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Tag: California

  • Intoxicated Woman Wakes Up To Lyft Driver Sexually Assaulting Her, Suspect Charged, Police Say

    Intoxicated Woman Wakes Up To Lyft Driver Sexually Assaulting Her, Suspect Charged, Police Say

    A California Lyft driver has been arrested for allegedly sexually assaulting a

    “drunk”

    passenger who fell asleep in his car, reports the NY Post.

    The suspect, 35-year-old Fernando Macias Morales, was arrested by the Santa Monica police on Saturday.

    “We entrust rideshare drivers with our safety, relying on their professionalism and integrity to provide safe transportation,”

    Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascon said in a statement Wednesday.

    “Individuals who perpetrate acts of violence, especially against those who rely on transportation services for their everyday needs, will be held accountable,”

    Gascon said.

    Santa Monica police report that Morales picked up the passenger outside of a restaurant in West Hollywood after she requested a ride home. During the ride, the woman fell asleep and later woke up to find the driver molesting her, according to authorities.

    After the incident, Morales reportedly offered to accompany the woman to her door, but she declined. It was only after she arrived home that she realized she had been unconscious for several hours. The woman reported the assault to the police, leading to an investigation. 

    On Wednesday, prosecutors filed charges against him based on the woman’s claims. He faces charges of kidnapping with intent to commit a sexual act, sexual penetration of an intoxicated person, and oral copulation. Morales’s bail is set at $500,000.

    “Upon learning of this incident we permanently banned the driver from the Lyft platform, contacted the rider to offer support, and assisted law enforcement with their investigation,”

    a spokesperson for San Francisco-based Lyft wrote in an email to The Post. 

    #Clique, what are your thoughts?

  • California Elementary School Principal Placed On Temporary Administrative Leave After Conducting ‘Disturbing’ Active Shooter Drill, Where She Pretended To Shoot Kids

    California Elementary School Principal Placed On Temporary Administrative Leave After Conducting ‘Disturbing’ Active Shooter Drill, Where She Pretended To Shoot Kids

    Nina Denson, a newly appointed principal at Washington Elementary School in San Gabriel, California, may be fired after conducting an unauthorized active shooter drill. During the drill, Denson allegedly pretended to shoot and kill young students, causing trauma to the children, reports Law & Crime. 

    The San Gabriel Unified School District has placed Denson on administrative leave following complaints from parents. The incident occurred during a regular school day and involved children as young as 4 years old. One parent, Jennifer Chavez, shared that her first-grade son was deeply upset by the incident. The school district is currently investigating the matter.

    “She proceeded to walk around campus and pretended to shoot people she saw using finger movements and banging on windows. From what I heard, she said to one of the students, ‘Boom. You’re dead,’”

    Chavez told the station.

    “The one shocking, surprising thing he said as a 6-year-old was, ‘I’m just really glad none of my friends died.’”

    After the horrifying act, Denson reportedly made an announcement to the students, informing them that seven of their young classmates had been killed. This announcement has been deemed highly inappropriate by parents, including Ann Bustamante.

    “Can you imagine the trauma these children potentially could go through of just thinking, ‘Oh my God, my friend was killed’ or ‘I was shot and told I died,’”

    she told KTLA.

    “At the young age that these children are, it was very upsetting.”

    Denson has been placed on temporary administrative leave. When questioned about the incident, San Gabriel Unified School District Superintendent Jim Symonds clearly stated that the active shooter drill had not been approved by the school district. He also emphasized that Denson’s conduct during the drill did not’

    “appear to have been in line with District protocols or best practices.”

    The school district is taking the matter seriously and is investigating further.

    #Clique, what are your thoughts?

  • Driving Instructor Faces Charges For Allegedly Sexually Abusing and Secretly Recording Teenage Students, Police Say

    Driving Instructor Faces Charges For Allegedly Sexually Abusing and Secretly Recording Teenage Students, Police Say

    A driving instructor in California has been arrested and charged with nearly three dozen crimes after allegedly sexually abusing teenage students and secretly recording the acts, reports Law & Crime. 

    Richard Joseph Banks, 50, worked for the American Driving School in El Cajon when the assaults took place. He was arrested on Thursday and is now facing 32 charges, including creating obscene material using a minor, sexual battery, and invasion of privacy. 

    The owner of the driving school, Daniel Tackett, stated that he immediately canceled Banks’ classes upon learning about the investigation into his alleged crimes in November.

