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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPSAC 2-10-2010 Agenda Informational Items Suspect in girl's killing may be linked to October Lake Elsinore abduction attempt _454 PM PST on Wednesday, March 3, 2010 By SARAH BURGE The Press - Enterprise Riverside County authorities are investigating whether the sex offender suspected of killing a 17- year -old San Diego County girl might have tried to kidnap a girl in Lake Elsinore in October. John Albert Gardner III, a resident of the unincorporated Lakeland Village neighborhood near Lake Elsinore, pleaded not guilty Wednesday to murdering Chelsea King, a Poway High School senior who disappeared last week after going for a run in a wilderness park in northeastern San Diego. After Gardner was arrested Sunday, a family member of the victim in the Lake Elsinore abduction attempt who saw Gardner's photograph in the news reported Gardner as a possible suspect, sheriffs officials said. "There are similarities," Capt. Joseph Cleary said. "If there is a connection, we will track it down." The kidnap attempt was reported Oct. 28. A 16- year -old girl told police she was walking to a friend's house about 7:10 a.m. in the 329oo block of Machado Street when she was approached by a man in a gold,19gos, four -door sedan. The man asked the girl for directions and, after a brief conversation, he showed the girl a gun and demanded that she get into his car, Riverside County sheriff s officials said at the time. The girl refused and ran away. Story continues below Special to The Press - Enterprise Lake Elsinore police are investigating a connection between an attempted abduction of a Lakeland Village girl in October 2oo9 and the disappearance and slaying of Chelsea King of San Diego County. At left is an artist sketch of the suspect in the Lakeland Village incident. At right is John Albert Gardner III, the suspect in the Chelsea King case. Investigators released a sketch of the man, who was described as 30 to 35 years old, unshaven, with a fair complexion, brown eyes and a blond crew cut. The Oct. 28 incident was one of several reports of men approaching children and teenagers around Lake Elsinore and Wildomar last fall. The suspect description in the Oct. 28 case was different from the other reports. Some involved a man in his 20s with dark hair and driving a new -model silver or gray compact car, who was reported approaching children on their way to and from school. Sgt. Patrick Chavez said investigators working on the cases considered registered sex offenders in the area as possible suspects, but Gardner was not among them because at the time he was registered as living in San Diego County. Jihad not come onto our radar until January," Chavez said, which is when he notified authorities of his new address in land Village. It was unclear exactly when Gardner relocated. His neighbors in Lakeland Village said he moved into a home on Gillette Street with his grandmother and two others sometime in the past six months. Chavez said when Gardner registered at the Lake Elsinore station, officials took a new photograph of him and collected information such as details about his vehicle and his employment. Gardner said he is a self - employed electrician, Chavez said. He declined to say whether the vehicle Gardner was driving matched the descriptions of any of the vehicles described in N,. the abduction attempts. Officials also reviewed Gardner's record for any red flags, such as recent encounters with law enforcement at his prior address in San Diego County. They found none. DNA EVIDENCE A California Department of Justice spokeswoman, Christine Gasparac, told The Associated Press on Wednesday that Gardner was arrested after DNA from semen found in Chelsea King's clothing was linked to him. Investigators found a body Tuesday in a shallow grave near the shoreline of Lake Hodges that they believe is Chelsea's, but authorities had not confirmed the identification as of Wednesday evening. During his first court appearance Wednesday, Gardner stood in shackles with his eyes cast downward as an attorney entered pleas of not guilty. San Diego County prosecutors charged Gardner with one count of murder, with a special- circumstance allegation that the crime occurred in the commission of rape or attempted rape. Prosecutors are deciding whether to seek the death penalty. A second count of assault with intent to commit rape was filed in connection with a December attack on another female. San Diego police have linked Gardner to a Dec. 27 assault on a 22- year -old jogger who fended off her attacker in the same park where Chelsea's BMW was found. Escondido police are investigating whether Gardner might have been involved in the Feb. 13, 2oo9, disappearance of 14- year -old Amber Dubois. Amber disappeared while walking to Escondido High School and has not been seen or heard from since. As recently as November 2oo9, Gardner was registered as a sex offender at an Escondido address two miles from Amber's school, the San Diego Union - Tribune reported. Amber's father, Moe Dubois, attended Gardner's hearing Wednesday, the newspaper reported. REGISTERED SEX OFFENDER Gardner is required to register with police as a sex offender for life because of a San Diego County conviction for lewd or lascivious acts with a child under 14. His address and photo appear on the Megan's Law Web site. San Diego County court records show Gardner was sentenced to six years in prison in 2000 for molesting a 13- year -old Rancho Bernardo girl. The girl said he invited her to his home to watch a movie, then began to touch and kiss her, pulling down her pants despite her protests, court records show. Gardner hit the girl repeatedly in the face as he sexually assaulted her. Eventually, the girl managed to run to a neighbor's home for help. A psychiatrist who interviewed Gardner at the time said he "would be a continued danger to underage girls in the community" and recommended the "maximum sentence allowed by law," court records show. Gardner "never expressed one scintilla of remorse for his attack upon the victim" despite overwhelming evidence, prosecutors wrote in a sentencing memo. Gardner pleaded guilty to two counts of lewd acts on a child and one count of false imprisonment, court records show. He was released from prison in September 2005 after serving about five years and was on parole until Sept. 26, 2oo8, according to the California Department of Corrections. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Reach Sarah Burge at 951-375-3736 or sburcte(@PE.com RELATED Visit California's Megan's Law Web site LAKE ELSINORE: Authorities look for possible connection with local abduction attempts Page 1 of 1 a The North County Times - Californian LAKE ELSINORE: Authorities look for possible connection with local abduction attempts Lakeland Village man accused in Chelsea King case By JOHN HUNNEMAN - hunneman @californian.com I Posted: Wednesday, March 3, 2010 7:58 pm Riverside County authorities are investigating possible links between area crimes and a Lakeland Village man accused of the rape and murder of Poway teenager, but are not focused on any specific incident, a sheriffs department spokesman said Wednesday. "We are currently looking into ... crimes in our area," said Riverside sheriffs Sgt. Joe Borja. "But we have nothing specific at this time." John Albert Gardner III, a registered sex offender who lived part of the time with his grandmother on Gillette Street in the unincorporated community west of Lake Elsinore, pleaded not guilty in a San Diego County courtroom Wednesday to charges he raped and murdered 17- year -old Chelsea King. Gardner was arrested Sunday at a restaurant near Escondido. Before his arrest, authorities had searched the two -story home in rural Lakeland Village that Gardner had listed as his residence as required by convicted sex offenders. r The search for King, which drew nationwide attention, ended Tuesday when her body was discovered in a shallow grave near Lake Hodges. The Riverside Press - Enterprise said Lake Elsinore officers were investigating a possible connection between Gardner and an attempted abduction in October in Lake Elsinore. There were several other attempted abductions of children in the area in the weeks before that, as well. However, Borja said sheriffs deputies were not looking specifically, or only, at that incident. "It's pretty common that if you have similar cases (to the King investigation), you would look at all of them," Borja said. In the Oct. 28 incident, authorities said a girl was walking about 7 a.m. in the 32900 block of Machado Street to a friend's house when she was approached by a man who stopped his car and asked for directions. The man then showed the girl, whose age was not disclosed, a handgun and demanded she get into his vehicle. The girl refused and ran off, police said. She was able to provide police with a description of the man, which led to a composite sketch. The man was described as white, unshaven and between 30 and 35 years old with a fair complexion, blond, crew cut hair and brown eyes. Gardner is white and 30 years old. Gardner first registered with Riverside County authorities on Jan. 7, 2010, Borja said /". "He's required to register within five days of moving to a new address," Borja said. "Prior to that, he was living in Escondido." Call staff writer John Hunneman at 951 -676 -4315, ext. 2603. http: // nctimes. com / news /local/lake- elsinore /article_699dc01 f- 4175- 599c- b3e3 -fb 177fb8 The... 3/4/2010 KI✓UIUN: Uardner pleads not guilty to murder, rape of Chelsea King Page 1 of 4 The North County Times - Californian REGION: Gardner pleads not guilty to murder, rape of Chelsea ..