Law and Disorder 1-15
The sentencing of 15-year-old Ricardo Juarez-convicted in October of voluntary manslaughter, among other charges, in the March 2007 stabbing death of Luis Angel Linares-was delayed to 1/14. Juarez faces 14 to 22 years behind bars for the offense. The sentence was delayed because Judge Brian Hill hadn’t yet reviewed the defense’s motion for a retrial or the prosecution’s response. Check independent.com/juarez114 for the latest news in this case.
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The accused killers of Emmanuel Roldan-the Santa Barbara teen stabbed to death during Fourth of July festivities last year-appeared before Judge Brian Hill on 1/8, when a date of 1/26 was set for their preliminary hearing during which the judge will decide whether there is enough evidence for the case to go to a jury trial. The defendants include Roldan’s older brother David. Meanwhile, the murder trial for those accused of killing Lorenzo Carachure in a July 2007 gang-related incident are scheduled to go to trial in February.
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The man who committed suicide by jumping off the Cold Spring Bridge on 1/5 has been identified as 39-year-old Derek Porter, a resident of Ventura. In October, Porter had been involved in a high-speed chase through Port Hueneme, according to police reports. Porter’s suicide was the 48th committed from the bridge since its construction in 1963. (/bridge115)
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A man who robbed a Washington Mutual bank in Santa Barbara on 11/22 is being sought by the FBI, it was announced last week. Distinguishable only by a chin dimple, the “Camino Real Bandit,” as he has become known, is wanted for robbing banks in San Luis Obispo, Pismo Beach, Paso Robles, Sacramento, and Auburn-all along a path that roughly follows the historic north-to-south Camino Real followed by Spanish missionaries centuries ago.
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Milpitas police, who arrested 24-year-old Patrick O’Reilly in Santa Clara County on 11/25 on child pornography charges, are now saying that he could have been the person who stole $176,687 in video equipment from UCSB’s Kerr Hall in 2004. O’Reilly, a Kerr Hall employee at the time, allegedly had $2,000 worth of the equipment in his possession at the time of the arrest. UC Police are asking anyone with information about the remaining equipment to call 893-7188.
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Two popular Santa Barbara Police Department officers recently retired from the force: Bob Casey, who has worked at the department longer than any other officer, was renowned for the help he rendered to people whose mental illness or ignorance of resources contributed to their troubles with the law. Dave Gonzales, a choir singer and avid biker, was also part of the community fabric both on and off duty.