    “We were shocked by the allegations against Joe,”

    Tackett told KNSD.

    “His actions are his alone, and they violate the trust and policies of our company and those of the DMV regarding inappropriate behavior. He hasn’t taught any students after SDPD notified us of their investigation. We’ve always encouraged parents to ride on the lessons for observation of our teaching methods. As with all DMV licensed instructors, Joe passed a DOJ background check before he was hired.”

    According to Tackett, Banks had been employed with the company for almost a year and had been receiving positive feedback from parents and even got referrals to teach other families.

    “We’ve been doing this for a long time and we take it very seriously so when something like this happens, it’s just devastating to us,”

    Tackett told the station.

    Authorities are actively investigating to identify additional victims in the ongoing case. Banks is set to appear in court on Tuesday. 

    #Clique, what are your thoughts?

  • Woman Sentenced To Probation After Fatally Stabbing Boyfriend Over 100 Times, Reports Say

    Woman Sentenced To Probation After Fatally Stabbing Boyfriend Over 100 Times, Reports Say

    In California, a woman who stabbed her boyfriend over 100 times during a drug-induced back episode in 2018 has been given a sentence of two years probation and

    “100 hours of community service,”

    instead of being placed behind bars, reports PEOPLE. 

    Back in Dec. Bryn Spejcher, 32, was convicted of involuntary manslaughter for the death of her boyfriend, 26-year-old Chad O’Melia. Previously, she faced up to four years behind bars before her sentencing hearing on Tuesday. 

    Back in 2018, according to prosecutors, Spejcher fatally stabbed her boyfriend, Chad O’Melia, around 108 times in his Thousand Oaks apartment after they smoked marijuana together, reports the Ventura County Star.

    She also reportedly stabbed herself. Officials discovered her in a pool of blood and had to use a baton and Taser in order to disarm her. She was later taken into custody. 

    A medical expert testified during the trial that Spejcher’s actions were caused by

    “cannabis-induced psychosis.”

    The National Library of Medicine defines this disorder as the emergence of

    “hallucinations or delusions”

    shortly after consuming marijuana.

    Spejcher’s lawyers argued that she was forced to consume marijuana against her will. O’Melia’s family confronted Spejcher in court, where she showed remorse for her actions.

    “My actions have ripped your family apart…I am broken and aching inside. I hurt that you never see Chad again,”

    the woman said, according to the Ventura County Star

    Judge David Worley of Ventura County Superior Court justified his choice to not sentence Spejcher to jail time. 

    Judge Worley said,

    “From that point forward, she had no control over her actions,”

    referencing the point after she smoked the cannabis. 

    #Clique, what are your thoughts? 

  • Mother Testified That Road Rage Shooter Smiled At Her Before Firing Shot Into Car That Led To The Murder Of Her Son

    Mother Testified That Road Rage Shooter Smiled At Her Before Firing Shot Into Car That Led To The Murder Of Her Son

    According to a newspaper report, a California woman testified in court that the suspect in her son’s fatal shooting smiled at her before shooting, in what authorities believe was a road rage encounter back in 2021, reports PEOPLE. 

    According to The San Bernardino Sun, Joanna Cloonan, Aiden Leos’ mother, testified in the trial of Marcus Anthony Eriz, who is facing charges of second-degree murder and other offenses.

    Patrol Officer Florentino Olivera stated during a news conference that back in the May 2021 shooting, Aiden was in the backseat of the vehicle as his mother drove. Eriz’s girlfriend, Wynn Lee, was the driver, and Eriz was in the passenger seat, as reported by CBS News and The Sun. 

    During an interview with Good Morning America, Cloonan mentioned that shortly after the shooting, Lee’s car abruptly changed lanes in front of her. In court, Cloonan discussed the encounter, claiming that Lee gestured a

    “peace”

    sign at her after cutting her off.

    According to the Sun, Cloonan testified that she attempted to distance herself from the couple while driving and expressed her frustration by making a gesture and putting up her middle finger.

    “[Eriz] looked at me and smiled, after the gesture.. I tried to get away as much as I could.” 

    According to the outlet, the distraught mother then heard a loud noise and her son say “Ow!” from behind her. She then witnessed that his

    “head was hanging down.” 

    Officials claimed Eriz confessed to firing at the vehicle and later

    “pleaded not guilty to charges of murder and shooting at a vehicle.”