� King Suspect being held without bail following brief court appearance By TERI FIGUEROA, MARK WALKER and EDWARD SIFUENTES tfigueroa @nctimes.com mlwalker @nctimes.com esifuentes @nctimes.com I Posted: Wednesday, March 3, 2010 2:33 pm Registered sex offender John Albert Gardner III pleaded not guilty Wednesday to charges of murder and rape in the killing of 17- year -old Chelsea King of Poway. He could face the death penalty if convicted. During a brief appearance before San Diego Superior Court Judge Joseph Brannigan, Gardner's public defender did not argue with the prosecutor's request that Gardner be jailed without bail. The case is drawing national attention and fueling anger at how sex offenders are monitored. Shackled, wearing blue jail coveralls and with close- cropped hair, the 6- foot -2 -inch, 230 -pound Gardner stared at the floor during most of the three- minute hearing. When asked whether he understood he was due back in court on March 18 for a preliminary hearing, Gardner softly answered, "Yes." Chelsea's parents, Brent and Kelly King, kept their eyes on Gardner during the proceeding. As Gardner was led out of the courtroom, Brent King softly bit his lip and shook his head. About 15 family members and supporters attended the hearing, many of them wearing small ribbons pinned to their clothing. Gardner's mother and stepfather did not attend the arraignment. On Wednesday morning, the garage of the Gardner family home in Rancho Bernardo was spray- painted in red with the message, " Chelseas blood is on you. Move out." After the hearing, San Diego County Deputy District Attorney Kristen Spieler, who is leading the prosecution, said Gardner is being charged with murder and a special allegation that it occurred during the commission or attempted commission of a rape. "The special allegation attached to the murder charge makes the defendant eligible for the death penalty," Spieler said during a brief news conference also attended by District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis. The Kings did not speak at the press conference. A second charge filed Wednesday specifically accuses Gardner of assault with the intent to commit rape in the Dec. 27 attack on a 22- year -old Colorado woman at Rancho Bernardo Community Park, near the site where a body believed to be Chelsea's was found Tuesday afternoon. The victim in the December case was able to fend off her attacker. The brief arraignment offered no new details on either case. Had attorneys sparred over setting a bail amount for Gardner, prosecutor Spieler would have had to justify her no -bail request. Typically, that justification would include an explanation about what evidence might tie Gardner to the crime and why he should not be released. Also, Riverside County authorities are investigating possible links between Gardner and crimes there, a Riverside County Sheriffs Department spokesman said Wednesday. In an Oct. 28 incident, authorities said, a girl was walking about 7 a.m. in the 32900 block of Machado Street to a friend's house when she was approached by a man who stopped his car and asked for directions. The man then showed the girl, whose age was not disclosed, a handgun and demanded she get into his vehicle. The girl refused http: // nctimes. com / news / local/sdcounty /article_9fceO5c4- 2715 -1 l df -8aal -001 cc4c03286.ht... 3/4/2010 REGION: Gardner pleads not guilty to murder, rape of Chelsea King Page 2 of 4 and ran off, police said. She provided police with a description of the man, which led to a composite sketch. The man was described as white, unshaven and between 30 and 35 years old with a fair complexion, blond, crew cut hair and brown eyes. While the prosecutors would not comment on the evidence, California Department of Justice spokeswoman Christine Gasparac told The Associated Press that Gardner was identified through DNA matching of semen found in the victim's clothing. The semen was detected by the San Diego County crime lab and forwarded to the state, where technicians ran it through the national Combined DNA Index System. "We were able within two hours to get a match to Gardner, and they were able to make the arrest," Gasparac said. Chelsea's underwear and a shoe were reportedly found during the search. Gardner was arrested Sunday and booked on charges of murder and rape, even though Chelsea's body hadn't been discovered yet. The charges - - -- murder with a special circumstance allegation of rape or attempted rape - - -- make it possible for prosecutors to seek the death penalty, but the decision to pursue such a punishment has not yet been made. In making a decision on whether to seek the death penalty, Dumanis said she will consider the facts of the case, Gardner's background and input from Chelsea's family. Dumanis said her office has had two meetings with Chelsea's parents. "The first step is the preliminary hearing, where the evidence is presented," Dumanis said. "After that hearing, there would be a meeting with the family. We will talk to them to understand how they feel, and meet with defense attorneys to see if there are any facts we should consider in mitigation." Dumanis stressed that her office will not discuss details of the case with reporters. "We are not here to try the case in the media, but to try our case in court," she said. Riverside County sheriffs Sgt. Bruce Smith, with the Riverside County Sexual Assault Felony Task Force, said Gardner registered as a sex offender at a Lake Elsinore area address on Jan. 7 this year. No one visited the home to verify his residency, Smith said, and Gardner was not registered as a sex offender in Riverside County before that date. Gripped the nation On Tuesday, authorities found a body believed to be that of the Poway High School senior in a shallow grave near the shore of a tributary on the south side of Lake Hodges. Chelsea's disappearance on Thursday and the massive search for her gripped the nation. Thousands of volunteers helped search the park where Chelsea was last seen. After divers found the body, which still hasn't been positively identified, on Tuesday afternoon, a planned vigil for the teen set for later that evening instead became a candlelight memorial attended by thousands. Chelsea's family, including her 13- year -old brother, attended the vigil. Her father spoke briefly of his daughter. "One of the nicknames that I always called my daughter is my angel, and she's my angel forever," King said. Chelsea was a straight -A student, a musician and a varsity cross - country runner who, in the words of one friend, possessed a "contagious joy." Zeaction to the case http: // nctimes. com / news / local/sdcounty /article_9fceO5c4- 2715 -11 df -8aa1 -001 cc4c03286.ht... 3/4/2010 F- t -UlUN: Uar dner pleads not guilty to murder, rape of Chelsea King Page 3 of 4 Reporters and camera crews from across Southern California swarmed the San Diego courthouse for Gardner's arraignment, with satellite trucks carrying live news feeds of the arraignment. In front of the building, a handful of protesters expressed a growing sentiment in the wake of Chelsea's killing, and called for laws strengthening punishments for sex offenders. ,,moo, "Microchips for sex offenders," read one sign. "No parole for molesters," read another sign carried by Fallbrook resident Bob Ericsson, 54, a Los Angeles -area firefighter. Ericsson said he wants to push for a law that would make child molestation a one -strike offense with a life sentence. "I'm a parent, and that could have been anybody's kid," he said. Gardner pleaded guilty in May 2000 to molesting a 13- year -old girl who lived near his family's home in Rancho Bernardo. Prosecutors said in court documents that Gardner, then 20, persuaded the eighth -grade girl to ditch school and go to his home to watch a movie. The girl, who was about 5 feet, 5 inches and weighed about 100 pounds, was repeatedly punched in the face and sexually assaulted, although not raped, before escaping. Gardner "never expressed one scintilla of remorse for his attack upon the victim," prosecutors said in a court document in that case. He had faced a maximum of nearly 11 years in prison under terms of a plea agreement. He was sentenced to six years in prison. He served five years, and was on parole from 2005 to 2008. A San Diego -based psychiatrist who interviewed Gardner before he was sentenced, Dr. Matthew Carroll, said the defendant was a "continued danger to underage girls in the community." The Associated Press reported that Dr. Mark Kalish, who shares an office with Carroll, said his colleague was saddened and .fir angered by the news about Gardner, feeling his advice was ignored. "He didn't want there to be any ambiguity or doubt about his assessment. He laid it out there and he was essentially ignored by the district attorney's office," Kalish said. "How much bigger a red flag could Dr. Carroll have raised ?" Kalish said Carroll was referring calls to him because his colleague, who does work for the county, did not want to discuss the case publicly. The district attorney's office has declined to comment on the 2000 case. 