SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY: DA team to focus on children’s crimes

KURT MILLER/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Forensic pediatricians Dr. Mark Massi, at left, with Dr. Amy Young get the colposcope ready to show the media during a tour in the examination room, second from right is San Bernardino District Attorney Mike Ramos. The DA’s office announced Tuesday, December 11, 2012, the creation of a major crimes against children unit to better coordinate law enforcement efforts. The DA is also lead a tour of the Children Assessment Center where victims are taken for examination and interviews.

The San Bernardino County district attorney’s office announced the formation Tuesday, Dec. 11, of a specialized prosecution unit that will focus on serious crimes against children.

The Major Crimes Against Children Unit will allow prosecutors to better coordinate their efforts with physicians and counselors and seek more resources to fight those crimes, District Attorney Michael Ramos said.

“We’re doing a good job, but this is really going to enhance how we handle these cases,” Ramos said.

Those crimes have traditionally been handled as part of the district attorney’s Family Violence Unit, but six prosecutors — one for each regional office — from that division are now part of the new unit.

Those prosecutors will handle what Ramos described as some of the most horrendous crimes he’s seen.

“We’re talking about our children that are burned, tortured, (suffer) broken bones, head trauma,” Ramos said.

These are also some of the most difficult cases to prosecute because there are often no witnesses and some victims — some too young to speak — are unable to testify, he said.

He said it’s critical that prosecutors receive special training in handling such cases and work closely with law enforcement officers and physicians who examine the victims.

That includes a closer partnership with the county’s Children’s Assessment Center in San Bernardino, where Ramos made the announcement Tuesday and provided a tour of the facility.

The center features interview and medical examination rooms where child victims are taken for evaluation. The rooms include child-size tables and chairs, toys, crayons, animal paintings on the wall and other features to make the environment more comforting for victims.

Dr. Amy Young, associate director of the center, said the new unit will allow forensic pediatricians to better communicate with prosecutors, knowing there is someone specially assigned to the case they can contact directly throughout the investigation and prosecution.

In 2011, the district attorney’s office had 53 cases that would have fallen into the major crimes category handled by the new unit. So far this year, 32 such cases have been filed.

Some current cases that will now be part of the unit include a Barstow man charged with molesting and raping eight children over the past 25 years, including several family members. Another case involves a Fort Irwin soldier accused of abusing his 13-day-old infant resulting in 11 broken ribs, two broken legs and skull sutures.

Ramos said the new unit should send a message to those who commit crimes against children that they will be held accountable.

“You do this in this county, we’re going to take you off the street,” he said. “You will not harm our babies.”

BY IMRAN GHORI

STAFF WRITER

Source: www.pe.com

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Ruling on Kelly Thomas case dismissals postponed

Fullerton police officer Joseph Wolfe. JOSHUA SUDOCK, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

SANTA ANA – A hearing on a defense motion to dismiss charges against two former Fullerton police officers accused of beating a mentally ill homeless man to death in July 2011 was postponed Friday at the request of defense attorneys.

Orange County Superior Court Judge William Froeberg delayed the hearing until Jan. 18 after defense attorneys John Barnett and Michael Schwartz filed a request for a continuance to prepare additional legal briefs.

Barnett represents former Fullerton policeman Manuel Ramos, 38, who in September 2011 became the first police officer in Orange County history to be charged with murder for an incident that occurred while on duty and in uniform. He faces a possible 15-year term in prison if convicted of second-degree murder for the death of Kelly Thomas.

Thomas’ father, Ron Thomas, asked Froeberg to give his son his day in court, saying 14 months had passed since the policemen were charged.

“In the interest of my son, sir,” he asked, “that we move ahead in a speedy manner.”

Orange County District Attorney Tony Rackauckas contends that Ramos triggered a sequence of events that led to Thomas’ fatal beating when he snapped on latex gloves and threatened to “f—- you up,” during an encounter in the parking lot of the Fullerton Transportation Center.

Co-defendant and former Fullerton policeman Jay Cicinelli was charged with involuntary manslaughter and excessive force under color of authority for his roles in the July 5 incident that began with a call about a man pulling on the handles of locked cars and ended with an unconscious and bloody Thomas being rushed to a hospital. The incident was captured on surveillance video.

The Orange County grand jury later indicted a third officer, Joseph Wolfe, on involuntary manslaughter and excessive-force charges.

Thomas died July 10, 2011 when life support was turned off. A pathologist testified that Thomas died from a lack of oxygen to the brain sustained during the late evening encounter.

Defense attorneys filed a motion to dismiss charges in August, contending among other things that the officers were acting within their lawful authority and that a “recalcitrant” Thomas “defiantly disobeyed” lawful commands.

But Deputy District Attorney Keith Bogardus countered in his 100-page written response that there was no justification for a threat of violence or use of excessive force and that Thomas, 38, acted in lawful self-defense when he was faced with Ramos’ threat.

The surveillance video shows Ramos and Wolfe questioning Thomas for about 15 minutes before the encounter escalated into violence. Four other officers – including Cicinelli – arrived at the scene and piled on, according to prosecutors. Thomas is heard on the videotape screaming for help, yelling that he couldn’t breathe, and calling out for his dad.

