gaslamp District. It appeared that Williams was intoxicated because he was stumbling when he left the Hard Rock. His body was discovered in an alley about a block-and –a-half from Huynh’s residence three days later. DNA fluids were found in and on the victim’s body that were a match to the defendants. Williams watch keys and underwear was missing and he had a blood-alcohol level between .17 and .21 as well as had the drug benzodiazepine in his system. The cause of death was undetermined.

A 20 year-old Navy corpsman, another victim of Huynh, came forward in January 2009 and reported how an Asian man went with to explore beaches in San Diego. The victim then woke up next to the defendant without clothes on and felt as if he was drugged. He had no recollection of how he got there or what had happened. The DNA found in the Naval corpsman matched up to the DNA found in and on Williams’ body. This tied Huynh to the murder of Williams. Huynh’s Criminal Defense Attorney, Marian Gaston, claims that although Huynh had done “some very bad things, but he’s not a killer”. Gaston made a point to remind the jury that the Victim’s cause of death was “undetermined” by the medical examiner. If convicted Huynh could get life in prison without parole.

Trial Begins In Fatal Drugging, Sex Assault Case, 10news.com, June 1, 2011

Drug-rape murder trial hits a snag, fox5sandiego.com, May 31, 2011

Continue reading "San Diego Man Accused of Fatally Drugging and Sexually Assaulting Orange County Resident" »

San Diego man accused of sexually assaulting two women and a kidnapping of one of them.

33 year old Jeremy Strutzman is the suspect in sexually assaulting 2 women at a Vista apartment complex. Strutzman was arrested on Tuesday at the Motel 6 in Oceanside shortly before 3:30 p.m. and without incident according to the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department. A 2005 Toyota Corolla which was used in the kidnapping was also recovered. The two women that were assaulted lived in the same apartment complex and right above Strutzman and his fiancé.

According to Lt. Mike Munsey, deputies were called by a 20-year-old woman who said she was sexually assaulted in Strutzman’s apartment and that her 19-year-old friend was sexually assaulted by knifepoint where the suspect kidnapped her in the 2005 Toyota Corolla. Strutzman’s fiancée, Amy Berling, was at the motel to support him and said “He’s being accused of rape and kidnapping. I’ve known him for seven months and he’s not that kind of man”. Berling also claimed that “there were two women upstairs and they were egging him on, trying to toy with him and play with him…playing with his emotions and his machismo”.

The San Diego criminal has a record of sexual battery and is described as 6-foot-1, 192-pound American Indian. Strutzman was convicted of breaking into a woman’s residence eleven years ago and was armed. He forced her to model in lingerie and then allegedly cut off the clothes with a knife and then lay naked on top of her. He was sentenced to 10 years but got on parole in 2009. Since his release he as been in and out of prison three times.

Suspect In 2 Sex Assaults, Kidnapping Arrested, 10news.com, May 31, 2011

Sex offender wanted in rapes, kidnapping arrested, fox5sandiego.com, June 1, 2011

Continue reading "Vista Sex Offender Suspect in Two Sexual Assaults and a Kidnapping" »

Chula Vista resident is suspected in the killing of his girlfriend in 1992, and the 2010 deaths of his mother-in-law and wife.

57 year old Michael Eugene Richardson is being accused for the murder of his girlfriend in 1992 as well as the killing of his wife in mother-in-law who died in a staged car wreck. The defendants 39 year old wife, Thao, and 72 year old mother in law, Phan Lai, bodies were found near an overturned car off state Route 67 north of Lakeside last June. Richardson was charged in January for the murder of Jovita Collazo, 38 of National City, whose body is yet to be discovered. Richardson used to own a mechanic shop in Poway.

The San Diego criminal is also being charged for sexually abusing his 17 year old niece last year. El cajon Judge Herber Exarhos found after a three-day preliminary hearing that because enough evidence has been presented for the defendant to stand trial. Richardson is being charged with three counts of murder and eight counts of sexual assault and Judge Exarhos scheduled arraignment for July 14.

If convicted he is either facing the death penalty or life in prison without the possibility of parole if he is convicted. This is to be determined by District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis. Prosecutor Chantal de Mauregne told a judge at Richardson’s arraignment last July that he had escaped from prison in North Carolina in 1982. He served time there for robbery. The defendant was originally only being charged with molesting his niece but not long after he was then charged with the killings of his wife and mother-in-law and then later with killing his girlfriend in 1992.

Man Accused In 3 Deaths To Stand Trial, 10news.com, May 26, 2011

Man to stand trial in murders of wife, mother-in-law, girlfriend, fox5sandiego.com, May 27, 2011

Continue reading "San Diego Mechanic Accused of Three Deaths and a Sexual Assault " »

An Oceanside man was sentenced on Monday to life in prison in Vista court for murdering a woman outside a shopping center in North San Diego County.

Eric Russell Andreasen fatally stabbed Katherine Parker in April 2009 while she was visiting from Sacramento. Thirty-nine year-old Andreasen was charged with first degree murder as well as a special circumstance allegation of murder at some stage in a robbery. Andreasen who claimed insanity and pled not guilty was in fact legally sane during the time of the stabbing. Throughout the hearing on Monday, the San Diego murderer disrupted the court several times claiming that he tried committing suicide with a knife and that he was raped in prison.

The victim’s husband, Al Parker as well as other family members attended the hearing. Aaron Katz, a Vista Superior Court Judge acknowledged and personally apologized to the victim’s husband for his loss. Al Parker stated that his wife’s murderer was going “where he belongs.” Parker also stated that his late wife “was the best thing that ever happened to me. She kept me on the straight and narrow.”

Evidence at the trial showed that Katherine Parker was attacked in the parking lot of an Oceanside shopping center where she was stabbed in the upper and lower parts of her body at least nine times. Andreasen’s public defender Dan Segura argued that schizophrenia prompted the attack, not anger. Segura also explained that witnesses of the attack heard Andresen say “God told me to do it” right after he fatally stabbed the victim. Segura recommended during the trial that Andreasen be placed in a prison where his mental illness will be treated.

