SANTA ANA, Calif.—A 38-year-old man pleaded guilty May 2 and was immediately sentenced to six months in jail for slamming a cat against the windshields of cars in Huntington Beach, killing the feline. Beau Browning Watson pleaded guilty to cruelty to animals and two counts of vandalism, all misdemeanors. Watson accepted a plea deal from…

SANTA ANA, Calif.—A 28-year-old man was sentenced May 2 to five years in prison for raping two women at Huntington Beach Hospital, where all three were patients. Adrian Alfredo Sanchez of Garden Grove pleaded guilty Dec. 13 to rape of an incompetent person, rape, and two counts of assault with the intent to commit a…

SANTA ANA, Calif.—A former Homeland Security employee was sentenced to eight years in prison April 19 for molesting two girls and inappropriately touching another victim in Irvine. Terry Edward Keegan, 60, was convicted March 23 of a felony count of lewd acts on a minor younger than 14 as well as single misdemeanor counts each…

WESTMINSTER, Calif.—A 40-year-old man pleaded guilty April 10 and was sentenced to nine years in prison for an alcohol-fueled, hit-and-run crash that killed a man and injured another victim in Garden Grove. Mario Miguel Hernandez-Lopez of Garden Grove admitted one count each of gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated, driving under the influence of alcohol causing…

SANTA ANA, Calif.—A 25-year-old man was sentenced March 24 to seven years to life in prison for attempting to sexually assault a woman cleaning officers in Irvine after hours. Eduardo Godoy Gonzalez attacked the victim about 1:30 a.m. Feb. 6, 2019 in an office building at 17877 Von Karman. Orange County Superior Court Judge Terri…

WESTMINSTER, Calif.—An Orange County probation officer convicted in connection with stealing money while helping authorities carry out search warrants was sentenced to six months of home confinement, according to court records obtained Aug. 19. Juan Manuel Rodriguez, 51, was sentenced Thursday to two years in prison, but Orange County Superior Court Judge Lance Jensen stayed…

SANTA ANA, Calif.—An Orange County Superior Court judge has signed off on at least 19 search warrants while working remotely in Canada, a violation of a rule requiring that such documents be approved while a judge is in the county, authorities revealed Aug. 3. Prosecutors and defense attorneys were alerted Wednesday morning of the rule…

SANTA ANA, Calif.—An Orange County Superior Court judge has signed off on at least 19 search warrants while working remotely in Canada, a violation of a rule requiring that such documents be approved while a judge is in the county, authorities revealed Aug. 3. Prosecutors and defense attorneys were alerted Wednesday morning of the rule…

SANTA ANA, Calif.—A 20-year-old man accused of carrying out a deadly crime spree at 7-Eleven stores across the Southland is expected to be arraigned next month on three counts of murder, along with attempted murder and other felonies. The two suspects, Malik Patt and Jason Payne, made their first court appearance July 19, but their arraignment was…

MISSION VIEJO, Calif.—All five city councilors of Mission Viejo, California, may appear on the election ballot this November, after a judge recently decided to hear a lawsuit challenging their terms next week instead of in August. While three councilors—Ed Sachs, Greg Raths, and Mayor Wendy Bucknam—were already up for re-election in November, a Mission Viejo…