'Never be the same' On Wednesday, at the Rancho Bernardo Community Park where Chelsea's car was found, a group of about 40 law enforcement and volunteers gathered before combing the area once more for evidence. "We're here to cross our T's and dot our I's," said Sgt. Don Parker, the Sheriffs Department's search and rescue coordinator. All areas of the park were reopened to the public, and there was little evidence of the massive search that ended Tuesday night. An area resident walking his dog in the park Wednesday morning was able to hike all the way to the site where the body was found. No police tape or any evidence of the crime scene investigation was evident. A short distance from the water, the shallow grave where the body was discovered had been filled with dirt and debris and topped with grass and branches. Trees, grass and tall shrubs shielded the area from view. The area could not be seen from a hiking trail just 100 yards from the spot. It was so well shielded that search and rescue `.�r► http: / /nctimes.com/ news /locaFsdcounty /article_9fce05c4- 2715 -11 df -8aa 1 -001 cc4c03286.ht... 3/4/2010 REGION: Gardner pleads not guilty to murder, rape of Chelsea King Page 4 of 4 personnel had failed to find the body, even though they had combed the area several times since Friday, authorities said. Jeff Garvik said he and his dog, Cody, walked those trails almost every day. "This was my and my dog's special hangout," Garvik said, standing just a short distance from the crime scene. "It will never be the same." The park was essentially empty Wednesday morning. A few people were biking and walking the trails near Lake Hodges. A few miles away, the search center.in Rancho Bernardo where thousands of volunteers gathered to help in the effort was all but empty. Only those dismantling the center were on hand, said Fiona Oberrick, the center's deputy director. "We would have hoped to have a different outcome," she said. Amber's dad Maurice "Moe" Dubois, the father of missing Escondido teenager Amber Dubois, who hasn't been seen since disappearing while on her way to Escondido High School in February 2009, attended Gardner's arraignment and spoke with reporters afterward. "My heart is going out to Chelsea and the King family," Moe Dubois said. Dubois also said investigators continue to look at Gardner for possible involvement in his daughter's disappearance. Amber was 14 when she was last seen. Gardner lived in Escondido for part of 2009. Dubois said he and his family knew last year that Gardner was on a list of local registered sex offenders. "We are constantly going to keep searching for Amber," he said. "We believe she is still alive." The Associated Press and staff writers Edward Sifuentes, Chris Nichols and Sarah Gordon contributed to this report. http: // nctimes. com / news/ local/sdcounty /article_9fceO5c4- 2715 -1 l df -8aal -00l cc4c03286.ht... 3/4/2010 Lake Elsinore -area man pleads not guilty to murder, attempted rape of Poway teen Page 1 of 7 Lake Elsinore -area man pleads not guilty to murder, attempted rape of Poway teen K W. real smiles lasting r' & k k SEARCH:t • Traffic • Weather • Feedback • Yell Pages • Home • News • Sp orts • Entert • Lifestyle • Education • About Us • Events o Submit an event • USLNN.c Lake Elsinore -area man pleads not guilty to murder, attempted rape of Poway teen John Albert Gardner III, who lives in Lakeland Village just outside Lake Elsinore, was arrested Sunday in connection with the disappearance of the 17- year -old student. By Jose Arballo Jr. SWRNN Wednesday, March 3, 2010 • print page ema il • share this • c omment • bookmark • text size 0 tweets tweet http: / /www. swmn.com/southwest- riverside / 2010- 03 -03/ news /lake - elsinore- area -man- pleads... 3/4/2010 Lake Elsinore -area man pleads not guilty to murder, attempted rape of Poway teen Page 2 of 7 2 votes A registered sex off ender from Lake Elsinore pleaded not guilty today to charges of attempting to rape and murdering Poway High School senior Chelsea King, who vanished last week during a jogging outing in northern Rancho Bernardo. John Albert Gardner III looks toward the judge at an arraignment where he pleaded not guilty to murder and other charges in the case involving teenager Chelsea King in a San Diego Superior Courtroom Wednesday March 3, 2010 in San Diego. (AP Photo /Lenny Ignelzi) John Albert Gardner III, 30, had the plea entered on his behalf by an attorney. He was charged with murder and assault with the intent to commit rape. A special allegation was connected to the murder count that the killing occurred during the commission or attempted commission of a rape. The special allegation means prosecutors may seek the death penalty, although officials said that decision has not been made. Dressed in a dark -blue jail jumpsuit, Gardner barely spoke during the brief hearing in San Diego. He looked down for most of the hearing, occasionally glancing at the judge as he spoke from the bench. Gardner, who lives in Lakeland Village just outside Lake Elsinore, was arrested Sunday in connection with the disappearance of the 17- year -old student. San Diego police received a report around 5:40 a.m. Wednesday that someone had vandalized the townhome of the defendant's parents on Matinal Road in Rancho Bernardo, spray - painting on the garage door the words, "Chelseas (sic) blood is on you. Move out." Searchers combing woods, marshes and swamps in northeastern San Diego for a sixth straight day early Tuesday afternoon found a body believed to be t ha t of the missing teen in a shallow grave at the edge of Lake Hodges. the body was covered by a layer of earth and debris about a half -mile from where Chelsea, an avid runner, had parked her car at Rancho Bernardo Community Park on Thursday afternoon, according to Gore. A positive identification was expected http : / /www. swrnn. com/southwest- riverside / 2010 -03 -03/ news /lake - elsinore -area- man- pleads... 3/4/2010 Lake Elsinore -area man pleads not guilty to murder, attempted rape of Poway teen Page 3 of 7 within a few days, he said. Since Chelsea's family reported her missing, a number of law enforcement agencies, including the FBI, pitched in to find her, scouring the Lake Hodges area by foot, air and boat, using sonar in underwater searches. An estimated 6,000 volunteers helped look for her since Thursday evening. The sheriff has said physical evidence led them to Gardner, but declined to elaborate. Chelsea's mother later told news outlets her daughter's underwear had been found near where the girl went missing. Detectives have linked Gardner to another att late last year on a logger in the same open -space area where Chelsea was last seen, according to police. On the morning of Dec. 27, a Colorado woman in San Diego on a family visit was running alone near Lake Hodges when a man tackled her and demanded money. The 22- year -old victim, who managed to escape after elbowing the assailant in the face, left town before she could work with investigators on a sketch of the assailant, according to police. Authorities say they also are investigating whether Gardner might be responsible for the February 2009 disappearance of Escondido High School freshman Amber Dubois who was 14 when she vanished while walking to campus. Read related stories: Reports:_Body_found in SD C ounty ..lake_during_ for missing Pow ay teen Authorities: Lake Elsinore -area man faces charges over missing Poway teen Lake Elsinore -area man served lighter sentence for sex crime than urged by doctor Lake Elsinore -area man connected to second attack in SD County `dw View photo gallery — Chelsea Ki ng's Ca.ndlell t Yisr /l Tags: Chelsea Kin John Albert John Albert Gardner III Lake Elsinore lakeland villag m issing Poway teen SW This entry was posted on Wednesday, March 3rd, 2010 at 2:40 pm and is filed under Courts, Crime Local News News . You can follow any responses to this entry through the Rss. 2.0 You can leave a respon or trac from your own site. READER COMMENTS one comment Comment by: Police: Strong possibility body is that of missing Poway teen; parents devastated Posted: March 3, 2010, 5:23 pm [ ... I Lake Elsinore -area man pleads not guilty to murder, attempted rape charges [...] http: / /www. swmn.com/southwest- riverside / 2010- 03 -03/ news /lake- elsinore -area- man- pleads... 