O'side Man Gets Life for Fatally Stabbing Tourist, Sign on San Diego, May 23, 2011

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In San Diego, Mark Anthony Diaz was found guilty of murder as well as a couple of other charges.

The 50 year old former boxing trainer shot one man in a gym in Vista as well as wounding two other people. Diaz was found guilty of not only murder, but also attempted murder, making a criminal threat in a previous incident that occurred in April of 2010 and lastly assault with a firearm. The San Diego murderer faces 96 years or more to life behind bars.

The victim that Diaz had shot was 52 year old Hector Gil, a boxing trainer at Pacific Coast Boxing. This was in response for 21 year old Ricardo Gutierrez, a boxer, switching over to train with Gil instead of Diaz. In February, court records showed that Pacific Coast Boxing filed for a restraining order against Diaz not to come around the gym. In April, Diaz stormed into the gym opening fire ultimately killing Gil, and wounding trainer Peter Moreno in the shoulder as well as shooting Gutierrez in the leg.

It took two days for the jury to come up with a verdict. The San Diego criminal did not make eye contact when the verdicts were read in court on Wednesday.

Boxing Trainer Guilty of Murder in Vista shooting, Sign On San Diego, April 27, 2011

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On Tuesday in Vista California, Brendan Liam O’Rourke, the man who shot and wounded two elementary school-age girls in Carlsbad will stand trial on charges such as assault with a firearm and premeditated attempted murder which could land him 103 years to life in prison if he is convicted.

Judge K. Michael Kirkman of the Vista Courthouse decided that there was a sufficient amount of evidence to charge the San Diego shooter with seven counts of each assault as well as murder. On April 26, O’Rourke will stand trial. According to one of the Kelley Elementary school second graders, she explained that she heard O’Rourke yelling when she saw him with a gun right before he shot her.

According to the young victim, she “wasn’t looking at him” because she “ran away.” She then described that she remembered seeing a gun in his hand. The girl, who is now eight years old, had been shot near the elbow of her right arm and the gunfire sounded to her like an “earthquake.” She also explained that her arm felt “squiggly” after she had been wounded.

According to one of the three construction workers who helped capture the San Diego school shooter, testified that O’Rourke was indeed “crazy” as well as having a “disconnected” facial expression during the Carlsbad school shooting. Another construction worker that helped stop the enraged O’Rourke explained that while the gunman was shooting, he was mumbling something about Barack Obama.

Man Accused In Carlsbad School Shooting To Stand Trial, San Diego 10 News, March 8, 2011

Continue reading "Carlsbad Elementary School Shooter to Stand Trial" »

San Diego resident, Miguel Angel Malacara, is the primary suspect in a string of groping assaults.

Malacara’s DNA was extracted through one of the victim’s jeans after he allegedly bit her buttocks. The DNA found on the victim’s jeans matched a sample provided by Malacara after he was convicted for drug trafficking in 2009. Deputy District Attorney Enrique Camarena said “the Chula Vista police reported that one of the victims was bitten on the jeans, and that’s where the DNA was collected”. Witness statements also connect 25-year-old Malacara to the groping string.

No charges have been filed yet fore investigators have not yet submitted any evidence in the groping case. Police searched Malacara’s home last week with a search warrant and obtained a few items from the defendant’s house which includes a pair of white sneakers, four sweatshirts with hoods, a small digital scale, and a metal cash box. According to the witnesses and victims they described him as wearing a “hoodie”. The defendant was arrested Wednesday night for a pair of unrelated domestic violence incidents that occurred last Friday. Malacara appeared at the South Bay Courthouse Friday on the charges of this domestic dispute. The Groping series began in September 2010 and continued until late February 2011 in which the perpetrator grabbed and fondled around 16 female pedestrians.

The San Diego criminal pleaded not guilty to two felony counts and a misdemeanor during his arraignment Friday afternoon. Due to an alleged probation violation, Malacara was ordered to be held without bail by Judge Roderick Shelton. Judge Shelton scheduled and readiness conference for March 7.

Man Suspected In Groping Series Makes Court Appearance, 10news.com, February 25, 2011

Police Capture Suspect In Chula Vista Groping Spree, sandeigo6.com, February 25, 2011

Continue reading "Chula Vista Man Suspected in Groping Series Pleads Not Guilty" »

San Diego Ex-Padre pleaded no contest to his misdemeanor assault charge Thursday.

Kevin Mitchell, 49, was charged with a misdemeanor for attacking a Leonard Lerma last summer on a South Bay golf course. The defendant was a third baseman for the Padres back in 1987 and in 1989 was named the National League’s Most Valuable Player while he played for the San Francisco Giants. July 21, 2010 Mitchell was charged with assault with force likely to cause great bodily injury for attacking Lerma on the 13th hole of the Bonita Golf club. The former Padre Player pleaded no contest to the charge. He is scheduled to be sentenced on April 4 at the South Bay Courthouse where he is looking at a $1,000 fine and a maximum of one year in jail.

According to the Deputy District Attorney Sherry Thompson, Mitchell first slapped the victim then hit him another three times. Thompson also says that it is unclear as to what motivated the attack. Last year at a preliminary hearing, Lerma testified that the defendant, who was playing in a separate group, drove up in a golf cart and confronted him. According to Lerma’s doctors, he had suffered a concussion. Mitchell’s no contest plea means that he neither admits nor denies the charges and can have the same direct effects as a guilty plea.

This is not the defendants first run in with the law. In 1989 Mitchell’s former girlfriend sued him for beating her and threatening her with a gun. Mitchell completed a domestic violence diversion program in which got the criminal charges dropped.

Ex-Padre Pleads No Contest To Assault Charge, 10news.com, March 3, 2011

Continue reading "San Diego’s Former Padre Player Pleads No Contest Assault Charge" »

In Chula Vista on Wednesday, Miguel Angel Malacara was arrested due to DNA evidence linking him to a string of groping occurrences.

