Imperial Valley Press Quick News

Hearing in Cano case postponed

A hearing to determine whether a change of venue motion in the second trial of murder defendant Kym Cano will still be tried in Imperial County was postponed today until Sept. 3 to allow time for a court-appointed expert to conduct a survey on potential jurors in the case.

Martin Buncher is set to gauge whether local media coverage has fostered bias against the second-degree murder defendant and said he would call people at random from the county's jury pool. Cano has pleaded not guilty to the charge in connection with the Dec. 4, 2006 killing of her husband, Francisco. Francisco Cano, an off-duty California Highway Patrol officer, died from a single gunshot wound to his face he suffered at his Calexico home.

Please read Friday's issue of the Imperial Valley Press for more information on this story.

By SILVIO J. PANTA,  staff writer

Two men injured in fight

Two men were injured as the result of a fight in Calipatria Thursday night.

Both men, who were in their mid-20s, were taken to San Diego Community Medical Center, said Calipatria Police Sgt. Lynn Mara. 

Mara said police responded around 10:30 p.m. to a call that included reports of gunfire. One man suffered from stab wounds and the other from gunshot wounds. The current condition of the men is not known. Police are investigating the event.

Read Saturday's edition of the Imperial Valley Press for more details.

-- Megan Glenn, staff writer

Police chase ends following a pair of armed robberies

Three people are in custody early today while another is still at large following a police chase that ended in a quiet residential neighborhood west of El Centro following a pair of armed robberies, an El Centro Police sergeant said.

Officers applied a PIT maneuver to force a white Ford Econoline passenger van to abruptly turn sideways not far from the corner of 23 Road Street and Orange Avenue. A U.S. Border Patrol helicopter roared above the location with search lights as Imperial police officers, Imperial County sheriff's deputies and Border Patrol agents assisted in looking for the missing suspect. The California Highway Patrol was also called in to help, said El Centro police Sgt. Ray Bonillas.

The  chase stemmed from an armed robbery of a pedestrian near  Fourth Street and Desert Gardens at about 1:30 a.m., which was soon followed by the holdup at the am/pm convenience store at Main Street, Bonillas said. Police saw a van that matched the description of the vehicle involved in the Fourth Street incident and a chase ensued, Bonillas said.

Police believe both robberies are related. Please check Quick News for more updates on this story.

By SILVIO J. PANTA, staff writer

Motion for new trial sought in ex-Southwest High School teacher case

Juror misconduct is among a host of reasons cited in a former Southwest High School teacher's motion for a new trial shortly after he was convicted of a misdemeanor offense in connection with the kissing relationship he was charged of having with a 17-year-old girl.

Court documents filed at the Imperial County Superior Court in El Centro show that a juror claimed she was coerced into voting Samuel Falk guilty of the single misdemeanor count of annoying or molesting a child under 18 during jury deliberations. A hearing on whether Falk will get a new trial is scheduled July 10 before Imperial County Superior Court Judge William Lehman.

A jury convicted Falk June 19 following weeks of testimony, which included that of the girl Falk was suspected of having a series of trysts with inside of his classroom.

Please read Thursday's issue of the Imperial Valley Press for more information on this story.

By SILVIO J. PANTA, staff writer 

State budget crisis among topics discussed in meeting

The state's failure to adopt a balanced spending plan for the next fiscal year is among the key topics Imperial County supervisors are discussing at this hour during a closed session meeting, according to District 4 Supervisor Gary Wyatt.

The notion of California issuing IOUs to cover its expenses, and how it could impact Imperial County, is a concern Wyatt and other county officials are addressing. Wyatt said public hearings on the county's own budget probably won't be held until mid-August, which is the time Wyatt said he expects supervisors will get around to adopting a balanced budget.

Please read Thursday's issue of the Imperial Valley Press for more information on this story.

By SILVIO J. PANTA, staff writer

Amber alert reported

An Amber alert has been issued for an 11-year-old Salinas girl who was abducted this week, California Highway Patrol authorities said.

Maria Roldan, of Salinas, was abducted Wednesday, June 24, at 4:32 a.m. by a suspect, identified as Jovenpino Benegas, 21, according to the Highway Patrol. Benegas was last seen driving a greed Daewoo sedan with paper license plates.

Maria is five feet tall, weighs 116 pounds has brown hair, brown eyes, but a description of the clothes she was wearing was not known, the Highway Patrol reported. Benegas was described by Highway Patrol authorities as having brown hair with a blond streak, brown eyes, a pierced right eye brow and pierced ears.

Anyone who has information about this abduction can call the California Highway Patrol in El Centro at 482-2500.

By SILVIO J. PANTA, staff writer

Border Patrol agent arrested

A U.S. Border Patrol agent based out of the Indio sector faces charges of kidnapping with the intent to commit sexual assault and other charges following his arrest last week by Riverside County Sheriff's investigators.

Luis Edward Hermosillo, 41, remains in custody on $1 million bail in connection with an alleged incident June 13 involving a 24-year-old woman, according to a press release. Hermosillo was arrested Friday, June 19.

Please read Thursday's issue of the Imperial Valley Press for more information on this story.

By SILVIO J. PANTA, staff writer

Meeting to address relocation of Richard Horn set

A town hall meeting is scheduled next Monday in Brawley to discuss the relocation of convicted violent sex offender Richad Horn, Imperial County Executive Officer Ralph Cordova said today.

A discussion by representatives of the Imperial County District Attorney's Office will be featured during the meeting that will address the move to have Horn live south of Brawley. The meeting will be at 5:15 p.m. at the Cal Works One Stop office at 860 Main St.

Please read Wednesday's issue of the Imperial Valley Press for more information on this story.

By SILVIO J. PANTA, staff writer

Jail break attempt foiled

A jail break attempt was foiled over the weekend after correctional officers received information that eight inmates were planning to escape, Imperial County Sheriff's Office Lt. George Moreno said.

The inmates used a broken drain pipe from the jail dormitory to dig a hole in the ceiling, Moreno said. Correctional officers learned about the attempt to escape Saturday.

Please read Tuesday's issue of the Imperial Valley Press for more information on this story.

By SILVIO J. PANTA, staff writer

Three injured in crash on Interstate 8

Three people were injured at 12:30 p.m. today when the pickup truck they were traveling in rolled over on Interstate 8. At least one person was ejected from the vehicle.

The California Highway Patrol traffic incident information page said that the vehicle was traveling westbound on I-8 between Dunaway and Drew roads when the rollover occurred.

It was not yet known why the crash happened.

CHP dispatchers contacted the Imperial County Sheriff"s Office and the Imperial County Fire Department, as well as Gold Cross Ambulance.

ICSO called for an air ambulance at 12:49 p.m. The air ambulance was expected to arrive at the scene just after 1 p.m.