Ever have one of those days when everything just went to hell?
Yep, I had one of those, and just finishing the day’s chores somewhat after midnight, and still have to clean out under the kitchen sink before the plumber comes over at 8:30 am to give us some cold water again.
Fortunately, our anonymous courtroom reporter checked in last week with a quick update on some of the ongoing court cases, and recidivist ex-con killer motorists.
Hopefully, things will go a little better tomorrow, and we’ll be back with our usual morning update. And we have a promise from our courtroom reporter for an updated update coming soon.
Photo by Sora Shimazaki from Pexels.
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Tuesday was Tommi Jo Mejer’s arraignment, but I stormed the Bastille to call for a State of Emergency for Traffic Violence instead since surely Mejer’s plea would make the news. Alas, it did not, as it was pushed back to December 8th. I have a feeling she might have checked herself in to a cushy local pay-to-stay jail until sentencing, which will provide her with time served in full, or if not, will at least reduce any amount of time she’ll have to spend in state prison.
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On September 2nd, a driver somehow found himself in (IN) the San Gabriel River at roughly 3am, having entered at the end of Thiennes Ave in South El Monte. He somehow self-extricated, and called it in hours later, after he got to a phone that was, unlike his, dry. Deputies recovered the vehicle from the river, and have confirmed there will be no charges, because obviously no crime was committed.
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On Labor Day Weekend, “cool mom” Carroll Blair Lucky of Hawthorne was arrested by the unamused Huntington Beach Police Department for child endangerment and contributing to the delinquency of a minor for letting her li’l pocket-bike jockeys ride amok. Fed-up officers also arrested “cool dad” Louie Orojel of Montebello for contributing to his kid’s delinquency, and all the bikes were confiscated. Golly, I hope the rugrats don’t have to… walk… to school now. Dear God, the horror. The horror. Also, an unlicensed moron who can’t even operate a pocket bike without falliing off of it literally in front of the cops was arrested for reckless driving.
Brandon Scott Soleau has been charged with one felony count of vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence in Kolby Aipa’s death. Despite the mandatory appearance requirement, only Soleau’s attorney showed for what should’ve been his arraignment, which was rescheduled. Soleau has since pleaded not guilty (naturally) and surrendered his passport.
In its infinite wisdom, Huntington Beach has designated September 18th as Kolby Aipa Day, in order to encourage truckloads of questionably sober youngsters to pull their skitchin’ friend down PCH at over 50mph. (An acquaintance of the crowd, Koa Orozco, celebrated Labor Day weekend by getting behind the wheel while drunk & high, and was met with cheerful red & blue lights in his rearview.)
Incidentally, HB has two cases (that I know of) involving the deaths of pedestrians whose cases went to the DA, and there are no charges indicating that a human life was snuffed out.
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Jonathan Rodriguez is off the fugitive list. His upcoming arraignment is the same day as Edjan Rocha’s next appearance; I’ll attend one or the other.
Still on that list: Recidivist Juli Ann Britton (formerly Juli Ann Brown), and Mario Poppop (aka Popsuc), who did not adhere to the terms of his sentence and now has a warrant to go explain himself to a judge.
Norberto Cabanas Corona killed 8-year-old Bradley Rofer in a crosswalk as he proudly rode his bike to school. Although Bradley’s parents had no desire to see their son’s intensely remorseful killer prosecuted, the DA pressed charges anyway. A warrant has been issued for Cardenas Corona, who may have fled to his home country.
Brandon James Lindsley, who left registered nurse Carla Becerra for dead on the San Gabriel River Trail, spent very little time behind bars for manslaughter, and violated probation repeatedly. Yesterday morning I rode to Becerra’s ratty tatty ghost bike and added new (fake) flowers to the faded ones jittering in the breeze. The pop of color seemed incongruous, too flamboyant, almost insulting to the patient, sun-bleached ones that have guarded the dilapidated bike for years now. Is Lindsley still a fugitive? Nope.
Tami Hayworth’s birthday would’ve been the 13th, and the anniversary of her death is coming up, so I went Monday to put up remembrance flowers. Across the street, multiple bollards that protect the Artesia High School’s LED announcement sign were damaged, and festooned with cheery yellow caution tape. I asked a young lady in a high school sweatshirt at the nearby bus stop when the damage had occurred. “Oh, a while back. Like… March? I think?” It’s appalling that a sign gets the protection of bollards, and the students get an easily jumpable curb.
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In July, I attended the preliminary hearing for DeSean Edwards, who whipped out of a parking spot and crushed the life out of CSULB nursing student Grace Edwards (no relation) as she walked through a parking lot with her mom. Her mom, Tiffany Edwards, was the first witness, and so many of her answers referred to her screaming. The courtroom was filled with the victim’s family & fellow church members. On the witness stand, a Trader Joe’s employee who’d run to the scene had eyes shooting vicious daggers at the defendant. The defense declined to cross-examine, and instead offered condolences to the family.
Grace’s sister gave me a pinback button of Grace, so I can tell everyone who asks, “This is Grace Edwards. She was 19 years old, and she didn’t deserve to die.” And then mention that her heart still beats inside the 8-year-old whose life the transplant saved.
After court I hit up Panda Express, and the fortune cookie fortune read, “YOUR GRACE WILL TOUCH SOMEONE TODAY.” I tucked it into my dayplanner to give to the mama I hope I never run into again.
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Richard John Eyssallenne’s broccoli-headed 13-year-old son Ethan took the stand. Lemme know if you want the deets. I have random info about poor li’l inconvenienced Pratiti Renee Mehta, Octavio Girbau, Douglas Morton Adams, and some state legislation that owes us all an apology, but I’m at work, and I’ll try to get you updated on everything soon.
