Californians vote overwhelmingly to get tougher on crime, despite Newsom's opposition



Californians tired of watching thieves and drug addicts overrun their communities voted overwhelmingly to pass a measure to impose harsher penalties for certain crimes.

Proposition 36, otherwise known as the Drug and Theft Crime Penalties and Treatment-Mandated Felonies Initiative, is not so much a new proposal as a means of modifying a previous one.

Proposition 36 seeks to alter Proposition 47, which passed a decade ago. Under Proposition 47, theft of items worth under $950 could not be prosecuted as a felony, effectively allowing thieves to smash-and-grab their way through drug and big-box stores with little more than a slap on the wrist.

'Retailers were only concerned about their bottom lines and not true criminal sentencing reform.'

Prop 36 promised to change the law to increase the penalties for theft and certain drug crimes, in some cases imposing sentences of up to three years behind bars, depending on a defendant's prior criminal history. It would also make certain drug crimes "treatment-mandated felonies," which means convictions for them can be dismissed in the event an offender completes treatment, the New York Post reported.

Though failed Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris, a former U.S. senator from California, declined to say whether she voted in favor of Prop 36, other Democrat leaders and liberal outfits in her home state previously voiced opposition to the measure.

"Prop 36 takes us back to the 1980s, mass incarceration — it promotes a promise that can’t be delivered," Gov. Gavin Newsom claimed.

The LA Times insisted that Prop 36 would be "disastrous" for the state.

KTLA revealed its disapproval of the bill by suggesting that Californians merely "perceived" a recent increase in crime in their state. The outlet also indicated that those who backed the measure had impure motives.

"Big box stores like Walmart were among the major financial backers of Prop 36—some argued that the retailers were only concerned about their bottom lines and not true criminal sentencing reform," it said.

Still, the measure did enjoy some support from other liberals, including San Francisco Mayor London Breed, who claimed it would "make targeted but impactful changes to our laws around fentanyl and help us tackle the chronic retail theft that hurts our retailers, our workers, and our cities."

The vast majority of California voters likewise supported Prop 36, which passed with nearly 71% of the 7.6 million ballots cast, according to current totals.

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Male tortured girlfriend for days, tattooed 'degrading words' on her chest before murdering her on Christmas Eve: Officials



A California man was convicted Tuesday of nine felony counts in connection with the 2021 murder and torture of his girlfriend.

A jury found Saul C. Nava, 24, guilty of first-degree murder, torture, kidnapping, aggravated mayhem, assault with a deadly weapon, inflicting corporal injury to current/former spouse/cohabitant/fiancé, and possession of child pornography.

'I'm scared. I'm really scared. I'm terrified.'

Senior Deputy District Attorney David Russell stated, "Although this result cannot erase the immeasurable pain the defendant inflicted on the victims and their families, we hope that this brings some measure of closure to see him held accountable for his horrific crimes."

Officials said Nava tortured his girlfriend for days and murdered her on Christmas Eve. Then he called 911.

Police responded to the call and found a gruesome crime scene at Nava's studio apartment in Thousand Oaks.

Nava tortured Alisen Takacs-Escobar, 24, for days, she and had injuries over her entire body. She suffered from extensive bruising and the top of her head also showed a large laceration.

The Ventura County District Attorney's Office said "degrading words" were newly tattooed on the center of her chest.

Police said Nava had used tattoo equipment, baseball bats, a hammer, a belt, and a screwdriver to torture his girlfriend.

Nava’s cellphone was found in the apartment. In the hours leading up to her death, Nava had recorded videos with the phone that showed him "taunting her and displaying no concern for her worsening condition."

The Ventura County Star reported that there were four videos on Nava's phone that showed blood streaming across a large portion of Takacs-Escobar's face.

"Express yourself," a male voice is heard saying in one of the videos.

Takacs-Escobar replies: "I'm scared. I'm really scared. I'm terrified."

The male asks, "Is what you did worth it?" She answers no.

Nava was arrested at the apartment.

Ventura County Medical Examiner's Office found that Takacs-Escobar died of blunt force injuries and ruled her death a homicide.

The fatal attack purportedly occurred a few weeks after Nava noticed a phone message between Takacs-Escobar and a former boyfriend.

A police witness described the message as "flirtatious" and had discussed their former sexual relations.

The prosecution said they were not having a sexual relationship at the time.

