Crime and Law

Honda Civic Owners, Better Check Your Brakes; Class-Action Lawsuit Claims it Could Save Your Life

Honda​A little more than two years ago, Rivella Dunner of Los Angeles bought a new 2009 Honda Civic at a dealership in Woodland Hills. She, like most Civic owners, was psyched that the car was both affordable and supposedly reliable. Thirteen months and 10,433 miles later, however, Dunner was sho ... More >>

10,000 Cell Phones Smuggled Into California Prisons in 2010 (BONUS: How You, Too, Can Go Into the Smuggling Biz!)

TIME MagazineA California prison guard chills with some confiscated cell phones​Cell phones and prisons -- just call 'em "jail cells"! -- are a real winning combo. It's the ideal situation for any criminal who can stand to conduct business without the rush of the live hunt: Mobile phone in ha ... More >>

Le Cordon Bleu Lawsuit Now Going After Banks: Is This Suit Valid? Comments from Plaintiffs' Attorney and the School

​New developments in the class action suit against Le Cordon Bleu have emerged - now it's not just the parent companies being sued, it's the banks as well. As we reported in October, a class action suit is pending against Le Cordon Bleu's parent companies alleging fraud, claiming the school p ... More >>

Study Shows More Kids are Murdered in L.A. County Than Anywhere in California, but Only Because We Have More People

​Despite being home to the greatest number of 10- to 24-year-olds murdered in California, Los Angeles County actually ranked No. 6 in the state for the highest youth murder rate per capita in 2009, according to a report released Monday. The study, "Lost Youth: A County-by-County Analysis of 2009 ... More >>

Dear Los Angeles Times, Re: 'Grim Sleeper Didn't "Sleep"': We Know You're Bitter, But the Name's Still Awesome (and Appropriate)

The Weekly's original cover art​The LA Times is giddy with revenge today in the front-page, full-color "Grim Sleeper Didn't 'Sleep'," all but calling Lonnie Franklin Jr. -- the notorious L.A. prostitute-killer now suspected of murdering two more women during his mysterious 14-year hiatus -- th ... More >>

Lawsuit vs. Arnold Schwarzenegger Over Sentence Reduction for Esteban Nunez Putting California's Victims' Rights Laws Center Stage

​In California, the rights of crime victims pretty much fly under the radar. After all, we have a Victim's Bill of Rights, which voters approved as a constitutional amendment in 2008, and for the most part, advocates say, district attorneys do a decent job of keeping victims informed and part of ... More >>

LAPD Gang Cops Leaving Posts Rather Than Disclosing Personal Finances Under New Department Rule

Steve LyonCops are going "code 3" to exit gang units.​Potholes are devouring tires, the city budget is once again a mess, and now there's more bad news this week for the concerned citizens of L.A: Experienced gang cops are abandoning ship. (See the L.A. police union's response, after the jump) ... More >>

Barry Minkow's New Scandal

A judge slams the purportedly redeemed con man with huge sanctions

Happy Shopping, L.A: City Controller Wendy Greuel Helps Take Fake Designer Crap Off Streets

Pleather is a crime: This is the real deal.​Updated with locations of the busts after the jump. First posted at 12:14 p.m. Ah, it wouldn't be the holidays in L.A. without the man cracking down on two-bit peddlers of exquisite, Chinese-made "Louie Futon" pleather goods. Seeming a little Grinc ... More >>

The Feds Bury Border Patrol Abuses of Immigrants, But What's Been Unearthed Reveals a Culture of Cruelty

Jeremy Marks "Attempted Lynching" Case Reaction

Mother slams District Attorney for throwing book at teen with cell phone camera

[Updated] Calorie Commando Juan-Carlos Cruz Sentenced to Nine Years in State Prison

​Update: Of course this story gets weirder, the more details come out. For one, Juan-Carlos Cruz claimed that he hired two men to kill his wife not for the normal reasons, say, insurance fraud or temporary insanity or complete marital dysfunction, but for love. "Even though I was planning on w ... More >>

Barbie Doll Electric Chair Science Project: Let Her Fry!

via Jessyratfink via Instructables​ This is pretty close to being the best science fair project ever. Most kids make exploding volcanoes. Jessyratfink make a fully functional electric chair for her Barbie doll to demonstrate how currents and conductivity work. Her project "completely disgusted ... More >>