According to police, Malacara groped fourteen women in the Chula Vista area. Twenty-five year old Malacara is arranged to appear in court for his arraignment on Friday. Police were concerned that there would be other potential victims if Malacara hadn’t been caught. His arrest alleviated the stress for his victims as well as the community.

A week ago, there was a community meeting where a couple of sketches of the possible suspect were circulating around the meeting. The fourteen victim’s ages ranged from fifteen to late fifties and all the sexual batteries took place around the Broadway corridor located in the city’s downtown. Malacara is accused of touching the private parts of his victims over their clothes. According to one woman, Malacara not only touched her but bit her rear end. The evidence of DNA composed corresponded to Malacara, who in 2009 was arrested for selling drugs in National City. That same day, there was a domestic violence occurrence between Malacara and his girlfriend.

Malacara will not be able to post bail and is detained in county jail for domestic violence as well as violating his probation. He remains in custody while the investigation persists for the sexual battery groping case.

Arrest Made in Chula Vista Groper Series, Sign On San Diego, February 24, 2011

Continue reading "Chula Vista Man Arrested For Groping 14 Victims" »

George Moreland, 47, was sentenced on Friday to 295 years to life in prison.

The San Diego criminal was charged and convicted with nine felony counts including false imprisonment by force and forced oral copulation. The defendant sexually assaulted two women from Tijuana after offering them a job as his housekeeper for his Rancho San Diego home. Moreland alleged that the sex was consensual and that he had paid the two women. The assaults took place at his home in the summer of 2009 after he picked up the two women separately. Deputy District Attorney Rachel Cano said during trial that on July 7 2009, the defendant showed a married 28-year-old woman some cleaning materials and then told her to undress. When she refused him and his offering of 400 dollars Moreland pulled a knife on her and made her perform oral sex on him.

On October 1, 2009, a woman in her 40s went through a similar ordeal with Moreland and was able to provide the general area of where she was taken to investigators. Moreland has a prior conviction of kidnapping for sexual purposes where he was given an eight-year prison sentence for tying up a female customer in 1997 in the back of a Radio Shack store.

Moreland’s San Diego Criminal Defense Attorney Leslie Wolf said during the trial that Moreland had wrote the woman a note asking her if she wanted to perform a sex act and that to Moreland’s understanding she had agreed.

Man Who Assaulted Cleaning Women Sentenced, 10news.com, January 7, 2011

Man Who Molested Cleaning Women Sentenced Friday, sandiego6.com, January 7, 2011

Continue reading "San Diego Resident Sentenced to 295 Years to Life In Prison" »

San Diego homeless parolee was sentenced to nine years in state prison by Superior Court Judge Eugenia Eyherabide.

26-year-old Steven Allen Sinclair pleaded guilty to the charge of assault with the intent to commit rape in September. The sexual assault was reported late on August 10 according to the authorities. The San Diego Violent Crime occurred at the San Diego City College. San Diego Police Department Lt. Rick O’Hanlon said that the 39-year-old victim told the police she and a man she met hours earlier were hanging around at the East Village school when he became violent, pushed her to the ground behind some trash cans, punched her in the face and stripped her clothing from the waist down.

Sinclair fled the scene after the victim fought back and was able to get away. Campus Police officers came to aid her after hearing her screams. The victim was taken to the hospital and was treated for slight facial injuries.

A man matching the description of the attacker was found by San Diego police near San Diego City College and was arrested a short time later. According to Deputy District Attorney Aidee Brunner, Sinclair was on parole for an attempted burglary conviction from 2008 at the time of his arrest.

Homeless Parolee Sentenced For Attempted Rape, 10news.com, January 4, 2011

Homeless parolee gets nine years for attempted rape, cbs8.com, January 4, 2011

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San Diego Parolee, David Joseph Lascelles, allegedly kidnapped and raped a 15-year-old girl from East County.

The 49-year-old suspect allegedly got together with the young girl on Monday morning on the guise of taking her shopping for Christmas presents. The San Diego kidnapping crime occurred when Lascelles and the teen arrived at a Wal-Mart store in El Cajon where the parolee allegedly pointed a pistol on the girl, grabbed her cell phone and compelled her to lie on the floor of his Mitsubishi Eagle. The San Diego sex crime occurred when Lascelles took the teen to the Fiesta Island area of Mission bay where he sexually assaulted her and held her captive for hours until about 4 p.m. where he then drove to Alpine and dropped the El Cajon resident off at one of her relatives homes.

After arriving at her relative’s home, the teen immediately reported the San Diego crime. Lascelles was taken into custody early Tuesday afternoon when members of a fugitive task force caught up with him in the 1200 block of Imperial Avenue in the East Village district of downtown San Diego. He was then booked into county jail. His court appearance was on Thursday afternoon where he plead not guilty to the charges of kidnapping and rape. His bail is held at $1 million dollars and according to prosecutors Lascelles is facing up to 142 years to life if convicted.

The victim was acquainted to Lascelles last year through one of her family members. The suspect has previously served time in prison for burglary and kidnapping convictions and has recently been living in his vehicle. Lascelles is also being charged with a similar crime on the assault of a woman in El Cajon.

Parolee jailed in kidnap, rape of teen, fox5sandiego.com, December 9, 2010

Parolee Pleads Not Guilty To Raping Teen, 10news.com, December 9, 2010

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A San Diego man accused of attacking an 11 year old girl was taken in custody on attempted kidnapping charges.

Christopher Dean Riley, 51, allegedly tried to abduct the girl as he took hold of the 11 year old girl’s wrists as she was walking home from Zamorano Elementary school located in the 7300 block of Tooma Street and Goode Street with her 13 year old brother around 2:50 p.m., according to San Diego police.

As the two children struggled and wrestled away from the alleged abductor, they ran to their home and told their mother. “I saw this guy. He tried to snatch me. He fist-bumped my brother, then he fist-bumped me, then he grabbed my wrist and tried to pull me,” said Diamonn Graham.

