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

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  FEATURED STORY

  Louis Richard Wood, Alleged Drug Dealer, Held for Murder in Emma Wihlborg's Overdose Death

  published Mar 14, 2013

  A 35-year-old Mission Viejo man has been arrested on suspicion of murder for the drug overdose death of a woman in a Lake Forest hotel.Way back on Nov. 16, 2011.It took a lengthy investigation to brin... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  Lindsay Lohan Urged to Add Tustin Lawyer David Wohl to Her Criminal Defense Team

  published Mar 13, 2013

  The hottest of hot messes, Lindsay Lohan, is reportedly being swayed to add an Orange County lawyer to her defense team by the controversial New York attorney representing the actress fighting charges... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  Pastor Shirley Broussard Tells City Council God May Have Allowed Seal Beach Massacre: Report

  published Mar 13, 2013

  A Long Beach pastor reportedly told an aghast Seal Beach City Council this week that the October 2011 massacre in that city--the largest mass shooting in Orange County history--may have been allowed b... More >>

• Alfredo Landaverde Gets Year in Jail, Probation, Sex Offender Tag for Flashing His Junk at Girls

  published Mar 13, 2013

  After pleading guilty to exposing himself to girls walking to Santa Ana schools, 48-year-old Alfredo Landaverde was sentenced earlier this week to a year in jail, fives years probation and a lifetime ... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  Shayne Lamas, Wife of TheDirty.com's Nik Richie, Reportedly Goes to Hospital with Stress

  published Mar 13, 2013

  Shayne Lamas, who is raising a daughter in Newport Beach with the man she married the day they met nearly three years ago--TheDirty.com's Nik Richie--was reportedly rushed to an undisclosed hospital T... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  [UPDATED with Wife's Arrest:] Felipe Hernandez, Foster Dad Who Allegedly Raped Then Adopted Girls, Tied to 3rd Victim

  published Mar 13, 2013

  See the update at the end of this post about the arrest of Felipe Hernandez's wife in the case.ORIGINAL POST, MARCH 8, 9:18 A.M.: Felipe Hernandez, the Santa Ana foster dad accused last month of rapin... More >>

• Dave Hester, Ex-Costa Mesa Thrift Store King, Losing Early in His Suit Against Storage Wars

  published Mar 12, 2013

  The A&E network and the Storage Wars production company are reportedly winning the early rounds in the lawsuit brought against them by former cast member and Costa Mesa thrift store king Dave Hest... More >>

• Long Beach Cinematheque to Program Fiesta Twin Theatre in Downtown Santa Ana, Furthering the Area's Gentrification

  published Mar 12, 2013

  For years, the Fiesta Twin Theatre on Fourth Street in downtown SanTana has shown English-language films in Spanish and Spanish-language films in Spanish.But there's a new film programmer coming to th... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  [UPDATED with Arrest:] Jose Chavez Killed and Teen Seriously Wounded in Placentia Shootings

  published Mar 12, 2013

  See the Update No. 2 on page 2 with an arrest made in this case.See Update No. 1 on the next page that reveals the victims' ages and which was which.ORIGINAL POST, MARCH 7, 11:15 A.M.: One male was ki... More >>

• Gabrielle Jane Nestande Slapped with Lawsuit for Hit-and-Run Death of Nanny After Boozing

  published Mar 11, 2013

  The mother of the woman killed criminally by Gabrielle Jane Nestande is suing the former Newport Beach debutante and the Austin, Texas, bar that served her beers, vodka and, just before her BMW plowed... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  Nik Richie Squares Off Again with Ex-NFL Cheerleader "Slutshamed" on his TheDirty.com

  published Mar 11, 2013

  Friday it was decided the defamation lawsuit a former schoolteacher and Cincinnati Bengals cheerleader brought against Newport Beach's Nik Richie will proceed July 8--pending an out-of-court settlemen... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  Annamaria Magno Gana Trial Opens in Mother's Day Murder of Husband, Attempts on 2 Sons

  published Mar 11, 2013

  A murder trial is scheduled to open today for a Tustin Ranch mom accused of fatally shooting her much-older, retired Manila International Airport general manager husband and trying to do the same to h... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  Arnold Schwarzenegger and Kim Jee-woon Stand for International Cinema at Busan West

  published Mar 09, 2013

  After showing The Last Stand, which is surprisingly better than TV commercials indicate, and scooping up the third-ever Busan West Film Festival Icon Award Friday night, director Kim Jee-woon answered... More >>

