Family Corruption In The Big Easy

Principal Posed As Child To Gain Access To Children Online

2008-07-03T16:55:00.000-07:00

We have to protect our children from online predators:

A Los Angeles school principal who has been charged with possessing child pornography had posed as a 12-year-old girl in an online chat room and engaged in sexually explicit talk, authorities said today.

Randolph Barnett Cornfield, 60, the principal of Del Rey Continuation School in Westchester, was arrested in June when investigators allegedly found images of child pornography on his home computer.

Dr. Jan Adams makes headlines Again

2008-06-27T10:24:00.000-07:00

The doc was probably under the influence when Kanye West's mother died:

The Los Angeles plastic surgeon who operated on rap star Kanye West's mother before she died last year was arrested in Solano County early Thursday on suspicion of drunk driving and driving on a suspended license.

Dr. Jan Adams was stopped by the California Highway Patrol after it received calls about 2:41 a.m. of a car traveling south in the northbound lanes of Interstate 680 near Benicia after using an offramp to enter the freeway, officials said.

To CHP officers, Adams, who lives in Laguna Beach, appeared to have been driving his 2004 Jaguar XJ8 under the influence of alcohol.

He was booked into Solano County Jail on charges of driving under the influence of alcohol, driving with a blood-alcohol level above the state's 0.08% limit and driving on a suspended license from a 2006 DUI conviction, officials said.

Man Guilty In MetroLink Crash

2008-06-26T16:28:00.000-07:00

He thought someone would believe his bogus excuse of a failed suicide attempt.

Jurors today convicted Juan Manuel Alvarez of 11 counts of first-degree murder for the deadly Metrolink crash he caused three years ago when he parked his vehicle on railroad tracks.

The jury also found the 29-year-old Compton laborer guilty of arson and a special circumstance allegation that makes him eligible for the death penalty. Jurors will now hear testimony to determine whether Alvarez should be put to death for his crimes.

It's time for him to pay the consequences.

Are You Religious?

2008-06-24T07:50:00.000-07:00

Well, according to a new survey, Californians may not be:

A national survey released Monday revealed that Californiana are less religious and less certain about the existence of God than the nation as a whole.

Residents of the Golden State do not pray as much as people in other parts of the country. They are less inclined to take scripture literally. And they are likelier to embrace "more than one true way" of interpreting their religious teachings.

You Can't Be Choosy

2008-06-20T16:23:00.000-07:00

You can't pick and choose who you will service:

Several employees of the county clerk's office have been reassigned to other duties because they expressed "sincerely held religious objections" to gay marriage, county clerk Gregory Smith said Friday.

No employee is being allowed to perform marriage duties involving only heterosexual couples, Smith said. Instead, employees are being shifted to other duties that do not include issuing marriage licenses, officiating at civil weddings or acting as witnesses.

To Probe Or Not To Probe

2008-06-19T08:29:00.000-07:00

Shouldn't there be a valid reason to probe someone's activities?

A legal ethics watchdog group Wednesday called on the House Ethics Committee to investigate Rep. Laura Richardson (D-Long Beach) for actions surrounding the foreclosure of her Sacramento home and defaults on her homes in San Pedro and Long Beach.

William Marshall, a spokesman for Richardson, called the complaint "pretty mean-spirited. It rehashes old news." He said the House ethics counsel last week met with the congresswoman and said her ethics statement met House rules.

Melanie Sloan, executive director of Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, acknowledged that the chances for an investigation were slim because members of Congress must ask for the probe, and the committee has shown little interest lately in investigating representatives.

Same Sex Marriages

2008-06-17T08:20:00.000-07:00

Opponents will be watching their every move:

The first legal same-sex marriages in California were performed Monday night, and thousands more gay couples are expected to flood into clerks' offices in the coming weeks to obtain marriage licenses. It's all happening with both sides keenly aware that in less than five months, voters will decide whether to amend the state Constitution to define marriage as being between a man and a woman only.

With that in mind, proponents are trying hard to manage what kinds of same-sex marriage images Californians see during this year's so-called Summer of Love.

Opponents maintain that Californians' views have not changed substantially since 2000, when more than 60% of voters cast ballots against same-sex marriage. They predict that the spectacle of men marrying men and women marrying women will anger voters and spur them to support the anti-same-sex marriage amendment.

Same Sex marriage Licenses Issued

2008-06-16T17:50:00.000-07:00

Although county offices are typically closed by 5 p.m., the registrars and clerks who issue marriage licenses in several counties -- Los Angeles, San Francisco, Alameda, Sonoma and Yolo -- remained open to allow at least two dozen same-sex couples the distinction of being among the first to wed.

Upcoming Trial Of Ira Isaacs

2008-06-09T06:17:00.000-07:00

How does one define obscenity?