The alleged San Diego kidnapper was later found by police at the Bay Terraces Park Recreation Center where he was arrested on attempted kidnapping charges, battery and molesting or annoying a child. He is being held in jail. Bail is set at 100,000.

Man held in attempted kidnapping of 11-year-old girl, June 30, 2010

2 Kids Fight Off Man In Abduction Attempt, June 30, 2010

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A Chula Vista man was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder of his wife after stabbing her numerous times while his children were in the home.

The San Diego domestic violence attack occurred around 8:00 p.m. in the 1300 block of Granite Springs Drive on Monday when a man allegedly attacked his wife with a knife, according to police spokesman Bernard Gonzales.

When San Diego police arrived at the victim’s home in a neighborhood in Eastlake they found her with multiple stab wounds mostly to the upper part of her body. She was transported to a local hospital where she was reported to be in stable condition. The 3 children were taken into protective custody.

Brian Rolstad, 28, who was identified as the victim’s husband and alleged assailant, had left the scene and was later located by police sitting in his car that was parked near the Chula Vista police department on Center Street.

Police arrested Rolstad on a suspected attempted murder charge, and then he was taken to a hospital where he was treated for a probable overdose.

Chula Vista Man Accused Of Stabbing Wife, 10news.com, June 15, 2010

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A San Diego robbery and carjacking that happened just before midnight on Monday night in the City Heights area of San Diego leaves three men in custody.

Three men were suspected of robbing a 20 year-old man of cash around 11:45 p.m. on Monday in the vicinity of Van Dyke Avenue and Wightman Street in the Castle area of San Diego.

Shortly after, the three San Diego thieves came up to a man in his thirties. One of the robbers punched him in the face through an open window while he was parking his Toyota Camry behind his apartment building. As the motorist got out of his vehicle one of the suspects drove off in the victims car. The other suspects caught up with him and sped away, according to San Diego police.

The San Diego carjackers were found on West Street near ocean View Boulevard in Mountain View. As San Diego police arrested the driver of the stolen vehicle the two other suspects of this San Diego crime fled on foot. They were soon caught and also arrested.

Three Suspects Arrested in Robbery & Carjacking, San Diego 6 The CW, April 13, 2010

Three men arrested after robbery, carjacking, Sign on San Diego, April 13, 2010

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San Diego police arrested a woman for allegedly stabbing her 48 year-old ex-boyfriend sending him to the hospital with injuries that were considered to be not life threatening, according to police.

The San Diego stabbing happened just before 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday at a house during an argument. The victim, after being stabbed in the back made his way to the Par Grocery and Liquor on Clairemont Mesa Boulevard where officers were called, said Officer David Stafford of the San Diego Police Department.

The victim whose name has not been released was taken to a local hospital and treated for a knife wound to the back. Shortly after the attack police found the former girlfriend and arrested her.

The 52 year-old woman who was arrested for this San Diego assault was taken into custody and booked into San Diego’s County Jail on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon. If you are arrested for a crime in San Diego it is in your best interest to have legal representation by an experienced San Diego criminal lawyer to help you with your legal matter.

Woman, 52, Stabs Ex-Boyfriend In Back, 10News.com, December 10, 2009

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A man suspected of killing a Rancho Bernardo woman while she was talking on the phone to her mother pled not guilty to homicide charges in court today in front of Judge David Szumowski.

28 year-old Jennifer Jones had just come home from work when Richard Salvidar, the suspected murderer entered her apartment and stabbed her multiple times while she was on the phone with her mother. Police have not disclosed a motive for the assault.

According to Deputy District Attorney Kristen Spieler, the 40 year-old alleged attacker lived in the apartment across from the murder victim on Avenida Venusto in Rancho Bernardo. “This was a completely unprovoked ambush,” said Spieler. The suspected murderer also had scratches and cuts on his arms and after a search of the apartment physical evidence was found.

Saldivar is being held on a $2 million bail and if he is convicted of this Rancho Bernardo murder, he could be facing 26 years to life in prison for the slaying of this young woman.

Neighbor pleads not guilty to killing Rancho Bernardo woman, KFMB News 8, October 27,2009

Neighbor Accused Of Stabbing Woman Pleads Not Guilty, 10News.com, October 27,2009

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A San Diego area Clairemont Vons security guard sustained life threatening stab wounds while he apprehended a suspected shoplifter at the grocery store on Friday.

The San Diego stabbing occurred at the Vons grocery store in Clairemont in the 5500 Block of Balboa Avenue about 9:00 p.m. while a security guard held the suspected thief for shoplifting. The suspected shoplifter fled the scene after the assault.

The attacker who fled to a nearby apartment building is said to be an Asian man in his twenties, wearing a cut-off tee shirt and black shorts and barefoot.

The Clairemont security guard was transported to San Diego’s Sharp Memorial Hospital where his injuries could be fatal.

Shoplifting Suspect Stabs Vons Security Guard, San Diego 6 The CW, October 24, 2009

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A man was stabbed and robbed in the Harborview area of San Diego on Wednesday, according to San Diego police.

The San Diego attack happened in the 2200 block of Pacific Coast Highway about 10:40 in the morning, when the two men were wrestling over a cell phone that belonged to the stabbing victim.

The thief attacked the man, stabbed him, robbed him then fled on foot to Laurel Street. Police searched the area along with a police helicopter but the bandit got away. The 24 year-old victim was taken to a trauma center for his injuries. It is not known how his condition remains.

The assailant was said to be a black man in his thirties. He wore his hair in a ponytail, and was wearing a grey and black striped shirt with black jeans. The suspect was also carrying a black and blue backpack.

Man Stabbed, Robbed In Harborview Area, 10News.com, October 14,2009

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After a seven hour standoff with the SWAT team, a man from Ramona was arrested after tear gas was used to make him surrender, he had aimed a loaded firearm at his girlfriend and threatening to murder her and her two children.

