Regional Roundup

Child abuse suspect cries through court appearance

A Lodi man accused of beating his 2-month-old daughter made his second court appearance Tuesday, where he sobbed and nearly hyperventilated.

Justin Beebe, who turned 21 behind bars Monday, didn't speak as Deputy Public Defender Eric Taylor asked a judge for more time because his office is assigning a specific attorney to handle the case.

Instead, Beebe cried and breathed audibly as bailiffs stood near him. As his breathing grew louder, the brief court hearing ended and Beebe began sobbing loudly after leaving the courtroom.

Beebe, who is being held in segregation at the San Joaquin County Jail, will return to court Sept. 8.

Beebe is facing nine felony charges, which could send him to prison for life, in connection with the Aug. 11 beating of his infant daughter. Lodi police say that the baby's mother went to work for the first time after maternity leave, then came home to find the baby badly injured.

The infant was flown by medical helicopter to a Sacramento hospital but has since been released. She is doing well, police said Tuesday.

Meanwhile, donations of gift cards and diapers have been pouring in after Friday and Saturday media coverage of a break-in at the family's apartment. While the mother and baby were at the hospital, and Beebe was in jail, the south Lodi apartment was ransacked and all of the mother's valuables were stolen.

The community response has been amazing, said Paula Grech, of the Women's Center of San Joaquin, which accepted donations so the mother could remain anonymous.

Lodi teen accused of rape with weapon

An 18-year-old Lodi man was jailed on $510,00 bail Tuesday, charged with five felonies relating to a July sexual assault report.

Juan Garcia pleaded not guilty to charges of rape with a knife, attempted sodomy, domestic violence with a weapon, making criminal threats and assault with intent to commit a felony.

He is also accused of violating his probation in two previous cases, including an allegation of disobeying an order to stay away from gang members.

Garcia, who Lodi police say is a documented gang member, had been sought since the July 28 sexual assault. He was arrested last week on an unrelated matter by San Joaquin County Sheriff's deputies, and Lodi police added their charges Friday.

Garcia asked Judge David Warner if he could go to trial as soon as possible "to get it over with." Garcia later said in court that he had "already talked to the girl" in the case.

Prosecutors asked Warner to sign an order barring Garcia from having any contact with the victim, and the judge promptly did so.

Garcia will return to court Friday, and a preliminary hearing is currently scheduled for Sept. 3.

Toddler injured in alleged DUI crash

A 2-year-old boy was hospitalized Tuesday morning after his father allegedly sped up Highway 99 and crashed into a tree before being arrested on suspicion of driving drunk.

The driver, 51-year-old Lester Charles Russell, of Las Vegas, was hospitalized with several broken ribs and abrasions.

Around 8:30 a.m., drivers north of Kettleman Lane called 911 to report a reckless northbound driver traveling at perhaps 100 mph, California Highway Patrol Officer Adrian Quintero said.

Then, south of Victor Road, Russell's 2001 Kia Spectra veered off the east side of the highway and struck a tree, Quintero said. Officers determined at the scene that Russell was driving under the influence, Quintero said.

The boy, who was strapped in a car seat, had lacerations and a bruise to the forehead. Though his injuries did not initially appear life-threatening, he was taken by medical helicopter to UC Davis Medical Center for observation in case of a head injury.

Russell, who was wearing his seat belt, was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence and child endangerment, both felonies. He was taken by ambulance to Lodi Memorial Hospital.

Developer gets time extension

Due to the downturn in the economy and the weakness of the real estate market, a Lockeford developer has been given an extension to complete subdivision improvements for a small subdivision off Highway 88 until May 1, 2009.

The San Joaquin County Board of Supervisors approved the time extension on Tuesday.

Water storage tank coming to Thornton

The San Joaquin County Board of Supervisors allocated $383,903 in Community Development Block Grant funds Tuesday to complete a water storage tank project in Thornton. The entire project will cost almost $1.8 million.