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

• Orange County Loses Two Hospitals in Two Weeks Due to Owner's Former Criminal Ways

  published Apr 03, 2013

  A week after the closure of Anaheim General Hospital was announced, owner Pacific Health Corp. has revealed it's pulling the plug on Newport Specialty Hospital in Tustin as well. But don't blame these... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  Dr. Lawrence H. Hansen, 87, Gives Up License 5 Years After Fatal Vaginal Reconstruction

  published Apr 03, 2013

  A plastic surgeon we've written about who, at age 83, performed a vaginal reconstruction that left a 39-year-old woman dead, has finally surrendered his medical license.Dr. Lawrence H. Hansen, who is... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  Mark Wesley Anderson and Jaeleesa Jaemika Smith or Chuncey Tarae Garcia and Cierra Melissa Robinson: Who'd You Ratherr

  published Apr 03, 2013

  I believe TMZ.com has been nominated for a Peabody for its regular "Who Would You Ratherr" post, which asks which of two notables--like, from a recent one, Britney and Jamie Lynn Spears--readers would... More >>

• Brian Joseph Eastman Alert! Have You Seen Man Alleged to Shoot Up Skirtsr Because He May Have Seen A LOT of You

  published Apr 02, 2013

  Nothing really stands out when you look at Brian Joseph Eastman, but the Tustin Police Department hopes some ladies out there in Viewerland will recognize the 25-year-old Irvine resident.And if they d... More >>

• Kenneth Joseph Leake, 79, Get 6 Years After Admitting to Fatally Shooting His Ailing Wife

  published Apr 02, 2013

  A 79-year-old Costa Mesa man was sentenced to six years in state prison after pleading guilty to the mercy killing of his ailing wife.Kenneth Joseph Leake shot 72-year-old Doris Leake, his bride of 50... More >>

• [UPDATED with Suicide:] Melissa Rae Sutor is Missing and Had Been Acting "Strangely"

  published Apr 02, 2013

  See the update at the end of this post about the woman reportedly taking her own life.ORIGINAL POST, APRIL 1, 1:49 P.M.: Have you seen Melissa Rae Sutorr The 28-year-old left her San Juan Capistrano h... More >>

• Dale Wayne Ziesmer, Honored LAPD Cop, Has Domestic Violence Case Against Him Dismissed

  published Apr 02, 2013

  An LAPD cop, who Orange County prosecutors sought to have jailed without bail "based on the nature of the criminal threat" the San Clemente man allegedly posed to his wife, had his case dismissed las... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  Kathia Maria Davis, Boy-Banging Hockey Mom, Sees Second Mistrial in Case Involving 13 Y.O.

  published Apr 02, 2013

  Here's another one that happened while I was out of the office last week: a second mistrial was declared in the case that alleges a Laguna Niguel hockey mom sexually assaulted her son's 13-year-old fr... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  Gabrielle Jane Nestande, Killer of Nanny Out for a Walk, the "Great White Defendantr"

  published Apr 02, 2013

  Is Gabrielle Jane Nestande, a politically connected former Newport Beach debutante, the "Great White Defendantr"That's how a conservative online magazine is characterizing the 25-year-old convicted of... More >>

• Anthony Serrano, Santa Ana Boxing Coach Legend, Cops to Molesting Boys, Gets 2 Years

  published Apr 01, 2013

  Anthony Serrano, a legend in local sports as head of the Santa Ana Boxing Club that has kept many kids out of gangs, recently pleaded guilty to molesting two 14-year-old boys multiple times in his hom... More >>

• Peter Herzog, Lake Forest's Drunk Driver City Councilman, Gets Probation, Fines, Classes

  published Apr 01, 2013

  I was out for four days looking for Easter eggs in Arizona, so I'm catching up on some stuff related to cases we've tracked here while gazing our navels (ouch!).Lake Forest City Councilman Peter Alan ... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  John Melvin Walker Pleads Guilty to Secretly Owning Pot Clinic Chain and Avoiding Taxes

  published Apr 01, 2013

  A San Clemente man pleaded guilty in federal court this morning to secretly owning a chain of nine medical marijuana clinics in Orange and Los Angeles counties. Because John Melvin "Pops" Walker has d... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  Denise Marie Enriquez, in Prison for Arranging Hit on a Security Guard, is Looking for Love

  published Apr 01, 2013

  Hey, fellas: Denise Marie Enriquez is looking for love.But before responding to her lonely hearts club request, keep in mind she's currently at Chowchilla for luring a security guard to a Costa Mesa s... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  "Monsignor Meth" Kevin Wallin Expected to Plead Guilty in Case That Snared OC Couple

  published Apr 01, 2013

  A suspended, cross-dressing Roman Catholic priest nicknamed "Monsignor Meth" because of his role in a drug operation whose suppliers were alleged to be two South County residents is expected to plead ... More >>

