California Criminal Attorney Blog

Jessica Shekell, 21, of Fullerton is suspected of being under the influence of alcohol when she headed the wrong way on the 91 freeway crashing head-on into a San Bernardino family.

Shekell’s SUV travelled west on the eastbound FasTrak lane of the 91 when the crashed happened around 3:00 a.m. Monday. Shekell struck a 2009 Chevrolet Silverado carrying the Miguel family. Sally Miguel 44, the driver and Patricia Miguel, 30 the front seat passenger were killed. Two other minor passengers were taken UCI and Western Medical Center.

Shekell was taken to UCI Medical Center and is expected to face charges of DUI and possibly vehicular manslaughter. If Shekell has any prior Driving While Intoxicated convictions, she can face 2nd Degree Murder charges with a possible life sentence.

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Charee harris, 29 of Fullerton plead guilty to an Orange County judge on Friday to two felony counts of vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence while intoxicated. She will be sentenced on November 6, 2009 and is expected to get 6 years in state prison.

On January 12, 2008, Harris while under the influence of methamphetamine was speeding on the 91 freeway when she fell asleep behind the wheel of her sports utility vehicle and crashed into a fence and utility pole. Her daughter Zharia Keheian, 2 and her boyfriend Alfred Flores, 27 were killed.

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A female Saddleback High School teacher is set to be arraigned today in Central Justice Center, Santa Ana for having an unlawful sexual relationship with a 17-year-old male student. Naomi Perez, 33, Brea, is charged with one felony count each of unlawful sexual intercourse (PC 261.5), oral copulation of a minor (PC 288a(b)(1), sexual penetration by foreign object of a minor PC(289(a)(1)), and one misdemeanor count of vandalism (PC 594(b)(1)). She faces a maximum prison sentence of four years and four months if convicted. Perez is out on $50,000 bail.

Perez is accused of meeting student John Doe, 17 while working as a teacher at Saddleback High School in Santa Ana. Between June 1, 2007, and Aug. 27, 2007, Perez is accused of having an unlawful sexual relationship with John Doe in her Brea home.

On Aug. 26, 2009, Perez is accused of vandalizing the John Doe’s car while it was parked outside of a family member’s home by scratching and denting the vehicle. Police learned of the unlawful sexual relationship after investigating the vandalism.

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Susana Duran, 38 of Tijuana, Mexico was arraigned in Harbor Justice Center in Newport Beach. Duran is charged with stealing the debit card and forging checks of the 92-year-old victim for whom she was providing care. Starting in January, 2008 Duran worked for Jane Doe commuting from her home in Tijuana to Orange County where the victim lived in Laguna Woods. Duran worked shifts up to 24 hours at a time and commuted daily.

Duran is accused of writing herself checks of over $39,000 from Jane Doe’s checking account, making multiple $500 withdrawals from her debit card and using the debit card for personal purchases. The theft came to light after Duran called in sick and the replacement caregiver gave Jane Doe a bank statement that arrived in the mail that day.

Prosecutors charged Duran with 149 felony counts of unauthorized use of a debit card, 10 felony counts of forgery and a white collar crime enhancement for theft over $100,000. Duran faces up to 111 years in state prison with a minimum prison sentence of 2 years.

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A Ladera Ranch man was in Harbor Justice Center in Newport Beach facing arraignment on one count of Penal Code Section 191.5, Vehicular Manslaughter with Gross Negligence While Intoxicated. Richard Ernest Casselli, 37 faces up to 10 years in state prison if convicted. The arraignment was continued to November 9, 2009 and Casselli remains free $100,000 bail.

Prosecutors allege, Casselli was behind the wheel of his Volvo travelling over 100 mph on the 73 toll road when he crashed into Brook Boynton, 52. The force of the crash caused Boynton’s Nissan SUV to spin out of control and roll, ejecting him onto the right shoulder. Boynton later died of his injuries.

Caselli was contacted by police at the scene of the crash and exhibited symptoms of being under the influence of alcohol. After a further DUI investigation, Caselli was arrested and transported to Orange County Jail.

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Orange police are seeking the public’s assistance in locating a sexual assault suspect who had his image captured in a gas station surveillance video. According to police, on Monday, a woman was waiting for a bus at Hewes St and Chapman Ave when a man offered her a ride to an Orange County community college. Instead, the man drove her to a restaurant parking lot where she was sexually assaulted. The suspect dropped the victim off and drove away.
Police are looking for an African American male, 20-30 years old, 5’10” to 6 feet tall, 150-180 lbs, clean shaven and short dark hair. Anyone who might be able to identify the suspect is asked to call Orange police Detective Aaron Towner at 714-744-7456.

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Michael Hamm, of Garden Grove was arrested in Santa Barbara on Sunday of suspicion of beating and robbing a 52-year-old man at a gas station. Officers stopped Hamm in his SUV moments after the robbery at the gas station. The victim, drove himself to the hospital prior to the police arriving at the gas station apparently suffering injuries to his face and head.

According to police reports, the victim was filling up his car with gas when a man believed to be Hamm asked for money. The victim refused to give the assailant money and that is when an altercation ensued.

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Kenneth Joseph Leake, 75, a resident of Costa Mesa will be arraigned today on charges of murdering his wife, Doris Leake, 72. Kenneth Leake was initially charged with attempted murder after allegedly firing four shots to her head using a .32 caliber handgun. Doris Leake was transported to Western Medical Center in Santa Ana and underwent surgery to remove the bullets. Mrs. Leake never regained consciousness and died October 8, 2009 from swelling to her brain as a result of the gunshot wounds.

Initially, Kenneth Leake was charged with attempted murder in the September 17, 2009 shooting, however when his wife died, prosecutors amended the complaint to charge him with murder. Kenneth Leake will be arraigned in Harbor Justice Center in Newport Beach this morning and is currently being held on $1 million bail.

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