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Dave Good
Marty Graham
Moss Gropen
Andrew Hamlin
Dorian Hargrove
Garrett Harris
Ken Harrison
Patrick Henderson
Tam Hoang
Eve Kelly
Dryw Keltz
Eva Knott
Thomas Larson
Ken Leighton
Matthew Lickona
Mike Madriaga
Bill Manson
Scott Marks
Bob McPhail
Walter Mencken
Joseph O'Brien
Sheila Pell
Ian Pike
Matt Potter
H.G. Reza
Dave Rice
Elizabeth Salaam
Jay Allen Sanford
Julie Stalmer
DJ Stevens
Matthew Suárez
Amanda Tascher
More writers
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Allied Gardens
Alpine
Baja
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Bankers Hill
Barrio Logan
Bay Ho
Bay Park
Black Mountain Ranch
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Bonita
Bonsall
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Jamacha-Lomita
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Leucadia
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See previous issues
Eva Knott
Eva Knott
is a
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Activity
Comments
Votes
New judge for accused murderer
Visduh, let me see if anybody will go on record, with comment.
— July 10, 2015 8:18 a.m.
And don't compare them to the Manson Family
After a hearing yesterday, July 8, 2015, the prosecutor released a statement. Deputy District Attorney Pat Espinoza stated that the judge ruled on several defense motions, including which of the awful evidence photos will be used during trial, and the limitations of BDSM evidence. Yesterday, honorable judge K. Michael Kirkman also denied defense attorneys' requests to "severance" the case into three different trials, one for each of the defendants. The next court date scheduled for this case is August 7.
http://www.sandiegoreader.com/users/photos/2015/j…
— July 9, 2015 8:17 a.m.
"She was killed in a frenzy"
Kirk Leon Stapleton, now 55, was sentenced to 26 years to life on June 23, 2015, by the same judge who heard his trial. The killer already had 2 years custody credit when he heard his sentence for first-degree murder from judge Blaine Bowman. According to prosecutor Jeffrey Dort, the convicted murderer will not get any “good time” credits while he is in State prison. “He will get NO credits while he serves his time, as murderers have to do 100 % of their time, so he will do 26 years and then get a parole hearing,” Dort said in a statement after the sentencing. “This case was about anger and violence,” Dort declared. The deputy district attorney opined that when Kirk Leon Stapleton broke 23 bones in the woman’s body and then dumped her body “like yesterday’s trash,” the repeat felon demonstrated “what a depraved heart really is.” The prosecutor also commented: “I am constantly amazed at how violent people are with those that they say they love.”
http://www.sandiegoreader.com/users/photos/2015/j…
— July 6, 2015 6:59 a.m.
No guns — anger management for you
In my experience, this prosecutor does not often make misdemeanor plea deals.
http://www.sandiegoreader.com/users/photos/2015/j…
— June 16, 2015 6:30 a.m.
Accused murderer of McStays prepped for court
In a three-minute hearing this morning, Friday June 12, 2015, all attorneys confirmed they were ready for a preliminary hearing next week. And then defense attorney James Terrell invited the prosecutor to criticize the defense team for revealing details of evidence to certain newspeople -- for example that prosecution is expected to introduce a sledgehammer as the murder weapon. But District Attorney Supervisor Britt Imes declined to take the bait. Judge Michael A. Smith remained composed as always and ordered everybody back on Monday, June 15 2015.
http://www.sandiegoreader.com/users/photos/2015/j…
http://www.sandiegoreader.com/users/photos/2015/j…
— June 12, 2015 10:29 a.m.
Oh, no — the judge looks like the accused
Attorney David Kaloyanides did mention that he is currently arguing a case before the other judge, Hon. Bert Smith. This reporter asked the defense attorney if he believed it would make a difference to take the Christopher Lee murder case to the other judge. "I think that there will be some differences," he replied. "Without going into detail, I think this will completely change the makeup of the case, procedurally." The defense attorney also spoke about the protocol for declaring for the death penalty in San Bernardino County, which is different from what we have here in San Diego County. More on that later, as it develops.
http://www.sandiegoreader.com/users/photos/2015/m…
— May 27, 2015 7:22 a.m.
