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

• Dana Rohrabacher's Path to Citizenship Would Include a Stop Where Immigrants Plead Guilty

  published Apr 30, 2013

  At least you can say this about Representative Dana Rohrabacher (R-Huntington Beach): He's no Ken Calvert, the House Republican out of Riverside who says he might consider some kind of legal status fo... More >>

• Dr. Sri J. Wijegunaratne of Anaheim Guilty of Role in $1.5 Medicare Billing Fraud Scheme

  published Apr 30, 2013

  An Anaheim physician was recently convicted in federal court for his role in a $1.5 million Medicare fraud scheme, according to the U.S. Attorney's office.Dr. Sri J. Wijegunaratne, 58, was found guilt... More >>

• Tina Hoang, Whose Body was Found on Sand in Newport Beach, is Officially a Homicide Victim

  published Apr 30, 2013

  Remember Tina Hoang, the prostitute-turned-mom who was apparently trying to turn her life around before her body was found on the sand next to lifeguard tower No. 71 near West Ocean Front and Highland... More >>

• See This Tonight at Newport Beach Film Fest: Viva Cuba Libre: Rap is War

  published Apr 30, 2013

  If Jesse Acevedo's Viva Cuba Libre: Rap is War proves nothing else, it's that machines worth raging against can also be found in places where the iconic image of Che Guevara in a beret is revered. Bec... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  Newport Beach Film Festival Gets Its Irish Up: The O'Brien's, The Iceman, What Maisie Knew

  published Apr 30, 2013

  The less is more strategy to improve overall quality and fill houses seems to be working at the halfway mark of the 2013 Newport Beach Film Festival.Based on the screenings I've attended, you can't sw... More >>

• "Conceptual Plan" for Foothill-South (241) Toll Road Extension Draws Scorn and Confusion

  published Apr 29, 2013

  Environmental activists opposed to the extension of the 241 toll road into South County are crying foul over the Orange County Transportation Corridor Agencies' (TCA) recently approving a conceptual p... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  [UPDATED with Intent Proven:] Catherine Kieu Guilty of Torturing Husband by Slicing Off Penis

  published Apr 29, 2013

  See Update Nos. 1 and 2 at the end of this post on the jury finding the wife guilty.A verdict has been reached in the trial of Catherine Kieu Becker, the Garden Grove wife accused of dosing her husban... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  Justin Alvin Masao Tombleson on Trial for Murders of High School Coach and Friend

  published Apr 29, 2013

  A Lake Forest man is scheduled to face trial this morning for fatally stabbing a Santa Margarita Catholic High School hockey coach and his friend who'd been standing in line at a local Mexican joint w... More >>

• [UPDATED with Costa Mesa Arrests:] Can You Say Carmasobrietycheckpointfilmfestmarchfor-
  babiesgeddonr Get Ready to Friday Night

  published Apr 29, 2013

  See the update on page 2 with stats from Costa Mesa's DUI checkpoint.ORIGINAL POST, APRIL 26, 2:29 P.M.: While they may not pack as extreme a nightmare as, say, playing an Angel game at the Big A at t... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  Dennis Rodman Due in Court Today Over Domestic Violence, Child Visitation Issues

  published Apr 29, 2013

  Dennis Rodman has famously been going to North Korea as a non-appointed ambassador to broker some kind of peace with the United States.But the NBA Hall of Famer is due in a Santa Ana courtroom today t... More >>

• Scott Andrew Christensen, Ex-Day Care Worker, Gets 27 Years to Life for Sexual Assaults of Boys

  published Apr 26, 2013

  A former Saddleback Valley Unified School District child care worker was sentenced today to 27 years to life in state prison for molesting two boys in the program and sexually assaulting a third he wa... More >>

• Itzcoatl "Izzy" Ocampo, Alleged Serial Killer of 6, Has Death-Penalty Trial Pushed to May 2014

  published Apr 26, 2013

  The trial of suspected serial killer Itzcoatl "Izzy" Ocampo likely will not begin until May 2014.While the 25-year-old Yorba Linda man accused of fatally stabbing a mother, her adult son and four home... More >>

