Martinez Man Sentenced To 30 Years In Prison For Interstate Sex With Minor; Child Pornography
Press release issued Wednesday by the City of Martinez and United States Attorney’s Office: OAKLAND – Blake Robert Johnston was sentenced to 30 years in prison late yesterday, and ordered to serve a lifetime on supervised release, for traveling across state lines with the intent to engage in sexual acts with a minor, announced United…
Calling All Car (Fans) – Lafayette PD Asks If You Can ID This Car
A NEWS24/680 reader came through for Lafayette PD on a case they were handling not long ago and they’re back with a similar task after a burglary on Laurel Drive in their city March 22: “The image of this vehicle was obtained during one of our residential burglary investigations,” writes Chief Eric Christensen. “(We’re) looking for one…
Heroin Overdose In Orinda Starbucks Sunday Spotlights Recent Influx Of Young Users
NEWS24/680 readers who were present at the time expressed their shock and concern Sunday after a 17-year-old teen was discovered in the bathroom at the Theater Square Starbucks – unconscious and with a heroin needle still in his arm. Orinda Police Chief Mark Nagel confirmed an account of the incident posted on our Facebook page…
Orinda Council Studies Short-Term Lease Agreements After Camino Encinas Violence
Stunned by the beating of a Florida man attacked during a party at an Orinda home rented through Airbnb, the city council is taking a hard look at so-called “transient” housing arrangements, and evaluating how they should be handled in future. The council, spurred by Mayor Victoria Smith, queried adjacent cities and towns after the 21-year-old…
Wags Weigh In On Future Of Moraga’s $3.5 Million Sinkhole – Downtown Swimming Center?
Locals venturing downtown to Moraga’s suburban core of late have been coming up with suggestions for finalizing the work Mother Nature started when steady rainfall opened up a sinkhole at the corner of Autohaus Stuttgart March 13. “Moraga’s Grand Canyon” may not be as big as those we’ve seen in Florida and other parts of the country,…
Suspected Burglar Runs From Walnut Creek PD Thursday; Impacts Fence – BART Commute
A suspected burglar attempting to elude Walnut Creek police sped away from officers, crashed into fencing bordering BART property at Jones and Walden roads and had to be physically subdued before he was taken into custody, according to police. Joel Steffensen, whose age and hometown was not immediately provided, is currently in custody and receiving…
Former Diablo Valley Youth Football League Treasurer Arrested For Embezzlement Wednesday
San Ramon police arrested the former treasurer of the Diablo Valley Youth Football League on embezzlement charges Wednesday after an investigation by police and league officials determined he’d stolen an estimated $200,000 during his tenure. Investigators said Lynwood B. Peyton, 64, was taken into custody at 3300 Promontory Way in San Ramon at 9 a.m.…
San Ramon Woman Arrested In Connection With Armed Carjacking Saturday
A San Ramon woman has been arrested and charged with armed robbery and carjacking for her role in an attempted carjacking incident early Saturday morning. Investigators said Nava Simon, 21, was arrested without incident at her home on Tuesday. Both Simon and her alleged accomplice, transient Paul Lodestein, 20, were booked on the charges at…
Critter Lovers Mourn Loss Of River Otter After Car Strike In Lafayette Saturday
If you’re lucky enough to have seen one in the wild you may have an appreciation for the lissome River Otters who have been returning to our creeks and waterways in increasing number of late. NEWS24/680 Reader Amanda Ferguson writes with the sad news that one of the critters was struck and killed by a…
San Ramon PD Ends Alleged Carjacker’s Joyride Saturday Morning
A reported carjacking incident in the Safeway parking lot at 11060 Bollinger Canyon Rd. ended badly for the alleged perpetrator early Saturday after police surrounded his purloined vehicle and arrested him at gunpoint. Paul Lodestein, 20, described as a transient with prior contacts with law enforcement in Hayward and Fairfield, was taken into custody at…