The case of the rotten gym rat
Julius Keeler, 31, was picked up by Fallbrook deputies late last night, May 23, 2015, for alleged probation violations. A team of deputies and detectives and probation officers conducted compliance checks on twelve different residents in San Diego's North County, according to a Sheriff's press release. As of this writing, Keeler is currently at the Vista detention facility, being held without bail. The District Attorney's website states that Keeler has four active criminal cases, and his next court date is in the downtown courthouse on June 1, 2015.
http://www.sandiegoreader.com/users/photos/2015/m…
— May 24, 2015 5:41 a.m.
Accused murderer of McStays prepped for court
Charles Ray Merritt went from defending himself in what could be a death-penalty case to suddenly having a team of three attorneys today, May 22, 2015. In San Bernardino Superior Court this morning, defense attorneys Jimmy Mettias and James Terrell and Sharon Brunner were introduced to judge Michael A. Smith. Responding to a request by defense, the judge officially ordered that Merritt should be allowed to bring his papers or “his files” into court to assist in his defense. Prosecutor Sean Daugherty asked the prelim to be delayed because two of his investigators were not available. At the end of the brief hearing this morning, which lasted less than ten minutes, the judge set the next court date for Friday, June 12, 2015.
http://www.sandiegoreader.com/users/photos/2015/m…
http://www.sandiegoreader.com/users/photos/2015/m…
— May 22, 2015 12:18 p.m.
Pit bull kills dachshund; Solana Beach man kills pit bull
From the deputy's report, we might deduce that the shooter was standing in the backyard, aiming through the (open) sliding glass door, at the dog while it was on the couch inside the living room. But only the shooter can clarify the exact details.
http://www.sandiegoreader.com/users/photos/2015/m…
— May 20, 2015 10:03 a.m.
Accused murderer of McStays prepped for court
The hearing lasted five minutes today, May 19, 2015. The prosecutor apparently phoned in sick. Defendant Merritt was mistakenly taken to a doctor’s appointment first, and then brought late into San Bernardino Superior court. The defendant then informed the court that he did not have his case file, and so was not prepared to defend himself. And then a different defense attorney, Jimmy Mettias, was introduced; he may or may not become counsel for the defendant. Judge Michael Smith, looking remarkably composed, commented, “The bottom line is that nobody is actually ready to go, here today.” The judge set the next court date for Friday, May 22, 2015.
http://www.sandiegoreader.com/users/photos/2015/m…
http://www.sandiegoreader.com/users/photos/2015/m…
— May 19, 2015 2:28 p.m.
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Ken Harrison
Patrick Henderson
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Dryw Keltz
Eva Knott
Thomas Larson
Ken Leighton
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Bill Manson
Scott Marks
Bob McPhail
Walter Mencken
Joseph O'Brien
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H.G. Reza
Dave Rice
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Golden Dreams
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Poetry
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San Diego Beer
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Surf Diego
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This Week’s
Reader
This Week’s
Reader
New judge for accused murderer
Visduh, let me see if anybody will go on record, with comment.— July 10, 2015 8:18 a.m.
And don't compare them to the Manson Family
After a hearing yesterday, July 8, 2015, the prosecutor released a statement. Deputy District Attorney Pat Espinoza stated that the judge ruled on several defense motions, including which of the awful evidence photos will be used during trial, and the limitations of BDSM evidence. Yesterday, honorable judge K. Michael Kirkman also denied defense attorneys' requests to "severance" the case into three different trials, one for each of the defendants. The next court date scheduled for this case is August 7. http://www.sandiegoreader.com/users/photos/2015/j…— July 9, 2015 8:17 a.m.
"She was killed in a frenzy"
Kirk Leon Stapleton, now 55, was sentenced to 26 years to life on June 23, 2015, by the same judge who heard his trial. The killer already had 2 years custody credit when he heard his sentence for first-degree murder from judge Blaine Bowman. According to prosecutor Jeffrey Dort, the convicted murderer will not get any “good time” credits while he is in State prison. “He will get NO credits while he serves his time, as murderers have to do 100 % of their time, so he will do 26 years and then get a parole hearing,” Dort said in a statement after the sentencing. “This case was about anger and violence,” Dort declared. The deputy district attorney opined that when Kirk Leon Stapleton broke 23 bones in the woman’s body and then dumped her body “like yesterday’s trash,” the repeat felon demonstrated “what a depraved heart really is.” The prosecutor also commented: “I am constantly amazed at how violent people are with those that they say they love.” http://www.sandiegoreader.com/users/photos/2015/j…— July 6, 2015 6:59 a.m.
