Bakersfield
Santa Maria men face murder charges
Two Santa Maria men arrested on suspicion of an almost 4-year-old homicide in Bakersfield will have their court proceedings in Bakersfield.
Jesus “Jesse” DeLeon and Francisco Iniguez are among four Santa Maria men suspected of fatally shooting Christopher Adam Stoner of Oxnard, and the attempted homicide of Dustin Garnett of Santa Maria on Oct. 13, 2003. Authorities are still seeking one suspect in the case.
Bakersfield investigators were seeking an extradition waiver last week to bring Iniguez and DeLeon, both 29, from Florida, where they were arrested April 10.
Santa Maria police Lt. Larry Ralston said Wednesday that he was not sure if the suspects had been brought back to Bakersfield yet. Bakersfield police and the FBI are handling the transportation of the suspects and the investigation, he said.
Santa Maria police detectives will testify, Ralston said, in the event of trial.
Grover Beach
Authorities seek help with vandals
Police are asking the public's help to catch a pair of teenagers who are suspected of causing more than $4,000 in damage at a new home being built two weeks ago.
One suspect is described as Caucasian male, about 14 years old and wearing a white bandana; the second suspect is described as Hispanic male, also believed to be 14, Grover Beach Police said in a statement.
The teens allegedly broke seven double-panel windows in a new home in the 1500 block of Baden Avenue on April 7, police said. The damage was estimated at $4,100.
Witnesses chased the teens but the pair still managed to escape, leaving behind their mountain bicycles and helmets, police said. One bike is described as being a newer model, red Diamondback Response mountain bike and a red helmet with an “Atari” sticker on top. The second is described as an older, silver Roadmaster with a pink/purple stripe on the frame and a purple Bell helmet.
Anyone with information is urged to call 473-4511.
Santa Barbara County
Foster care, adoption meeting to be held
County social service officials are inviting anyone interested in learning how to become a foster or adoptive parent to attend an orientation meeting in either Santa Maria or Santa Barbara.
These classes are being offered in Spanish, officials said, noting that there is a need for Spanish speaking and bilingual homes for children in care.
The Santa Barbara orientation meeting will be 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. May 7 at the Child Welfare Service Building, 260 N. San Antonio Road. The Santa Maria orientation will be 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. May 10 at the Youth and Family Services Building, 105 N. Lincoln St.
Follow-up classes, taught in Spanish, are slated for the Santa Maria location on May 12, 19 and June 2.
Washington, D.C.
Capps fights for coastal protection
Democratic Congresswoman Lois Capps of Santa Barbara, and New Jersey Republican Jim Saxton, unveiled Wednesday legislation aimed at protecting coastal areas from development.
The Coastal and Estuarine Land Protection Act (CELP) would provide coastal states with federal matching dollars to acquire coastal properties, according to a statement released by Capps' office.
The new program would be run through the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and none of the land acquired would be held by the federal government, officials said.
Some areas of the Central Coast - such as Ellwood Mesa and Gaviota State Park - have already seen this type of protection through a different program, which would be improved by the changes, officials said.
--From staff reports
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