Alexis Neiers, 'Bling Drug' Convict, Gets One Year Of Live-In Drug Rehab After Authorities Found Heroin In Her House

Aw, so innocent.​Irony? Yeah, the kid who cried loudest about her innocence when she was fingered as part of the "bling ring" string of robberies turned out to be the Lindsay Lohan of the bunch. Reality TV star Alexis Neiers is headed for one-year of live-in drug treatment this week after pro ... More >>

Proposition 8 Hearing Underway at U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, Jesse Jackson In Favor of Gay Marriage

Ted SoquiGay marriage supporters in West Hollywood.​The Proposition 8 hearing is underway at the U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco, with pro-Prop. 8 attorney Charles Cooper laying out his case for why anti-gay marriage forces have legal standing to appeal U.S. District Cour ... More >>

'Bling Ring' Convict And Reality Star Alexis Neiers Arrested After Authorities Say They Found Heroin In Her Possession

A teen celeb, burglary and heroin? Say it ain't so.​Updated after the jump with details from the L.A. County Probation Department. First posted at 10:10 a.m. It's always the innocent-looking ones. Alexis Neiers, convicted as part of the "bling ring" string of robberies that targeted the home ... More >>

Hector Villagra Appointed As First Latino To Head ACLU Of Southern California: Will He Take On The TSA?

ACLUHector Villagra will take over as the chief of the ACLU.​Updated after the jump with the ACLU stating the group has been against the x-ray scanners. The ACLU of Southern California announced Monday that it has appointed its first Latino executive director. The liberal group's legal dire ... More >>

CHP: Fewer Drunk Drivers Took To L.A. County Highways This Thanksgiving

Washington Injury Attorney BlogL.A. County drivers crashed on the couch instead​While you were scarfing turkey in your Snuggie, the California Highway Patrol was out serving and protecting freeways and state highways (and some unincorporated surface streets) throughout L.A. County. Officers b ... More >>

West Hollywood Sees 20 Robberies In 30 Days: Three Possibly Connected Heists Reported Over The Weekend

LAPDThis suspect robbed a place in downtown L.A., not Weho. We just liked the photo.​Ah, West Hollywood: Swimming pools, movie stars, and lots of robberies. In fact, with 20 take downs in 30 days, it just might be the robbery capital of Southern California. Weho Daily reports the robbery surg ... More >>

Jorge Lorenzo, L.A. Homicide No. 218: 19-Year-Old Drive-By Shooter Killed By Return Fire In Echo Park

Google Maps​A Latino man fatally shot at about 1:50 a.m. on Sunday, Nov. 7 has been identified as 19-year-old Jorge Lorenzo, according to coroner's reports. Police believe the victim was driving a tan Mercury van involved in a drive-by shooting on the 400 block of North Westlake Avenue when he ... More >>

Santos Velasquez Pastor, L.A. Homicide No. 219: Latino Man Shot Dead Outside Liquor Store In Westlake

Google Maps​A Latino man fatally shot in the chest at 10:45 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 7, has been identified as Santos Velasquez Pastor. The shooting took place outside a liquor store on the corner of West 8th Street and South Alvarado Street in Westlake. LAPD Sergeant Herb Chang told City News Se ... More >>

Former BART Officer Receives Two-Year Sentence For Killing of Oscar Grant

San Francisco ChronicleFormer transit cop Johannes Mehserle received the lighter sentence​ Supporters of slain Oakland resident Oscar Grant expressed anger over the sentencing of former transit police officer Johannes Mehserle, who was convicted of involuntary manslaughter for shooting the una ... More >>

Aaron Shannon Jr., L.A. Homicide No. 214: Five-Year-Old Boy In Spiderman Costume Shot In South L.A. Backyard On Halloween

Associated PressFive-year-old Aaron Shannon, Jr.​Update: Two suspects have been arrested for the murder. Known gang members Marcus Denson, 18, and Leonard Hall Jr., 21, are each being held in lieu of $1 million bail. A Black boy fatally shot at about 2 p.m. on Halloween day has been identifie ... More >>

If Kamala Harris Keeps Lead ...

Victory could put her reforms at odds with new governor

Benjamin Houghton, L.A. Homicide No. 213: 40-Year-Old Man Shot Dead In South L.A.

