The latest: A preliminary hearing was scheduled for Nov. 21 for two Costa Mesa men accused of a home invasion robbery that was reported on Seal Way in August.
One defendant was released on bail late last month. The other remains in jail.
The prelim originally scheduled for Sept. 14 was canceled for both defendants.
All court hearings are subject to change.
The purpose of a preliminary hearing is to determine whether a case will go to trial.
On Wednesday, Aug. 30, Seal Beach Police detectives arrested Richard Henry Derderian, 33, and Aaron Michael Lipsey, 34, in connection with the reported Aug. 21 robbery on the 1100 block of Seal Way.
The Orange County District Attorney’s Office has charged Lipsey and Derderian with first degree robbery, first degree burglary, threatening witnesses and making criminal threats.
According to the Seal Beach Police Department, on Monday, Aug. 21, at approximately 4 p.m., two suspects broke into a home on the 1100 block of Seal Way in Seal Beach.
The three men who occupied the home were tied up and the suspects ransacked the home.
The suspects told the victims they had a gun, but no gun was ever seen. A safe was stolen.
Lipsey was released on $250,000 bail on Sept. 20. Derderian remains in the Orange County Men’s Jail.
Hearing set for Oct. 27 in Main Street Manslaughter case
The latest: A a pre-trial hearing has been scheduled for Oct. 27 in the case of a Seal Beach resident accused of involuntary manslaughter as the result of punching another Seal Beach man in the face, according to the Orange County Superior Court website.
According to the DA’s Office, on July 18, at approximately 1:20 a.m., Matthew Meier was socializing at Clancy’s, a Main Street bar where he is employed, when he allegedly punched 46-year-old James Tinsman once in the face with a closed fist, causing the victim to lose consciousness, fall backward, and strike his head on the pavement outside of the bar.
Witnesses called 911 and emergency medical responders took the victim to a local hospital. Tinsman died later that day as a result of severe head trauma sustained during the assault.
In the early morning hours of Aug. 2, 2017, Seal Beach Police arrested Meier.
He was released on $100,000 bail posted on Aug. 8, according to the courthouse website.
Seal Beach Man to be sentenced for traffic death of German tourist
The latest: Almost a year after he drove his car into another, causing a young woman’s death, a Seal Beach man is scheduled to be sentenced on Dec. 1, 2017 for gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated.
According to the Orange County District Attorney’s Office, Matthew Ryan Wood, 25, was high on methamphetamine in December 2016, when his car struck the car being driven by German tourist Lisa Schelborn, 19.
According to the DA’s Office, Wood faces a maximum of 12 years in state prison.
According to the courthouse website, Wood, 25, pleaded guilty to all charges on Sept. 15. In addition to the manslaughter charge, he also pleaded guilty to transportation for sale of a controlled substance, and possession of a controlled substance with a firearm.
According to the police, on Dec. 9, 2016, at approximately 1:40 p.m. a traffic collision occurred, which resulted in a fatality.
The collision occurred on Westminster Avenue between Seal Beach Boulevard and Bolsa Chica Road. This portion of Westminster Avenue passes through the Seal Beach Naval Weapons Station.
Preliminary investigation indicates that a pick-up truck driving east on Westminster Avenue passed over the painted center median into oncoming traffic and struck a minivan which was travelling westbound.
Lisa Schelborn, the driver of the minivan was pronounced dead at the scene and the driver of the truck was transported to a local hospital in critical condition.
On Wednesday, Aug. 9, 2017, Seal Beach Police detectives arrested Wood.
Lewd conduct case set to continue next year
The latest: A pre-trial hearing has been scheduled in the case of a former Seal Beach youth sports coach who has been accused of abusing two children, according to the Orange County Superior Court website.
The jury trial had been scheduled to start late last month, but was rescheduled to start in January 2018.
The next trial readiness conference in the case is scheduled for Jan. 4, 2018.
According to the courthouse website, the trial is now set to start Jan. 11.
According to the Orange County District Attorney’s Office, Scott Durzo, who owned a youth sports camp business called the Total Sport Camp, was originally charged Friday, May 9, 2014, with nine felony counts of lewd acts upon a child under age 14.
Durzo has been charged with 20 counts involving two victims, identified in court records as John Doe and John Doe 2.
According to the complaint filed with the Orange County Superior Court, 18 counts stem from incidents that allegedly occurred between May 1, 2005 and Oct. 3, 2006, involving John Doe.
The complaint also accused Durzo of two more counts of lewd conduct stemming from incidents that allegedly occurred between Jan. 13, 2003 and Jan. 12, 2005, involving John Doe 2, a child of 14 and 15 years of age. ”
In June 2014, Durzo was released on $250,000 bail. Electronic monitoring was not a condition of his release.
Seal Beach nursing home homicide case continues.
The latest: A pre-trial hearing has been scheduled for Friday, Jan. 19, 2018, in the case of an elderly man accused of murdering his wife in a Seal Beach nursing home.
Roy Charles Laird has been charged with one count of murder and with one enhancement of personally discharging a firearm, resulting in the 2010 death of his then 86-year-old wife. Laird was 88 at the time.
The “enhancement” means Laird could be sentenced to 50 years to life rather than 25 years to life, meaning that if he were convicted of murder, he would have to wait 50 years to be eligible for parole.
The shooting occurred on Sunday, Nov. 21, 2010 in the victim’s 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.
According to press reports, Laird was released and placed in a nursing home.
According to the Orange County Superior Court Web site occourts.org, Laird is out on a conditional release.
No bail has been posted.
