Prosecutor: Four in conspiracy to kill teen prostitute knew what they were doing
MURRIETA, 2:17 p.m. Dec. 3 (SIGNONSANDIEGO)
Four people accused in a conspiracy to kill a teenage prostitute to prevent her from testifying in a pandering case all were fully aware that they were helping to arrange the aborted murder-for-hire, a prosecutor told a jury Wednesday.
Deputy District Attorney Brandon Smith told the five-man, seven-woman panel that defendant Michael Durrell Ward was the mastermind behind the 2005 plot that also allegedly involved his mother and two other co-defendants.
More Temecula/Riverside News
RIVERSIDE, 1:40 p.m. Dec. 3 (SIGNONSANDIEGO)Murder trial of accused arsonist to begin Jan. 5: The trial of an accused arsonist charged with killing five federal firefighters who perished battling a 2006 blaze is expected get under way next month, roughly on schedule, a Riverside County prosecutor said Wednesday.
RIVERSIDE, 4:57 a.m. Dec. 3 (SIGNONSANDIEGO)
Inland Empire gas prices continue to plummet: The average price of a gallon of self-serve unleaded gasoline in the Inland Empire fell for the 78th consecutive day Wednesday, dropping 1.8 cents to $1.905, 14.9 cents less than a week ago.
RIVERSIDE, 1:43 p.m. Dec. 2 (SIGNONSANDIEGO)
Retired Riverside judges to return to bench to clear backlog: Four retired Riverside County Superior Court judges will return to the bench, starting this month, as part of a strategy to reduce the civil court backlog in the county, it was announced Tuesday.
RIVERSIDE, 7:55 a.m. Dec. 2 (SIGNONSANDIEGO)Women escape car as it's struck by Metrolink train: Two women abandoned their car just before it was struck by a Metrolink train in Riverside and escaped unharmed, it was reported Tuesday.
RUBIDOUX, 2:26 p.m. Dec. 1 (SIGNONSANDIEGO)
Driver of disabled car killed by big rig while crossing highway: A motorist whose pickup truck became disabled as he drove the wrong way on the Moreno Valley (60) Freeway early Monday was fatally struck by a big rig as he tried to walk across lanes, authorities said.
RIVERSIDE, 11:16 a.m. Dec. 1 (SIGNONSANDIEGO)Nose dive in gas prices continues: The unprecedented nose dive of gasoline prices continued Monday with the cost of a gallon of self-serve unleaded in the Inland Empire falling another 1.3 cents to $1.942, its lowest level since February 2004. MORENO VALLEY, 12:18 p.m. Dec. 1 (SIGNONSANDIEGO)
Vista Del Lago High locked down during morning: An unfounded report of a person with a gun prompted the lockdown of a Moreno Valley high school for about an hour Monday morning, authorities said. MORENO VALLEY, 11:58 a.m. Nov. 26 (SIGNONSANDIEGO)
Morena Valley man killed when truck crashes: A Moreno Valley man was killed Wednesday when his pickup truck went off a highway and crashed, according to the coroner's office. HOMELAND, 11:56 a.m. Nov. 26 (SIGNONSANDIEGO)
Three busted at Homeland house for selling drugs: Three men were arrested Wednesday on suspicion of selling drugs out of a Homeland residence, a sheriff's sergeant said.
RIVERSIDE, 11:13 a.m. Nov. 25 (SIGNONSANDIEGO)
Home sales rocket in Inland Empire; prices off 40%: Home sales skyrocketed 254.9 percent in the Riverside/San Bernardino area in October, compared with the same period a year ago, while the median home price fell 39.7 percent to $209,990, according to figures released Tuesday.
RIVERSIDE, 9:42 p.m. Nov. 25 (AP)Dowdy leads UC Riverside past Occidental 62-34: Brandon Dowdy scored 16 of his 20 points in the second half as UC Riverside routed Division III Occidental 62-34 Tuesday. MURRIETA, 10:45 a.m. Nov. 25 (SIGNONSANDIEGO)
Search on for Murrieta arson suspect: A search was on Tuesday for a person who set a two-alarm fire that quickly blazed through the wood framing of a 14,500-square-foot office building under construction in Murrieta, destroying the structure. RIVERSIDE, 2:24 p.m. Nov. 25 (SIGNONSANDIEGO)
Supervisors approve spending plan for housing grant: The Riverside County Board of Supervisors Tuesday approved plans on how to spend a $48.5 million federal grant designed to help revitalize the local real estate market. INDIO, 1:20 p.m. Nov. 25 (SIGNONSANDIEGO)
Courthouses to be open Dec. 26, Jan. 2: The Riverside, Indio and Murrieta courthouses will be open for some proceedings, including felony hearings, the day after the Christmas and New Year's holidays, it was announced Tuesday.
RIVERSIDE, 1:42 p.m. Nov. 24 (SIGNONSANDIEGO)
Duroville trial delayed; judge visits site: A trial to determine whether a Thermal mobile home park should be shut down over health and safety hazards was ordered delayed by a federal judge, who made his own cursory inspection of the facility known as “Duroville,” it was announced Monday.
