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Leorah Gavidor
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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See previous issues
Eva Knott
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Teen girl fights off possible kidnapper
Alan Ray Sasseen, now 63, made a plea deal today, he admitted one felony lewd act in public and one misdemeanor failure to register as a sex offender. Sasseen was reportedly registered as a guest at the Vista Inn where he exposed his private parts to others in a public area there. The location of that offense is less than 2 miles from the Vista library, where in the year 2018 he beat up one girl while he dragged away her younger sister; in that case, Sasseen admitted felony assault and attempted kidnap, and he was sent away to a California prison; he was apparently released early. In his new plea deal, Sasseen expects 4 years and 6 months prison, he could have gotten six years for the new crimes he admitted. Sentencing is now set for March 15 at 1:30 p.m. in Department 5 of San Diego’s North County Superior courthouse in Vista, California.
http://www.sandiegoreader.com/users/photos/2022/f…
— February 9, 2022 1:20 p.m.
Car followed from Las Pulgas Rd. had 31,986 bogus oxycodone pills
Canine Milo was featured in a holiday greeting on the Sheriff’s Facebook page.
http://www.sandiegoreader.com/users/photos/2022/f…
http://www.sandiegoreader.com/users/photos/2022/f…
— February 8, 2022 11:25 a.m.
Murder suspects hop fence near Carlsbad lagoon – updated 12-6-21
According to a pre-sentencing report, Malissa James was born in Kingman Arizona in 1992. She was arrested in Camp Verde Arizona in 2012 for possession of meth for sale. She was next arrested in 2017 in Peoria Arizona for shoplifting, at that time she had her two young children with her, and heroin paraphernalia in her backpack. She was arrested in 2018 in San Bernardino California for first degree burglary, she was released just five months before she killed Marjorie Gawitt. When she was arrested by Carlsbad police, Malissa James reportedly said that she did “crazy shit” when she is drunk so that is why she did not get drunk anymore, especially off liquor. (However, toxicology reports found meth but no alcohol in Malissa James.) Malissa James reportedly admitted she went into the victim’s home through a back door, and when she saw Marjorie Gawitt in her bedroom, Gawitt asked who she was. Malissa James said she got “scared” and “hit” the victim with her knife, although she didn’t know how many times she “thought it was a lot.”
http://www.sandiegoreader.com/users/photos/2022/f…
— February 4, 2022 3:35 p.m.
Murder suspects hop fence near Carlsbad lagoon – updated 12-6-21
The fiance of the murdered woman spoke, revealing they had romantic plans to be married in Paris. He was shaking while he held onto the podium in court, and he often spoke directly and angrily at Malissa James. He was the only speaker to whom Malissa faced, she turned in her seat and looked at him several times. “You walked into my house, Malissa, and took a knife and carved her up!” He became loud and Malissa turned pink again. “This is not a human!” He said, “By the way, you weren’t just homeless, you were running from the law!” He told her, “I cleaned up the mess. Days of wiping off evidence stickers, and the blood.” It was so horrible, he couldn’t even let any of his local friends see it. “I cleaned up the goddamn blood!”
http://www.sandiegoreader.com/users/photos/2022/f…
http://www.sandiegoreader.com/users/photos/2022/f…
— February 4, 2022 1:38 p.m.
Murder suspects hop fence near Carlsbad lagoon – updated 12-6-21
Today Malissa Deanna James, 29, was sentenced to Life in prison without possibility of parole plus one year. In her plea deal last November, James admitted burglary and robbery and torture as well as murder. A dozen different family members and loved ones spoke to Hon. judge Robert Kearney, some expressed anger and disappointment that James escaped the death penalty with her plea deal. Supporters of the murder victim filled more than half the gallery in the courtroom. James’ mother and brother were also in the room, but they chose not to speak. While Malissa James sat at the defense table, handcuffed to her waist chains and with her ankles chained to each other, her neck and ears often blushed red while speakers warmly described Marjorie Gawitt and decried the evil of her murderer. Co-defendant Ian Forrester Bushee, 39, still faces all charges and is expected in the courthouse next month. His defense attorneys are expected to bring Malissa James back from prison to testify on behalf of her former boyfriend, during his trial.
