Lakewood

Edwin Alan Wikstrom, Katella High Baseball Coach, Faces Nearly 4 Years for Sexting Teens

See the update at the end of this post about the charges prosecutors have leveled against Wikstrom and the punishment the veteran local baseball coach faces with a conviction.ORIGINAL POST, JUNE 13, 9:47 A.M.: Another high school baseball coach in Anaheim has been accused of using social media to ge ... More >>

[UPDATED with Suit Filed:] Daniel Lee Duvall Claims Lipstick Bounty Hunters Blinded His Eye

See the update on the next page about a lawsuit being filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court.ORIGINAL POST, APRIL 5, 3:23 P.M.: Based on the number of times I see a Lipstick Bounty Hunters vehicle, an employee either resides near someone I visit weekly in Long Beach or perps are routinely busted ... More >>

Courtney Aoki, a.k.a Kitty Kitanna, Danced at a Weekly Best of 2012 Spot and was Engaged and Pregnant--But Was the Slain Woman an Escort?

The young woman whose murder in Ladera Ranch apparently kicked off last Tuesday's Orange County freeway shooting spree that ended with a total of four dead (including the shooter) has a connection to the OC Weekly.A very loose connection, that is.

The OC District Attorney's Office's Legal Deceit

[Moxley Confidential] More evidence proves prosecutor hoodwinked grand jury for indictments in bizarre Newport Beach blackmail case

Paul Wilson, Husband of Seal Beach Massacre Victim, Pushes Gun Control Petition

The husband of one of the eight people killed in last year's Seal Beach massacre has started an online petition aimed at getting a gun control measure on the ballot."Christy's Law," named after the late Christy Lynn Wilson, 47, of Lakewood, would prohibit anyone involved in a child custody dispute i ... More >>

The Week in Forgetfulness: Books by Crooks, the Cold War and a Writer to Remember

My kind editor, The Mexican, offered to reimburse me for purchase of the ex-governor of California's memoirs. I considered reading and reviewing the provocatively titled Total Recall:  My Unbelievably True Life Storybut I felt so uncomfortable at even the thought of walking into a bookstor ... More >>

Why a Duck? Marty Smith's Wild History Decoy, Or: I Don't Know Much About Ducks, But I Know What I Like

Martin J. "Marty" Smith is one of the nicest guys you will ever meet, an editor who has boostered smart writing and supported other writers, and also made a career himself as author of a popular mystery series and, because he is a gregarious and curious nut, a series of unlikely books which seem to ... More >>

Steve Chavez Lodge, Anaheim Council Candidate, Gets Sued Over Reclaiming Latino Surname That He's Never Used Before

People should've been suspicious of Anaheim City Council candidate Steve Lodge long before he decided to rebrand himself as Steve Chavez Lodge in a callous bid for disenfranchised Mexi voters. He's endorsed by former Anaheim mayor Curt Pringle and arch-pedophile-protector apologist Matt Cunningham ( ... More >>

[UPDATED with Charges, New Details:] Christian Marie Murray, OC Homicide No. 24: Thomas Michael Wilhelm Held in Girlfriend's Slaying

See Update No. 4 at the end of this post detailing the charges against Thomas Michael Wilhelm, which include the allegation he stole the murder weapon from a neighbor.See Update No. 3 identifying the victim as Christian Marie Murray and providing her business profile.See Update No 2 providing more d ... More >>

Long Beach Islamic Center, the LBC's Second Mosque, to Open Soon

There's only one mosque--Masjid Al-Shareef--in Long Beach. Its small space barely accommodates those who go to pray jumu'ah--a congregational prayer that takes place on Friday, usually after noon. A stuffy situation often ensues during the weekly ritual, which brings in high numbers of worshipers.&n ... More >>

Breaking Down the 47th Congressional District Primary, One Vote and Dollar at a Time

Peter Mathews is a Cypress College political science professor, so who better to break down the 47th U.S. Congressional District primary? His interest extended beyond academics. The Democrat was among eight candidates on the ballot for the redrawn district that includes Cypress, Rossmoor, Stanton, W ... More >>