The domestic violent assault happened on Sunday around 10:30 p.m. in the 2600 block of Luelf Street near Dye Road and Southern Oak in Ramona, when Lawrence “Steve” Monterastelli attempted to strangle his 38 year-old girlfriend and threaten the lives of her daughter 12 and her son 9 with his loaded pistol. “Monterastelli also threatened to harm any law enforcement officers called to the scene,” said sheriff’s Detective Aaron Dabbs.

The victim escaped to a neighbor’s house where she was able to call 911 for help leaving her children behind. Once deputies arrived they were able to get the children out of the home safely.

The alleged attacker who was thought to be intoxicated moved to an RV on the property where he refused to turn himself in. After many hours in a standoff, deputies fired tear gas into the recreation vehicle which forced Monterastelli to give himself up.

Deputies arrested Monterastelli and took him to county jail on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon, negligent discharge of a gun, felony spousal abuse, and child endangerment.

Domestic Violence Suspect Arrested after Lengthy Standoff, San Diego 6 The CW, October 13, 2009

Alleged Armed Man Surrenders After Ramona SWAT Standoff, 10News.com, October 12, 2009

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San Diego Former Padre was taken into custody then later released on bail after police arrested him for allegedly assaulting his wife.

Marcus Giles was arrested for spousal battery after police were called out by a California Highway Patrol officer around 3:15 a.m. in El Cajon at the intersection of Greenfield Drive and Interstate 8 where the alleged El Cajon spousal battery occurred, according to ECPD Lt. Fenton Sue

Giles wife, Tracy, 30, told the CHP officer that her husband had abused and assaulted her in the car and wanted to place him under citizen’s arrest. The second baseman’s wife was not taken to a hospital for injuries, said Lt. Sue.

The former San Diego Padre, who also played for six seasons with the Atlanta Braves graduated from Granite Hills High School in El Cajon. Giles, who is now a resident of Alpine, was booked on suspicion of domestic violence in San Diego’s downtown jail. Giles was later released on bail.

Former Padres Player Marcus Giles Arrested, San Diego 6 The CW, October 7, 2009

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A San Marcos High School student was taken into custody for allegedly raping a 14 year old girl near the school campus.

The San Marcos sexual assault happened on May 12 but was not reported to the police by the 14 year-old girl until September 6. The alleged rape took place in back of a business complex, according to San Diego sheriff’s Detective Pete Carrillo.

At the time of the alleged sexual assault, the girl refused to press charges. She also said there were two 16 year old boys implicated in the rape. According to investigators one of the boys was involved in another sexual assault that happened in 2008 at a different high school in the area, with a girl, 13.

The boy whose name has not been released because he is a minor was arrested on Thursday about 10:30 a.m. for this serious San Diego crime. He remains in Juvenile Hall on charges of suspicion of rape, and rape by intoxication.

Boy, 16, Accused Of San Marcos Rape Arrested, 10News.com, September 25, 2009

SAN MARCOS: Teenager arrested on rape charges, North County Times, September 25, 2009

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An Oceanside man was taken into custody after allegedly committing sex-related crimes with a minor for five months.

Oceanside police arrested 49 year old Robert Jay Kaden at his home on South Myers Street in Oceanside on Wednesday. The victim, a minor runaway girl, 15, told detectives that Kaden would take her to motels and his home to have sexual relations with her. He also gave her marijuana, according to Sgt. Kelan Poorman.

“Police believe that Kaden was aware that the victim was a minor during these crimes,” said Sgt Poorman. It was also reported that Kaden bragged to the minor girl that he had sex with other underage girls as he showed her pictures of them.

As investigators were searching the suspects home for evidence, cocaine and psychedelic mushrooms were found.

The suspect of the alleged Oceanside sex crimes was arrested and booked into the Vista Detention Facility on suspicion of statutory rape, committing a lewd act with a minor, and providing drugs to a minor. Bail was set at $200,000.

Suspect arrested in Oceanside statutory rape case, KFMB News 8, September 16, 2009

Oceanside Man Arrested for Statutory Rape, San Diego 6 The CW, Sptember 16, 2009

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San Diego Chargers Shawne Merriman was arrested at his home in Poway on suspicion of felony battery and false imprisonment for allegedly choking MTV reality star Tila Tequila on Sunday.

According to San Diego County Sheriff’s deputies, 27 year-old Tila made a 911 call at 3:45 a.m. stating that the Chargers outside linebacker choked her, threw her on the floor and physically restrained her from departing his home in Poway.

Tequila was taken to Pomerado Hospital where she was reported to be in good condition. “Deputies did not observe any injuries to her, but she wanted to go and that is her right,” said Jan Caldwell, spokeswomen for the Sheriff’s Department.

“During the evening, Ms. Tequila was extremely intoxicated, inebriated and Mr. Merriman did everything he could to assist her in arranging for transportation to leave his home,” said Todd Macaluso, criminal defense attorney for Merriman, to reporters. “At no time did Mr. Merriman assault her; at no time did Mr. Merriman keep her against her will. His intentions were nothing but good.”

Merriman, 25, was taken into custody and later released. Police are still investigating the domestic incident. Formal charges have not been made pending the District Attorney’s office investigation.

In a statement said by San Diego Chargers General Manager A.J. Smith, “It’s disappointing to hear about the issue regarding Shawne Merriman.” “We’ll continue to monitor the situation and let the legal process run its course.”

CHARGERS: Merriman arrested in domestic incident, North County Times, September 6,2009

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A man who shot another man to death in a drug related incident in Lincoln Park on Sunday was arrested and jailed on suspicion of murder, said San Diego police.

James Turner, 49, was taken into custody on Wednesday for the shooting death of 34 year-old Jaime Nicasio. According to San Diego police homicide Lt. Kevin Rooney, the shooting incident occurred in the 5000 block of Pelusa Street where drugs seemed to be involved.