    Lee is facing multiple charges including “possession of a firearm in a vehicle.”

    #Clique, what are your thoughts? 

  • Toddler Discovered Walking The Streets Alone After Mother Was Carjacked, Officials Say

    Toddler Discovered Walking The Streets Alone After Mother Was Carjacked, Officials Say

    California deputies discovered a toddler who had been left alone after a carjacking. The Oakland Police received a report of a carjacking and child abduction near the Oakland Coliseum on Jan. 23, according to the Marin County Sheriff’s Office, reports The Sacramento Bee.

    Shortly after, authorities stated that the 2-year-old child was discovered wandering near a warehouse in San Leandro. Concerned individuals reported that the child had been left

    “alone”

    and abandoned.

    At around 7 p.m., the child of the mother contacted Marin County deputies, expressing concern that her car might be at a McDonald’s in Strawberry. Deputies arrived at the location and discovered the stolen car abandoned in the parking lot. With the help of video surveillance, deputies obtained a “description of two [potential] suspects.”

    According to the unnamed mother,

    “she was tracking her stolen iPhone via the Find My iPhone application.”

    Officials looked into an area that the mother gave them. Authorities later discovered the suspects following a comprehensive search. 

    Deputies arrested a 34-year-old man and a 31-year-old woman. The man faced charges of kidnapping and carjacking and was placed in jail. Luckily, the deputies successfully reunited the mother and toddler. San Leandro is located approximately 20 miles southeast of San Francisco.

    #Clique, what are your thoughts? 

  • Toddler Suffers Permanent Disability After Choking On Candy Land Gummy Dot, Lawsuit Alleges

    Toddler Suffers Permanent Disability After Choking On Candy Land Gummy Dot, Lawsuit Alleges

    According to a recent lawsuit, a young child in California has suffered permanent disabilities as a result of choking on a Candy Land Gummy Dot, per Law & Crime. The toddler, named Amelie Parades Sotelo, was unable to speak, swallow, or move after the

    “sticky”

    candy blocked her airway on December 13, 2022.

    “These candies were a ticking time bomb. We will pursue justice for this innocent little girl who was once a vibrant and thriving child but is now permanently disabled, unable to speak, unable to swallow, and unable to move, for the rest of her life,”

    said attorney Thomas Bosworth, who represents the girl and her family.

    “It is shocking that this level of brain damage is caused by just one single piece of this dangerous gel candy.”

    A lawsuit has been filed against Frankford Candy & Chocolate Co., Inc., Frankford Candy LLC, and Hasbro, Inc. The lawsuit accuses these companies of product liability, failure to warn, negligence, and causing emotional distress. The lawsuit, filed in Philadelphia on December 28, claims that a 3-year-old girl suffered irreversible brain damage and spastic quadriplegia after chewing on a single Frankford® Candy Land Gummy Dot, which was

    “negligently, recklessly, and defectively designed.”

    The Frankford Candy Land Gummy Dots display is a colorful image of the popular children’s game, Candy Land. The

    “Frankford Candy & Chocolate Co., Inc., Frankford Candy LLC, and Hasbro, Inc., intentionally designed, advertised, and marketed for the purpose of attracting children of all ages,”

    however, they failed to provide safety or choking hazard warnings on the packaging, according to the lawsuit. 

    Medical personnel tried to suction and remove the candy from her airway, but it was

    “extremely difficult due to the excessive stickiness of the product and its extraordinary lack of pliability,”

    court documents said. She endured profound hypoxia due to a prolonged lack of oxygen. The lawsuit is asking for over $50,000 in compensation.

    #Clique, what are your thoughts?

  • Probation Office Employee Allegedly Assisteed Son Accused Of Murder In Evading Police, Hiding Him In Backseat Under Sunshade

    Probation Office Employee Allegedly Assisteed Son Accused Of Murder In Evading Police, Hiding Him In Backseat Under Sunshade

    According to prosecutors, a California probation office employee, Carla White, allegedly assisted in hiding her son after he allegedly killed a man, per Law & Crime. 

    The incident occurred on November 13th in El Cajon, when 27-year-old Javier Medina was found with gunshot wounds and later pronounced dead at the hospital. Hunter White and Kristian Wolf were arrested for murder and attempted murder, while Carla White was charged with being an accessory after the fact and unauthorized furnishing of records or information. 