3/4/2010 Forfeited assets help bridge gaps in police department budgets 10:00 PM PST on Sunday, February 21, 2010 By JULISSA McKINNON ^ s Press - Enterprise In tight economic times, law enforcement agencies in southwest Riverside County are relying more on forfeited money and assets to buy specialized police equipment that today's strained budgets cannot cover. Asset forfeiture funds are money or assets that police seize mainly from suspected drug dealers during a criminal investigation. If and when a suspect is convicted, the money or assets linked to their criminal activity become government property. Assets such as cars or even houses are auctioned, according to state law, and the money parceled out to various state and local agencies. "The practice goes back hundreds of year to when pirate ships were found with stolen merchandise. The government was allowed to seize the ships and its profits," said Sgt. AI Barker of the Perris Police Department, who worked in narcotics enforcement for several years. Story continues below u David Bauman / The Press - Enterprise Perris resident Eric Lorenzo, right, greets Deputy Esteban Carranza, left, with a fist bump as Deputy Mark Tavarez looks on at Foss Field Park during recent bike patrol duty. Law enforcement then turns around and uses the ill- gotten gains to combat crime, Barker explained. Capt. James McElvain recently asked the Perris City Council to approve spending about 60 percent of the city's asset forfeiture money to buy a variety of equipment, including voice recorders, radar and traffic safety vests. Though police collect and maintain each city's asset forfeiture fund, its City Council ultimately must approve how those dollars are spent. W­�lvain said he tries to treat the fund as an emergency reserve, which gets tapped in hard times and is left to accrue i,. _,est in better economic years. Police in Perris and Murrieta spent no asset forfeiture funds last year. But this year, as the recession has deepened, both cities will draw on the funds. Story continues below The Perris Police Department will use asset forfeiture funds to buy more trek bikes to add to its bike patrols. Amid a budget shortfall, Murrieta police officials used about $90,000 of asset forfeiture money to buy undercover cars and to run D.A.R.E -- a drug prevention outreach program for students, said Lt. Bob Davenport of the Murrieta Police Department. The Perris police will spend about $82,000 out of $132,000 in the fund to pay for various items, including trek bikes, vider cameras and a four -day gang task force conference to train two sheriffs deputies. ..ir Amid a recent 7 percent cut to the Perris Police Department's budget, the asset forfeiture fund has helped bridge some equipment and training gaps, McElvain said. The Temecula Police Department will spend $4,000 to $5,000 out of its fund on new police trek bikes, leaving about $5,000 in the reserve, said Capt. Andre O'Harra. However, while asset forfeiture money can help police agencies pay for specialized equipment and temporary staff, a department cannot use the funds to balance its budget, Barker said. Police agencies also cannot forecast how to spend future forfeiture monies, he said. "Forfeiture happens randomly and the amounts happen randomly," Barker said. "I've responded out many times to a deputy who was just making a traffic stop for speeding or a broken tail light and found a pound of speed and there's a box full of cash." LAKE ELSINORE: Buckley retains seat on council Pagel of 3 Home / News / Local News / Lake Elsinore LAKE ELSINORE: Buckley retains seat on council 56 percent of Lake Elsinore voters opt to reject recall Story . Discussion By Michael J. Williams - mwilliams @califomian.com I Posted: February 23, 2010 10:59 pm (3) Comments I Print Font Size: Default font size Larger font size Lake Elsinore City Councilman Thomas Buckley will keep his seat for the rest of his term expiring in November, according to preliminary results in Tuesday's recall election. With 2,179 votes counted Tuesday evening, 56.08 percent of the city's voters had cast ballots to reject the recall, which will allow the 44- year -old councilman to finish out the remaining nine months of his second term. "What we were able to do in the last four weeks is get the word out that this (recall) wasn't just about me," Buckley said. "It was about a disreputable person trying to take over the city." Buckley contends the recall campaign was orchestrated by the owner of an amusement center who targeted the councilman because of his votes against allowing live shows there due to safety issues. He alleges the campaign used illegal and unethical tactics to get enough signatures from registered Lake Elsinore voters to force the election. The recall proponents alleged Buckley is corrupt and had reaped personal gain from his office, although he has not been accused or charged with corruption by authorities. With a majority of voters rejecting the recall, it rendered moot the race among three replacement candidates on the ballot. Real estate activist Steve Manos was in first place with 35.45 percent of the votes, followed by restaurant owner and Planning Commission Chairman Jimmy Flores at 33.94 percent and Orange County sheriffs deputy and Planning Commissioner Phil Mendoza at 30.60 percent. Manos campaigned aggressively to convince voters to reject Buckley and elect him, while Flores and Mendoza each said they were against the recall but became candidates to offer voters alternatives should Buckley fall. Manos had been guardedly hopeful Tuesday night that the tide would turn as more votes landed. http: / /nctimes.com /news /local/lake - elsinore /article da2al5ab- 23e0- 540a- 96db- 836cbel3O... 2/24/2010 LAKE ELSINORE: Buckley retains seat on council Page 2 of 3 "I'm proud of my campaign and the results I'm getting, and thank the people who cast votes for me," he said. "I have mixed feelings about the 'yes' or 'no' on the recall vote. Obviously, I'd like to be seated as a city councilman, but at the same time you have sympathy for what Mr. Buckley has gone through in the r...r campaign. There are truly no winners in this situation." The Riverside County registrar of voters office has up to 30 days to certify the election, including the tabulation of mail -in ballots handed in at the polls and ballots cast by voters whose names did not show up on the registrar's rolls at their polling places. With only one issue on the ballot, voter turnout was expected to be light in this city of about 50,000 residents with 16,231 registered voters, election officials said. However, a precinct officer at one of two polling places set up at the Lake Elsinore Public Library said there was a steady stream of voters throughout the day. "We've had over 100 come in from our precinct," said Luis Angel, referring to voters in the downtown area. "I think we've had a pretty darn good turnout for this special election." A couple of voters leaving the site said they had both voted against the recall. "I think what motivated me to come here and vote was that I've known Thomas Buckley since he moved here," said Country Club Heights resident Miguel Flores. "Over the years, he's accomplished a lot for the city." The last time a campaign succeeded in getting a councilman on a recall ballot was in 1993. A majority of voters opted to keep Gary Washburn in office, however. Tuesday's election stemmed from a successful campaign by recall proponents to obtain the 3,197 signatures of registered Lake Elsinore voters that were needed to put the issue on the ballot. The recall campaign launched the petition drive against Buckley despite the fact that his seat will be up for election in November and heedless of the estimated $50,000 cost to the city of holding a special election. Knight's battle with the city over his live entertainment permit appeared to be the catalyst for the recall drive, which was launched in early 2009 by one of his employees after the Planning Commission suspended the permit. More recently, the commissioners voted to revoke it, a decision Knight appealed to the City Council, with a hearing held Tuesday. The council agreed to give Knight an extension on the permit until September if he complies with a series of requirements, agrees to drop a lawsuit he filed against the city and promises not to sue the city in the future. He has until March 23 to accept the compromise or the permit will be revoked. Knight did not appear at the meeting as he has said he would be out of town and no representatives appeared on his behalf. The election occurred amid investigations into the recall campaign's financing by the state Fair Political Practices Commission and Riverside County district attorney's office. •r► Buckley focused his campaign on proclaiming his role in connection with various city accomplishments http: / /nctimes.com/ news / local / lake - elsinore /article_da2al 5ab- 23e0- 540a- 96db- 836cbe 130... 