Marcus Crooms and his girlfriend, Michelle Chioino, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit the robbery with the understanding that Chioino will be placed on probation and sentenced to a maximum of a year in jail when she is sentenced Jan. 18.
Crooms, 25, and Chioino, 27, must register as gang members for five years under the terms of the plea agreement. According to prosecutors, the crime was carried out for the Crips street gang.
In the course of Chioino’s prosecution, her defense attorney, Miguel Hernandez of Salinas, surmised that authorities may have “spliced” the tapes (of jail phone conversations) to implicate his client, whom he said was being singled out for prosecution because several members of her family have run afoul of the law.
Category Archives: Off Topic
Newcomer Challenges Sham Farr
As one letter from the editor puts it, an empty chair would be preferable to Sam The Sham
With one candidate vanished from the 17th District House of Representatives race, two are still in the running for the position in November.
U.S. Rep. Sam Farr, D-Carmel, who has held the seat since 1993, faces newcomer Jeff Taylor, a last-minute Republican write-in candidate who supplants Anthony De Maio in next Tuesday’s election. De Maio, a finance entrepreneur whose name remains on the ballot, did not return repeated calls for comment.
Campaign Sign Blight
PG has a strict rule regarding signs of any kind, including campaign signs. Essentially it says that signs can only be posted on private property. While we still see gobs of ghetto looking signs there is nothing so ghetto looking as Monterey and it’s sign overload on streets and in parks.
If It Rolls Downhill, Our Man Sam The Sham Is All Over It
And wants more tax dollars to research it.
To prevent future E. coli outbreaks linked to leafy greens, U.S. Rep. Sam Farr said Friday he will request $6 million in federal funds for food-safety research.
Farr’s comments followed a closed-door meeting of about 75 Salinas-area growers, agricultural officials and lawmakers who discussed potential strategies for making local produce safer and restoring the confidence of consumers in the wake of the nationwide E. coli outbreak.
Yep, throw more taxpayer money at it Sam, that’s your shtick. What about making the growers and sellers of contaminated food pay for the study? Here, I’ll do it for free:
E. coli is poop. Animals are pooping or spreading poop in fields. Keep animals out, or clean the food before selling it. No charge, Sam. Now get your grubby hands off my wallet.
Martha Vasquez Gets 15 Years For Cooking Oil Injection Death
Who wants to die from oil injected into their butt?
Martha Mata Vasquez
Martha Mata Vasquez, 39, likely will be ordered to serve 15 years in prison under the plea deal with prosecutors. She initially faced a charge of second-degree murder in the death of Olivia Castillo, of Castroville. Prosecutors said Vasquez injected Castillo in the buttocks with corn oil, claiming it was an anti-wrinkle treatment she called “French Polymer.”
Stick with drawing eyebrows with a Sharpee, that’s not lethal.
Martha Vasquez Gets 15 Years For Cooking Oil Injection Death
Where’d They Hide The Body?
Sam The Sham Farr and the case of the missing opponent.
During his three decades in public office, Rep. Sam Farr, D-Carmel, has experienced election campaigns and political opponents of nearly every stripe. He’s faced serious challenges and less-serious challenges, mainstream-party opponents and alternative-party opponents.
But even the veteran Farr has never faced an opponent quite like Anthony DeMaio.
That’s because after filing late and running unopposed in the Republican primary, DeMaio has all but disappeared. The phantom candidate hasn’t answered repeated phone calls and e-mails seeking comment.
Sounds like the making of a conspiracy – what did they do with DeMaio?
Sam The Sham has been on the radio lately, whining about housing costs and the lack of affordable housing in his area. If he thinks he can do something about it WHY DID HE LET IT GET THIS MESSED UP TO BEGIN WITH?
Baggy Pants Not So Cool When Running From Police
Johnny Camel
While running from California Highway Patrol officers after a traffic stop, Salinas resident Johnny Camel’s baggy jeans – about four sizes too big – fell to his ankles, revealing that he was not wearing underwear and causing him to trip and fall, the CHP said.
The incident was pretty comical for officers.
“They know they are dealing with someone trying to escape, but were amused afterward,” he said.
Area’s Hospitality Workers Barely Eke Out A Living?
More and more, hospitality workers face heart-wrenching decisions.
For example, Juana Enriquez, a pregnant housekeeper at the Monterey Bay Travelodge, where the workers have no health insurance, has had to forgo expensive doctor visits.
Alex Guillen works three jobs, including as a waiter at the Pacific Edge restaurant. Most days he only sees his two daughters when he kisses them on the cheek as they sleep.
James Hood works banquets at different area hotels, hoping he can save enough money to help provide his youngest son with what his older ones could not afford: a college education.
Other hospitality workers have cut back on family food budgets. They have reduced spending on school supplies and clothes for their children, or, like Sal, moved away.
While I bet the Local 483 directors live a very comfortable life . . they should suspend dues for a few years to ‘help out’ those workers.
The November 17 Hear-Old reports that the unionized workers at the La Playa agreed to accept an increase of wages and benefits amounting to $5 an hour over the next 4 years. That’s all? $1.25 per hour a year? Bet the union gets at least the .25 of it.
In the auto industry, the non union companies are out pacing US union made marques in sales. Toyota became # 2 in the US.
Salinas Vice Arrests 12 In Prostitution Sting
The charges included solicitation of prostitution, police said, and other, lesser offenses.
Those arrested were: Nestor Montesiros, 32; Victor Ventura, 33; Reynaldo Lopez, 22; Antonio Baltazar, 20; Saul Pineda, 22; Santos Peraza, 26; Gasper Hoil, 30; Dennis O’Connor, 35; Jose Cruz Rodriguez, 21; Jeremilla Rodriguez, 19; Jose Santos Garcia 28; and one teenager.
DirectTV Techs: Policy Makes Lying Part Of Job
Feel the Joy
ORLANDO, Fla. — Nearly 40 DirectTV installers were fired this week after giving on-camera interviews to Local 6 News about a company policy they say forced them to lie to Florida customers.
“Tell the customer whatever you have to tell them,” technician Frank Martinez said. “Tell them if these phone lines are not connected, the receiver will blow up.”
“You’ve been told to tell them that?” Alvarez asked.
“We’ve been told to say that,” Martinez said. “(And say) whatever it takes to get that phone line in the receiver.”
The report uncovered that the apparent lie could cost customers big money.
The fee to have a phone line installed could be as high at $52 per room. A wireless phone jack will cost another $50.