It is time once again to update the Sun Region-related criminal cases that are are working their way through the courts.
Space limits the number of cases that can be covered in a single article. The cases are listed by the date of the next court appearance.
Seal Beach child abuse resulting in death case
A 22-month-old Seal Beach girl identified as Millicent Wilborn died on Dec. 17, 2009. Her twin brother suffered a skull fracture, but lived.
The crime apparently occurred in the resident housing area of the Seal Beach Naval Weapons Station on Anchor Way.
Authorities have said there is no evidence that either of their other two siblings were physically abused.
Their mother, Linda Wilborn, has been charged with assaulting a child with enough force likely to cause death. According to the DA’s office, their father was at work at the time the crime occurred.
The DA’s Office described the charge against Wilborn as the “equivalent of murder” because the penalty is the same: 25 years to life. Wilborn is currently in custody in the Orange County Jail.
Latest: Wilborn’s preliminary hearing began Jan. 28, 2011. The hearing is scheduled to continue Friday, March 11.
At the end of the preliminary hearing, a judge will determine if the case goes to trial.
Seal Beach attempted
murder of father case
A Seal Beach man was stabbed in his head and torso on Thursday morning, Oct. 14, 2010.
The Seal Beach Police Department arrested the victim’s son, Dalton Aguirre, 22, of Seal Beach that same day.
Aguirre has been in the Orange County Jail since his arrest. Bail has been set at $1 million. He is being represented by three attorneys with the Public Defender’s Office.
Latest: The preliminary hearing in the case has been set for March 21.
Los Alamitos murder and arson case
When the DA’s Office first announced charges in the case, it was widely reported that Joseph Elija Ettima would face the death penalty for reportedly murdering his grandmother and setting her Los Alamitos apartment on fire with two children inside.
The special circumstances charges have apparently been dropped. That means Ettima does not face the death penalty if he is convicted. Ettima’s jury trial began on Oct. 18, 2010.
Latest: The trial is scheduled to continue April 4, 2011.
Leisure World rape case
On July 6 or July 7, 2010, a 46-year-old woman took a cab from Sunset Beach to an apartment in Seal Beach’s Leisure World. According to the Seal Beach Police Department, she awoke the next morning with no recollection of the previous night.
On Tuesday, Nov. 23, 2010, Seal Beach officers arrested Orange County cab driver Orlando Bruce Bosley, 57.
Bosley has been charged with one count of rape by duress or menace, one count of rape by use of drugs and one count of rape of an unconscious person.
He is currently out on $100,000 bond.
Latest: A pre-trial hearing has been set for April 4.
A pre-trial hearing is not a preliminary hearing, despite the similarity of the terms.
No date has been set for a preliminary hearing in the case.
Los Alamitos burglary and criminal threats
The defendant was accused of trying to force his way into a home on Vicksburg Circle in Los Alamitos. He apparently believed the residence was his home. According to Los Alamitos Police Capt. Bruce McAlpine, he may have been under the influence of drugs at the time. The defendant is Edward Leslie Howard, 39.
Howard has entered a not guilty plea.
Latest: His preliminary hearing is set for April 14.
He remains in custody in the Orange County Jail, according to occourts.org.
Seal Beach nursing home murder case
Roy Charles Laird, 88, was charged last week with one count of murder and with one enhancement of personally discharging a firearm, resulting in the death of his 86-year-old wife.
The term “enhancement” means that if the jury finds a defendant is guilty of both the basic crime and the enhancement, additional time could be added to the defendant’s sentence.
According to the Orange County District Attorney’s Office, Laird could be sentenced to 50 years to life, meaning the 88-year-old man would have to wait 50 years to be eligible for parole.
In California, murder carries a penalty of 25 years to life.
Laird has been accused of shooting his 86-year-old wife Clara Laird once in the head on Sunday, Nov. 21, in her apartment in the Country Villa Healthcare Center just outside of Leisure World. The DA’s Office reported that the victim was in late-stage dementia.
Latest: Laird has been released on his own recognizance, according to the Orange County Supperior Court Web site.
He has a pre-trial hearing scheduled for April 15.
No date has been set for a preliminary hearing.