Cicinelli, 40, and Wolfe, 37, face possible four-year prison sentences if convicted.

All three of the officers no longer are employed by the Fullerton Police Department.

Rackauckas said after the brief hearing Friday that he does not anticipate that the motion to dismiss, the filings and hearings related to it will push a trial off schedule. He still anticipates going to trial, he said, in a year to 18 months.

Afterward, Ron Thomas said he was not frustrated with the motions.

“We’re still moving forward,” he said.

Source: www.ocregister.com

By LARRY WELBORN and VIK JOLLY/ THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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Brothers stabbed in Costa Mesa fight

COSTA MESA – Two brothers were stabbed during a fight at an apartment complex Sunday night.

Costa Mesa Police officers were called to an apartment building at 1760 Pomona Ave. at 11:40 p.m. after receiving reports of a fight with a knife.

“When we got there, we didn’t find anything,” said Sgt. Cling Dieball.

Watch a video about the stabbings.

Officers were then notified by employees at Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian that two men had been taken there with stab wounds. One of the men suffered life-threatening injuries, and was taken to Western Medical Center in Santa Ana, Dieball said.

He was in critical condition Monday morning. The second man suffered a stab wound to his arm.

Officers went to the hospital to interview the brothers, but the information they have received has been vague and not helpful, officials said.

“We don’t know who the suspect is or why the fight started,” Dieball said. “Either (the victims) don’t know or they are being uncooperative.”

Detectives are continuing to follow several leads, he said.

Source: www.ocregister.com

By SALVADOR HERNANDEZ/ THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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OAK GLEN: Beaumont police capture escaped inmate

An inmate who walked away from a minimum-security conservation camp in Oak Glen overnight Saturday was later captured in Beaumont, state corrections officials said.

Shaun Perkins, 22, was seen at an inmate count at the Oak Glen Conservation Camp at 11 p.m. Saturday night, Nov. 24. He was later discovered missing and corrections officials notified the California Highway Patrol and area law enforcement agencies, a news release from the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation stated.

Beaumont police captured Perkins near Brookside and Beaumont avenues at 1:10 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 25.

Perkins was sentenced to more than seven years for burglary and stolen vehicle violations. The San Joaquin Valley resident was scheduled to be released in October 2014.

BY DAVID KECK

STAFF WRITER

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MURRIETA: Robbery victim, suspect show up at same hospital

An 18-year-old Winchester man was arrested at a hospital early Sunday, Nov. 11, after authorities say he beat and robbed a teen in French Valley.

Joseph Scott was booked into the Southwest Detention Center in French Valley on suspicion of robbery and battery, a Riverside County Sheriff’s Department news release said.

About 9:30 p.m. Saturday, a 17-year-old boy was walking on Benton Road east of Winchester Road when he was approached by a group of people. A man later identified as Scott demanded that the teen give him all of his property, sheriff’s officials said.

When the teen refused, Scott struck him, knocking him to the ground, the release said. The two got into a fight and several items were taken from the teen.

The teen ran home and family members took him to Rancho Springs Medical Center in Murrieta for treatment of injuries he received during the fight.

Scott showed up in the same emergency room and was recognized as the attacker, sheriff’s officials said. He tried to run away but was detained by the teen’s family, the release said.

Authorities ask that anyone with information call the sheriff’s Southwest Station at 951-696-3000.

BY SARAH BURGE

STAFF WRITER

Source: www.pe.com

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CRESTLINE: Deputies fatally shoot man at house fire

Deputies fatally shot a 56-year-old man while assisting firefighters in the San Bernardino Mountains during a blaze at a house they were told contained weapons and possibly explosives, sheriff’s officials say.

The incident happened about 10 a.m. Monday, Nov. 12, in the 22900 block of Redwood Way in the Crestline-area community of Valley of Enchantment.

The confrontation occurred soon after the man left the house and approached the deputies, sheriff’s spokeswoman Cindy Bachman said in a written statement.

“They ordered the man to stop and show his hands,” according to the statement. “The male subject refused to comply and continued toward them while reaching into his waistband. Deputies fired.”

The man died at the scene. His name has not been released.

He is believed to have lived at the house, which also is the home of a woman and two adult children, a man and woman. Bachman said she didn’t know who had summoned the Fire Department and told of the weapons and possible explosives inside.

At 5 p.m., arson and bomb investigators obtained a search warrant. No information was available on whether they found any weapons or explosives.

Anyone with information about the incident may call Detective Eddie Bachman or Sgt. John Gaffney at 909-387-3589.

BY RICHARD BROOKS

AND BRIAN ROKOS

STAFF WRITERS

Source: www.pe.com

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Police: Men who evaded search held family at home

FULLERTON – Two burglary suspects held a family against its will in a Fullerton home while hiding from officers during a police search, authorities said Tuesday.

The search began about 11:15 a.m. Monday, when Huntington Beach detectives conducting surveillance of several men suspected of robbing residences in that city saw the men breaking into a home near State College Boulevard and Lambert Road in Brea, authorities said.

