Email Author MATT COKER

Awards

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

  "Douchebag Does Sundance"

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2013 Stories by MATT COKER

• Justin Alvin Masao Tombleson Guilty of Voluntary Manslaughter in Fatal Stabbings of High School Hockey Coach and His Friend

  published May 23, 2013

  An Orange County Superior Court jury today found Justin Alvin Masao Tombleson guilty of fatally stabbing a Santa Margarita Catholic High School hockey coach and his friend who'd been standing in line ... More >>

• OC Beaches Again Score Well on Heal the Bay Report Card (with Usual Bummer Suspects)

  published May 23, 2013

  Orange County beaches once again scored well on Heal the Bay's annual survey, with 95 of 102 testing spots being given an A or B during the summer. By the way, our county leads the state in number of ... More >>

• Orange County's Annual Hate Crime Report is Totally Gay (as in Being Increasingly Victimized)

  published May 23, 2013

  The Orange County Human Relations Commission issued an annual report this morning that finds "violent" hate crimes against gays and lesbians nearly doubled here from 2011 to 2012 but, overall, hatin' ... More >>

• Save San Onofre Coalition Files 2 Lawsuits to Stop Foothill/Eastern (241) Toll Road Extension

  published May 23, 2013

  The Save San Onofre coalition filed two lawsuits in San Diego Superior Court Wednesday aimed at stopping what it considers the first five-mile segment of a 16-mile toll road that would ultimately cut ... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  Long Beach Airport Fares Remain Lowest in State, Second-Lowest in Country

  published May 23, 2013

  Average domestic air fares at Long Beach Airport have been the lowest in California and second-lowest in the U.S. for eight consecutive quarters, according to the Department of Transportation. During ... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  Albert Pujols, the Angels' 10-year, $240 Million Man, None and Doner

  published May 23, 2013

  When Albert Pujols signed with the Anaheim Angels of Anaheim in December 2011, some baseball experts wondered what kind of production the 33-year-old would give in the later years of his 10-year, $240... More >>

• Stephen Disney and His Free Disneyland Passes Were Not All They Were Cracked Up to Be

  published May 23, 2013

  Boasting he was an heir and member of the famed family, Stephen Disney gave Disneyland passes to a nonprofit. For validation, all one needed to do was look at his driver's license and W-2 tax form fro... More >>

• Reserve Sheriff's Sergeant Allegedly Shot and Beaten by 17 y.o. Son in Rancho Santa Margarita

  published May 22, 2013

  A 50-year-old Orange County reserve sheriff's sergeant was shot, possibly in the head, and severely beaten, possibly with a hammer, by a 17-year-old occupant of their Rancho Santa Margarita home today... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  Kwang Choi "K.C." Joy Answers "Hell No" When Asked If He Murdered Maribel Ramos: Update

  published May 22, 2013

  See Update No. 4 at the bottom of page 2 about K.C. Joy answering "hell no" when asked if he murdered his "dream," Maribel Ramos. Update No. 3 on page 2 is about unrequited love being a possible motiv... More >>

• Nicolas Cendoya, Rescued Hiker, Has More Woes Than Meth Count: Injured Searcher Seeks Help Defraying $350k Hospital Bill

  published May 22, 2013

  Despite the urging of county Supervisor Todd Spitzer, the Board of Supervisors decided against charging teen hikers in Trabuco Canyon for $160,000 in rescue costs--although the board did agree Tuesday... More >>

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  Fantasy Bluthball: We Draft Locals for Arrested Development Roles

  published May 23, 2013

  Real A.D.: George Bluth Sr.Character: Patriarch of the Bluth... More >>

• Yes, We Have No Bluth Co. Banana Stand

  published May 23, 2013

  To promote the new season of Arrested Development dropping Sunday, Netflix took the Bluth's Original Frozen Banana stand on the road... More >>

• Arrested Development's Orange County

  published May 23, 2013

  You have to give it up to the writers (or researchers) on the original run of Arrested Development (A.D.). They went beyond... More >>