RIVERSIDE, 7:48 a.m. Nov. 24 (SIGNONSANDIEGO)
Gas prices see major drop in one week: The average price of a gallon of self-serve unleaded gasoline in the Inland Empire fell for the 70th consecutive day Monday, dropping 2.9 cents to $2.128, 23.2 cents less than a week ago.
RIVERSIDE, 3:18 p.m. Nov. 24 (SIGNONSANDIEGO)Public's help sought in ID'ing gunman in fatality: Authorities sought the public's help Monday in finding the gunman who fatally wounded a 16-year-old boy riding in a vehicle in Riverside. RIVERSIDE, 2:50 p.m. Nov. 24 (SIGNONSANDIEGO)
Fraud trial of ex-Murrieta councilman postponed a week: An attorney's illness prompted a judge Monday to postpone testimony for a week in the trial of an ex-Murrieta city councilman accused of forging and falsifying documents during a bitter divorce from his wife.
RIVERSIDE, 10:38 p.m. Nov. 20 (SIGNONSANDIEGO)
Jeweler critically wounded in robbery at home: A jeweler was shot and critically wounded Thursday night in the driveway of his Riverside home by robbers who then fled with jewelry the victim had brought home.
RIVERSIDE, 5:40 a.m. Nov. 24 (SIGNONSANDIEGO)Police seek gunman who shot teen boy: Authorities Monday were asking for the public's help in finding the gunman who fatally shot a teenage boy who was riding in a vehicle in Riverside, a sheriff's investigator said.
RIVERSIDE, 2:47 p.m. Nov. 20 (SIGNONSANDIEGO)
$10,000 reward posted to help solve Nichols Park slaying: Authorities said Thursday they hope a $10,000 reward helps solve the murder of a 19-year-old Riverside man gunned down in a park nearly six months ago.
MURRIETA, 12:02 p.m. Nov. 19 (SIGNONSANDIEGO)
Marines accused of killing Temecula couple to be arraigned Thursday: Four Camp Pendleton Marines accused of robbing and killing a Marine Corps sergeant and his wife in their Temecula home are set to be arraigned Thursday.
CORONA, 1:37 p.m. Nov. 19 (SIGNONSANDIEGO)Firefighters say Freeway Complex fire fully contained: Firefighters fully contained the 30,305-acre wildfire Wednesday while fire officials investigated the possibility that the blaze was sparked by a vehicle's exhaust equipment. GLEN IVY HOT SPRINGS, 1:58 p.m. Nov. 19 (SIGNONSANDIEGO)
3 hurt, one critically, in I-15 rollover: Three people were hurt Wednesday, one critically, in a rollover accident on Interstate 15 near Glen Ivy Hot Springs. RIVERSIDE, 10:21 p.m. Nov. 18 (AP)
UC Riverside tops Sacramento St. 61-49: UC Riverside's Brandon Dowdy scored 14 points as the Highlanders beat Sacramento State 61-49 Tuesday night at the Student Rec Center.
RIVERSIDE, 2:24 p.m. Nov. 18 (SIGNONSANDIEGO)
Miller announced as new RUSD superintendent: A Ventura County educator and school administrator will be the new superintendent of the Riverside Unified School District, it was announced Tuesday.
CORONA, 3:37 p.m. Nov. 18 (SIGNONSANDIEGO)Firefighters say Corona fire 75% contained: Firefighters sought to gain more headway Tuesday into the wind-driven wildfire that began in Riverside County and spread to Orange, Los Angeles and San Bernardino counties, scorching more than 28,889 acres in three days, authorities said. RIVERSIDE, 1:21 p.m. Nov. 18 (SIGNONSANDIEGO)
Supervisors OK hiring consultants to craft county fire strategic plan: The Board of Supervisors Tuesday unanimously approved county fire officials' request to hire a consulting firm, at a cost of $208,000, to help craft a strategic plan identifying how the department can be more efficient in the years to come.
RIVERSIDE, 2:34 a.m. Nov. 18 (SIGNONSANDIEGO)
Board to consider hiring consultant for county fire department: The Riverside County Board of Supervisors is slated to consider Tuesday a county fire department request to hire a consulting firm, at a cost of $208,000, to help craft a strategic plan identifying how the department can be more efficient in the years to come.
SAN DIEGO, 10:43 a.m. Nov. 17 (UNION-TRIBUNE)
Then there were two: Quakes shake county just hours apart: Two small earthquakes struck in North County within hours of each other Monday morning, shaking parts of Riverside and San Diego counties.
MURRIETA, 11:01 a.m. Nov. 17 (SIGNONSANDIEGO)
Accused gang members in custody after standoff: Two reputed gang members were in custody Monday following a weekend standoff in Hemet, authorities said.
YORBA LINDA, 2:07 p.m. Nov. 15 (AP)
At least 18 buildings burn in Orange County fire: Gusty winds drove a wildfire through expensive Orange and Riverside communities on Saturday, burning as many as 30 homes as flying embers took a crazy-quilt path of destruction.