2/24/2010 LAKE ELSINORE: Buckley retains seat on council Page 3 of 3 since he became a councilman in 2001 and denounced the recall campaign as a sham. In his campaign, Manos criticized Buckley as using bad judgment in decisions fueling the recall campaign's allegations and said he would bring a fresh outlook to the council. Call staff writer Michael J. Williams at 951- 676 -4315, ext. 2635. Posted in Lake - elsinore on Tuesday, February 23, 2010 10: 59 pm Updated: 11:07 pm. Tags: Cal, News, Lake Elsinore, Elections, Share This Story Discuss Print Email ShareThis Similar Stories . LAKE ELSINORE: Crash leads to road closure . LAKE ELSINORE: Father acquitted of felony child abuse . LAKE ELSINORE: Witness says murder defendant snapped . LAKE ELSINORE: Trevi owner search warrant documents unsealed LAKE ELSINORE: Jury gets child abuse case . LAKE ELSINORE: Polls open Tuesday in recall election . LAKE ELSINORE: Cottonwood Canyon students participate in science fair Sponsored Links Arrested? Experienced attorney on your side. Call Nic Cocis at (951) 695 -1400. www.cocislaw.com Lake _ElsiR no—ire eal_Estate Your Online Real Estate Specialists for Lake Elsinore and the www.randyanddenise.com Lak Els inore Job Lake Elsinore Jobs Paying $14 -78 Per Hour That You Can Train For Now www.officiaijobmatches.com Ads by Yahoo! r .. WE'RE ALWAYS WITH YOUO I YQII GAU V tl 497* I) Q insuroppe OET A FREE QUOTE EtCIER Z� raralNE ar +faa` r.i. w ., _.:f N... ✓ „, w .„,.. . ;. e a _ iaufi,, `5. ' =;r ' � http://nctimes.com/news/local/lake-elsinore/article 5ab-23eO-54Oa796db-836cbel3O... 2/24/2010 Lake Elsinore recall effort against Buckley rejected 11 :36 PM PST on Tuesday, February 23, 2010 By GENE GHIOTTO The Press - Enterprise An effort to remove Lake Elsinore Councilman Thomas Buckley from office failed Tuesday night. 1.400 With all precincts counted, just over 56 percent of the city's voters rejected a recall effort. "It's a victory for the city," Buckley said in a phone interview. "I understand my imperfection. But the people of the city understand this was about more than me. This was about being able to keep going forward and not giving into intimidation and lies." City residents were asked to decide whether to recall Buckley and, if the recall succeeded, which of the three other people on the ballot should replace him. The candidates were Steve Manos, a real estate broker and a member of the Citizens Corps; Jimmy Flores, a local restaurateur and Planning Commission chairman; and Phil Mendoza, an Orange County deputy sheriff and Planning Commission member. Manos, the only candidate who said he supported the recall, won the highest total. Story continues below �x � s Manos said he believes recent law- enforcement raids at the homes of recall backers had an effect on the race. "The street vote was influenced by the recent activity involving the recall committee," Manos said in a phone interview from the Riverside County registrar's office while votes were being counted. "I'm disappointed that the emphasis was on the recall proponents and not the activities of the councilman." Two favored him Flores and Mendoza had said before the election that they did not support the recall effort, but thought they were qualified to replace Buck ley if the recall succeeded. Buckley waited for election results at the home of Michael and Mary Bredlau, surrounded by 30 or,so supporters who attended the gathering in the Country Club Heights area of the city. Backers of the two -term councilman were clustered in groups and chatted as they waited for results. Occasionally, Buckley would check the registrar's Web site for updated election results. After the final tallies were posted about 10:45 p.m., the crowd began celebrating, and Buckley thanked his supporters. Story continues below Kurt Miller / The Press - Enterprise Councilman Tom Buckley checks vote numbers from the home of Michael and Mary Bredlau in Lake Elsinore. Three candidates were vying to replace him if the recall succeeded. Recall proponents accused Buckley of arranging the city Redevelopment Agency's purchase of land from one of his campaign supporters at nearly double the price the real estate investment firm paid for the land. Buckley denies any wrongdoing. Buckley has said the recall effort is based on fraud and lies. He accused recall backers of campaign- finance fraud, money laundering and illegally using noncity residents to collect signatures on the recall petitions. He also has accused Michel Knight, owner of Trevi Entertainment Center, of illegally funding the recall. Aida Caron, who led the Committee to Recall Thomas Buckley, denied the accusations. The committee disbanded last after the recall qualified for the ballot. Caron moved to Florida this month. The Riverside County district attorney's office is investigating whether any crimes were committed during the recall campaign. Voters speak About two dozen voters cast ballots during a 90- minute period Tuesday afternoon at the Lake Elsinore Public Library and the Tuscany Hills Recreation Center. Those who responded to a reporter all said they voted against the recall and gave various reasons for doing so. "Nobody I know voted to recall him," said Cynthia Graves, who cited Knight's involvement in the recall effort as the reason she voted against the recall. Stephen Duffy said he voted against the recall because he did not see any basis for it, adding that Buckley had not been charged with a crime. He was referring to the accusations that Buckley illegally profited from the land deal that was the basis for the recall. "This guy was never criminally charged," Duffy said. Duffy also was concerned about the estimated $50,000 the city was having to pay for the special election. "This is going to cost the city a lot of money," Duffy said. Bill Black, when asked how he voted, shouted, "No! All the way across." "_�* said Buckley helped him making sure his street was swept. . wasn't for him, I'd still have dust all over my street," Black said as he called friends and relatives to make sure they voted. Reach Gene Ghiotto at 375 -3729 or gghiotto(a)-PE. com THE RESULTS LAKE ELSINORE RECALL NO ON RECALL 1,222 56.08% YES � 957 43.92% Candidates to succeed Buckley Steve Manos 56335.45% Jimmy Flores 539 33.94% Phil Mendoza 48630.60% LAKE ELSINORE: Recall election generates small turnout Page 1 of 2 0 The North County Times - Californian LAKE ELSINORE: Recall election generates small turnout Those who did vote overwhelmingly opposed councilman's ouster By MICHAEL J. WILLIAMS - mwilliams @californian.com I Posted: Wednesday, February 24, 2010 7:34 pm Not many Lake Elsinore voters participated in Tuesday's recall election and most of those who did weren't buying the argument that City Councilman Thomas Buckley needed to be removed from office. Final official results released Wednesday showed that just 2,343 citizens among 16,231 registered Lake Elsinore voters cast valid ballots, confirming suspicions among election officials that the one -issue special election would fail to generate much excitement from the electorate. Chief Deputy Registrar of Voters Rebecca Spencer said the 14.4 percent participation rate was as low as she could remember in recent elections, but not surprising. "There's a lot of things that come into factor in a special election," she said. "We knew it was going to be low because we weren't getting many phone calls." Normally in an election generating a lot of interest, the registrar's office will be bombarded with calls, she said. Among those who did vote, 1,290 - - -- 56.1 percent - - -- voted no on the question, "Should Thomas Buckley be recalled ?" Buckley, 44, who is in the last year of his second term as councilman, said before Tuesday's vote that he was cautiously confident, but also was concerned that he might become a victim of anti- government winds. Accordingly, when he left Tuesday's City Council meeting to attend a campaign event, he addressed the audience, which includes television viewers. "If some horrible twist of fate occurs, it has been an honor and privilege to serve you," Buckley said. On Wednesday, he said aggressive campaigning in the last month helped to ensure a victory, evidenced by the fact that his winning margin nearly doubled to 12 percentage points when the votes collected at polls Tuesday were added to mail -in ballots. Mail -in votes accounted for about three - fourths of the votes cast. The outcome was gratifying, he said, considering the unsubstantiated accusations of corruption by recall proponents and rising discontent with government. "Things are kind of tough right now," he said. "The dysfunction in Washington and Sacramento is rolling downhill. People are irked by a lot of things and incumbents are having trouble. That's why I was particularly appreciative of this turnout." The failure of the recall meant potential replacement candidate Steve Manos' effort to establish himself as the most viable alternative to Buckley was in vain. Of the total ballots cast, 43 declined to vote on the recall while 657 voters didn't bother to pick a replacement among Manos, Planning Commission Chairman Jimmy Flores, and Phil Mendoza, also a planning commissioner. Manos collected the most votes with 35.6 percent, followed by Flores with 34.3 percent and Mendoza with 30.1 percent. Manos attributed the recall's downfall to the failure of the recall proponents to continue their opposition. Recall campaign leader Enelida Caron officially terminated the Committee to Recall Thomas Buckley in November. Meanwhile, the campaign's financing was being investigated by the state Fair Political Practices Commission, an inquiry that is ongoing, a representative said this week. More recently, news emerged that the Riverside County district attorney's office is investigating allegations that Caron's boss at the time was funneling money into the campaign that went unreported. No charges http: / /nctimes.com/news /local/lake- elsinore /article deOe4f3d- fb64- 586e- aO35- a4e967f3f9... 