• Seminar Explores International Law Strategies to Stop Local Criminalization of the Homeless

  published Mar 28, 2013

  The way the City of Costa Mesa has demonized homeless people, you'd think that would be the place for this seminar: "Opposing the Criminalization of Homelessness: Building a Human Rights Framework Ev... More >>

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  Diablo Cody, Maya Rudolph, Nancy Meyers on Chapman Film School Women in Comedy Panel

  published Mar 28, 2013

  Panelists for the 14th annual Women in Focus Conference presented by Chapman University's Dodge College of Film and Media Arts include Oscar-winning Juno screenwriter Diablo Cody, comedic actress Maya... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  Orange County Fair Board Feet to be Put to Fire Again at Morning Meeting

  published Mar 28, 2013

  Ever since former Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger backed the Orange County Fair Board's desire to sell the state-owned property, a good chunk of fun has left the place known for good times since 1949. Let ... More >>

• Fumes Other Than Teen Spirit Hospitalize 8 Pacifica High School Students in Garden Grove

  published Mar 27, 2013

  Eight students have been rushed by ambulance to a local hospital after falling sick from mysterious fumes at Pacifica High School in Garden Grove this afternoon.First responders got the call around 12... More >>

• [UPDATED with Death a Suicide:] Richard Swartz Fatally Stabbed Near Anaheim Gas Station

  published Mar 27, 2013

  See the update at the end of this post with police saying Richard Swartz fatally stabbed himself.ORIGINAL POST, MARCH 19, 9:44 A.M.: A man found stabbed and bleeding in a gas station driveway in Anahe... More >>

• Alexander A. Romaniolis, Irvine Resident Accused of Mortgage Fraud, Faces 30 Years

  published Mar 27, 2013

  An Irvine man who recruited five straw buyers to buy eight residential properties in San Clemente and the Sacramento-area cities of Rocklin and Roseville has been charged with federal mail fraud, acc... More >>

• [UPDATED with 3rd Arrest:] Andrew Pacheco, 19, Fatally Stabbed as Attackers Yell Gang Name

  published Mar 27, 2013

  See Update Nos. 3-4 on page 2 with the charges prosecutors have filed against three men in this case.See Update Nos. 1-2 on the next page identifying the dead man and the two men arrested for his murd... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  Connie Boardman and Bob Foster, Mayors of Huntington Beach and Long Beach, Put Ink to Marriage Equality Paper

  published Mar 27, 2013

  Huntington Beach Mayor Connie Boardman and her Orange County-adjacent colleague Bob Foster in Long Beach are among 25 California mayors who have signed a Courage Campaign letter supporting gay marriag... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  Small World, Giant Injustice: Only $8k for Being Stuck on Disney Ride with Song for Half Hour

  published Mar 27, 2013

  I can ride It's a Small World at Disneyland and have that goddamn song stuck in my head for days. I can simply pass Small World and have that goddamn song stuck in my head for days. I can hear a snipp... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  Erwin Chemerinsky, UC Irvine Law School Dean, Talks Gay Marriage with Jon Grudenr

  published Mar 27, 2013

  As the U.S. Supreme Court holds a session on gay marriage for the second straight day, everyone is weighing in on the controversial issue, even those who regularly foist onto the public phony news.And... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  [UPDATED with I.D., Condition:] Nam Q. Thieu Sets Self on Fire in Costa Mesa Nail Salon

  published Mar 26, 2013

  See the update at the end of this post identifying the burned man and giving his condition.ORIGINAL POST, MARCH 25, 10:13 A.M.: There's already a fake reality show (aren't they allr) called Burning Lo... More >>