    Carla White, who works as a senior office assistant with the San Diego County Probation Department, reportedly went to the crime scene and hid her son in the back seat under a sunshade. She also tipped off her son about the police search after seeing a confidential flyer through her job. The motive and relationship between the suspects and the victim have not been disclosed by authorities.

    “Any time that a person who is a suspect to a serious crime has a tipoff in advance that they are a suspect, it could give any person a chance to take steps to conceal aspects of the crime or to flee from the area,”

    Deputy District Attorney Drew Garrison from San Diego County expressed.

    “I think the public generally expects that their public servants will uphold their duties and oaths, and it’s important as an office that the district attorney’s office seeks to hold people accountable for the actions that they’ve taken,”

    Garrison told NBC 7.

    Hunter White and Wolf are currently in jail at the San Diego County Jail without bail, while Carla White has been released on bail. The defendants are set to appear in court on February 28th for their hearing.

    #Clique, what are your thoughts?

  • California Approves ‘Toilet-to-Tap’ Initiative Where ‘Treated Wastewater’ Is Recycled Back Into The Home

    California Approves ‘Toilet-to-Tap’ Initiative Where ‘Treated Wastewater’ Is Recycled Back Into The Home

    California officials have given the green light to new regulations known as

    “toilet-to-tap”,

    which permit water agencies to recycle wastewater from homes and redistribute it back to households, according to the NY Post. 

    The aim is to address the state’s dwindling water supply. Despite initial concerns from consumers, officials have assured the public that the process is safe, as the wastewater undergoes three rigorous stages of treatment. The water is thoroughly treated to eliminate pathogens and viruses, and minerals are even added back to enhance its taste.

    “It will truly be the highest quality water delivered in the state when it’s done,”

    said Darrin Polhemus, director of the Division of Drinking Water and the State Water Resources Control Board.

    California is notorious for its droughts and relies on water from other states via the Colorado River. However, in 2023, the state experienced an unusually high level of rainfall, resulting in over 99% freedom from drought by October. Although recycled water may be more expensive than imported water, it offers a more sustainable and reliable supply, as per CalMatters. 

    California becomes the second state, following Colorado, to adopt this approach. While recycled water has been used for decades in California for irrigation purposes, this marks the first time it will be directly utilized for drinking water. 

    The construction of treatment facilities is a costly and time-consuming effort, so larger cities like San Diego and Silicon Valley/Bay Area, with ample funding, are expected to be among the first to transition. Officials estimate that nearly half of San Diego’s water supply will come from recycled sources by 2035.

    “Drought happens all the time and with climate change, it will only get worse,”

    Kirsten Struve with the Santa Clara Valley Water District told ABC.

    “This is a drought-resistant supply that we will need in the future to meet the demands of our communities.”

    #Clique, what are your thoughts?

  • Substitute Teacher Arrested After Allegedly Exposing His Rear End To Sixth Grade Class

    Substitute Teacher Arrested After Allegedly Exposing His Rear End To Sixth Grade Class

    A substitute teacher in Anderson, California, has been arrested on charges of indecent exposure and annoying or molesting a child. According to Huff Post, Stephen Canciani, 32, allegedly exposed his bare buttocks to a class of sixth graders at Anderson Middle School. 

    The incident was brought to light when two students reported it to a vice principal. Upon investigation, the vice principal witnessed Canciani with his pants and underwear pulled down to his mid-thigh. The vice principal immediately ordered Canciani to leave the building and contacted law enforcement. 

    Canciani turned himself into the Anderson Police Department later that night. In a letter to parents, Anderson Middle School Principal Felicia Ross said the teacher, whom she identified as

    “Mr. Costello,”

    exposed

    “his upper chest/neck area, butt cheeks and butt crack,”

    and added that

    “two students reported seeing frontal genital nudity.”

    The statement assured parents that Canciani would no longer be returning to work in the Cascade Union Elementary School District.

    District Superintendent Jason Provence released a statement on Wednesday praising students for coming forward.

    “We are extremely proud of our students that came forward to report [Canciani],”

    Provence said.

    “We applaud these students for their bravery and are deeply sorry for this appalling experience.”

    The school district has announced that counseling services will be provided to students who may have been affected by the incident. 

    Stephen Canciani was arrested and taken into custody in Shasta County after surrendering to the police. However, according to the Sacramento Bee, he has since been released as of Wednesday afternoon.

    #Clique, what are your thoughts?