RIVERSIDE, 12:46 p.m. Nov. 17 (SIGNONSANDIEGO)
Gas prices fall to lowest point of the year: The average price of a gallon of self-serve unleaded gasoline in the Inland Empire fell 2.1 cents Monday to $2.36, the lowest since November 2006.
RIVERSIDE, 11:41 a.m. Nov. 17 (SIGNONSANDIEGO)
Taxpayers hurt by fire urged to seek tax breaks: Taxpayers adversely affected by the wildfires plaguing Southern California are eligible for breaks on filing for extensions and paying taxes or fines, the head of the state Board of Equalization announced Monday.
LAKE ELSINORE, 11:39 a.m. Nov. 17 (SIGNONSANDIEGO)
Man said to have killed himself after leading police on chase: A man sought for alleged domestic violence led sheriff's deputies on a pursuit in Lake Elsinore, then took his own life, authorities said Monday.
RIVERSIDE, 2:40 p.m. Nov. 13 (SIGNONSANDIEGO)
Half-million in Riverside County take part in quake drill: Riverside County officials Thursday used radios rather than telephones to communicate during a drill simulating a catastrophic earthquake, as students practiced “drop, cover and hold on” maneuvers.
MURRIETA, 12:43 p.m. Nov. 13 (SIGNONSANDIEGO)Vista Murrieta High teacher gets jail time, probation in student-sex case: A female high school English teacher who had sex with an underage girl at her school was sentenced Thursday to three years probation. MURRIETA, 10:25 a.m. Nov. 13 (SIGNONSANDIEGO)
Murrieta man arrested on suspicion of child annoyance: A man seen talking to two girls who did not seem comfortable was arrested when police found alleged pornographic magazines in his pickup truck, a sergeant said Thursday.
RIVERSIDE, 4:43 a.m. Nov. 13 (SIGNONSANDIEGO)
Foreclosure figures dip in Riverside County: For the second straight month, the number of Riverside County homes slipping into some stage of foreclosure fell last month, thanks in part to state legislation intended to encourage communication between lenders and borrowers, a real estate tracking firm reported Thursday.
Nov. 13 (UNION-TRIBUNE)Traffic stop on I-15 yields $34,000 cash in glove box: A plastic grocery bag containing $34,000 was found in the glove compartment of a minivan stopped on Interstate 15 near Murrieta, authorities said yesterday.
MURRIETA, 6:14 p.m. Nov. 12 (UNION-TRIBUNE)
Van, bag with $34,000 confiscated after I-15 stop: A plastic grocery bag containing $34,000 was found in the glove compartment of a minivan stopped on Interstate 15 near Murrieta, authorities said Wednesday.
MURRIETA, 3:17 p.m. Nov. 12 (SIGNONSANDIEGO)
Four charged in San Jacinto gang fight to remain jailed: Three men and a boy charged with assault in a gang fight that left four people injured in San Jacinto will remain behind bars, pending a preliminary hearing on Monday, a judge ruled Wednesday.
BANNING, 6:27 a.m. Nov. 12 (AP)
4 people confirmed dead in mountain plane crash: Authorities are confirming that a 74-year-old pilot from Hesperia and three passengers were killed in a small plane crash in the mountains of San Bernardino County.
RIVERSIDE, 10:37 a.m. Nov. 11 (SIGNONSANDIEGO)
Riverside sheriff looks into puppy beating by L.A. County fire official: Riverside County sheriff's investigators are trying Tuesday to decide if a crime was committed when a veteran Los Angeles County fire official crushed a puppy's skull with repeated blows from rock, but they have been unable to talk to the man.
TEMECULA, 4:08 p.m. Nov. 10 (SIGNONSANDIEGO)
Temecula sites ticketed for selling alcohol to minors: Employees at a CVS pharmacy and a Shell gas station in Temecula were ticketed for selling alcohol to minors, a sergeant said Monday.
RIVERSIDE, 2:01 p.m. Nov. 10 (SIGNONSANDIEGO)Moreno Valley man faces investor-fraud charges: A Moreno Valley man who managed a commodity trading pool is facing federal charges for allegedly diverting hundreds of thousands of dollars in other investors' money for personal use, then trying to cover up his actions by lying to regulators. RIVERSIDE, 2:08 p.m. Nov. 10 (SIGNONSANDIEGO)
Courts, most municipal offices closed Tuesday: Courts and most municipal offices in Riverside County will be closed Tuesday in observance of Veterans Day.
MURRIETA, 11:44 a.m. Nov. 10 (SIGNONSANDIEGO)
Woman injured when car hits wall in Murrieta: A woman escaped serious injury when the car she was driving hit a wall, trapping her in the vehicle, but she was hospitalized for treatment for what appeared to be a high level of intoxication, Murrieta police said.
LAKE ELSINORE, 11:37 a.m. Nov. 10 (SIGNONSANDIEGO)
Lake Elsinore home lost to fire: A fire gutted one room of a single-family house in Lake Elsinore Monday, but no injuries were reported.