Los Alamitos Joint Forces Training Base murder case
A Costa Mesa man was murdered at the theater at the Joint Forces Training Base in Los Alamitos on Friday, May 21, 2010.
Some of his remains were found on the base and some of his remains were found in El Dorado Park in Long Beach.
His killer apparently then went to the victim’s Costa Mesa home and lured a woman the dead man knew to the apartment. There, he killed the woman and staged the crime to look like an sexual assault.
For a brief time, Costa Mesa Police considered the first victim a suspect in the second murder. It wasn’t until the following week that they learned their murder suspect was in fact a murder victim.
The DA’s Office has charged Daniel Patrick Wozniak with the crime. The charges include “special circumstances,” which theoretically could make the accused eligible for the death penalty.
Latest: A pre-trial hearing has been scheduled for May 13, 2011.
Child sex abuse case
The crime reportedly took place outside the Sun Region, but the accused now lives in Seal Beach. The DA’s Office has charged Denis Lyons, a Leisure World resident, with felony lewd conduct with a child over a two-year period in the early 1990s. Lyons has entered a not guilty plea in the case.
According to the DA’s Office, an attorney representing the accuser in an un-related civil suit reported the crime to the prosecutor’s office in July 2008.
The accuser filed a police report in September 2008, about 16 years after the abuse reportedly began.
Latest: Lyons is scheduled for jury trial on June 13.
He has been released on $200,000 bail. Two bail bond firms, Bail Hotline Bail Bonds and Penny Bail Bonds, each posted $100,000.
Crime Log Assembled by Charles M. Kelly
The crimes listed in the Sun Newspapers were reported to Seal Beach Police Department, Los Alamitos Police Department and Orange County Sheriff Department between Feb. 14 and Feb. 26, 2011.
Only street names are used; times given are reported times, not incident times.
Crime Log entries are based on preliminary information. Space limitations make it impossible to publish every incident. Until proven guilty in a court of law, all suspects are considered innocent.
IN SEAL BEACH
Monday, February 14
Suspicious Occupied Vehicle—3:06 p.m.—Dolphin Avenue—The caller reported a man in a small truck. The man was seen going to the back yard of a residence. Police unit 117 determined that the man was apartment hunting.
Tuesday, February 15
Disturbance, Noise—11:05 p.m.—Pacific Coast Highway—The caller complained about a large tanker truck with a generator that had been making noise for the past 20 minutes. Police unit 242 contacted an individual who was responsible for the truck. The truck was emptying grease tanks at the location. This was described as a “bi yearly” occurrence. The truck would be finished in 10 minutes as of 11:39 p.m. He was advised to stop making noise and said he would comply.
Wednesday, February 16
Extra Patrol Checks Requested—7:06 a.m.—Bolsa Avenue—The caller asked for the police to be present at 7:40 a.m. The caller said parents were driving recklessly while dropping off their children and traffic had become unsafe for the children. Beat unit advised.
Thursday, February 17
Burglary Reported—10:19 a.m.—Catalina Avenue—The caller heard a noise in an upstairs bedroom the night before, Wednesday, Feb. 16, at about 10:30 p.m. Now, at 10:19 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 17, the caller noticed that a dresser drawer was open.
The caller said she was afraid to touch anything. However, the call was cancelled before a police unit arrived. The woman called police back and said she believes it was her brother who left the drawer open and made noise the night before.
Seal—10:25 a.m.—A Row, Surfside Colony—A large seal was reported on the sand near the shoreline. Police delivered the message to Public Works. However, a Public Works staff member said that Lifeguards handle live seals and that Lifeguards would be en route to deal with this one.
Friday, February 18
Disturbance, Juveniles—3:55 p.m.—Main Street—The caller said three juveniles had strung a fishing line from the west side of Main Street to the east side. The caller was concerned someone might get hurt. Another citizen reported that the minors had attached a dollar to the end of the fishing line and were dragging it across the ground to see if anyone would try to grab it.
Saturday, February 19
Disturbance, Juveniles—5:11 p.m.—Lampson Avenue—The caller said two or three juveniles were running on the field and stealing all the flags off the green. One juvenile reportedly had red hair.
The log did not specify the red head’s gender. The juveniles were reported taking golf balls from country club members, stealing pins and taking fruit, according to second hand information from a golfer. Police unit 116 was unable to locate them and the caller did not desire a report.