2/25/2010 LAKE ELSINORE: Recall election generates small turnout Page 2 of 2 have been filed. "The recall proponents disappeared from the scene after November and there was nobody to counter the argument (against the recall)," Manos said. "I would have preferred to have a respectful disagreement and debate issues, but what happened was just name - calling.... I felt if we had been able to run a race just on the issues, I could win that election." Ironically, the recall proponents, in their petition drive to force an election, collected far more signatures from registered Lake Elsinore voters than those who actually voted. The campaign turned in 3,575 signatures, of which 3,256 were ruled valid - - -- fueling allegations by Buckley and his supporters that a campaign consultant orchestrated the effort, though no expenditure for such was reported. "I think a lot of coverage came out about this (recall effort) that most likely swayed people's opinions," said Lake Elsinore Mayor Melissa Melendez. "They could have signed the petition thinking it was a good idea and then later when they had more information, they decided against it or changed their vote." Though she strived to remain neutral leading up to the election, she said she was pleased with the results and glad it's over. "I think the outcome was terrific for the city, she said. "It shows that the residents of this town take matters like this very seriously and they don't want the system tampered with." Call staff writer Michael J. Williams at 951- 676 -4315, ext. 2635. http: / /nctimes .com/news /local/lake - elsinore /article de0e4f3d- fb64- 586e- a035- a4e967f3f9... 2/25/2010 LAKE ELSINORE: Council eyes settlement with center owner Page 1 of 2 0 The North County Times - Californian LAKE ELSINORE: Council eyes settlement with center owner Live entertainment still allowed at Trevi complex through September By MICHAEL J. WILLIAMS - mwilliams @californian.com I Posted: Wednesday, February 24, 2010 6:29 pm The Lake Elsinore recall election is history, but the circumstance that inspired it remains alive and kicking. Trevi Entertainment Center can continue to hold live music, dancing and shows in the nightclub and sports bar of its spacious building on Mission Trail at least until March 23, but no later than Sept. 30. The City Council's decision Tuesday came on the same night voters rejected recalling City Councilman Thomas Buckley. He was targeted for recall after he took a strong stance against allowing live entertainment at Trevi because of safety issues. The recall proponents backed by Trevi owner Michel Knight accused Buckley of corruption, an accusation that remains unsupported by legal authorities. The council Tuesday could have pulled the plug on Trevi's live shows by rejecting Knight's appeal of the Planning Commission's January decision to revoke the entertainment permit. Rather, the council voted unanimously to adopt a position that is part compromise and part ultimatum. The council would allow the center to continue hosting live entertainment for the next seven months if Knight signs off on an agreement by March 23 with the following conditions: -- He drops his lawsuit against the city alleging that the City Hall and Cultural Center violate building and safety codes and he r waives his right to file future lawsuits against the city; -- Structures inside Trevi's 85,000- square -foot building such as a stage and snack bar that are in violation of city requirements must be brought into compliance by April 1; -- City building and safety officials must sign off on future building modifications before physical work starts. -- The center continues to meet previously approved conditions imposed by the city. -- Failure to comply with any condition may result in immediate revocation of the permit. Councilman Bob Magee said the idea of staying the revocation until Sept. 30, assuming an agreement is reached, is to allow Knight to go forward with his previously announced plans to develop a more sports- oriented concept in the rest of the building, which is already occupied by a bowling alley and game arcade. Meanwhile, the city would protect itself against Knight's threats of litigation as well as the lawsuit he filed against the city after the Planning Commission's decision. After the meeting, Magee, in describing his motivation for proposing the strategy, paraphrased a recent statement from Planning Commissioner Michael O'Neal that the city and Knight were like two trains on a collision course. "We need to get the two trains off the track," Magee said. "If he agrees to this, I believe we've got the trains off the track.... It protects the public from additional litigation, period." Attorney Douglas Plazak, who is representing Knight in his suit against the city, said he had talked to his client and they are reviewing the proposal's conditions. "We have concerns with some of them, in particular (the litigation clause), which would require as a condition of the settlement r" that Mr. Knight forgo and waive all future rights to pursue any future civil litigation that he might have on his behalf or on behalf of the people or the citizens of Lake Elsinore," Plazak said. "But having said that, we are looking at the proposal and will make a decision in the next week or so." http://nctimes.com/news/local/lake-elsinore/article ld-5847-9bb2-f4378f982... 2/25/2010 LAKE ELSINORE: Council eyes settlement with center owner Page 2 of 2 Knight had asked that the council postpone consideration of Tuesday's appeal hearing until the March 23 council meeting because he anticipated being out of town Tuesday. Neither he nor representatives appeared before the council during Tuesday's hearing. Councilman Daryl Hickman asked the council to accept the request, but none of the other four council members offered support for the delay. , "sal Hickman said after the meeting that, while he voted in favor of Magee's proposal, he remains concerned whether the existing compliance issues can be worked out by April 1. "I don't want the city to drag its heels" on working with Knight to ensure that he complies with the requirements, Hickman said. "I want the city to fast -track this through so they'll be ready on the 23rd." Call staff writer Michael J. Williams at 951- 676 -4315, ext. 2635. http: / /nctimes.com /news /local/lake - elsinore /article 933bb735 -38ld- 5847- 9bb2- f4378f982... 2/25/2010 Plan proposed to end 'drama' at Lake Elsinore's Trevi Entertainment Center Lake Elsinor... Page 1 of 2 I E Plan proposed to end 'drama' at Lake Elsinore ' s Trevi Entertainment Center j j #KePMbQNAW9158 IThe operator of Trevi Entertainment Center has until March 23 to agree to abide by a conditional use permit and to waive his right to sue the city, or he City Council will uphold the planning commission's revocation of his live - entertainment permit. On a unanimous vote, the Lake Elsinore council decided Tuesday to extend I he offer to Trevi operator Michel Knight. The commission voted in January Ito revoke the entertainment permit. Operations of the bowling alley and arcade and alcohol sales are allowed ;under a separate permit for the Mission Trail business. _....... _ ....... ........ _ ...... .._.._._......_.__........... _ .... ...... ._. ......... ..._. Story continues belo v j E I i I � I Tlrravi ! Ef6rta nm ut' i j k Knight filed an appeal Feb. 2 after the planning commission revoked the Ipermit. A letter dated Feb. 2 from Knight asked the appeal hearing be `postponed until March 23 because he would be out of town. !Councilman Daryl Hickman asked the council to postpone the appeal ;hearing, but the request failed for lack of a second council member ;supporting the delay. i Councilman Bob Magee then brought up the proposal to allow Knight to continue to have live entertainment at Trevi until Sept. 30 as part of an !effort to help him convert the nightclub area into a sports center. ; Magee acknowledged that there had been problems at Trevi ranging from Knight's failure to comply with building and safety codes to the need for ! ;repeated poli responses But h also sai that Knight wanted to make a ! http: / /www.pe.com/localnews /lakeelsinore /stories/PE News Local W slake25.4888cdfht... 