Law and Disorder 3-12
Convicted 16-year-old murderer Ricardo Juarez found himself back in Superior Court last week, facing allegations that he and two other Santa Maria Juvenile Hall youths particiapted in a gang-related assault. Juarez, who was found guilty of voluntary manslaughter in the 2006 stabbing death of Luis Angel Linares, allegedly assaulted Daniel Cervantes, who is facing charges for the 2008 murder of Emmanuel Roldan. According to officials, Cervantes suffered a large hematoma on his head as a result of the attack. Juarez has since been transferred to a state facility. (/juarez312)
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Authorities with the Isla Vista Foot Patrol are looking into the death of Sean Feliciano, a 20-year-old UCSB student. Feliciano, a native of Downey, California, committed suicide on 3/3 at his home, the Sigma Pi fraternity house at 6519 Cervantes Road in Isla Vista. A memorial service was held on 3/5 at the frat house.
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Goleta resident Rosario Silvestre, 41, was killed in a 3/7 accident on Highway 101 near Fairview Avenue. Her vehicle was allegedly struck by that of a 21-year-old unlicensed, uninsured resident of Hollister, California, around 9:30 p.m., causing her to veer off the road and flip several times. The 21-year-old man was arrested on DUI, vehicular manslaughter, and hit-and-run charges after he was arrested several miles from the collision scene. (/silvestre312)
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Santa Barbara Olive Company controller Cathy Latou, 39, is facing charges of embezzling more than $360,000 from her employer. The majority of the funds were obtained through a company credit card and company checking account. Latou, who the Santa Barbara Sheriff said admits to the theft, was arrested 3/2 and booked into Santa Barbara County Jail where she posted bail of $20,000.
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Santa Barbara Police arrested three individuals in connection with the assault of a witness to the 2/21 fatal stabbing of Baldemar Leal. According to a police statement, the witness was assaulted 2/26 in a restaurant by two Hispanic men. Neither the name of the witness nor the name of the restaurant will be released in order to protect him from further repercussions from his involvement in the investigation. (/leal312)
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Santa Barbara Police continue to investigate widespread graffiti vandalism that took place on 3/8. Three automobiles and 22 businesses-on the block of 1800 Chapala Street, the 2000-2200 block of De la Vina Street, the 100 block of West Padre Street, and the 100-200 blocks of West Mission Street-were tagged in a two-hour span. Police are asking anyone with information to call 897-2335.
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Roger Lee Crona-the fugitive who lived in Goleta and worked as a UCSB lab technician since 1994 under the alias Jason Von Straussenburg-died on 1/29 as the result of a liver ailment. Crona was arrested in 2008 and returned to Michigan to finish a sentence he skipped out on in 1972. Crona managed to return to the Santa Barbara area in December, but his condition quickly declined. A memorial service is scheduled for 3/21.