— February 4, 2022 1:15 p.m.
Murder charged on Nardo Street in Solana Beach
More than one year after she first pleaded not-guilty to murdering her step-father, Jade Sasha Janks is set to hear evidence against her on February 23, 2022. The prosecutor will attempt to show enough evidence, so that a judge will order Janks to answer charges at trial, in San Diego's North County Superior Courthouse in Vista, California. It appears that Janks continues to be represented by private defense attorney Marc Carlos.
http://www.sandiegoreader.com/users/photos/2022/j…
— January 21, 2022 4:16 a.m.
Did Jennifer Ramos lie in wait for Chad Danielson?
On the San Diego County Sheriff's website, WHO'S IN JAIL, this defendant is listed as Jennifer Ramos Mendoza. She is described as 5 feet 5 inches tall and 200 pounds and 24 years old. Her next court date is listed as June 14, 2022.
http://www.sandiegoreader.com/users/photos/2022/j…
— January 18, 2022 4:49 a.m.
Varrio San Marcos gang shoots up Oceanside baptism party
There are rumors that plea deals might happen at the next court hearing, scheduled for later this month.
http://www.sandiegoreader.com/users/photos/2022/j…
— January 11, 2022 5:26 p.m.
Murder suspects hop fence near Carlsbad lagoon – updated 12-6-21
Malissa James, 29, admitted murdering 63-year-old Marjorie Ellen Gawitt, after James went inside the victim’s home during a burglary in 2019. The surprise plea deal was revealed during a court hearing the morning of Friday, November 19, 2021. James is expected to avoid the death penalty by her plea deal, instead getting life in prison without parole when she is sentenced in three months, in February of 2022. Gawitt was stabbed to death about midnight in her own home, a condo on Outrigger Lane in Carlsbad, overnight from March 10 to 11, in 2019. The family of Marjorie Gawitt may choose to speak at the sentencing to make “victim impact statements.” The co-defendant, Ian Bushee, 39, is still facing all charges, and his next court date is set for January 28, 2022.
— December 6, 2021 3:30 p.m.
Conviction of Army & Navy headmaster for child abuse is overturned – updated 12-6-21
Before the judge pronounced sentence that day, a man identified as John Doe A spoke to the court through a video monitor. The prosecutor said this alleged abuse victim (now a mature man) “wanted to be here in person, but he was not able to fly out here.” The handsome man spoke with a soft southern accent and said, “I have been dealing with issues from Jeffry Barton for 36 years now.” He said he has his own grown kids now. “I find out a few weeks ago he will be incarcerated for 8 years for the crimes he committed.” The man plainly didn’t like it, “But I’m a rancher not a lawyer.” He complained that while Barton has been in custody, “He had many more rights than the kids in the boarding school had, when they were 12, 13, 14 years old. The families sent these kids off to school to teach them to be fine men. They could never have dreamed they would be subjected to a rogue sex offender, a pedophile!” He praised the victims who had the courage to testify during the jury trials, “They’re all great men.” “I understand that Jeff Barton will be released,” he said. “But what kind of monitoring will there be? There is the internet, they have a lot more access than there used to be.” Judge Harry Elias answered, “The state department of parole manages each individual parolee, after he reports to parole, and they get his case file.” The man answered politely, but sounded disappointed, “Yes sir.” He added, “I hope the restrictions placed on Barton will keep him away from kids.” Honorable judge Harry Elias explained that he agreed to the plea deal because he wanted to finally resolve the case, which has gone on for years, Barton was first arrested in 2013. The judge said Barton had 2,967 actual days in custody and 3,412 days “custody credits,” which means Barton has been in custody more than the 8 years he agreed to in the plea deal.
http://www.sandiegoreader.com/users/photos/2021/d…
— December 6, 2021 3:16 p.m.