Hollywood filmmaker Ira Isaacs says the videos he sells are works of art, protected under the Constitution. Federal prosecutors contend they are criminally obscene. The prosecution is the first in Southern California by a U.S. Department of Justice task force formed in 2005 after Christian conservative groups appealed to the Bush administration to crack down on smut.

For jurors to determine whether Isaacs' work is obscene, they will view hours of hard-core pornography so degrading that in one film, an actress cries throughout, prosecutors said in court papers. But if jurors find that any of the four videos at issue in the case have any "literary, scientific or artistic value," the work is not legally obscene, according to a 1973 Supreme Court ruling.

One man's art can be another man's trash.

Teachers Can Protest State Budget

2008-06-05T16:17:00.000-07:00

What will your children be doing the first hour of classes on Friday? Well, the teachers have already made plans:

Los Angeles teachers can skip the first hour of their workday Friday to protest the state's education budget while students are overseen by aides and administrators, a Superior Court judge ruled today.

The Los Angeles Unified School District had filed for a temporary restraining order this morning, but Superior Court Judge David P. Yaffe declined the request. Earlier in the week, the state Public Employment Relations Board also declined to file an injunction on behalf of the district, which has expressed concern that the demonstration could endanger students.

California Facing A Drought

2008-06-04T15:26:00.000-07:00

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger this morning proclaimed a statewide drought, warning that California's water supply is falling dangerously low because of below-average rainfall and court-ordered water restrictions aimed at protecting fish.

Along with the proclamation, the governor issued an executive order intended to speed transfers of water to areas experiencing the most severe shortages, help local water districts boost conservation efforts, identify risks to the state's water supply, and assist farmers.

Who Will Be The Next O C Sheriff?

2008-06-03T16:30:00.000-07:00

It looks like Assistant Sheriff Jack Anderson is out of the race:

The Orange County Board of Supervisors today selected two finalists to become the county's next sheriff -- retired Los Angeles County sheriff's Division Chief Sandra Hutchens and Santa Ana Police Chief Paul Walters.

Supervisors voted to have background checks conducted on each finalist before making their final decision June 10. The new sheriff will succeed former Sheriff Michael S. Carona, who resigned in January after he was indicted on federal corruption charges. Carona, who has pleaded not guilty, said he needed to focus his attention on his upcoming corruption trial.

Hospital's Penalty For Dumping Homeless Patients

2008-06-02T08:43:00.000-07:00

What will the paraplegic man get?

Hollywood Presbyterian Medical Center on Friday settled charges that it left a paraplegic man crawling around downtown Los Angeles' skid row in a hospital gown and colostomy bag by agreeing to pay $1 million and be monitored by a former U.S. attorney for up to five years.

As part of the settlement, Hollywood Presbyterian agreed to adopt new discharge rules and enhance services for homeless patients. The $1 million will go to nonprofit groups that aid the indigent and homeless patients in the Hollywood area and other parts of the city.

Who Framed The Fullerton Teacher?

2008-05-30T08:54:00.000-07:00

When a high school teacher is arrested for a crime he did not commit, one usually would think that disgruntled students set him up. In this case, however, the police suspect other.

A Fullerton high school history teacher who was jailed this week when police -- acting on a tip -- found a shotgun and marijuana in his car in the school parking lot was actually the "victim of an elaborate setup," police said Thursday.

Investigators are now convinced that Gregory Abbott, 31, of Placentia, who has taught at Sunny Hills High School for seven years, is innocent and was actually a victim, said Sgt. Mike MacDonald of the Fullerton Police Department.

Detectives want to talk to Abbott's estranged wife and a male friend. MacDonald declined to identify the pair, calling them "persons of interest at this time" and not suspects.

I am so glad that this matter has been cleared up. There is nothing worse then being accused of a crime you did not commit.

Let's Blame It On The Internet

2008-05-28T17:34:00.000-07:00

Let's not forget how the internet has also caught criminals:

Los Angeles County Sheriff's Deputy Devin Vanderlaan, the investigator who arrested Cyrus Yazdani, a.k.a. "Buket," said he believes the explosion in graffiti in the Los Angeles area in the last few years has been driven in no small part by the Internet, which not only is a convenient way to show off your tags but pushes its boundaries.

Social networking sites have absolutely helped graffiti's popularity. It's everywhere. Graffiti doesn't have economic or race rules anymore. When people think of graffiti years ago they thought of black urban and hip-hop. Now, graffiti is not defined by race or tax bracket."

New Sheriff For Orange County

2008-05-27T17:45:00.000-07:00

New way to pick the sheriff. Let's see, who will it be?

For decades, Orange County's sheriff has been elected by voters. But after Sheriff Michael S. Carona stepped down in January to focus on his upcoming federal corruption trial, the board was given the task of hand-picking his successor. A federal grand jury indicted Carona in October on charges that he sold access to his office for tens of thousands of dollars in cash and gifts. His trial is scheduled to begin Aug. 26.