Nava indicated he was aware that the pair were not having physical contact but said he considered flirting to be cheating.

An ex-girlfriend of Nava's told authorities he had physically abused her and confined her in a closet when they were teenagers.

At one point in the relationship, the ex-girlfriend said she attempted to flee, but Nava allegedly found her and threatened her with a knife until she got into his vehicle.

The ex-girlfriend got pregnant when she was 17 and said Nava punched her in the stomach and forced her to get an abortion. She said Nava punched her in the face, choked her, and secretly filmed their sex life.

Sophia Nuno, a high school friend of Takacs-Escobar, testified that her friend “was super friendly, bubbly, happy and outgoing” before she started dating Nava and that her behavior changed after she started dating him.

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California barber tortured 6-year-old child and beat him to death, police say



A barber in California was arrested and charged with torture and murder after he beat a 6-year-old to death, according to police.

The Orange County District Attorney's Office said that Ernest Lamar Love was entrusted with the care of a child at his barber shop, but he beat him to death with a 2x4 piece of wood.

'Words do not exist to describe the absolute terror this little boy was forced to endure.'

The boy was dropped off at the barber shop in the city of Placentia by his mother while she worked at a hospital on Tuesday.

Later that evening, at about 1:30 a.m., Love brought the boy to a hospital with critical injuries.

Police said that surveillance video showed Love beating the child to the point that he was missing chunks from his buttocks.

Hospital officials reported the child had "raw" and "gaping" wounds and suffered from subdural hematoma and extreme brain swelling. They said the child suffered from injuries consistent with violent shaking.

Police said that the suspect poured hydrogen peroxide on the child's wounds and then forced him to do exercises including push-ups, sit-ups and jumping jacks.

“Words do not exist to describe the absolute terror this little boy was forced to endure – all at the hands of someone who was supposed to be protecting him, not torturing him to death. Now we as prosecutors will do everything we can to pursue justice for little Chance and be his protectors in death that he failed to have in life," read a statement from Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer.

Love was charged with murder, torture, and child abuse causing death. He faces 32 years to life in prison if convicted.

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Brazen vagrant allegedly punches California mayor, city official in 'random' attack on street with police chief nearby



A homeless man took a swing at a California mayor and then punched a city councilman in the head in broad daylight, the city councilman told Fox News Digital.

On August 22, Mayor Chris Branscum, Councilman Dom Belza, and Police Chief Christian Sachs as well as a pair of congressional staffers were walking along the streets of Marysville, California, a city of some 12,000 residents about 40 miles north of Sacramento.

'I thought I was hit by a car. I was hit so hard.'

The group was examining a historic building that had recently been ravaged by a fire when suddenly a homeless man came up and slugged Mayor Branscum in the back without provocation, Belza told Fox News.

"We were standing on the sidewalk near the site having a casual conversation. An individual was crossing at the crosswalk. And right as he got to the mayor, who had his back turned, the individual reached back and swung and hit him right square in the back," Belza explained, according to the New York Post.

"There was no communication, no altercation. There was nothing that instigated the punch. It was just a complete random act of violence."

Belza said his "instincts kicked in," and he then chased the suspect — later identified as 36-year-old Derek Hopkins — down the street.

Once Belza caught up with the assailant, the man turned and took a swing at him, making contact with the side of his head, he said.

"After that, I engaged him and took him down to the ground and restrained him until the chief of police was able to get there. We held him in custody until he was officially arrested," Belza continued.

Hopkins, who is described as homeless, has been assessed eight charges, including felony assault of a public official and felony elder abuse. His bail has been set at $50,000, the Post reported. As of Wednesday afternoon, Hopkins was still in custody at the Yuba County Jail, records showed.

In a statement to Blaze News, Belza confirmed that he did not personally recognize the suspect but heard that local law enforcement was familiar with him.

Mayor Branscum, 75, expressed gratitude that his younger companions apprehended his alleged attacker, who apparently struck with some force. "I thought I was hit by a car. I was hit so hard," Branscum recalled. "The next thing I know, there's this guy sliding by me, running, and I yelled an expletive at him."

"He's a bada**," Branscum said of Belza, according to KCRA. "So is the chief of police. Dom took him down, and the chief was right there, right behind him. They did a heck of a job."

Belza said that the incident is part of a much larger problem throughout the state of California. "This attack is really a result of the soft-on-crime policy that California has implemented over the last 10 years," he told Fox News.

