Email Author MATT COKER

Awards

• 2011 - Southern California Journalism Awards/LA Press Club, published February 4, 2010

  "Douchebag Does Sundance"

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2012 Stories by MATT COKER

• Knott's Berry Farm Stagecoach Flips, Injuring 3 Riders

  published Dec 31, 2012

  Three people were hospitalized after a stagecoach ride at Knott's Berry Farm lost a wheel and flipped Sunday afternoon.But the injuries were minor, according to officials at the Buena Park theme park,... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  10 Brushes with Celebrities in Orange County, Both Major and Very Minor in 2012

  published Dec 31, 2012

  Moving cameras are nothing new to Orange County, where countless motion pictures have been shot, movie stars have frolicked and resided and, in more recent years, reality television stars have made ou... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  Three Orange County Filmmakers Need Your $$$ Help to Kickstart Their Movies

  published Dec 31, 2012

  At least three Orange County filmmakers hope to begin 2013 with enough funds to complete their projects.All are relying on the financial kindness of strangers through Kickstarter.com--and only have da... More >>

• Irvine Joins Anaheim, Placentia and Buena Park in DUI Checkpointing Saturday Night

  published Dec 28, 2012

  The Irvine Police Department just announced a DUI checkpoint Saturday night at Jamboree Road and Birch Street.This is the first of eight such ops the department has scheduled in coming months. As we p... More >>

• Albert Scott Arditi Sues BMW for Alleged Assault and Unjust Repo by Irvine Dealer's Staff

  published Dec 28, 2012

  Irvine BMW is being sued by a Laguna Niguel man who claims dealership employees pushed him and held him down and that a repossession agent punched him as they seized his 2004 BMW 745i.If you're wonde... More >>

• I Don't Swim in Your Toilet But Dirty Runoff Keeps Ocean Best Avoided This Weekend

  published Dec 28, 2012

  No yellow tape closing beaches has gone up (yetr), but the Orange County Health Care Agency is advising divers, surfers and swimmers to stay out of coastal waters.That's because recent rains flushed c... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  10 Really Bad Orange County Boyfriends eHarmonizers and Match.commers Must Avoid

  published Dec 28, 2012

  Please see the writer's note and correction on the next page.Today's arraignment of Cheyene Fuimaono for allegedly murdering his girlfriend's toddler son reminded me that I wanted to slap together a l... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  [UPDATED with Arraignment:] Malik Perez, OC Homicide No. 47: Cheyenne Mateo Fuimaono Held in Murder of Baby with Bite Marks, Bruises

  published Dec 28, 2012

  See the update at the end of this post about today's scheduled arraignment of Cheyenne Mateo Fuimaono on murder and child assault charges.ORIGINAL POST, DEC. 4, 7:01 A.M.: When, according to the Buena... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  Jean-Francois Jomphe, Former Anaheim Duck, Scrums at Laguna Beach Fast-Food Drive-Thru

  published Dec 28, 2012

  A duck with a leaf walks into a fast-food restaurant . . . and leaves in handcuffs. Actually, retired hockey players Jean Francois "J.F." Jomphe of the Anaheim Ducks and Richard Anthony Costello of th... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  BREAKING: Marvin Manzo, Who Escaped from Musick Jail a Week Ago, is Recaptured

  published Dec 27, 2012

  Marvin Manzo, who escaped from minimum-security James A. Musick Facility on Dec. 20, was recaptured without incident in Anaheim at 1:15 p.m. today, the Orange County Sheriff's Department announced. At... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  10 Past and Current Orange County Pro Athletes Disgraced in 2012

  published Dec 27, 2012

  The Rams are, of course, long gone and the Honda Center remains in need of an NBA team, but Orange County still has the Angels, Ducks, a whole bunch of mixed-martial arts fighters and assorted pro spo... More >>