The finalists, identified in a nationwide search, include interim Sheriff Jack Anderson, former Sheriff's Lt. Bill Hunt, longtime Santa Ana Police Chief Paul Walters and Los Angeles County Sheriff's Commander Ralph Martin.

Beware Of The West Nile Virus

2008-05-23T17:21:00.000-07:00

Two counties in California should be wary of the West Nile Virus. According to published reports, two crows were found dead last month in Lost Angeles County. The crows tested positive for the West Nile virus:

On Tuesday, the Orange County Vector Control District announced that 13 birds collected earlier this month tested positive for the virus. In Orange County, the dead birds -- nine crows, two house finches, a hermit thrush and a black-headed grosbeak -- were found in a wide area that included San Clemente, Anaheim, Brea and Huntington Beach. Six were collected in Garden Grove, county health officials said.

Phil Spector Faces New Murder Trial

2008-05-22T15:20:00.000-07:00

A new day to face the music:

Without waiting for a California Supreme Court decision on whether he will preside over music producer Phil Spector's second murder trial, a judge has set a new trial date for Sept. 29.

Spector's first trial ended in a jury deadlock last September. Spector is accused of killing actress Lana Clarkson at his Alhambra mansion on Feb. 3, 2003.

Are California Beaches Cleaner?

2008-05-21T17:45:00.000-07:00

A recent environmental report claims that the beaches are cleaner. But hold on folks; there is more news:

While water quality is improving overall statewide, Los Angeles County is home to the most bacteria-laden seawater in California for the third straight year. Half of the 10 foulest shorelines in the state are in Los Angeles County, with the dirtiest water at Avalon Harbor Beach on Santa Catalina Island.

The report after all does not do us much good.

Rogue Cop Sentenced To 102 Years In Prison

2008-05-20T16:46:00.000-07:00

Did anybody expect any more from this officer who had five felony arrest before he became a Los Angeles police officer?

William Ferguson was the latest in a string of ex-cops to be sentenced in connection with the ring, which conducted bogus drug raids staged to look like legitimate police operations.

He just continued what he knew how to do when he became a cop: steal

Is Sheriff jack Anderson Right For The Job?

2008-05-19T11:50:00.000-07:00

Some believe that Jack Anderson may not be the right candidate for sheriff because of his ties to Carona. Some have spoken out publicly concerning their feelings:

At least one board member is also said to harbor doubts about Anderson because of two recent incidents: his appearance, in uniform, before San Clemente City Council members in November to urge them to stay neutral on a political endorsement, and his presence at the scene of an apparent suicide by the son of two department officials in January where proper procedures may have been ignored.

The state attorney general concluded that Anderson's appearance in uniform at the City Council meeting violated state law. The district attorney's office is investigating the handling of the suicide scene.

Does Jack Anderson deserve our support?

When Can Same Sex Couples Wed?

2008-05-16T14:47:00.000-07:00

There is good news for the gay and lesbian community regarding same sex marriages:

Los Angeles County Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky announced today that he, along with Supervisor Yvonne B. Burke, will order county officials next week to begin complying with the state Supreme Court's decision on same-sex marriages.

Let's try to let this process begin without any glitches because people should be allowed to make choices.

Gay Marriage Ban Overturned In California

2008-05-15T18:33:00.001-07:00

The California Supreme Court decided today that same-sex couples should be permitted to wed, ruling that gay unions must be given the "respect and dignity" of marriage.

In a 4-3 vote, the court became the first in the country to apply the constitutional protections reserved for race and gender to sexual orientation. The Massachusetts high court struck down bans on same-sex marriage in 2003, but under a different legal theory.

That $20 Bill May Not Be Real

2008-05-14T12:46:00.000-07:00

A glitch has occurred in California's economy with the discovery of counterfeiting ring:

On Tuesday, federal authorities announced that Troy Stroud and four other men have been arrested and charged in connection with a massive counterfeiting scheme that U.S. Atty. Thomas P. O'Brien called "one of the largest, if not the largest, counterfeit currency rings we have seen in Southern California."

The ring is responsible for printing and distributing nearly $7 million in bogus currency over the last two years, authorities said.

Assistant U.S. Atty. Tracy L. Wilkison, the prosecutor on the case, said it was unusual not just because of the amount of money, but because agents were able to go up the food chain in their investigation.

Check your wallets. You may be carrying a bogus bill.

Gold Prices Bring Out Gold Thieves

2008-05-13T17:42:00.000-07:00

Wow....why pick on JC Penney?

A gang of gold thieves has broken into at least 11 JCPenney stores across the state in the last 18 months, stealing about $2.5 million in jewelry, authorities said.

Investigators say the thieves probably are motivated by gold's market price of $1,000 an ounce. Typically, two to four masked men break into a closed store, smash a display case and take only the gold jewelry.