No guns — anger management for you
In my experience, this prosecutor does not often make misdemeanor plea deals. http://www.sandiegoreader.com/users/photos/2015/j…— June 16, 2015 6:30 a.m.
Accused murderer of McStays prepped for court
In a three-minute hearing this morning, Friday June 12, 2015, all attorneys confirmed they were ready for a preliminary hearing next week. And then defense attorney James Terrell invited the prosecutor to criticize the defense team for revealing details of evidence to certain newspeople -- for example that prosecution is expected to introduce a sledgehammer as the murder weapon. But District Attorney Supervisor Britt Imes declined to take the bait. Judge Michael A. Smith remained composed as always and ordered everybody back on Monday, June 15 2015. http://www.sandiegoreader.com/users/photos/2015/j… http://www.sandiegoreader.com/users/photos/2015/j…— June 12, 2015 10:29 a.m.
Oh, no — the judge looks like the accused
Attorney David Kaloyanides did mention that he is currently arguing a case before the other judge, Hon. Bert Smith. This reporter asked the defense attorney if he believed it would make a difference to take the Christopher Lee murder case to the other judge. "I think that there will be some differences," he replied. "Without going into detail, I think this will completely change the makeup of the case, procedurally." The defense attorney also spoke about the protocol for declaring for the death penalty in San Bernardino County, which is different from what we have here in San Diego County. More on that later, as it develops. http://www.sandiegoreader.com/users/photos/2015/m…— May 27, 2015 7:22 a.m.
The case of the rotten gym rat
Julius Keeler, 31, was picked up by Fallbrook deputies late last night, May 23, 2015, for alleged probation violations. A team of deputies and detectives and probation officers conducted compliance checks on twelve different residents in San Diego's North County, according to a Sheriff's press release. As of this writing, Keeler is currently at the Vista detention facility, being held without bail. The District Attorney's website states that Keeler has four active criminal cases, and his next court date is in the downtown courthouse on June 1, 2015. http://www.sandiegoreader.com/users/photos/2015/m…— May 24, 2015 5:41 a.m.
Accused murderer of McStays prepped for court
Charles Ray Merritt went from defending himself in what could be a death-penalty case to suddenly having a team of three attorneys today, May 22, 2015. In San Bernardino Superior Court this morning, defense attorneys Jimmy Mettias and James Terrell and Sharon Brunner were introduced to judge Michael A. Smith. Responding to a request by defense, the judge officially ordered that Merritt should be allowed to bring his papers or “his files” into court to assist in his defense. Prosecutor Sean Daugherty asked the prelim to be delayed because two of his investigators were not available. At the end of the brief hearing this morning, which lasted less than ten minutes, the judge set the next court date for Friday, June 12, 2015. http://www.sandiegoreader.com/users/photos/2015/m… http://www.sandiegoreader.com/users/photos/2015/m…— May 22, 2015 12:18 p.m.
Pit bull kills dachshund; Solana Beach man kills pit bull
From the deputy's report, we might deduce that the shooter was standing in the backyard, aiming through the (open) sliding glass door, at the dog while it was on the couch inside the living room. But only the shooter can clarify the exact details. http://www.sandiegoreader.com/users/photos/2015/m…— May 20, 2015 10:03 a.m.
Accused murderer of McStays prepped for court
The hearing lasted five minutes today, May 19, 2015. The prosecutor apparently phoned in sick. Defendant Merritt was mistakenly taken to a doctor’s appointment first, and then brought late into San Bernardino Superior court. The defendant then informed the court that he did not have his case file, and so was not prepared to defend himself. And then a different defense attorney, Jimmy Mettias, was introduced; he may or may not become counsel for the defendant. Judge Michael Smith, looking remarkably composed, commented, “The bottom line is that nobody is actually ready to go, here today.” The judge set the next court date for Friday, May 22, 2015. http://www.sandiegoreader.com/users/photos/2015/m… http://www.sandiegoreader.com/users/photos/2015/m…— May 19, 2015 2:28 p.m.