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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
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Julie Stalmer
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This Week’s
Reader
This Week’s
Reader
Teen girl fights off possible kidnapper
Alan Ray Sasseen, now 63, made a plea deal today, he admitted one felony lewd act in public and one misdemeanor failure to register as a sex offender. Sasseen was reportedly registered as a guest at the Vista Inn where he exposed his private parts to others in a public area there. The location of that offense is less than 2 miles from the Vista library, where in the year 2018 he beat up one girl while he dragged away her younger sister; in that case, Sasseen admitted felony assault and attempted kidnap, and he was sent away to a California prison; he was apparently released early. In his new plea deal, Sasseen expects 4 years and 6 months prison, he could have gotten six years for the new crimes he admitted. Sentencing is now set for March 15 at 1:30 p.m. in Department 5 of San Diego’s North County Superior courthouse in Vista, California. http://www.sandiegoreader.com/users/photos/2022/f…— February 9, 2022 1:20 p.m.
Car followed from Las Pulgas Rd. had 31,986 bogus oxycodone pills
Canine Milo was featured in a holiday greeting on the Sheriff’s Facebook page. http://www.sandiegoreader.com/users/photos/2022/f… http://www.sandiegoreader.com/users/photos/2022/f…— February 8, 2022 11:25 a.m.
Murder suspects hop fence near Carlsbad lagoon – updated 12-6-21
According to a pre-sentencing report, Malissa James was born in Kingman Arizona in 1992. She was arrested in Camp Verde Arizona in 2012 for possession of meth for sale. She was next arrested in 2017 in Peoria Arizona for shoplifting, at that time she had her two young children with her, and heroin paraphernalia in her backpack. She was arrested in 2018 in San Bernardino California for first degree burglary, she was released just five months before she killed Marjorie Gawitt. When she was arrested by Carlsbad police, Malissa James reportedly said that she did “crazy shit” when she is drunk so that is why she did not get drunk anymore, especially off liquor. (However, toxicology reports found meth but no alcohol in Malissa James.) Malissa James reportedly admitted she went into the victim’s home through a back door, and when she saw Marjorie Gawitt in her bedroom, Gawitt asked who she was. Malissa James said she got “scared” and “hit” the victim with her knife, although she didn’t know how many times she “thought it was a lot.” http://www.sandiegoreader.com/users/photos/2022/f…— February 4, 2022 3:35 p.m.
Murder suspects hop fence near Carlsbad lagoon – updated 12-6-21
The fiance of the murdered woman spoke, revealing they had romantic plans to be married in Paris. He was shaking while he held onto the podium in court, and he often spoke directly and angrily at Malissa James. He was the only speaker to whom Malissa faced, she turned in her seat and looked at him several times. “You walked into my house, Malissa, and took a knife and carved her up!” He became loud and Malissa turned pink again. “This is not a human!” He said, “By the way, you weren’t just homeless, you were running from the law!” He told her, “I cleaned up the mess. Days of wiping off evidence stickers, and the blood.” It was so horrible, he couldn’t even let any of his local friends see it. “I cleaned up the goddamn blood!” http://www.sandiegoreader.com/users/photos/2022/f… http://www.sandiegoreader.com/users/photos/2022/f…— February 4, 2022 1:38 p.m.
Murder suspects hop fence near Carlsbad lagoon – updated 12-6-21
Today Malissa Deanna James, 29, was sentenced to Life in prison without possibility of parole plus one year. In her plea deal last November, James admitted burglary and robbery and torture as well as murder. A dozen different family members and loved ones spoke to Hon. judge Robert Kearney, some expressed anger and disappointment that James escaped the death penalty with her plea deal. Supporters of the murder victim filled more than half the gallery in the courtroom. James’ mother and brother were also in the room, but they chose not to speak. While Malissa James sat at the defense table, handcuffed to her waist chains and with her ankles chained to each other, her neck and ears often blushed red while speakers warmly described Marjorie Gawitt and decried the evil of her murderer. Co-defendant Ian Forrester Bushee, 39, still faces all charges and is expected in the courthouse next month. His defense attorneys are expected to bring Malissa James back from prison to testify on behalf of her former boyfriend, during his trial.— February 4, 2022 1:15 p.m.
