March 11, 2010 San Diego
Opening statements are set to begin today in the trial of a young man who stabbed his roommate to death. 23-year-old Ian Suazo pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity in the death of his roommate Ocie Raines.
If Suazo is found guilty then the jury will have to make the decision weather or not Suazo was insane at the time of the killing. According to Defense Attorney Richard Gates he said that Suazo was showing signs of early stages of schizophrenia when Raines was stabbed to death on September 24, 2008.
Suazo stabbed Raines then used the same knife to cut his wrists in a bathtub. He then ran out of his apartment and ran headfirst into traffic at a near by intersection. Suazo had no recollection of stabbing the victim according to Gates.
But Deputy District Attorney Ana De Santiago thinks otherwise. She will try to prove that Suazo knew exactly what he was doing and that he had known the difference between right and wrong when he murdered Raines. They had been roommates for about three months before the incident happened.
Suazo could be sentenced to 26 years to life if found guilty.
San Diego Criminal Law
March 10, 2010 San Diego
A composite sketch was issued on Tuesday by the Sheriffs Department for a man who assaulted a woman in Vista. The man was described as unshaven, heavyset and described as having a foul smell.
The woman was on her porch on Olive Avenue at around 1 p.m. when the suspect started to approach her. He walked up to her and said that she was pretty and demanded entry. The woman scrambled to make it back inside her home but the man opened the screen door and entered her patio. The man grabbed the woman’s arm and told her that he was going to “gut her,” according to the Sheriffs Department.
The woman punched the man several times and screamed for help. The woman’s dogs were barking which helped scare off the attacker.
The suspect is described as white, 6 feet tall, 300 pounds, greasy black collar length hair, a large stomach and a faded tattoo inside his right forearm. During the attack he was wearing a white shirt with an “@” logo on the chest and green sweatpants. Police believe he may be a transient and is wanted for assault with intent to commit rape and residential burglary.
San Diego Criminal Law
March 9, 2010 San Diego
A fire that happened in a Encinitas home was so intense that firefighters could not go inside and rescue the two people inside. The fire started around 7:30 p.m. in the 1100 block near Regal Rd.
“The whole residential portion of that first floor was on fire with fire coming out of the roof,” said Encinitas Fire Deputy Chief Scott Henry. Firefighters worked to defend other homes nearby because they were not able to get inside of the house. A neighbor broke out windows to rescue animals but the two people living there didn’t survive.
After a half hour firefighters were able to enter the home. They found one victim in a wheelchair in the bedroom. Overnight another body was discovered.
Police were on the scene investigating. Foul play is not suspected.
San Diego Wrongful Death Lawyers
March 8, 2010 San Diego
Amber Dubois was last seen on February 13, 2009. She disappeared around 7 a.m. about a block away from Escondido High School. One year later her remains were found near Pala. In late February of ‘10, Poway teenager Chelsea King went missing around the Lake Hodges area. Police launched an extensive search for the missing girl. Days later her body was found around the southern edge of the lake.
John Garder, a local sex offender, was later charged with rape and murder in Chelsea’s death. Many people wondered if Gardner lead investigators to the Pala location after working out a deal with prosecutors but Escondido police would not answer questions after the major developments occurred on Sunday after finding the remains of Dubois explaining that it was an ongoing investigation.
Ambers parents approached the podium but only her father spoke. He thanked supporters and searchers after the discovery was made on Sunday. Ambers mother was described as “absolutely crushed.” She always had hope that Amber would be found alive.
A vigil is planned for Monday night to remember Amber Dubois at 6:30 pm at Escondido High School.
San Diego Criminal Law
March 5, 2010 San Diego
Senator Roy Ashburn was arrested early Wednesday morning on suspicion of driving drunk. Lt. Jay Bart spotted Ashburn driving erratically at about 2:10 a.m. in Sacramento. Ashburn was taken to Sacramento County Jail after taking a sobriety test. He was then given a blood-alcohol test and blew .14 percent. The legal limit is .08.
Ashburn has a history of opposition of gay rights. Before the arrest was made he was seen leaving the bar Faces according to CBS13. Faces is a premier GLBTI nightclub (Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex). The clubs manager did not see Ashburn at the club she told Talking Points Blog.
Ashburn released a statement through his senate office:
“I am deeply sorry for my actions and offer no excuse for my poor judgment. I accept complete responsibility for my conduct and am prepared to accept the consequences for what I did. I am also truly sorry for the impact this incident will have on those who support and trust me — my family, my constituents, my friends, and my colleagues in the Senate.”
Ashburn is 55-years-old and represents a district that includes Kern, Tulare, Inyo and San Bernardino counties.
San Diego DUI Attorney