• [UPDATED with Mark Sanchez Back In:] Matt Leinart May Be the Only NFL Quarterback Out of Orange County (or USC) Starting Sunday

  published Dec 27, 2012

  See the update at the end of this post explaining why Mark Sanchez will now start for the Jets.ORIGINAL POST, DEC. 26, 4:26 P.M.: Who would have seen this coming when the NFL season beganr Heading int... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  13 Fun Facts About Sleep (or Lack Thereof)

  published Dec 27, 2012

  Anna's Linens, the Costa Mesa-based bedding and home furnishings company, has a research department that does more than figure out new ways to separate you from your money. The retailer is crowing abo... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  1989 Mint-Condition Corvette Convertible is Newport Beach Buyer's Christmas Miracle

  published Dec 27, 2012

  Christmas Eve, Newport Beach advertising executive Mike Robertson was expecting the coolest stocking stuffer--if he had a really big stocking, that is: a cherry red, 1989, mint-condition Corvette conv... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  Toyota, Plaintiffs Willing to Settle Sudden-Acceleration Lawsuit in Santa Ana for $1.1 bil

  published Dec 26, 2012

  Toyota will pony up $1.1 billion to make sudden-acceleration lawsuits go away, according to a proposal filed in federal court in Santa Ana today. As part of the largest settlement in U.S. history invo... More >>

• Leslie Keane, Laguna Woods City Manager, Popped for DUI in Laguna Hills

  published Dec 26, 2012

  Laguna Woods City Manager Leslie Keane knows very well that the countywide, wintertime, Orange County Sheriff's Department-led enforcement against drunken drivers is working.That's because the 64-year... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  The End of the World Came and Went, But Training for the Apocalypse Never Ends

  published Dec 26, 2012

  The Mayan end-of-days' days passed without the world ending, but you suspect that won't stop the subjects of Rob VanAlkemade's gripping (and surefire) new documentary from preparing for what they beli... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  [UPDATED with New Arrest Totals:] Tis the Season to be Boozy and Patrolled and Stopped

  published Dec 26, 2012

  See the update at the end of this post on revised winter holiday period DUI arrest stats.ORIGINAL POST, DEC. 21, 8:56 A.M.: The Costa Mesa and Garden Grove police departments are conducting DUI checkp... More >>

• Jorge Gonzales Valdez, OC Homicide No. 48: Gang Shooter(s) Suspected

  published Dec 26, 2012

  Several people heard gunshots near the 600 block of Placentia's Center Street Sunday morning and called 9-1-1. Officers arrived to a nearby alley around 5:20 a.m. to find Jorge Gonzales Valdez sufferi... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  Halloween Party, Indie Rom Com, Tries to Scare Up Oscar Best Song Nomination

  published Dec 24, 2012

  It may be a long shot, but Long Beach-based producers of a very independent film shot over 13 days in three homes in Belmont Shores say they are vying for an Academy Award nomination for best original... More >>

• Ryman Arts Joins with Cal State Fullerton to Expand Free Program for High School Students

  published Dec 24, 2012

  A Los Angeles-based arts education program for artistic high school students is joining with Cal State Fullerton to expand its offerings in Orange County. Ryman Arts decided to bring its free program ... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  Cherie Kerr, OC Crazies Founder, Bowls for Big Screen Strike and Fest Bid with We've Got Balls

  published Dec 24, 2012

  Spooner, the first feature film from Santa Ana and Newport Beach born and raised filmmaker Drake Doremus (Douchebag, Like Crazy), played at the Lido Theatre during the April 2009 Newport Beach Film Fe... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  [VIDEO:] All is Too Bright in Fountain Valley

  published Dec 24, 2012

  We're no Grinches when it comes to homes decked out with lights for the holidays but, good God, the display along Apache River in Fountain Valley's Greenbrook tract must be stopped. Neighbors are used... More >>

• Dirk John Thomas, Orange County's First Three Strikes Inmate, Ordered Freed

  published Dec 22, 2012

  Orange County's first three-strikes defendant was kicked loose Friday. Over the "vigorous" objections of the Orange County District Attorney's office, Superior Court Judge Richard Toohey re-sentenced ... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  Ben Affleck and Loretta Sanchez Need to Get a Room After House Committee Clash Over Congo

  published Dec 22, 2012

  Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez (D-Garden Grove) and actor/director/producer/Jimmy Kimmel fuck buddy Ben Affleck (D-Massachusetts) reportedly had a little tussle at a House Armed Services Committee hear... More >>