IN LOS ALAMITOS
Sunday, February 20
Traffic Collision—10:58 a.m.—Los Alamitos Boulevard—An elderly woman reportedly drove a car into a building. A building inspector was asked to look at the structure. The woman was transported to her residence.
Disturbance—8:38 p.m.—Tripoli Avenue—A group of girls, about 13 years old, were reported running around the neighborhood, banging on residents’ doors. The log did not say how many girls. One girl had a small dog.
Extra Patrol Check—10:16 p.m.—Toland Avenue—Someone left a burning bag of dog waste on the caller’s porch.
Monday, February 21
Family Disturbance—9:23 a.m.—Howard Avenue—The caller’s boyfriend locked her out of the residence and she needed to pick up her property.
Burglary—10:38 a.m.—Los Alamitos Boulevard—Point of entry: unknown. Cash register taken. Occurred overnight. No known suspect.
Tuesday, February 22
Disturbance—11:15 a.m.—Los Alamitos Boulevard—The caller reported aggressive beggars. One individual was laying in the street adjacent to the bus stop. A related man was nearby. One man was described as white male, with a mohawk, wearing baggy pants and pullover shirts. He was arrested.
Fire—4:59 p.m.—Howard Avenue—The caller reported that juveniles set a barbecue and tree on fire at the back of the park. Responding officers determined that there was no crime. The fire was contained in a barbecue. No tree or structure was damaged. The juveniles and nearby residents were counseled.
Disturbance—5:20 p.m.—Toland Avenue—Group of male and female juveniles on the playground equipment were drinking beer and being verbally disruptive. They were advised to stop and they said they would comply.
Wednesday, February 23
Suspicious Person—2:21 p.m.—Pine Street—The caller pulled up to his residence to find an unknown vehicle parked in the driveway. The vehicle was occupied by a woman. When caller approached the vehicle, she cursed at him and left.
IN ROSSMOOR
Monday, February 21
Burglary Report—1:46 a.m.—Los Alamitos Boulevard—No report needed. No further details were available.
Disturbance, Automobile Involved—3:22 a.m.—Weatherby Road—The alarm sounding on a parked car. The alarm stopped and was re-set.
Burglary Report—5:16 p.m.—Rowena Drive—Report taken for petty theft.
Tuesday, February 22
Suspicious Person or Circumstances—7:34 p.m.—Yellowtail Drive—An individual was detained. An Orange County Sheriff’s Department deputy determined there was no suspicious activity.
Wednesday, February 23
Suspicious Person or Circumstances—8:22 a.m.—Wembley Road and Bostonian Drive—An individual “not known to the area” was reported walking around.
Friday, February 25
Suspicious Person or Circumstances—12:57 p.m.—Druid Lane—An individual was soliciting without a permit. The person was gone by the time a sheriff’s unit arrived.
Suspicious Person in Vehicle—1:15 p.m.—Kensington Road—A deputy contacted the occupant of the vehicle.
The “suspicious person” was a parent of school children.
Illegal Peddling—1:28 p.m.—Bradbury Road and Weatherby Road—Another individual was soliciting door to door. (A different person from the Druid Lane incident.)
This peddler was described as “rude.”
Fraud Report—2:53 p.m.—Pemberton Road—Report taken for identity theft.
Keep the Peace—4:25 p.m.—Yellowtail Drive—This call was over a child custody dispute. There was no crime and no related report.
Saturday, February 26
Burglary Report—10:47 a.m.—Engel Drive—Report taken for an “attempted” burglary.
IN SUNSET BEACH
Wednesday, February 23
Suspicious Person or Circumstances—9:24 a.m.—Pacific Avenue—A male transient, agreed to leave the area.
Disturbance—11:17 p.m.—Pacific Coast Highway and Anderson—A drunk was reported inside a restaurant. The drunk was gone by the time a deputy arrived.
Thursday, February 24
Suspicious Person or Circumstances—11:15 p.m.—8th Street—The same male transient agreed to leave the area (again).
Drunk in Public—5:32 a.m.—9th Street—A drunk was reported outside a liquor store.
Shelley Henderson of the News-Enterprise contributed to this article.