Google Maps​A black man shot dead just before 1:30 a.m. on Monday, Oct. 25, has been identified as 40-year-old Benjamin Houghton. The shooting took place at South Broadway and West 88th Street in South L.A. Houghton was declared dead at at St. Francis Medical Center on Saturday, five days af ... More >>

Halloween Shooter Took Out Four Guys In Hollywood -- Right In Front Of The Cops

AirSplat​West Hollywood -- L.A.'s central Halloween hotspot -- may have stayed relatively tame last night (if you call 8,239 trannies doing the "Time Warp" tame), but Hollywood proper just to the north gave the infamous 2006 Halloween shootings in the Castro a run for their money. It was str ... More >>

Grinding Justice

Operation Streamline Costs Millions, Tramples the Constitution, Treats Migrants Like Cattle, and Doesn't Work

Marlin Harvey, L.A. Homicide No. 211: 38-Year-Old Gunned Down Near Westmont

Google Maps​A man fatally shot around 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 26, has been identified as 38-year-old Marlin Harvey. The shooting took place on the 1300 block of West 95th Street, between Vermont and Normandie Avenues, according to City News Service.

Deputy Abel Escalante's Sorrowful Revenge

Carlos Velasquez can't recall the deputy's name. Now he faces murder charges

Douglas Collins, L.A. Homicide No. 207: 47-Year-Old Man Shot Down Outside Home In Vermont Vista

Google Maps​A black man fatally shot outside his residence on Thursday, October 14, has been identified as 47-year-old Douglas Collins. The shooting took place on the 600 block of West 117th Street in Vermont Vista at about 10:30 p.m., the Los Angeles Times reports. LAPD Criminal Gang and Hom ... More >>

Raul Vergara, L.A. Homicide No. 199: Man Shot Dead Near Exposition Park

Google Maps​A Latino man fatally shot on Wednesday, September 29, has been identified as Raul Vergara. The shooting occurred near the corner of West Martin Luther King Jr Boulevard and South Hoover Street, according to the LAPD's Southwest Homicide Division.

Cell Phones Flooding to Mexican Mafia Prisoners

Schwarzenegger vs. Legislature pissing match means no crackdown

Deputy Shoots At Innocent West Hollywood Liquor Store Clerk Lincoln Amara Following Robbery

CBS2​A West Hollywood liquor store clerk was robbed at gunpoint early Sunday only be shot at by at least one responding sheriff's deputy. Bad day, yes, but the uninjured man told TV news reporters he was not mad at the law officers and was actually glad to see them -- even with guns blazing. ... More >>

Albert Greenwood Brown Execution And Six Others On California Death Row Put Off By Judge -- Now, Months Of Wrangling Over Killer Poison

​Updated with Attorney General's office calling off the execution. First posted at 11:46 a.m. That California death row execution of Albert Greenwood Brown, Jr., scheduled for Wednesday, then Thursday, looks like its it might not happen any time soon. Update: California Attorney General Jerr ... More >>

Manuela De Leon, L.A. Homicide No. 196: 34-Year-Old-Woman Fatally Stabbed In Boyle Heights

Google Maps​ A woman fatally stabbed September 17 has been identified as 34-year-old Manuela De Leon. The stabbing occurred in the 3000 block of Rosalind Place around 12:15 a.m., the Los Angeles Times reports. Celso Sante, De Leon's husband, allegedly stabbed her during an argument in the co ... More >>

Jose Martinez, Samuel Martinez, L.A. Homicide No's. 191, 192: Two Brothers Gunned Down And One Man Wounded In Glassell Park

Google Maps​ Two brothers fatally shot September 25 have been identified as 24-year-old Jose Martinez and 20-year-old Samuel Martinez. Another victim,19-year-old Marvin Gonzalez, suffered a gun shot wound to the back of the head and survived. The shooting occurred around 1 a.m. near the corn ... More >>

Steven Lopez, L.A. Homicide No. 193: 22-Year-Old Man Fatally Shot And 10 Others Injured At Birthday Party In Boyle Heights

Google Maps​ Steven Lopez, 22, was fatally shot at a birthday party in the Boyle Heights area September 25, according to a statement by the LAPD. The shooting occurred in the 1300 block of Palos Drive around 2:10 a.m. A dispute between party goers escalated to the point where eight people, i ... More >>