Murder charged on Nardo Street in Solana Beach
More than one year after she first pleaded not-guilty to murdering her step-father, Jade Sasha Janks is set to hear evidence against her on February 23, 2022. The prosecutor will attempt to show enough evidence, so that a judge will order Janks to answer charges at trial, in San Diego's North County Superior Courthouse in Vista, California. It appears that Janks continues to be represented by private defense attorney Marc Carlos. http://www.sandiegoreader.com/users/photos/2022/j…— January 21, 2022 4:16 a.m.
Did Jennifer Ramos lie in wait for Chad Danielson?
On the San Diego County Sheriff's website, WHO'S IN JAIL, this defendant is listed as Jennifer Ramos Mendoza. She is described as 5 feet 5 inches tall and 200 pounds and 24 years old. Her next court date is listed as June 14, 2022. http://www.sandiegoreader.com/users/photos/2022/j…— January 18, 2022 4:49 a.m.
Varrio San Marcos gang shoots up Oceanside baptism party
There are rumors that plea deals might happen at the next court hearing, scheduled for later this month. http://www.sandiegoreader.com/users/photos/2022/j…— January 11, 2022 5:26 p.m.
Murder suspects hop fence near Carlsbad lagoon – updated 12-6-21
Malissa James, 29, admitted murdering 63-year-old Marjorie Ellen Gawitt, after James went inside the victim’s home during a burglary in 2019. The surprise plea deal was revealed during a court hearing the morning of Friday, November 19, 2021. James is expected to avoid the death penalty by her plea deal, instead getting life in prison without parole when she is sentenced in three months, in February of 2022. Gawitt was stabbed to death about midnight in her own home, a condo on Outrigger Lane in Carlsbad, overnight from March 10 to 11, in 2019. The family of Marjorie Gawitt may choose to speak at the sentencing to make “victim impact statements.” The co-defendant, Ian Bushee, 39, is still facing all charges, and his next court date is set for January 28, 2022.— December 6, 2021 3:30 p.m.
Conviction of Army & Navy headmaster for child abuse is overturned – updated 12-6-21
Before the judge pronounced sentence that day, a man identified as John Doe A spoke to the court through a video monitor. The prosecutor said this alleged abuse victim (now a mature man) “wanted to be here in person, but he was not able to fly out here.” The handsome man spoke with a soft southern accent and said, “I have been dealing with issues from Jeffry Barton for 36 years now.” He said he has his own grown kids now. “I find out a few weeks ago he will be incarcerated for 8 years for the crimes he committed.” The man plainly didn’t like it, “But I’m a rancher not a lawyer.” He complained that while Barton has been in custody, “He had many more rights than the kids in the boarding school had, when they were 12, 13, 14 years old. The families sent these kids off to school to teach them to be fine men. They could never have dreamed they would be subjected to a rogue sex offender, a pedophile!” He praised the victims who had the courage to testify during the jury trials, “They’re all great men.” “I understand that Jeff Barton will be released,” he said. “But what kind of monitoring will there be? There is the internet, they have a lot more access than there used to be.” Judge Harry Elias answered, “The state department of parole manages each individual parolee, after he reports to parole, and they get his case file.” The man answered politely, but sounded disappointed, “Yes sir.” He added, “I hope the restrictions placed on Barton will keep him away from kids.” Honorable judge Harry Elias explained that he agreed to the plea deal because he wanted to finally resolve the case, which has gone on for years, Barton was first arrested in 2013. The judge said Barton had 2,967 actual days in custody and 3,412 days “custody credits,” which means Barton has been in custody more than the 8 years he agreed to in the plea deal. http://www.sandiegoreader.com/users/photos/2021/d…— December 6, 2021 3:16 p.m.