Belza also views Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris, who once served as the attorney general of California, as partially responsible for the decline regarding public safety in his state since she once lobbied hard in favor of Proposition 47, which reclassified six minor felony offenses as misdemeanors.

"As AG she titled the proposition the Safe Schools and Safe Communities Act. What it really did was lower the penalties for retail theft, hard drug possession, and drug dealing down to misdemeanors," Belza told Blaze News.

Belza also told Blaze News that Proposition 36, which is on the ballot this November, is a possible solution to the rise in crime.

"The State is just going to have to suck it up. Rather than spending taxpayers ($26 Billion) on useless homeless programs, and a bullet train to nowhere, they are going to have to spend those dollars on dealing with criminals if Prop 36 passes in November," he told Blaze News.

"Situations like this are proof that California is not a safe state and that these small, rural communities aren’t safe anymore," he added on Fox News.

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California officials ticket disabled Navy veteran known as the 'Bubble Pirate' for 'littering prohibited fluids'



A disabled Navy veteran turned bubble artist has been ticketed by California officials for "fluid littering."

Sandy Snakenberg, 63, is an entertainer known as the "Bubble Pirate." For more than 10 years, Snakenberg has dressed like a pirate and entertained communities with his creative bubble performances.

'It's not just my livelihood, it’s something that is actually part of the community now.'

"I was just enjoying blowing the simple bubbles that you blow and people walking by were enjoying them," he told KSWB-TV. "I got kind of hooked sharing the joy of it."

Snakenberg, a self-described "bubble-ologist," lives out of his van, where he stores all of his equipment and props.

"I was becoming more involved with bubbles, more professionally, making my own juices, my own devices. I did a TED Talk while in Singapore," Snakenberg told Fox News.

Snakenberg's 2016 TED Talk is titled: "Lessons of the Bubbles." The video is described as Snakenberg's "journey and lessons learned not just from the bubbles but from his observations of others when exposed or re-exposed to their magic."

Snakenberg — who has dyslexia — said he makes his living from his bubble artistry and entertainment.

However, the Bubble Pirate was recently hit with a ticket for the crime of blowing bubbles.

Last week, Snakenberg was performing his usual "Bubble Pirate" show at La Jolla Cove in San Diego, California.

A ranger with the San Diego Parks and Recreation Department issued Snakenberg a ticket for "littering prohibited fluids" on the park grounds.

The Bubble Pirate allegedly asked the park ranger to note on the ticket that the liquid in question was from bubbles, but the officer did not oblige.

A San Diego Parks and Recreation Department spokesperson told Fox News, "The City of San Diego values the rights of community members to engage in expressive activity in City parks, including artistic expression. This does require those engaging in these activities to do so in accordance with other City codes and regulations, including those related to littering and disposal of waste."

The spokesperson continued, "In this instance, Park Rangers attempted to educate the individual numerous times that the residual substances from the bubbles are in violation of the City’s municipal code as it relates to littering (SDMC 63.0102(c)(8) Littering). The individual uses up to six gallons of liquid per day with the residual chemicals ending up in the lawn areas, which can cause damage to the grass."

The spokesperson concluded, "After witnessing numerous violations and receiving complaints from other park users, Rangers issued the lowest level citation available."

The San Diego municipal code for littering states: "It is unlawful to leave or scatter about any boxes, empty or otherwise, waste paper, remains of meals, newspaper, tobacco, remains of any material capable of being smoked, or rubbish of any kind, except that such material and matter may be deposited in receptacles provided for such purpose."

Snakenberg said, "If I thought I was in any way damaging the environment or hurting people, I wouldn't be around very long. I've been doing this for over 10 years."

The Bubble Pirate told the San Diego Union-Tribune, "I'm not doing anything wrong. The rangers said my solutions are harming the grass, but I make it myself and know that it doesn’t harm the environment. I tested it on a friend’s property by pouring it out on the lawn and there was no damage. I have talks with the parents on the safety of my solutions. I’m really big on environmental safety and audience safety.”

Snakenberg noted that he places a tarp in the area where he creates the bubbles and disposes of any excess bubble solution offsite.

"It’s not just my livelihood, it’s something that is actually part of the community now," he told KSWB-TV.

Snakenberg said he wasn’t surprised by the citation because he had been “given a heads-up by the community” that law enforcement had been cracking down on this type of littering.