Mi Taco es su Taco: How Mexican Food Conquered America

I finally visited the snazzy corporate offices of the OC Weekly last week, to interview my editor, Gustavo "¡Ask a Mexican!" Arellano. Despite writing for years for the county's favorite alt-weekly, I'd conducted only an email relationship with the staff and editors. I arrived in person to tape my ... More >>

Kinde Durkee, Treasurer Accused of Ripping Off Democrats, Sued by Correa, Sanchez Sisters

​State Senator Lou Correa (D-Anaheim) and U.S. Reps. (and sisters) Loretta and Linda Sanchez (D-Garden Grove and Lakewood, respectively) joined legal forces Wednesday in filing a lawsuit against their disgraced former campaign treasurer, Kinde Durkee.The trio is being represented in Los Angeles Co ... More >>

[UPDATED with Plea:] Scott Evans Dekraai, Mass Murder Suspect, Indicted by Grand Jury

​UPDATE, JAN. 18, 3:38 P.M.: Accused mass killer Scott Evans Dekraai pleaded not guilty to eight murder counts at today's arraignment hearing in Santa Ana. If a feeling of deja vu just washed over you, fret not; Dekraai also pleaded not guilty at an arraignment hearing last year. Today's arraignme ... More >>

Douglas Nissan Part Owner Frank Ignacio Urbano and 2 Desk Managers Get Jail and Probation in Huge Loan Fraud Case

​Marwan Abdellatif, a former Douglas Nissan desk manager accused of stealing the identities of unsuspecting customers and defrauding banks in the sale of used cars, remains a fugitive from justice. But his whereabouts being unknown did not stop the Orange dealership's part owner and two other de ... More >>

[UPDATED with Scott Evans Dekraai Insanity Plea Predicted:] 6 Women and 2 Men, OC Homicides Nos. 45-52: Massacred at Beauty Salon

​UPDATE, NOV. 29, 12:30 P.M.: During today's arraignment hearing, where Scott Evans Dekraai pleaded not guilty to murdering eight people and critically injuring a ninth, Deputy Public Defender Scott Sanders objected to press photographers being in the courtroom, saying this kind of media coverage ... More >>

[UPDATED with OC Public Defender Getting Dekraai Case:] 6 Women and 2 Men, OC Homicides Nos. 45-52: Massacred at Beauty Salon

​UPDATE, OCT. 24, 3:05 P.M.: Orange County Superior Court Judge Erick L. Larsh this afternoon assigned the defense of Scott Evans Dekraai to the Orange County Public Defender's office. The lead attorney (at taxpayers' dime) will now be senior Deputy Public Defender Scott Sanders. Dekraai's origin ... More >>

Occupy Long Beach Protesters Arrested Yesterday for Camping

Occupy Long Beach via Facebook​Looks like Orange County isn't the only local Occupy group not getting love from the police. Much like activists attempting to camp out in Irvine this weekend, Long Beach protesters in downtown's Lincoln Park got the bums' rush. A press release issued by the LBP ... More >>

[UPDATED with 'Triple Threat Bandit' Had Robbed Orange County Banks Before:] High-Speed Chase After Fullerton Bank Robbery

​UPDATE, SEPT. 15, 3:46 P.M.: The FBI was already on the lookout for the man arrested at the end of today's hour-long chase."Preliminary investigation shows it was the same individual today as the 'Triple Threat Bandit,'" says FBI spokeswoman Ari Dekofsky. Today, the man allegedly robbed Farm ... More >>

[UPDATED with Medical License Suspended:] Yashwant Balgiri Giri Accused of Sex Assaults on Unconscious Patients

​UPDATE, JUNE 6, 12:40 P.M.: A Placentia-Linda Hospital anesthesiologist accused of sexually abusing two unconscious females admitted for surgical procedures has had his medical license suspended, according to the California Medical Board.Yashwant Balgiri Giri pleaded not guilty to the charges aga ... More >>

Free Moral Agents' Ikey Owens on Bradley Nowell: 'He Told Me I Played Too Much'

Sublime front man Bradley Nowell, who died 15 years ago this month, left behind a legacy that is intrinsically tied to Long Beach and the rest of Orange County. This week's cover story  pays tribute to the man who put Garden Grove on the map, who sang about the perils of date rape and invented ... More >>

