Santa Maria
Jury denies release for convicted rapist
After about an hour of deliberations on Wednesday, a jury in Santa Maria found that convicted rapist Maurice Van Roberson should remain hospitalized as a “sexually violent predator.”
Roberson served as his own attorney while arguing for his release from the state hospital system during his trial in Santa Barbara County Superior Court.
The jury found that the prosecution had proven that Roberson has a diagnosed mental disorder, and that the disorder makes him a danger to others and likely to reoffend.
Roberson has been in trial every two years seeking release, but due to a new law, he was committed to Coalinga State Hospital for an indeterminate sentence, said Senior Deputy District Attorney John MacKinnon, the case prosecutor.
After a childhood spent in foster homes, Roberson at age 16 exposed himself to patrons at the Santa Maria Public Library, according to court documents. He later molested two young girls while in the U.S. Army, for which he was sentenced to a three-year federal prison term.
Upon release, Roberson returned to Santa Maria, where he was convicted in 1983 for the rape of a 16-year-old girl and the molestation of an 11-year-old girl. He spent more than 10 years in prison, then was committed to Atascadero State Hospital after violating his parole.
Central Coast
Highway 1 fire closure expanded
The segment of Highway 1 closed near Big Sur has been expanded to include 31 miles due to the proximity of the huge Basin Complex Fire, according to Caltrans officials.
About seven miles north of Big Sur the highway is closed at the Point Sur Naval Facility, and 23 miles south of Big Sur the highway is closed at the town if Lucia.
There is no estimate when the highway will reopen.
Santa Maria
Planners approve new VTC building
Plans for VTC Enterprises to construct a new 18,260-square-foot state-of-the-art building on its roughly five-acre campus got the go-ahead Wednesday night by the Santa Maria Planning Commission.
The project also includes the demolition of six existing buildings.
The project is needed not only to upgrade facilities but also to make way for the future extension of McCoy Lane.
In 2007, the city purchased the right-of-way needed for the extension for $1.5 million.
Santa Barbara County
‘Avoid the 12' in force this weekend
Law enforcement from the county's 12 agencies are planning extra patrols over the holiday weekend to crack down on DUI drivers.
Called “Avoid the 12,” the operation includes a sobriety checkpoint in Santa Maria on Saturday night, organizers said.
The four-day Avoid the 12 campaign starts Friday and ends Monday.
Santa Barbara County
CHP presence to be stepped up
Every available California Highway Patrol officer will be on the road this evening until midnight Sunday in order to enhance public safety on the state's highways, CHP officials announced Wednesday.
Last Independence Day, throughout California, 18 people died and 568 DUI arrests were made during a 30-hour time period, according to CHP officials.
In order to have a fun and safe Fourth of July, CHP officials recommend leaving time for the trip, driving sober, wearing a seat belt and following speed limits and traffic signs.
CHP officials also said drivers should remember the recent “hands free” cell phone law during the road trip.
Guadalupe
Fire destroys storage shed
A fire destroyed a storage shed early Wednesday morning.
The cause of the fire, which burned a roughly 12-by-30-foot shed next to a residence in the 600 block of Campodonico Avenue, was under investigation by the Guadalupe Fire Department, said Capt. Eli Iskow of the Santa Barbara County Fire Department.
Capt. Jesse Gauna of the Guadalupe Fire Department said the fire was “human caused,” likely by a transient, but that the incident remained under investigation.
Guadalupe, county and Santa Maria firefighters responded to the blaze shortly before 2 a.m., he said.
The residence north of the outbuilding was protected from the fire, Iskow said.
He said he was unsure if there was anything in the shed.
SLO County
Sheriff's bringing out extra patrols
Long holiday weekends often result in alcohol-related arrests and increased calls for service, so the San Luis Obispo County Sheriff's Department is stepping up staff in the coastal and northern county area stations, according to Sheriff's officials.
Extra patrol deputies, specialized bike units and portable arrest processing units are just a few of the steps taken, along with full deployment in Cayucos, Avila Beach and Cambria for Friday, Saturday and Sunday, officials said.
To support Monterey County Park Rangers, additional deputies are scheduled to deploy to Lake Nacimiento for three days, patrolling in cars and boats and staffing a temporary arrest processing center.
Santa Maria
City Council suspends trash fee increase
The Santa Maria City Council approved a resolution Tuesday night that suspends the 5 percent annual rate increase for trash collection fees and landfill fees.
The city has had automatic 5 percent rate increases since 1981 for trash rates and since 1993 for landfill fees, according to the written staff report. However, for the last several years the city has been able to suspend the increases.
Guadalupe
Flag retirement ceremony Saturday
The American Legion Post 371 in Guadalupe will hold a special ceremony Saturday for the retirement of American flags. Anyone who wishes to dispose of worn flags may take them to the Legion at 1025 Guadalupe St. at 11 a.m.
The Legion will also hold a pork rib barbecue from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. that day at the same address. The meal will be ribs, beans, salad and bread for an $8 donation.
For information, call 343-1701.
- From staff reports
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