Articles Tagged With ‘Federal Court’




Santa Ynez official and husband arrested for entering Capitol on Jan. 6

By JOSH FRIEDMAN Federal agents arrested a Central Coast Community Services District board member and her husband for being inside the United States Capitol during the Jan. 6 riot. [Independent] Karen Jones is a Santa Ynez Valley Community Services District... (Continue reading)

Santa Barbara man who allegedly murdered his kids in Mexico deemed incompetent

A federal judge in San Diego ruled on Thursday that the Santa Barbara surf instructor who allegedly killed his children in Mexico is not competent to stand trial. [Union-Tribune] Matthew Taylor Coleman, 42, previously confessed to killing his children because... (Continue reading)

Three Santa Maria men kidnap teenager, hold him for ransom

By JOSH FRIEDMAN Federal agents on Friday arrested three Santa Maria men who kidnapped a 17-year-old boy this week in San Bernardino County and then held him for ransom, while threatening the teen’s mother that they would cut off her... (Continue reading)

Feds indict Central Coast men for selling fentanyl that caused jailhouse death

By JOSH FRIEDMAN Federal officials on Tuesday announced the indictments of two inmates at the Santa Barbara County Northern Branch Jail for allegedly causing the death of one inmate and serious injury to another through fentanyl. In the span of... (Continue reading)

Federal judge rules against California handgun law

By JOSH FRIEDMAN A federal judge on Monday issued a ruling blocking key provisions of a California law that significantly restricts the sale of new handguns, finding that sections of the legislation violate the Second Amendment. [OC Register] California’s Unsafe... (Continue reading)

Grover Beach women supplied oil field meth ring

A Grover Beach woman is facing a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years to life in prison and a $10 million fine after pleading guilty in federal court to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine as part of an oil field drug... (Continue reading)

Former congressional staffer arrested for trying to extort pot shop

A former staff member for a United States congresswoman allegedly tried to extort $5,000 out of a Compton marijuana shop, which he claimed would be shut down if he was not paid the money. The man indeed received the money,... (Continue reading)

California prosecutor and son of Watergate figure arrested for child porn

A California deputy attorney general who is the son of a prominent figure from the Watergate scandal was arrested this week and charged in federal court with possession of child pornography. [Union-Tribune] Federal prosecutors say investigators found child porn at... (Continue reading)

Former LA County sheriff convicted of obstructing justice

A jury has found former Los Angeles County Sheriff Lee Baca guilty of three felonies pertaining to a scheme to impede a federal investigation into corruption and civil rights abuses at county jail facilities. Baca is now facing a likely... (Continue reading)

Family of man killed by police sues Santa Maria

The family of a man who was shot and killed last year by Santa Maria police officers has filed a federal lawsuit against the city, as well as its police department and five officers. Javier Gaona, 31, was armed with... (Continue reading)