Indexes
February 9th, 2010
February 8th, 2010
February 6th, 2010
February 5th, 2010
February 4th, 2010
February 3rd, 2010
February 2nd, 2010
The following stories have received the most reader comments during the last 7 days.
- Will terrorists be given Miranda warnings? (75)
- Lodi Unified School District president issues warning to speakers over cuts (64)
- President Obama's first year (45)
- Many reject the politics of 'no' (45)
- Islamic symbol in mosaic — what is all the fuss? (44)
- Writer comments on Neely column (42)
- The Home Depot hopes to join Costco at Reynolds Ranch (41)
- Time to shed the convenient sham of 'Don't ask, don't tell' policy (34)
- We need to conduct respectful conversations (30)
- Tasered suspect claims he is Yosemite Sam (25)
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Regional Roundup
Parks worker accused of sex with 14-year-old
A 38-year-old Lodi parks maintenance employee was jailed on $600,000 bail, facing felony charges of having a sexual relationship with a 14-year-old girl.
Jorge Adalberto Cruz, of Lodi, pleaded not guilty Monday to one count each of unlawful sexual intercourse, lewd act on a child and oral copulation with a child under the age of 16.
The alleged victim is a family friend and was not connected through his employment, Lodi Police Lt. Steve Carillo said.
Police have no reason to believe there are other victims, Carillo said. Cruz has been employed with the city since 2002 and is a park maintenance worker, according to the city's Human Resources Department. His current job status is not known, and the parks superintendent did not return a message Tuesday.
Cruz was arrested Friday by Lodi police detectives. The girl's mother had gone to police after learning of the relationship, Carillo said.
At his arraignment Monday, Cruz was appointed a public defender and ordered to have no contact with the girl, if he posts bail. He will return to court July 20, according to San Joaquin County court records.
Layla Bohm
Man arrested afteralleged robbery threat
A man threatened to rob a Lodi hotel on Sunday night, left when an employee called police and was then found driving under the influence of alcohol, police said Tuesday.
Thomas Wilson, 43, of Sonora, allegedly pulled into the Comfort Inn, 118 N. Cherokee Lane, around 9 p.m. Sunday, according to Lodi police. An employee asked if she could help him, and he said he was going to rob her and that he had a gun in his truck, Lt. Steve Carillo said after reviewing a report on the matter.
The employee ran into the hotel, but Wilson followed her before she could lock the door. He allegedly yelled several times, "I'm going to rob you — I have a gun!" Carillo said.
The employee picked up the phone to dial 9-1-1, and the man left. The employee gave police a description of the man's truck, and Officer Josh Redding found it near Beckman Road and Black Diamond Way.
Wilson was arrested on suspicion of attempted robbery, as well as driving under the influence.
He was jailed, his truck was towed and his dog was taken to the city's animal shelter. No gun was found in the truck.
Layla Bohm
City to test tap waterfor traces of lead
About 60 Lodi household will be asked to participate in a water testing program to check certain homes for trace levels of lead and copper in the tap water.
The city must complete the federally-mandated testing every three years, according to a city of Lodi news release. It will send letters in early July asking residents to participate. Most of the residents who will receive the letters participated in the testing in 2006.
Lodi's water meets all environmental standards. The tests are to detect copper or lead that could be leaching from the home's plumbing.
While there are no lead service lines in the city, some homes built between 1982 and 1986 might have copper pipes that were connected with solder containing lead.
By July 14, residents will receive a packet with sample bottles and instructions on how to collect the water samples. Public works will then collect the samples on July 15 and 16. Residents will then receive copies of the results about six weeks later.
All previous testing in Lodi has shown lead and copper results far below levels requiring any action.
News-Sentinel staff
Man accosts elderly woman, steals bag
An 82-year-old Lodi woman suffered minor injuries after a man knocked her to the ground and stole her bag Sunday night.
The woman was walking on Crescent Avenue, near Vine Street, when the man accosted her around 9:30 p.m., Lodi police said Tuesday. The petite victim had hip pain and was bleeding from the elbow, but did not suffer major injuries during the incident.
The man may have thought that he was taking her purse, but the bag instead contained magazines and fruit, police said.
The suspect was described as a thin white man, about 6 feet tall, with brown hair and wearing a white shirt. He left in a small white pick-up truck.
Layla Bohm
State official to be probed on stimulus funds
Newly appointed Inspector General Laura Chick is expected to testify about her role to oversee the expenditure of federal stimulus funds this morning before the Joint Legislative Audit Committee.
The committee, chaired by Assemblywoman Alyson Huber, D-El Dorado Hills, will ask Chick how she will protect California's integrity and accountability of the stimulus funds, according to a press release from Huber's office.
California Department of Education representatives will also answer the committee's questions about cash management issues and alleged problems administering federal funds.
The hearing will begin at 9 a.m. today in Room 444 of the State Capitol in Sacramento.
Ross Farrow
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Reader Feedback
carlos wrote on Jul 1, 2009 2:08 PM:
weezer wrote on Jul 1, 2009 10:29 AM:
The suspect's a sissy. "
ordinarycitizen wrote on Jul 1, 2009 8:14 AM:
Comments on this story are now closed.