East County News Service

December 12, 2014 (Potrero) – A federal jury yesterday has convicted Potrero resident Kala Rains, 47, on seven counts of conspiracy and alien smuggling.  The ranch used by Rains and co-conspirators to harbor undocumented immigrants should be forfeited to the U.S. government, jurors determined following a trial before Judge Anthony Battaglia.

By Miriam Raftery

Photo: Beanbag round and projectiles similar to those used to subdue kidnap suspect

December 11, 2014 (El Cajon )—“There’s a good chance that our police officers saved the lives of four kids today,” Councilman Gary Kendrick told East County Magazine, reflecting on the dramatic rescue of the  children for whom an Amber Alert had been issued. The body of their mother had been found in another vehicle and their abductor was their father, who was believed to be armed and dangerous.

December 11, 2014 (Santee) – Amber Alert suspect Daniel Perez was taken into custody this morning following a chase across East County, with his four children safe. According to CHP, Daniel Perez, 43, of Montebello, and his four sons was in his 2014 Toyota Camry and stopped on the onramp from State Route 52 to Highway 67 in Santee by barricades.

East County News Service

December 8, 2014 (San Diego) – A San Diego State University student is under arrest for a sexual assault reported yesterday at 5074 College Avenue adjacent to the SDSU campus.

Fransisco Paiva Sousa is charged with oral copulation by force and false imprisonment with force.

East County News Service

December 8, 2014 (Julian)—Sheriff’s deputies have arrested three teens reportedly caught in the act spray painting graffiti on buildings at Julian Union High School on Saturday.  They are suspected in several prior vandalism cases with damage of nearly $40,000 total.

December 6, 2014 (Alpine)--The Sheriff's Homicide Detail wants your help in solving the murder of 34-year old David Paz (Zeidenberg) more than 20 years ago.

East County News Service

December 5, 2014 (Valley Center) – A bomb threat e-mailed to an NBC news station threatened to place explosives targeting San Diego Gas & Electric Company work trucks over a land use dispute in Valley Center. 

Sheriff’s Bomb and Arson investigators shut down the Spearhead Trail area for two hours yesterday afternoon to assure that it was safe.

Subsequently, deputies arrested Frits Versteegh, a nearby resident who sent the threatening email, said Sergeant Jeff Lauhon.

East County News Service

December 1, 2014 (San Diego) – San Diego realtor Michael E. Lustig, 77, has been sentenced to 10 years in federal prison for prostitution-related crimes.  Lustig admitted that he paid for sex with a 13-year old girl on several occasions after he was caught on surveillance video at an El Cajon motel.

East County News Service

November 29, 2014 (Santee) – Two homeless men sustained blunt force injuries in a fight on a bike trail under State Route 52 and one has died.   Deputies responded to a call on Saturday, November 29th at 5:19 p.m.  Six people have been arrested by deputies, including one juvenile, said Lieutenant John Maryon.

"The six people we have in custody are not homeless," he said, adding that investigators are looking into what prompted the altercation. Those arrested are 18-year olds Cassidy Rowin, Sasrah Baillie and Brian Kish, 19-year-old Tyler Dare and Danny Swan III, and a juvenile whose name has not been released.

East County News

November 30, 2014 (Dehesa)--A December 30^th hearing is set for a former Dehesa Elementary School teacher charged with molesting five young girls.  The alleged crimes occurred between 2003 and 2006, when he was teaching fourth and sixth grade at the school.

East County News Service

November 27, 2014 (Lemon Grove)—An autopsy by the County Medical Examiner has confirmed that a man found dead near railroad tracks in Lemon Grove was a homicide victim.  He has been identified as Dale Robert Wheeler, 55, the Sheriff’s homicide unit announced on November 25th.

A suspect has not yet been identified.

November 25, 2014 (Santee) – Three suspects were arrested November 20^th for the attempted murder and robbery of Robert Johnson, 20. Johnson was assaulted and stabbed repeatedly by three men outside the Walmart in Santee on November 9^th.

By Miriam Raftery

November 25, 2014 (San Diego) -- Today, San Diego State University has issued a statement indicating that fraternities  on campus are suspending all activities indefinitely due to recent sexual assaults on campus, including a rape at a frat house over the weekend--the seventh sexual assault on campus since the fall semester began.  Leaders of the Greek groups on campus pledged that they will “immediately take proactive steps toward addressing this extremely serious issue and the Greek community's role in it."

East County News Service

November 24, 2014 (San Diego)—San Diego State University campus police warn that a female student has reported that she was sexually assaulted at a party in the 5500 block of Hardy Avenue. The alleged attack occurred between 10:30 p.m. and 2:30 a.m.

East County News Service

November 23, 2014 (San Diego)—San Diego State University has issued a safety alert for students after a report of an attempted kidnapping shortly after midnight.

An SDSU student was walking home at 55^th Street and Aztec Walk at 12:35 a.m. when she dropped her phone.  Before she could retrieve it, a man in a gold or silver Toyota Camry with a sunroof picked up the phone and went back to the vehicle, which had several passengers. Minutes later, that vehicle returned and the man offered the phone back to the victim. As she approached the vehicle, one of the occupants tried to pull her into the car.