• Mark Eric Hibner, Veteran LA Deputy, Allegedly Assaulted Woman Complaining He Cheated on Her and Threatened to Kill His Baby Mama Ex

  published Mar 08, 2013

  If the case against a veteran Los Angeles County sheriff's deputy proves anything, it's that those who wear badges have no problem getting trim. Mark Eric Hibner, a 22-year LASO veteran, was scheduled... More >>

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  [UPDATED with Fund for Family:] Costa Mesa Detective Mike Delgadillo Dies in Car Crash

  published Mar 08, 2013

  See Update No. 2 on page 2 about donations being sought for the family of the detective, who leaves behind four children. See Update No. 1 on the next page identifying the deceased officer and more ca... More >>

• Fernando Manuel Ruiz, Fake Cop Who Robbed Movie Theater Safe, Wins 8 Year Prison Run

  published Mar 08, 2013

  A fake cop who coaxed a movie theater manager to open the safe at the Krikorian Buena Park Metroplex 18 was sentenced Thursday in Santa Ana to seven years in state prison. Fernando Manuel Ruiz, 40, o... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  [UPDATED with Victim Reported a New Mom:] Newport Beach Police Seek Answers in "Suspicious Death" of Prostitute Tina Hoang

  published Mar 08, 2013

  See the Update No. 3 at the end of page 2 with a friend and lawyer of the victim reportedly saying she had a baby in January and was trying to leave prostitution behind. See Update No. 2 on page 2 wit... More >>

• Joseph Baez is Third to be Found Guilty in OC's First Murder of 2010; One Defendant to Go

  published Mar 08, 2013

  When gang banger Joseph Baez's special circumstances murder trial began last month, he was looking at the possibility of life in state prison without the possibility of parole if convicted in Orange C... More >>

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  Garden Grove Police Hold Sobriety Checkpoint Saturday Night

  published Mar 08, 2013

  The Garden Grove Police Department is scheduled to hold a DUI/drivers license checkpoint from 9 p.m. Saturday through 3 a.m. Sunday.Your guess is as good as mine as to where exactly vehicles will be s... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  Courtney Madison Ideue Aoki, Ladera Ranch Murder Victim, to be Laid to Rest Saturday

  published Mar 08, 2013

  Twenty-year-old Courtney Madison Ideue Aoki will be laid to rest in private services Saturday, according to the Forest Lawn of Cypress website.The young Buena Park woman is the presumed first murder v... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  Cyber Exploitation of Kids Explored Today and Saturday at Vanguard University

  published Mar 08, 2013

  President Obama signed the Violence Against Women Act Thursday, and there have been demonstrations across the country since Wednesday as part of a national call to "Stop Violence Against Women Everywh... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  Chase Jeffrey White, Who is 21 But Looks to Be 12, Charged in Rape of Teen in Tustin Park

  published Mar 07, 2013

  Chase Jeffrey White appears from the booking photo at right to be about 12 but, according to the Orange County District Attorney's office (OCDA) he's 21, from Tustin and linked to the rape of a 17-yea... More >>

• Coastal Commission Delays Fire Rings' Ruling

  published Mar 07, 2013

  Deciding it wants to await a state Air Quality Management District decision on Newport Beach's fire rings, the California Coastal Commission on Wednesday postponed its own ruling on the controversial ... More >>

• Bending Sticks: The Sculpture of Patrick Dougherty Screens Tonight at Cinema Orange

  published Mar 07, 2013

  A documentary about an artist who sculpts with sticks to create massive public art screens tonight as part of Cinema Orange, the ongoing film series that marries the Orange County Museum of Art with t... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  Fund Collects Assistance for Annette Aoki, Mother of Ali Syed's First Presumed Victim

  published Mar 07, 2013

  A reader wondered if an online page he found to donate to Annette Aoki--the mother of Ali Syed's presumed first murder victim in Ladera Ranch, Courtney Aoki--was legitimate, especially in light of the... More >>