The San Diego murder suspect was taken into custody after leaving his motel room on Hotel Circle North just before 6:00 p.m. for the slaying of Nicasio. He is being charged with one count of murder.

Man Suspected In Lincoln Park Shooting Jailed, San Diego 10 News.com, August 27,2009

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An investigation is underway of a woman visiting from out of town who reported that she was sexually assaulted in San Diego's Mission Beach.

A woman whose name has not been released told San Diego police she was assaulted sexually in an alley near the 700 block of Santa Barbara Place after two men drove her from Belmont Park. It was unknown if she got into their car freely or if she was taken.

The 39 year-old woman did not report the San Diego crime to authorities for several hours and could not supply information of the two men or the car they drove. She also waited a few hours before going to the hospital.

Police are investigating this sex crime for more information.

Woman Reports Mission Beach Sex Assault, San diego 6 The CW, August 13, 2009

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A man from La Jolla was arrested on attempted murder charges for the stabbing of a man in Pacific Beach after an argument got out of control.

According to the San Diego Police Department, an argument turned into a violent attack when Agahan Alemdar, 23, allegedly stabbed a man in an apartment complex courtyard on Hornblend Street, on Monday just after 4:00 p.m. It is know known why the argument broke out.

On Tuesday the murder suspect, who is on an immigration hold, turned himself into the San Diego Police where he is being held at the George Bailey Detention Facility without bail.

The stabbing victim was taken to the hospital where he remains in stable condition with serious injuries to his neck.

According to the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department, another stabbing attack took place in Imperial Beach when the bleeding victim dashed into a CVS pharmacy near Ninth Street, on Palm Avenue, Wednesday just before 11:45 p.m. to receive help. The two attacks were unrelated.

Man In Custody After Stabbing In Pacific Beach, 10News.com, August 6,2009

Stabbings in Pacific Beach & Imperial Beach, San Diego 6 The CW, August 6, 2009

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In Oceanside a teenage boy, two Marines based in Camp Pendleton and another man may face charges for an assault and weapons incident that happened this last weekend.

What happened to be a weekend quarrel resulted in an Oceanside shooting on a street in North County. Luckily no one was injured from the shooting.

Before 2:30 am, Dennis Lawnshea, 26, was driving around the area of the 2300 block of the Greenbrier Drive in Oceanside. Lawnshea, well aware of three men walking along the road, tried to run them over with his Ford Focus, according to Sgt. Kelan Poorman

Michael Harrison Washington, a 21 year old Marine was struck by the vehicle as well as his friend, 21 year old Bradley Sanford Brown. Brown allegedly reacted by taking out his guns and pulling the trigger on the vehicle while the vehicle sped off. Then Washington and Brown entered another vehicle with a 17 year old boy and drove off.

Both vehicles were later stopped due to reports of officers responding to gunfire. All four suspects were taken into custody.

According to Sgt. Kelan Poorman, Washington and Brown were arrested on charges of transporting a loaded firearm, carrying a stolen gun and assault with a deadly weapon. The minor was taken to juvenile hall on weapons charges. Lawshea could face a possible DUI charge.

4 Jailed After Weekend Shooting, 10news.com, July 27,2009

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A Los Angeles resident and former minister that was affiliated with five churches in San Diego and Riverside Counties was sentenced Tuesday of molesting three boys.

Jimmie Robinson Jr., 48, a former minister and music teacher had pleaded guilty in Superior Court last April to three counts of felony child molestation. He admitted to performing lewd acts on children and having sexual contact with them.

From late 1999 to 2002 the sexual predator admitted to molesting one boy, the second boy he molested in 2005 and he molested the third boy in 2008 in a plea agreement.

He met his victims through church mentoring programs at several San Diego and Riverside churches. He was connected to the sexual assault by DNA evidence after one of the boys reported the sexual abuse to the police.

Robinson was sentenced on Tuesday to over 17 years in prison.

Ex-SoCal Minister Admits He Molested Kids, NBS News San Diego, April 30,2009

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In San Diego a stabbing of a passenger that took place inside a sport utility vehicle on Saturday leaves him in critical condition, said Police.

According to witnesses, the driver of a white SUV allegedly stabbed a 32 year-old passenger who was riding in the backseat of the vehicle when the San Diego assault occured around 11:35 p.m. Friday at 1600 K Street near Petco Park, according to San Diego police Officer Brad Ruff.

The driver of the sport utility vehicle drove away after the victim got out of the car and found his way to the curb.

The wounded man was taken to the hospital for emergency surgery after sustaining a stab wound to the chest and cuts to his left arm. His injuries were not life threatening although he remains in critical condition.

The stabbing suspect and another passenger were later arrested and taken into custody for the violent crime after police spotted his SUV a short time later.

Driver Stabs Back Seat Passenger, San Diego 10News.com, June 27, 2009

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A woman was arrested and taken in to custody on suspicion of shooting her husband, a former TV news director in their La Mesa home.

Donald M. Wells Jr., 55 was found lying on the floor of his home with a gunshot wound to his hip by San Diego police officers. A revolver was also found on a counter in the kitchen by officers.

Kalisa Wells, 59, a caterer and party planner was taken to jail on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon, according to La Mesa police Lt Dan Willis.

The shooting occurred around 4:15 p.m. after an argument took place at the home of the couple in La Mesa on Sheldon Drive off of Vista Drive. Donald Wells was taken to a local hospital. His gunshot wound was said not to be life threatening.

The motive of the violent crime was unknown.

Husband Shot by Wife in their La Mesa Home, San Diego 6 The CW, May 31, 2009

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A stabbing of a man in Chula Vista leaves him in serious condition, after police arrest an 18 year-old suspect, according to Chula Vista police.

The incident happened last Thursday just after 7:00 p.m. when police were notified that a 24 year-old man was attacked by several men at the intersection of Hilltop Drive and Orange Avenue.

The victim was taken to a local hospital with multiple stab wounds to his face and torso, said Chula Vista police.