• Johnathan Allen Kincaid Gets Life Without Parole for Stabbing-Murder of Tayroh Stinson

  published Apr 26, 2013

  An Anaheim man was sentenced today to life in state prison without the possibility of parole for stabbing a 31-year-old Garden Grove man to death over a drug-deal dispute.Johnathan Allen Kincaid, 23, ... More >>

• Mariano Antonio Castro Gets 61 Years to Life for Sex Crimes Against Girl from Age 7 through 17

  published Apr 26, 2013

  Mariana Antonio Castro, who was convicted in February of sexually assaulting his stepdaughter beginning when she was 7 and having intercourse with her on an ongoing basis through her teens, was senten... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  Kathia Maria Davis, Hockey Mom Accused of Sex Acts with 13 y.o. Boy, Gets 3rd Legal Faceoff

  published Apr 26, 2013

  Kathia Maria Davis, the Laguna Niguel hockey mom accused of sexually assaulting her son's 13-year-old teammate, will be tried a third time, according to the Orange County District Attorney's office.Ju... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  Julien Briaire, Trabuco Hills High School Senior, Faces Felony for Campus Bomb Threat

  published Apr 26, 2013

  A Trabuco Hills High School senior was arrested Thursday afternoon after a bomb threat was emailed to school officials while he was on the Mission Viejo campus, according to the sheriff's department.J... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  [UPDATED with "Break From Realityr"] Catherine Kieu Becker Tried for Dosing Husband's Dinner and Slicing Off His Penis

  published Apr 26, 2013

  See Update No. 2 at the end of this post about the wife suffering "a break from reality," according to her attorney.See Update No. 1 on the next page about the prosecutor claiming in his opening that ... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  Man Shot After Driving at Undercover Cops and Then Uniformed Officers: Police

  published Apr 26, 2013

  The driver of a minivan drew the attention of undercover cops in another vehicle in Garden Grove Thursday night, leading to uniformed officers being called in to question the man, the minivan charging... More >>

• Moises Rendon Held for Bizarre Kidnap Try on 15 y.o. Girl, But What About His Accomplicer

  published Apr 25, 2013

  Santa Ana Police have a 28-year-old man in custody for allegedly being the creeper who was wearing gloves and carrying a rag as he ran at an desperately tried to grab a 15-year-old girl walking to San... More >>

• [UPDATED with Cinema Spat Ends:] Iron Man 3 Dispute Between Theater Chains and Disney Doesn't Rust Disneyland Exhibit

  published Apr 25, 2013

  See the update at the end of this post on the warring theaters reaching an agreement with Disney that has them selling advance Iron Man 3 tickets.ORIGINAL POST, APRIL 16, 3:27 P.M.: For an idea on how... More >>

• Extra! Extra! Read All About It: UC Irvine's New University Student Newspaper is Saved!

  published Apr 25, 2013

  The New U was saved! The New U was saved!Yes, those UC Irvine students buried financially in tuition, boarding, book and PBR costs that'll have them paying back government loans until they reach the S... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  News & Notes as Newport Beach Film Festival Opens Tonight with Doc Broadway Idiot

  published Apr 25, 2013

  The greatest thing about last Thursday's Newport Beach Film Festival issue was that I freely said with pride that I was on the cover, the idea being people assumed that was a reference to the rock-har... More >>

• Yale in Cinema Celebrates a Decade at NBFF

  published Apr 25, 2013

  Orange Coast College is not the only institution of higher learning celebrating 10 years at the 14-year-old Newport Beach Film Festival.This also marks the 10th anniversary of the "Yale in Cinema" cel... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  [UPDATED with More GOP Celebrants:] "Let Fire Ring Freedom Ring!" Sing Orange County Republicans Dancing Around Beach Pits

  published Apr 25, 2013

  See the update at the end of this post about the other GOP assemblyman, state senator and "Surfin' Congressman" attending Sunday's beach bonfire. Also, the original post has been corrected to reflect ... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  "OCC Shorts" Bundles Another Rich Program for Its 10th Newport Beach Film Festival Run

  published Apr 25, 2013

  A comedy about a narcissist who meets his match, an actioner about a high school student out for revenge, dramas about an abused girl caring for her cancer-striken father and a lonely, self-harming gi... More >>