2/25/2010 Plan proposed to end 'drama' at Lake Elsinore's Trevi Entertainment Center I Lake Elsinor... Page 2 of 2 3change. l With that in mind, Magee proposed the entertainment permit be modified to ;require all existing structures have city permits, that they be inspected and approved, or that they be removed. He also proposed that all future Imodifications receive a building permit before any construction starts, and ghat the permits for live entertainment and to operate the arcade and ;bowling alley and alcohol remain in effect. Currently, a stage area, a kitchen and a snack bar at Trevi are out of 1compliance with city building codes, Tom Weiner, director of community (development, told the council. i !If Knight approves the proposal, he also would have to end the current 3lawsuit against the city and waive all rights to pursue any other lawsuits ;against the city in the future, according to the proposal. jcity Attorney Barbara Leibold said such an agreement would protect the city. The live- entertainment permit would expire Sept. 30, which would give Knight until then to make the transition from the nightclub operation to the I sports center Magee said he prefers. "This would then take the politics and the drama out of this conditional use permit," Magee added. I Reach Gene Ghiotto at 951- 375 -3729 or gghiotto@PE.com 3 http: / /www.pe. com / localnews /lakeelsinore /stories/PE News Local_W slake25.4888cdf ht... 2/25/2010 Buckley said he's ready to resume work on Lake Elsinore council Lake Elsinore PE.co... Pagel of 2 I Buckley said he's ready to resume work on ,Lake Elsinore council i 10.00 PM PST on Wednesday, Pub. My r 24 0 � y GtgWgj j Vd JOHN F. HILL r I I-ake Elsinore Councilman Thomas Buckley said Wednesday he is looking [forward "to some sort of normalcy" after months of battling to overcome the ;recall attempt. f "I'm ready to get back," said Buckley, who called the defeat of the recall a 3 Ivictory for the city. 1 "The people of the city understand this was about more than me," Buckley ;said. "This was about being able to keep going forward and not giving in to !intimidation and lies." i ....._..__.... .......... _ ... ............._ _.........._._. ...._.... ....... Story continues below ! I I � i 3 I I With all precincts reporting and absentee ballots counted, voters came out against the recall, with 56 percent voting no and 44 percent supporting the Ibid to oust Buckley. Residents voting the day of the election supported Buckley by a greater margin, the two -term councilman said. i "It did break 61 percent (against the recall) to 39 percent," Buckley said. "I !really think we were able to get the vote out." IBuckley disputed comments by real estate broker Steve Manos, who ran a campaign supporting the recall and had hoped to replace the councilman, ,that the campaign to defeat the recall centered wrongly on the proponents. "Absolutely wrong," Buckley said. "First, I didn't do anything wrong. If they hadn't apparently broken the law, it never would have been on the ballot. } They had to break the law to get it on the ballot." In recent weeks, news reports have detailed search warrants that Investigators from the district attorney's office served at the homes of recall ;proponents Enelida Caron, who led the Committee to Recall Thomas Buckley; Michel Knight, who has backed the recall effort; John Burkett, a Wildomar political consultant; and Knight's Trevi Entertainment Center and Lake El s i nore City Hall. j http: / /www.pe.com/localnews /lakeelsinore /stories/PE News Local W sfolo25.4887f2e.ht... 2/25/2010 Buckley said he's ready to resume work on Lake Elsinore council I Lake Elsinore I PE.co... Page 2 of 2 �Manos garnered the most support of three candidates running for Buckley's !seat. I The two other candidates had opposed removing the councilman. Jimmy � I'Flores and Phil Mendoza said they would serve if chosen but preferred that 'Buckley remain in office. "I'm very proud of the city, that they stood up for what was right," (restaurant owner Flores said in an interview Wednesday. Flores said he believed many residents who put their names on a petition I initiating the election didn't know what they had signed. Some visitors at his two Lake Elsinore restaurants said they had signed the petition but planned t to vote against the recall, Flores said. !Mendoza said he was "completely satisfied" with the outcome, calling the corruption charges against Buckley frivolous. Buckley is up for re- election in November, but he said he has not had time j 3 to think about what he will do then. 1 "I really haven't begun to think about the fall," Buckley said. (Reach Gene Ghiotto at 951 - 375 -3729 or gghiotto @PE. com E � �.r► http: / /www.pe. com / localnews /lakeelsinore /stories/PE News Local W sfolo25.4887f2e.ht... 2/25/2010 EDITORIAL: Failed Buckley recall a costly dud Page 1 of 1 0 The North County Times - Californian EDITORIAL: Failed Buckley recall a costly dud OUR VIEW: Lake Elsinore voters wise to retain councilman By The Californian Opinion staff — CalOpinion @californian.com I Posted: Thursday, February 25, 2010 12:01 am Well, that was fun. Voters in Lake Elsinore - - -- a few of them, anyway; turnout was low, as predicted - - -- have wisely chosen to reject the revenge - motivated and corruption- tinged recall of a city councilman, sending a message to those who would otherwise use this important political tool for personal reasons. It is unfortunate the city can't send the $50,000 bill for the special election to the man behind this fiasco, but residents can take some solace in that it appears that he may absorb much higher costs fighting a legal battle with county prosecutors spawned by this effort. While the recall backers, led principally by nightclub /arcade owner Michel Knight, have accused Councilman Thomas Buckley of corruption, the recall effort itself bears much more of the stink of corruption. And now the district attorney's office has apparently reached the same conclusion, serving search warrants at both Knight's home and his Trevi Entertainment Center, hauling off boxes of records. What they may have found, of course, remains secret unless and until any criminal charges are filed in the matter, but the search warrants revealed they were looking for documents pertaining to the murky funding of the recall campaign. The straw woman at the forefront of the recall, an employee of Knight's, has moved to Florida, amply demonstrating her commitment to the community. She didn't even stay long enough to see whether her efforts to recall the man she felt so strongly about removing from office proved successful. Indeed, when the official results are released, it appears that about three times as many people signed the petitions to recall Buckley as voted to remove him. If petition signers didn't feel strongly enough about the issue to vote, then why did they seek a recall election in the first place? The recall committee never did file anything resembling accurate or complete records showing where their backing came from and where they spent the money. It seems fairly clear, though, that a good portion of it went to pay signature gatherers, in violation of state law. We're glad to see the district attorney's office take an interest in the matter. Those who would cry corruption ought to not only follow the rules, but be completely open and above board in their own efforts. http: / /nctimes.com /news /opinion/editorial/article 09549dae- 9630 -5f89- bcbe- 2d8l3519322... 2/25/2010 Supervisors tentatively approve slumlord ordinance Tuesday, February 23 2010. Issue 08, Volume 14. RIVERSIDE - Riverside County supervisors tentatively approved an ordinance today requiring landlords whose properties are condemned to cover the expenses of tenants who are forced to relocate. Supervisors John J. Benoit and Marion Ashley sponsored the measure, noting that county residents in rental units were not entitled to automatically receive relocation assistance from landlords whose properties fail to meet basic standards of habitability. The county will sometimes provide financial help to displaced residents, and the ordinance -- which would only apply to unincorporated communities - -would additionally require that county agencies be reimbursed for their efforts. According to the ordinance, owners of properties condemned for health and safety code violations would be liable for "displacement payment" assistance. If a household was forced to vacate a space because of something the residents did, a landlord would not be responsible for providing compensation, nor would it apply when weather or other uncontrollable forces are to blame for a property's dilapidated condition. The amount of assistance provided would equal two months rent, based on "fair market" calculations, plus payments to cover the "reasonable cost of moving the residential household's" goods to a new location. Under the ordinance, renters qualifying for assistance would be entitled to receive it at least 20 days prior to the date county officials have ordered the premises to be vacated. If the situation is so bad that residents have 10 days or less to leave a property, the landlord would be required to make a displacement payment within a day of the county's order to vacate. Property owners who fail to make timely payments would face penalties 1.5 times the amount they're obligated to disburse to displaced renters. Similarly, a county agency that offers displacement assistance would be entitled to reimbursement by a landlord at an equal amount, with the same penalties assessed for lack of compliance. The county could place a lien on the property until the balance is paid in full, according to the measure. Landlords would have an opportunity to challenge the county's actions, including the requirement that displacement assistance be made in the first place, through an appeals process that begins with an administrative hearing before the primary county agency involved. County officials said the ordinance probably would be applied in no more than ten residential housing disputes a year. The board is expected to formally adopt the ordinance after a public hearing a week from today. 