• Anthony Nicholas Orban, Cop Who Hung Self After Rape Conviction, May Still Be Sentenced

  published May 22, 2013

  Perhaps they will sentence war veteran-turned-Westminster cop-turned-brutal rapist Anthony Nicholas Orban over his dead body. Literally. The detective who kidnapped and raped a waitress at gunpoint in... More >>

• UCI Medical Center Patient Care Worker Strike Day Two: "We're Taking Care of the Patients We Need to Take Care Of:" Update

  published May 22, 2013

  See Update No. 2 on page 2 about employee absenteeism being up significantly but surgeries only being slightly down, with UCI Medical Center officials vowing, "We're taking care of the patients we nee... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  Scott Evans Dekraai's Shit-Throwing Tantrum in Jail Could Help Fry Him, DA Essentially Says

  published May 22, 2013

  The conduct behind bars of the suspected worst mass killer in Orange County history may play a role in his death penalty trial, according to a prosecutor.Assistant District Attorney Dan Wagner will fi... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  Kwang Choi "K.C." Joy was Suspected on Yelp of Being Maribel Ramos' Killer Before His Arrest

  published May 22, 2013

  Who did better work identifying Kwang Choi "K.C." Joy as the suspected murderer of Maribel Manriquez Ramosr Police investigators or a YelperrThere's no doubt police quickly had 54-year-old Joy in thei... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  John Campbell and Loretta Sanchez Confronted Over High Rents Paid to Campaign Contributors

  published May 21, 2013

  Lisa Guerrero, the centerfold-worthy "hardest-working sports reporter" per the Los Angeles Times who now does ambush reporting for the syndicated Inside Edition program, recently confronted representa... More >>

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  Babak "Bobby" Azadgilani, Rape Suspect, Turns Himself In; Past Harassment Alleged: Update

  published May 21, 2013

  See the update at the end of this post about Baback "Bobby" Azadgilani turning himself in to police and allegations of past harassment.ORIGINAL POST, MAY 17, 11:56 A.M.: Have you seen this fellow to t... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  Richard Vanecko, Richard Daley's Nephew and Costa Mesa Resident, Faces Manslaughter Rap

  published May 21, 2013

  A Costa Mesa man who is the nephew of former Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley faces trial in the Windy City for manslaughter. Richard Vanecko, 38, allegedly punched a Mount Prospect man in the face outs... More >>

• Saif Mohamed Moussa Held for Allegedly Trying to Snatch and Marry 17 y.o. Girl Shopper

  published May 20, 2013

  A man who allegedly wrapped a 17-year-old Barnes & Noble shopper in a bear hug and began carrying her out the front door of the Aliso Viejo bookstore saying he wanted to marry her was arrested Saturda... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  Daniel Cortes Held in 3-Man Crew's Theft of Santa Ana Church Safe with $15,000 Inside

  published May 20, 2013

  A 29-year-old man suspected of breaking into a Santa Ana church with two others to pilfer a safe containing about $15,000 was taken into custody Friday. Daniel Cortes, who is believed to be the burgla... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  Maribel Manriquez Ramos Confirmed to be Dead Body; Roommate Held in Murder: Update

  published May 17, 2013

  See Update No. 2 at the bottom of page 2 on the recovered body being identified as Maribel Ramos' and her roommate being arrested for her murder. Update No. 1 on page 2 was about a woman's body being ... More >>

• Christine Daniel, Who Hawked Phony Cancer Cure on TBN, Gets 14 Years, $1.2 Million Fine

  published May 17, 2013

  An ex-doctor and minister who hawked a miracle cancer cure via a program on the Costa Mesa-based Trinity Broadcasting Network (TBN) was sentenced today to 14 years in federal prison because her "brown... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  Leticia and Noel Carrasco, Mother and Son Robber-Murderers, Draw Life Sentences

  published May 17, 2013

  Mother and son tag-teamers Leticia and Noel Carrasco received life sentences today for robbing and murdering a man in a Buena Park motel room after momma picked the fellow up in a Stanton bar with pro... More >>