The 18 year-old suspect of the Chula Vista violent crime later arrested by police at his home after witnesses gave them a license plate number of a car they saw drive away from the scene.

The unidentified suspect was taken into custody on charges of assault with a deadly weapon, according to police.

Man arrested in connection with Chula Vista stabbing, Sign on San Diego, May 8,2009

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In San Diego’s Golden Hill area a man was arrested and taken into custody on suspicion of stabbing his 16 year-old sister’s boyfriend.

According to San Diego police, the incident occurred on Wednesday about 12:45pm in the 2800 block of Broadway. The 21 year-old stabbing suspect assaulted and threatened his sister’s 18 year-old boyfriend with a gun during an argument.

San Diego police officers were called in and arrested the attacker and recovered a gun he was carrying, said San Diego Police Department Sgt. Ray Battrick. The suspects name was not released.

The wounded victim was taken to the hospital where he was treated for abrasions and a cut finger, SGT. Battrick said.

Young Man Arrested for Stabbing Teen Sister's Boyfriend, San Diego 6 The CW, May 6, 2009

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A San Diego Police officer was stabbed with a pen by a teenage girl, while her father was being arrested in the Lake Murray area.

Police shot the teenage girl with a Taser after the attack. The officers, the girl and her father all ended up in the hospital for treatment, said police Lt Chuck Kaye.

The incident occurred about 5:45 p.m. at a home on Everglades Avenue when a patrol officer and a detective tried to arrest a man on a felony warrant for assault with a deadly weapon. As the man went outside to let the officers handcuff him, his 17 year-old daughter assaulted them.

The teenager bit the patrol officer on the forearm, and then stabbed the detective in the face with a pen, scratching him from forehead to chin.

Other San Diego police officers were called in for help. As they arrived at the home of the assault, one of the officers used a Taser on the girl. The father of the girl complained of chest pains after the attack and was taken to the hospital.

Teen shot with Taser after allegedly attacking cops, Sign on San Diego, April 23, 2009

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Police have arrested two teenage women in connection with a fatal stabbing of a National City woman in broad daylight.

Justine Brown, 18, of National City died shortly after sustaining a fatal stab wound to the left side of her chest, about 1:00 p.m. Friday. The murder occurred in the 100 block of East 9th Street in National City.

According to the San Diego County’s Medical Examiner’s Office, Brown was taken to UCSD Medical Center where she was pronounced dead on arrival.

Antoinette Dokes Hendricks, 18, was arrested and taken into custody late Saturday night in connection with the fatal stabbing on charges of suspicion of murder. The suspected murderer is also known as Antoinette Latrice Dokes.

Another suspect, Rachel Elizabeth Wheelis, 19, was also arrested and taken into custody on suspicion of being an accessory to murder, according to the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department.

Hendricks and Brown appeared to have a mutual boyfriend, which might have been a motive.

Two Teens Held in Connection with Fatal National City Stabbing, KFMB News 8, April 19, 2009

Victim of stabbing ID'd; two have been arrested, Sign on San Diego, April 20, 2009

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As a homeless man slept near an Escondido flood control channel, he was beaten more than 30 times with a baseball bat, suffering major head wounds.

According to Lt Bob Benten, witnesses said that several young men attacked the man just before 2:00 a.m. Tuesday with a baseball bat as he lay sleeping on a bicycle path. The attackers fled before police arrived.

The homeless man was taken to Palomar Medical Center where he remains in a medically induced coma.

Another man had called a short time earlier to report that he had been attacked by three to five men on the same bicycle path.

Four people have been brought in for questioning by police. It is not known if they were involved in the assault.

The flood control channel has had increased police patrols because of graffiti and vandalism although other attacks and robberies have been reported.

Homeless Man Beaten With Bat More Than 30 Times, San Diego News, April 8, 2009

Homeless man beaten with bat in Escondido, San Diego 6 The CW, April 7,2009

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http://www.sandiegolawcenter.com/index.htmlIn Santee, a woman was found with multiple head wounds; her 50 year-old handyman boyfriend was taken into custody on attempted murder charges.

Sheriffs arrived at the home of Donald Lee Hinck just before 12:30am on Prestwick Way after Hinck called them to say he found his live-in girlfriend on the floor lying in a pool of blood.

Hinck said he had just gotten home but authorities found evidence to link him to the domestic violence assault.

It was unclear if the critically injured 38 year-old woman who had been living with Hinck since September would survive, so the detectives called in the homicide unit, according to sheriff’s Detective Pete Carrillo. The battered woman was taken to the hospital where she remains in intensive care.

Detectives found what they believe to be the assault weapon and several other items from the home, said Carrillo.

Hinck was taken to jail without bail and is scheduled for arraignment this Friday.

Man arrested after police find his girlfriend beaten, Sign on San Diego, March 26,2009

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A man in his 20’s was robbed and assaulted by three men and two women at his home in Rancho Penesquitos Saturday evening. They also tried to kidnap him but the victim escaped. Four of the five robbers were caught by police when their getaway car crashed.

The robbers entered the house of the unidentified victim while he was home through an unlocked sliding glass door, according to San Diego police Sgt. Bob Dare.

The victim was taken into his backyard by one of the robbers who stole his wallet, cash, cell phone and then hit him a number of times. The five suspects thought that the man had stolen jewelry from a party earlier in the week, said Dare.

The thieves forced the man out of his house and tried to get him into their car to kidnap him but he escaped by grabbing on to another passing car and was dragged before falling off.

The group of robbers crashed their car into another vehicle after running a red light at Stargaze Avenue and Black Mountain Road. According to Sgt. Dare, 4 of the 5 suspects were arrested while running from the car. The fifth suspect got away but left his identification in the back seat of the car. Authorities are tracking him down.

Man Jumps Onto Moving Car To Escape Abductors, 10News.com, March 22, 2009

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An Oceanside man is in custody for suspicion of raping a student at Cal State San Marcos last April while she was intoxicated.