140,10 Loma Linda to leave red -light cameras in place for now I Inland News I PE.com I Souther... Page 1 of 2 Loma Linda to leave red -light cameras in /place for now , % j OAqF&&jSCHI ;Red -light cameras are getting a reprieve in Loma Linda. The City Council agreed last week to leave the cameras in place at four intersections on Redlands Boulevard and Barton Road after learning that the number of traffic citations has dramatically dropped and that it would cost the city more than $534,000 to cancel its contract with the camera operator 10 months early. ;Four months after Redflex Traffic Systems installed the cameras in 2006, the ;San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department reported that it was writing '1,200 tickets a month. Last month, City Attorney Richard Holdaway said the Cameras captured 451 potential violations and only 157 tickets were issued. Of the violations spotted in January, Holdaway said, 130 potential citations ?were not written because the deputy reviewing the pictures made "a finding of safe right turn on red." ;City Council members say they have been besieged with complaints from :motorists forced to pay a fine of more than $450 for not making a complete ;stop before turning right at the intersections of Anderson Street and !Mountain View Avenue with Barton Road and Redlands Boulevard. !Holdaway met in closed session with the council last week to advise council ;members on the legal ramifications of cancelling Redflex's contract before it expires in December. Then, in public session, City Manager T. Jarb Thaipejr disclosed that the cost to the city would be $534,558.83 if the contract were terminated this month land would amount to $42,000 a month for the remaining term if the council !pulls the plug later this year. jCouncilmen Rhodes "Dusty" Rigsby and Ovidiu Popescu lobbied last month for either pulling the plug on the cameras or telling the Sheriff's Department not to enforce right -turn violations based on photos from the cameras. They Isaid the $13.5 million in fines imposed since the cameras were installed has !been draining the local economy and discouraging people from driving to I and through the city of 22,000 residents. i ;Holdaway said the state Vehicle Code precludes the city from ordering ,deputies not to write citations. "Ultimately," he said, "the Sheriff's Department has the sole discretion as to whether or not to issue a citation. We need to respect that discretion that lihe law enforcement officer has. As a result of this discussion, the Sheriff's Department is exercising that discretion ... and they're looking at some of the safety issues, whether or ;not a particular situation rises to a significant safety violation," Holdaway !said. "Right turn situations, the notorious California stop, are some of the situations that they're looking at." Rigsby noted that the city's decision to increase the length of time that the ;l ights are yellow by one second, at the expense of green lights, has reduced ithe number of left -turn violations from 240 month to 25 or 30. !He said the most egregious violations involve motorists who drive straight ahead through red lights and those incidents at the four intersections produced only five violations. http: / /www.pe. com/localnews /inland/stories/PE News Local_W ncameral6.46612f4.html 2/16/2010 Loma Linda to leave red -light cameras in place for now Inland News PE.com Souther... Page 2 of 2 r i i i I "That is tremendous improvement in safety from what we were seeing in the !past," he said. "We could have had that safety with lengthening the yellow Tights four years ago instead of installing red -light cameras. ,Councilman Floyd Petersen, who has complained about the steep fines for aright turns, said he was impressed with the decline in violations. He said it is f "a very strong indication ... of increased safety at the intersections." f lHe also said that despite that decline, "I still very, very strongly feel that !another issue needs to be addressed here. A $450 ticket for right -hand turn E pis ludicrous." !Mayor Stan Brauer acknowledged concerns about the message that ignoring 'violations would have. 3 "What do we tell our teen -age drivers? Well, you don't need to stop for red Tights," he said. Popescu said he is "very optimistic" after learning that the Sheriff's ,Department is writing fewer citations for right turns. He said he still believes the city has a "viable option for us to get out of the ;contract early, given what I believe is an injury to the community." i He conceded, however, that the cost may be prohibitive. "I think it is a little early" to make a final decision, he said, and vowed to ?bring up the issue again at the council's March 9 meeting. !Reach Darrell R. Santschi at 951- 368 -9484 or dsantschi @PE.com i err http: / /www.pe .com/localnews /inland/stories/PE News Local W ncameral6.46612f4.html 2/16/2010 Accused rapist and murderer, Gardner, matches description in other attempted kidnappings in Riverside and San Diego counties ,Thursday, March 4 2010. , ue 09, Volume 14. SAN DIEGO - A registered sex offender accused of murdering Poway High senior Chelsea King was reported today to match the description of a man seen stalking a 13- year -old girl on the same day and in the same community where Chelsea went missing. San Diego police received a report a week ago today about a man in a black sedan following a 13- year -old girl as she walked near Bernardo Heights Middle School in Rancho Bernardo, CW6 News reported this morning. A black sedan frequently seen parked in front of John Albert Gardner III's mother's townhouse in Rancho Bernardo has since been towed away by police, according to the news station. Gardner also bears a striking resemblance to a composite sketch of a suspect in an attempted abduction of a girl less than four miles from his residence in Lake Elsinore last October. The Press - Enterprise in Riverside reported that the girl was walking to a friend's house when she was approached by a man driving a sedan. After a brief conversation, the man showed the girl a gun and demanded she get inside his car, but she refused and ran, according to the newspaper. Local authorities say they also are investigating whether Gardner might be responsible for the February 2009 disappearance of Escondido High School freshman Amber Dubois, who was 14 when she vanished while walking to campus. Gardner, 30, pleaded not guilty Wednesday to murdering 17- year -old Chelsea, who vanished last Thursday after she went for an after - school run at Rancho Bernardo Community Park. In addition to murder, Gardner was charged with assault with the intent to commit rape for an attack on another woman in the same park last December, according to District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis. ^ ie murder charge includes a sentence - enhancing allegation of murder during the commission of a rape or _empted rape. The defendant could face the death penalty if convicted. A decision on what penalty Gardner will face will be determined after the preliminary hearing. Gardner -- who is being held without bail in solitary confinement in a downtown jail cell -- was ordered back to court Tuesday, and a preliminary nearing was tentatively scheduled for March 18. According to public records, Gardner was convicted of assaulting and molesting a girl in 2000. The victim, a 13 -year- old neighbor, said he repeatedly punched her in the face and fondled her at his mother's townhouse, which is about a mile from Rancho Bernardo Community Park. The girl said she went to the residence after Gardner invited her in to watch a movie. Gardner was sentenced to six years in prison and served five before he was released in September 2005. He was on probation until 2008. He registered as a sex offender using his grandmother's Lake Elsinore address but reportedly had been staying with his mother lately. Dr. Matthew Carroll, a psychiatrist who interviewed Gardner following the 2000 assault, described him as "callous" and lacking remorse, making him "an extremely poor candidate for any sexual offender treatment," according to court records. "It is my opinion that (Gardner) would be a continued danger to underage girls in the community," Carroll wrote as he recommended the maximum sentence of 30 years in prison. 101-1 remorandum from the District Attorney's Office said prosecutors asked for a six -year sentence to resolve the case ..lout a trial and to spare the victim from testifying. Click here to find sexual predators in your neighborhoodhttp:// www .meganslaw.ca.gov /homepage.aspx , Viso ,