Vandenberg AFB
Airman injured in afternoon accident
A member of the Air Force was injured in a single-vehicle accident at about 5:15 p.m. Thursday on Highway 1 near Firefighter Road, officials at Vandenberg Air Force Base said.
The base’s emergency teams, including fire, security forces and medical officials, responded along with the California Highway Patrol.
The vehicle reportedly overturned, the CHP said. At least one lane was closed for a short time, according to CHP dispatchers.
The airman, whose name wasn’t released, was taken to Marian Medical Center for treatment, and the service member’s condition wasn’t immediately known.
Santa Maria
Hearing scheduled in Cleaves case
The next court hearing is scheduled for December for a Santa Barbara woman accused of murder in relation to a May car crash that killed a longtime investigator with the Santa Barbara County District Attorney’s Office.
Ashley Johnigan, 23, is set to appear Dec. 10 in Santa Barbara County Superior Court in Santa Maria for a preliminary hearing to determine whether there is enough evidence for her to stand trial.
The preliminary hearing was scheduled during a court appearance by Johnigan Wednesday.
Laura Cleaves, 53, of Santa Ynez died May 1 when a vehicle Johnigan was driving slammed into her car on Highway 154 near the intersection with Highway 246. Johnigan was allegedly drunk at the time. She also struck another vehicle, and the driver of that vehicle and Johnigan suffered minor injuries.
The defendant has been charged by the Office of the Attorney General with murder, gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated, and two counts of driving under the influence causing great bodily injury.
The Attorney General’s Office is prosecuting the case because Cleaves was employed with the District Attorney’s Office.
Guadalupe
Family Health Faire set for today
The Guadalupe Union School District’s 14th annual Children’s Festival and Family Health Faire is scheduled from 4 to 7 p.m. today in LeRoy Park, 4691 11th Street.
Sponsored by the school district, The Family Services Center Board, First Five and The Boys and Girls Club, the event will include information booths, health insurance applications, student presentations, food, entertainment, games, prizes and more.
Oceano
Third defendant in death faces trial
A third defendant charged with involuntary manslaughter for allegedly burying a woman alive May 14 in the Oceano Dunes State Vehicular Recreation Area will stand trial next month.
Kelly Johnson, 42, will be the last of the three men charged with Patricia Ann Kalbskopf’s death to face a jury trial. Johnson’s trial is scheduled to start Oct. 14, according to the District Attorney’s Office.
Johnson, James Proffer and David Cartwright have each been charged with one felony count of involuntary manslaughter for allegedly burying Kalbskopf alive in the sand.
A jury convicted Cartwright, Kalbskopf’s boyfriend, of the charge earlier this month, and
he is scheduled to be sentenced Oct. 20.
On Sept. 12, a jury couldn’t reach a unanimous verdict in Proffer’s trial, so the judge was required to declare a mistrial. That case is expected to be retried starting Oct. 28.
Prosecutors believe the men buried Kalbskopf from head-to-toe in about eight inches of sand at the group’s campsite after she passed out from drinking. She died from asphyxiation as a result of burial in the sand, according to her autopsy.
Pismo Beach
Authorities seek assistance in case
The Pismo Beach Police Department is seeking the public’s help to find a man who robbed the Blue Seal Inn at gunpoint Tuesday night.
A man entered the lobby of the inn in the 200 block of Dolliver Street about 8:25 p.m., wearing
a black sweatshirt, black gloves, a black ski mask and dark sunglasses. He is described as between 5 feet 5 inches and 5 feet,
10 inches tall with a medium build and thick lips, police said.
The man robbed the inn’s owner of an undisclosed amount of cash with a small silver handgun and fled on foot.
Any information on the robbery can be reported to the Pismo Beach Police Department at 773-2208.
Washington, D.C.
Capps recognized for her record
Rep. Lois Capps, D-Santa Barbara, has been recognized by the American Association of University Women (AAUW) for “her outstanding public record,” according to a statement Wednesday from Capps’ office.
AAUW, a national organization dedicated to education and equity for women and girls, cites Capps’ support of family planning services, the College Cost Reduction Act, College Affordability Act and the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act as part of her 100 percent voting record on AAUW-backed issues.
Santa Maria
Trial date fraud case set for Nov. 3
A former Santa Barbara County employee is set to go to trial in November on charges he defrauded the county Department of Social Services.
Trueman George Beach, formerly with the Department of Social Services, is scheduled to begin trial Nov. 3 in Santa Barbara County Superior Court in Santa Maria.
Along with Summer Mastagni, who was a public assistance recipient, Beach has been accused of defrauding the county of more than $61,000 in cash aid, food stamps, child-care and Medi-Cal services.
Mastagni pleaded no contest June 25 to committing fraud to obtain aid, according to the clerk’s office for the criminal department in Santa Maria.
She was sentenced to five years formal probation and 365 days in county jail, and was ordered to pay restitution and to have no contact with Beach.
Mastagni had credit for 272 days in jail, and the remainder of the year in jail to which she was sentenced will be served instead on electronic monitoring.
Santa Maria
SMPD to purchase stun guns
The Santa Maria Police Council, a nonprofit group that supports the Santa Maria Police Department, has presented a check for $10,586 to Chief Danny Macagni for the purchase of 12 stun guns.
Since the council formed in August 2007, the group has contributed more than $36,000 to the department.
The council is seeking to raise money to purchase the remaining stun guns needed for each officer, forensic equipment, a license plate recognition system to identify stolen license plates and vehicles, night vision gear and bulletproof blankets.
Event and table sponsors are sought for the council’s Night of Funny Business on Friday, Oct. 17, at the Santa Maria Country Club. Social hour will begin at 6 p.m., dinner will be held at 7 p.m., and the comedy show will start at 8 p.m.
Tickets are $50 per person, and the public is invited.
For more information, call Executive Director Terri Lee Coleman at 268-1669, e-mail
her at
terrileecoleman@verizon.com or visit
www.santamariapolicecouncil.org.
— From staff reports
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