Letters may be edited for clarity and length. E-mail to le*****@oc******.com, or send to Letters to the Editor, c/o OC Weekly, 1666 N. Main St., Ste. 500, Santa Ana, CA 92701. Or fax to (714) 550-5908.
LIE-ING DOG
The final chapter has now been written regarding the Nov. 4 article “The Case of the Dog That Couldn't Smell Straight,” by R. Scott Moxley. Defendant James Ochoa was forced to admit his guilt when he was confronted with a letter he wrote to a girlfriend detailing his complete involvement in the crime, as well as implicating himself in gang activities, which he had been steadfastly denying. Alert jail deputies intercepted his letter and immediately sent it over to the court, which was in progress. Mr. Ochoa pleaded guilty and was given time served plus 2 years in state prison. Because of Moxley's apparent animus for authority, which includes District Attorney Rackauckas, law-enforcement personnel and the bloodhound “Trace,” he apparently relied on a very biased source with a strong agenda for his information. He needs to do a better job of vetting his sources in the future. I believe a written apology is in order for bloodhound “Trace” for the irreparable damage that has been done to her reputation. She is a well-trained, hard-working, man-trailing bloodhound who knows what her job is and does it well. Her work has contributed to numerous convictions in her nine-year career. Unlike Mr. Moxley, she has no bias or agenda. Dogs don't lie . . . people do.
Editor responds: Being a people pleaser, it pains me to tell you that there will be no apologies, written or otherwise. Yes, James Ochoa pleaded guilty to the charges, but as Moxley's Dec. 23 piece, “There Once Was a Judge From Nantucket,” made perfectly clear, it was not because he was admitting his guilt. Rather, it was because the judge in the case, a piece of work named Robert Fitzgerald who likes to write poems about the people he sentences—”One day you will die/A funeral your warden will hold/For you will serve your entire natural life/And not be paroled”—scared the hell out of him. Fitzgerald harangued Ochoa's attorney, Scott Borthwick; told Ochoa that “innocent people get convicted too”; and threatened to send him away for life while the trial was going on. As Borthwick said, “That plea was the direct result of the inexcusable bullying tactics of Judge Fitzgerald.” Now, Mr. Harris, I also must tell you we will not be writing any letters to “Trace” the dog because Trace is a dog. A d-o-g. Dogs don't read . . . people do . . . unless they attend public schools.
WOOF!
Scott Foundas' review of The Producers reminded me of a dog with a blood-sucking tick on its ass [“Over-Produced,” Dec. 23]: both annoying, both useless and both the world could do without.
DEAD DOG
Just wanted to say, although this was a disturbing article it was damn good [Gustavo Arellano's “King of the County Pedophiles,” Dec. 16]. I started reading it at work one day and had to finish it the next day. I lost the OC Weekly, but I was so intent on finishing it that I came online to find the article. I'm fuming mad at Catholicism in general for protecting the names of people like Eleuterio Ramos and not its most precious possessions: worshipers.
Thanks for uncovering the monster Eleuterio Ramos. My favorite part of the story, however, was the Weekly's layout: a story on the pedophile and an ad for a dildo on Page 27, in the middle of the story! Great job! I wonder if Father Ramos bought his dildos from Babeland?
Gustavo Arellano replies: The placement of the ad was purely coincidental but further proof God is of the Dolemite school of comedy.
ROAD KILL
It is completely irresponsible of the TCA to recommend a toll road down the backbone of one of California's most popular state parks [Alexander Brant-Zawadzki's Toll Road Rage, Dec. 23]. San Onofre State Beach is one of the top five most visited state parks in California, and one of the few places where families can vacation in an affordable way on the California coast. Our state parks are set aside for future generations to enjoy peace, quiet, clean air, clean water and a natural setting. They are not designed to be warehouses for toll roads.
Surfing is a quintessential part of our California identity. We have ONE place in California that is considered a “world-class” surf break. That place is Trestles in San Onofre. Do you know how rare this kind of surf break is in the world? Not to mention one that is a short drive from a population of millions? This type of rare combination can be counted on one, maybe two hands worldwide. This surf break is a crown jewel, and yet we are willing to risk its existence by allowing a toll road of questionable benefits. By messing with the San Mateo creek bed, you will alter the sandbars that form the break.
TOY STORY
I liked Gustavo Arellano's response on the Toyota question in Ask a Mexican! [Dec. 16]. I come from a family where my three brothers, my father, my mother and I all own Toyotas. I guess we get them because they are reliable, reasonable in price and the resale value is also good. I should know, I just sold mine on Friday.