Three men fled from Huntington Beach detectives in a vehicle, as Brea police officers were called in for assistance. The men abandoned the vehicle near Imperial Highway and Puente Street and fled on foot into a residential tract in Fullerton.

Fullerton, Brea, La Habra and Huntington Beach police officials, with the assistance of a CHP helicopter, searched the area but were unable to locate the men.

About 4:30 p.m., after the search was over, Fullerton police received a call from the residents of a home in the 3900 block of Madonna Road who had been held against their will by two men, Fullerton police Sgt. Jeff Stuart said.

The men, who police believe entered the home through an unlocked door, are believed to have been the suspects sought in the earlier burglaries, Stuart said. Police suspect they hid in the home to avoid the search.

“They hunkered down in the house,” Stuart said. “Once they left the residence, the homeowners called police.”

No one in the residence was injured, Stuart said, and they gave no indication that the two men were armed.

Citing the active investigation, police declined to release descriptions of the men.

Source: www.ocregister.com

By SEAN EMERY/ THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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D.A.: Inmate died from injuries suffered during suicide attempt

SANTA ANA – An Orange County District Attorney’s Office investigation has concluded that a man in custody at the Orange County Jail died as a result of landing on his head after falling from the second floor and found no criminal culpability on the part of the Orange County Sheriff’s Department.

Paul Michael Dewey, 54, severely injured himself about 3:30 p.m. Oct. 30 last year while attempting to commit suicide at the Orange County Jail in Santa Ana.

Anaheim officers arrested Dewey on Oct. 27, booking him on suspicion of drug possession for sale and a parole violation, authorities said. According to Orange County Superior Court records, Dewey pleaded not guilty to the charges Oct. 28.

The District Attorney’s Office is responsible for investigating custodial deaths.

According to the office’s report, Dewey was reportedly alone in a dayroom area when he attempted suicide. Inmates reportedly saw Dewey exiting the shower wearing only his boxer shorts and with a braided bed sheet tied around his neck. Dewey then tied the other end of the rope to the safety rail on the second level. Several inmates saw what Dewey was doing and started yelling, “Don’t do it, don’t do it,” and activated their in-cell emergency buttons, the report says.

Before a deputy could get to him, Dewey jumped off the second floor, according to the report. The sheet ripped, causing Dewey to land hard on his head on the concrete floor, the report says.

Paramedics took Dewey to Western Medical Center-Santa Ana, where he died Nov. 7 from his injuries.

Source: www.ocregister.com

By DENISSE SALAZAR/ THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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Ex-husband released from jail after death of woman

SANTA ANA – A man arrested in connection with the stabbing death of his former wife has been released from jail pending further investigation, authorities said.

Officers responding to a 911 call by Kenneth Finefield, 74, about 3:30 p.m. Sunday found Macaria Finefield, 71, dead in her bed with a stab wound to her chest at the woman’s home in the 700 block of South Orange Avenue.

Kenneth Finefield was taken in for questioning and then booked into the Santa Ana city jail on suspicion of murder.

The Orange County District Attorney’s Office requested further investigation by Santa Ana detectives before deciding whether criminal charges will be filed, Cpl. Anthony Bertagna said.

In the meantime, Kenneth Finefield has been released from jail, records show.

Macaria Finefield was herself once charged with murder in 2004 in connection to the March 1974 death of Bertha Hernandez, a pregnant woman from Tijuana who came to stay at the Finefield’s home while looking for a husband who she believed was living in Los Angeles.

Macaria Finefield in court and a jailhouse interview said she never meant to kill Hernandez but was instead attempting to deliver the baby with a kitchen knife, a pail of hot water and no anesthetic after Hernandez suffered a fall. Authorities alleged that she disposed of Hernandez’s body in Mexico.

Prosecutors decided against pursuing charges against Macaria Finefield after learning that she had spent three years in a Mexican prison in connection with the death.

Authorities have not released the results of Macaria Finefield’s autopsy.

Source: www.ocregister.com

By SEAN EMERY and ALYSSA DURANTY/ THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

If you are charged with a crime, contact an experienced Orange County Bail Bondsman to assist you in any bail situtation.

 

LAKE ELSINORE: Michel Knight pleads guilty to misdemeanors

A Lake Elsinore businessman who prosecutors said tried to hide his involvement in a failed attempt to recall a city councilman was sentenced to 90 days in jail after pleading guilty to two misdemeanors.

Michel Knight’s trial was scheduled to start on Thursday, Oct. 11. Instead, he pleaded guilty to two misdemeanors – conspiracy to commit a crime and contributing funds under a false name, Riverside County District Attorney’s office spokesman John Hall said.

Knight will also receive three years’ probation. He was ordered to surrender on Jan. 25 to begin his sentence, Hall said.

Knight was accused of conspiring with an employee, Enelida Caron, to hide his involvement in a recall campaign against former Lake Elsinore Councilman Thomas Buckley.

Caron, who pleaded guilty in 2011 to a misdemeanor count of conspiracy to violate state campaign laws, is scheduled to be sentenced next week.

BY JOHN F. HILL

STAFF WRITER

Source: www.pe.com

If you are charged with a crime, contact an experienced Orange County Bail Bondsman to assist you in any bail situation.