San Yun King's killer, one-man crime machine Larry Stewart, escapes California's Death Row thanks to a single juror holdout, D.A. decides

Stewart won't get the tour​Larry Stewart, the vicious crime machine who murdered the quiet, innocent, liquor store owner Sang Yun "Sam" Kim, severely beating and choking the South Los Angeles shopkeeper with his own belt -- then chemically burning him with bleach -- has escaped Death Row. Ste ... More >>

Chere Osmanhodzic Murder Case Inspires LAPD Union To Say We Told You So: Suspect Saw An Early Release Despite Record

Loera.​The union that represents Los Angeles police is fuming over the case of 34-year-old Omar Armando Loera, the man recently named as a suspect in what authorities described as a brutal murder of a bride-to-be in Valley Village. The union is mad because, it states, Loera has a long criminal ... More >>

Earl Hervey, L.A. Homicide No. 187: 19-Year-Old Young Man Stabbed To Death in South L.A.

Google Maps​ Earl Hervey, 19, was found stabbed to death in an apartment building in South Los Angeles around 5:00 p.m. September 13, according to Sergeant Andrew Moody of LAPD's 77th's Criminal Gang Homicide Division. The stabbing occurred at 11400 Menlo Avenue. Police arrived at the apartme ... More >>

ACLU Adds New Names In Their Lawsuit Against U.S. Government Challenging Their Policy Of Detaining Immigrants Indefinitely Without A Hearing

​The American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California announced Tuesday that they're adding new plaintiffs to its lawsuit against the U.S. government, challenging the government's right to hold immigrants indefinitely while they wait for their cases to be heard in immigration hearings. T ... More >>

A Second Night Of Unrest Near Downtown As LAPD Chief Beck Promises Thorough Investigation Of Shooting Of Manuel Jamines

Twitpic​A second night of unrest erupted Tuesday in a small section of the Westlake district as residents angry over a fatal officer-involved shooting over the weekend took to the streets, lit fires, and tossed debris at officers from turn-of-the-century walk-up apartments in the immigrant nei ... More >>

Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa's Gang Intervention Program: Secrecy, Plagued By Bureaucratic Bungling, Lacking Accountability

​Witness LA and Spot.US deliver part two of a series on the city's, and more specifcially, Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa's $26 million anti-gang efforts, and it's not encouraging. Reporter Matthew Fleischer indicates the city has put a lot of its hopes -- and nearly all of its intervention doll ... More >>

Asylum Denied

Unlike refugees from other troubled countries, only a fraction of Mexicans seeking U.S. asylum are accepted – no matter how horrible their wounds or their stories

Brandon Lincoln, L.A. Homicide No. 180: Jewelry store owner shoots armed robbers in Wilmington

​A suspect who was fatally shot by a Wilmington jewelry store owner in a robbery gone awry August 18 has been identified as 20-year-old Brandon Lincoln. The store owner also shot another robbery suspect. A third suspect was arrested and a fourth remained at large. The botched robbery attempt o ... More >>

Grim Sleeper Suspect Lonnie Franklin Jr. Pleads Not Guilty

Lonnie David Franklin Jr.​The suspected Grim Sleeper serial killer pleaded not guilty this morning to the murders of 10 women and the attempted murder of another. Lonnie David Franklin Jr., a car mechanic with a long history of car theft, is charged with 10 counts of murder and one count of at ... More >>

L.A. County Board Asks State To Stop Letting Gang Members Out Of Prison Early

Don Knabe.​The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors wants the state to stop releasing gang members from California prisons early. The board voted unanimously this week to ask the state legislature and Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger to "amend the criteria for the non-revocable parole program so ... More >>

Rudolfo Melendez, L.A. Homicide No. 177: Man Fatally Shot in Car in South Los Angeles

​A man was found shot to death as he sat in his 1994 Chevy Camaro in South Los Angeles August 14. Rudolfo Melendez, 27, was at a party earlier in the evening with friends before he was shot about 11 p.m. Saturday near Main and 84th streets. Police suspect Melendez was on route to a girl friend ... More >>

Seized

Inside the brutal world of America's kidnapping capital