The Bubble Pirate declared, "I'm not going to quit because I’m not doing any harm. If I was doing something wrong, I wouldn’t be doing it. But I will be coming back against the rangers’ advice."

Snakenberg said on Instagram, "This Bubble Pirate will be continuing public performances at La Jolla cove when I am not otherwise engaged at other events. And (as the officer communicated) will likely get more citations."

Snakenberg is scheduled to appear in court in October.

In May, the city of San Diego began cracking down on yoga classes held at public parks.

A city spokesperson told KGTV-TV:

The City of San Diego’s Municipal Code prohibits groups consisting of four or more people engaged in commercial recreational activities like yoga, fitness classes and dog training from gathering in parks without a permit and can only operate in certain designated areas. Picnics and other gatherings of 50 or more also require a permit in parks, beaches and bay. The applicable municipal code (SDMC 63.0102) has been in effect since 1993, and recent updates to the policy have clarified the activities for which necessary permitting applies. These updates went into effect March 29 and are in place to ensure these public spaces remain safe and accessible to all users at all times. Park Rangers, police and lifeguards have the authority to enforce these codes to ensure public safety in San Diego’s parks and beaches.

Some yoga instructors pushed back against the city and argued that their classes are free to join, but participants can donate if they enjoyed the class.

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Homeless man allegedly climbed on top of woman sunbathing at Santa Monica beach and sexually assaulted her



Another alleged assault involving a homeless person in Santa Monica, California, is leading some officials to promise harsher restrictions.

The Santa Monica police department said the incident unfolded at about 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday at Santa Monica State Beach.

'We need to somehow get them off the street, get them into treatment, get them into rehab.'

Lifeguards flagged down a police officer to report that a woman said she had been assaulted. The victim told them that she was sunbathing when a homeless man climbed on top of her and began "thrusting" against her.

Police were able to identify a suspect as 25-year-old Alonzo Dickson and arrested him nearby. The victim also identified the man as the alleged attacker.

Dickson faces a felony charge of sexual battery with restraint.

In a similar incident from May, a homeless man was accused of grabbing a jogger by her ponytail and dragging her toward public bathrooms at the Santa Monica beach. Bystanders helped save the woman, who told police she believed the man was intending to sexually assault her.

Some Santa Monica city council members want to tighten restrictions on people who sleep on the streets, but at least one is opposed to the measure.

"I do not support that," said Caroline Torosis to KTLA-TV. "I think the better approach is to offer outreach support services and shelter for folks."

Mayor Phil Brock said he supported the measure.

“It’s nothing draconian," said Brock, "nothing onerous. But I feel that if you have someone you’ve offered help to four, five, six times and they won’t move off the street, then we need to somehow get them off the street, get them into treatment, get them into rehab.”

The city council members were to vote on the ordinance on Wednesday, but they postponed it instead.

Here's KTLA's video news report about the incident, including a booking photo of Dickson.

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Majority Of Californians Support Harsher Penalties For Theft, Drug Possession: Poll

'Accountability and consequences'

Security video shows burglar leaving bizarre note during burglary of California business



Surveillance video captured a burglar breaking into a southern California business and then leaving a bizarre note for the owner.

The video showed a man crawling on the floor into a restaurant named Teriyaki Madness in San Fernando.

'Sorry! Need money for drugs.'

After stealing money from the cash register, the man is seen writing something on a note and leaving it on the counter.

KABC obtained video of the note and posted it to its news report on YouTube.

"Sorry! Need money for drugs. Won't come back," it read.

The San Fernando Police Department says it has collected the note and video for evidence and believes the man committed other robberies in the area. Police said there were 10 businesses vandalized or burglarized over the span of a few days in the same area.

"This person appears to have done this before," said San Fernando Police Chief Fabian Valdez.

"It looks like they were concealing their fingerprints and being very careful on ... what they touched," he added.

The owner of a store called the Protein Stop said that $500 was stolen from his business by a man who appeared to look very similar to the one who stole from the restaurant. The other businesses that were targeted included two taco restaurants, a coffee shop, and two ice cream shops.

Police said they are investigating leads but have so far not identified a suspect in the crime spree.

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Security video shows California man shooting paintball gun at hooded men who were allegedly breaking into neighbor's home



A man chased away would-be burglars from his neighbor's home in California while firing his paintball gun, and the entire altercation was caught on his surveillance cameras.