After a warrant was issued for his arrest, Tyrone Henry Crawford, Jr. 23, turned himself in to campus police. Last Thursday he pleaded not guilty to felony charges.

According to police, Last April 18th a friend of the female rape victim let the suspected rapist into her residence at the University Village Apartments on the Campus of Cal State San Marcos. That is where the sexual assault occurred.

Judge Marshall Hockett set bail at $150,000. In lieu of bail, Crawford is in custody at the Vista jail on count of raping an unconscious person and one count of rape of an intoxicated person. If convicted Crawford could be facing up to 10 years in prison.

Continue reading "Oceanside Man Arrested for Suspicion of Rape at Cal State San Marcos" »

Today in a commercial district in San Diego’s East County, a 16 year old girl has reported being kidnapped and raped.

The sexually abused teenage girl told authorities that a man who appeared to be in his 20’s made her get into an older model green car near the 1100 block of El Cajon Blvd.

The incident occurred this morning around 9:00am, when the suspect drove away with her. He then pulled over in an alley and sexually assaulted the girl before releasing her, according to Lt. Steve Shakowski.

The teen girl said she saw a pistol in the suspects “beat up” four-door sedan. She described the kidnapper as a 5-foot8-inch heavyset black man with a shaved head, beard and mustache. He was said to be wearing jeans and a white shirt.

The 16 year old girl was taken to a hospital for an examination.

El Cajon Teen Reported Kidnapped & Raped, The San Diego CW6, March 2, 2009

Search For Man Who Sexually Assaulted Teen In El Cajon, KFMB News 8

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Two United States Sailors are being charged with the murder of a Mexican prostitute and attempted murder on another in Tijuana.

Petty Officer Second Class Joshua Docker, 27, and Petty Officer Third Class Jarrett Monzingo 22, have been charged with murder and attempted murder and are being held at La Mesa Prison in Tijuana, Mexico.

The incident occurred on January 17, when witnesses and a hotel camera place the two sailors at the same hotel where Mayte Victoria Delgado Flores 19, was found dead.

In a separate incident, the two men were found by police last Thursday in the early morning after meeting with two prostitutes in rented rooms at the Zona Norte Hotel. One of the women and a hotel employee were found stabbed, while the other woman was choked. The sailors were taken into custody and charged with assault with great bodily injury. According to authorities, they later found evidence connecting them to the murder in January.

This is a very serious and complicated case involving violent crimes, alcohol, drugs, and weapons. “The trial takes place before a single judge, and a case like this could take several years to go through all of the different stages” said Jorge Vargas who practiced law in Mexico City.

One of the sailors worked for VRC 30, a logistics and transportation arm of the U.S. Navy. The other sailor was undergoing BUD/S training to be a Navy SEAL.

Sailors Formally Charged In Tijuana Prostitute Attack 10News.com

2 US sailors charged with murder in Mexico The News and Observer

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A former guest designer on the reality TV show “America’s Next Top Model” has been convicted of sexually assaulting seven girls and women, ending a two-month trial in Los Angeles, California. The jury found Anand Jon Alexander, 34, guilty of one count of rape and 15 counts of sexual assault and other charges. Professionally, he is known Anand Jon.

During the trial, prosecutors claimed Jon lured women as young as 14 to a Beverly Hills apartment, where he raped them. A homemade videotape showed a 17-year-old girl being sexually abused, while other testified that Jon touched them without their consent or forced them to perform sex acts on him.

Prosecutors say Jon faces a life sentence with eligibility for parole after serving 67 years in prison. His criminal defense attorney told the Los Angeles Times that his client plans to appeal the jury’s conviction.

Fashion designer Anand Jon guilty of rape, Los Angeles Times, November 14, 2008

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On Saturday morning, a Mesa College student was stabbed to death on the San Diego State University campus during a street fight. Three other students were wounded as a result of the violent incident.

San Diego police have identified the stabbing victim as 22-year-old Luis Felipe Watson Dos Santos, who died at the scene of the crime. Lt. Kevin Rooney, a San Diego police homicide detective, said that the four students had left a party just after 2am and were walking near Peterson Gym Drive when an argument sprang up between those four students and another group of four men.

The deadly assault has been described as an isolated incident, and campus police have not found a fraternity connection to the fight, according to a spokesperson for San Diego State University.

Student dies in fight at SDSU, SignOnSanDiego.com, October 5, 2008

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After a wildly popular movie premiere, the drama surrounding "The Dark Knight" continues. While audiences from California to Connecticut lined up for tickets last Friday night, actor Christian Bale was in London preparing for the European movie premiere. Before attending the premiere, Bale allegedly assaulted his mother and sister at London's Dorchester Hotel Sunday night. According to the Sun newspaper, sister Sharon Bale and mother Jenny Bale filed the complaint.

The 34-year-old actor was arrested, questioned by police in London and released on bail yesterday. He claimed the allegations were false, though he cooperated with law enforcement officials. Bale's lawyer said his client visited the police station voluntarily and left without facing official charges. London police have stayed mum on the issue, as is their policy when there is no official charge. However, several media outlets have conjectured that police waited until Tuesday to question Bale to avoid interference with the British premiere.

When not shooting or promoting a movie, Bale resides in Los Angeles, California, with his wife and daughter. The Wales-born actor made his debut in 1987 in the Steven Spielberg film "Empire of the Sun." In "The Dark Knight," he reprises his role as the iconic comic book character Batman. The Wales-born actor has no prior criminal record in LA.

In California, assault (PC 240/241) is classified as a misdemeanor and carries with it a maximum punishment of 6 months in county jail. If you've been charged with assault in or near San Diego, then you need an attorney who understands these types of cases. Contact the San Diego Law Center for legal help with assault or other violent crimes.

Bale arrested and released; denies assault, Associated Press, July 22, 2008

Cops Knew Batman Would Return, TMZ.com, July 22, 2008

Morning Mix: Report: Christian Bale Accused of Assaulting Mom, Sister, Washington Post, July 22, 2008