Yashwant Balgiri Giri, Placentia-Linda Hospital Anesthesiologist, Accused of Sex Assaults on Unconscious Patients; More Victims Feared

​As a Placentia-Linda Hospital anesthesiologist is arraigned today in Santa Ana on charges of sexually assaulting a 16-year-old girl and 36-year-old woman who were unconscious, authorities are asking other possible victims to come forward. Yashwant Balgiri Giri worked at other Orange County and So ... More >>

It's Like This and Like That

[Locals Only] The Greenery compare the L.B. and OC hardcore scenes, among other things

Ryan Seacrest Leaves Children's Hospital of OC Without Anyone Trying to Kill Him

​American Idol, E News Daily and KISS-FM host Ryan Seacrest returned to Children's Hospital of Orange County on Monday to brighten the days of young patients, broadcast his radio show live and seek $5 donations to CHOC from listeners.The teeny broadcaster, who also visited CHOC in September 2009, ... More >>

Susan J. Paul, Long Beach Singer-Songwriter, Remembered With Big Love

​Singer-songwriter and Long Beach native Susan J. Paul was battling cancer for the second time when she decided to give a special performance at the GoGirlsMusicFest inside the Liquid Lounge in October 2005.Besides wanting to support the Lynne Cohen Foundation for Ovarian Cancer Research, Paul was ... More >>

Killing for the Cartel

Police believe East LA high-school dropout Jose Saenz has killed a good friend and the mother of his daughter

Ryan Seacrest Stalker in Court Today

Left photo courtesy of E! Entertainment; right photo courtesy of Orange Police DepartmentRyan Seacrest was allegedly stalked in Orange and Burbank by Chidi Benjamin Uzomah Jr.​A 25-year-old Lakewood resident, who previously pleaded guilty in an Orange County courtroom to assault and weapons charge ... More >>

Man Convicted of Killing Bar Patron With Pool Cue

​A bar patron was convicted today of killing another customer at Breaker's Bar in Cypress by hitting him in the head with a pool cue.

Crime Time: Double the Fun Starring [Alleged] Skeevy Teachers, Fake Cop Robbers and Ryan Seacrest's Strange Stalker

It's the Weekly's weekly round-up of local police calls--actually the Weekly's TWO weekly round-up as an attempt is made to make up for lost vacation time.Left courtesy of E! Entertainment, right courtesy of Orange Police DepartmentRyan Seacrest (left) gets paid another visit from his No. 1 Army spe ... More >>

Crime Time: Ho' Attacker, Hammer Head, Bushman Packing Heat, Monkey Off the Market and Ryan Seacrest

It's the Weekly's weekly round-up of local police calls--now with more ho' attackers, hammer heads, short robbers, skateboarding nazis, bloody bandagers, bushmen packing heat, baseball bat-wielding robbers, monkeys that are not for sale and Ryan Seacrest.Center photo by Melinda Nagy/Dreamstime.comBE ... More >>

[CD Review] R. Scott, 'Mad Forms & Twisted Poses' (Do Your Worst)

It's Finally Kogi Korean-Barbecue Taco Truck Season in OC

Letters From OC Weekly Readers

Orange County Sings the Obama Blues

Lady Killer

An OC jury ponders this question: Who is the right-handed man who murdered Minnie Smith?

Letters

'Homosexuality is unnatural, defined by the Bible as a sin and is unhealty physically, mentally and socially for those who choose to live that lifestyle'

Letters

Your Story is probably BS

Long Beach

Stories That Made a Difference

And some we regret

The Dudes Abide

No go-go boys in Newport, but the Big Lebowski lives on in Lakewood

Diary of a Loud County

The Year In Live Reviews

Mass Forgetting

Joan Didion tells you how we live in the greatest state in the greatest country on the greatest planet!

Letters

Nothing to Prove

Ikey Owens and the sonic politics of race

Booty Call

Returning stolen treasure . . . and a SLUT ring

Westminster

Phuo Loc Tho

Tustin

Not full of hot air

Youre Guilty

Now a free man, Big J-Mo reveals lessons of life inside the OC criminal-justice system

Bad Rap, Vol. II

Big J-Mos best friend says hes ready to testify for the defense

Horror, Hiding and the Holocaust

How Bert Jakobs outlived the Third Reich