Residents of the Tarzana neighborhood in the San Fernando Valley had previously complained about Julian Harper-Smith's trailer on their street, but they changed their minds on Tuesday when he used it to catch the alleged burglars.

'He's a madman!'

Harper-Smith shared the video of the incident with KCAL-TV from his surveillance videos and described what happened.

He said that he took action after seeing men climb over a fence of his neighbor's home at an odd spot. They were wearing hoodies and were all covered up.

"I went over there, grabbed my pepperball gun and I grabbed a bright flashlight and as I walked out, turned on the flashlight and I must have scared them because it's so bright, and then they all ran back to the car," Harper-Smith told KCAL.

"That's when they hopped in the car. I put my flashlight down and gave them a couple of shots in the back of the car, so hopefully, they would not come back," he added.

KCAL published video of the incident in their news report on YouTube.

Bret Cohen, a resident in the neighborhood, admitted that he did not like Harper-Smith's trailer before Tuesday, but the incident changed his mind.

"Well it's a frickin' eyesore!" said Cohen. "But you know what, it's a nice eyesore today! Yesterday it was a horrible eyesore, today I'm kinda diggin' on it!"

He was thankful for Harper-Smith's actions.

"He's a madman! Are you kidding me? It's the coolest thing in the world! He's John McClane, he chased these guys down not knowing if they had guns or not, and shot at them!" said Cohen, referring to the fictional hero from the "Die Hard" movie franchise.

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Man accused of sparking massive California wildfire by pushing fiery car into gully; fire already burned 164,000 acres



A California man has been arrested in connection with the huge Park Fire that has ravaged the northern area of the Golden State. The suspect is accused of pushing a fiery car into a gully that sparked the massive wildfire that has already burned over 164,000 acres.

Ronnie Dean Stout II, 42, was arrested around 2 a.m. Thursday at a mobile home park in Chico, authorities said.

The Park Fire tripled in size on its second day.

Stout is being held without bail until his arraignment Monday.

Butte County District Attorney Michael L. Ramsey said in a statement that Stout likely will face an arson charge, although it's unclear how many counts or whether any enhancements will be added.

Stout has two previous strike felony convictions, according to prosecutors.

KOVR-TV reported that Stout was convicted of lewd and lascivious acts with a child under 14 in Butte County in 2001. The following year, he was convicted in Kern County for robbery with great bodily injury and sentenced to 20 years in prison.

In California, individuals with two prior strikes — convictions of violent or serious felonies — receive a "significantly" longer prison sentence if convicted of a third felony.

Stout pushed a car that was on fire into a gully near the Alligator Hole in upper Bidwell Park shortly before 3 p.m. Wednesday, Ramsey stated.

The DA said the fiery car sparked the wildfire now known as the Park Fire.

"The car went down an embankment approximately 60 feet and burned completely, spreading flames that caused the Park Fire," Ramsey said.

"The male was then seen calmly leaving the area by blending in with the other citizens who were in the area and fleeing the rapidly evolving fire," Ramsey said.

The origin point of the Park Fire is about 90 miles north of Sacramento. The wildfire has devastated the counties of Butte and Tehama where evacuations were ordered. Roughly 4,000 residents in unincorporated areas of Butte County and 400 residents of Chico were ordered to evacuate, Butte County Sheriff Kory Honea said at a news conference Thursday.

— (@)

The Park Fire tripled in size on its second day and has scorched more than 164,000 acres — about 256 square miles.

In the most recent Cal Fire report, 134 structures have been destroyed by the fire. Just 3% of the fire has been contained as of Friday morning, Cal Fire said.

Over 1,600 firefighters, 142 fire engines, and six helicopters have been deployed to battle the Park Fire.

"Today the Park Fire burned very actively with hot, dry weather over the region," Cal Fire said.

Butte County Fire Chief Garrett Sjolund said, "The fire quickly began to outpace our resources because of the dry fuels, the hot weather, the low humidities, and the wind."

The fast-growing blaze is now California's largest wildfire this year, and the largest since 2021's Caldor Fire, KCRA-TV reported.

Also in California, the Lake Fire in Santa Barbara County — which started July 5 — has burned over 38,000 acres and is 90% contained, according to Cal Fire.

The Associated Press reported that a fire near the state line with Nevada displaced approximately 1,000 people after evacuations were ordered Monday.

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