Articles Tagged With ‘Santa Barbara County Superior Court’




Santa Barbara private investigator battling charges, arrested again

By JOSH FRIEDMAN A longtime Santa Barbara private investigator appeared in court on Tuesday as a defendant in a felony forgery and identity theft case, then stepped out of the courthouse and was promptly arrested on charges related to embezzlement.... (Continue reading)

Goleta man sentenced to life after murdering family

A judge sentenced Nicolas Holzer on Friday to four consecutive terms of life in prison without the possibility of parole for the brutal slayings of his parents and two sons at their home near Goleta four years ago. [Cal Coast... (Continue reading)

Wallace case moved to Santa Maria after Guerrero appointed judge

The felony conflict of interest case against former South San Luis Obispo County Sanitation District administrator John Wallace is moving to Santa Maria following the appointment of a controversial attorney to the SLO County bench. Wallace is facing four felony... (Continue reading)

Lompoc man of the year facing life in prison for child molestation

A longtime public servant and former Lompoc man of the year is facing life in prison after pleading guilty to 17 counts of child molestation charges. Anthony Michael Durham, 67, is expected to spend the rest of his life in... (Continue reading)

Alleged sex abuse victim recants but judge dismisses her testimony

A 15-year-old girl who accused her relative, a Santa Maria youth basketball coach, of molesting her over the course of multiple years took to the witness stand Monday and recanted her story. Nonetheless, a judge ruled the alleged victim’s testimony... (Continue reading)

Men accused of murdering Marilyn Pharis to appear in court

The two men accused of sexually assaulting and murdering Santa Maria woman Marilyn Pharis, 64, are due to appear in court this week for preliminary hearings. [KSBY] Last week, Santa Barbara County prosecutors announced they would not pursue the death... (Continue reading)

Paula Lopez facing four months in jail

Former news anchor Paula Lopez Ochoa pled no contest Friday to one count of driving under the influence, two counts of delaying or resisting a peace officer, one count of refusing a chemical test, and one count of battery on... (Continue reading)

U-Haul murder trial trudges on in Santa Maria

A multi-month murder trial in Santa Maria has moved into its third week of testimony as prosecutors continue to make their case that six gang members murdered and tortured a 28-year-old man in retribution for a drug debt. Six defendants... (Continue reading)

Are potential jurors afraid of reprisal?

Santa Barbara County Superior Court has summoned 1,400 potential jurors for a Santa Maria torture-murder trial, but approximately 1,000 of those summoned did not show up to court. [KSBY] Jury selection began Monday in the trial of six defendants charged... (Continue reading)

Did slavery and pregnancy drive professor to accost teen?

Supporters of a University of California Santa Barbara associate professor of feminist studies contend her pregnancy and a legacy of slavery drove her to accost a teen and steal the young woman’s protest sign. [FOX] On March 4, members of... (Continue reading)