An anti-fur activist pleaded guilty Dec. 27 to causing great damages to two East County homes and other businesses and is facing up to 18 months in federal prison plus paying $423,477 in damages. Nicole Kissane, 29, formerly of Escondido, will be sentenced Jan. 17 by U.S. District Court Judge Larry Burns, who sentenced her…
A judge reduced the original 18-year jail term by 10 years Monday for Kevin Bollaert, who was convicted of extortion and identity theft with a “revenge porn” web site that published the nude photos of many women and two gay men. The projected release of Bollaert, 29, was changed from 2024 to Jan. 31, 2019…
The second robber in 11 hold-ups and attempted robberies in Hillcrest, Golden Hill and elsewhere pleaded guilty Monday to committing two hold-ups. Joseph Andres Garcia, 20, has agreed to accept a 7-year term in state prison, said Deputy District Attorney Michael MacNeil. The sentencing for the getaway driver, Benjamin Hernandez, 24, is set for April…
Following an all-day sentencing Friday, a judge handed down 18 years to a Pacific Beach man who ran a “revenge porn” Web site that featured nude photos of two men but mostly women whose ex-boyfriends or others submitted the photos without their consent. Kevin Christopher Bollaert, 28, was ordered to pay $15,488 to six females…
The getaway driver in 11 robberies and attempted robberies in Hillcrest and elsewhere has pleaded guilty to committing two hold-ups and faces up to six years in prison. A sentencing date for Benjamin Hernandez, 24, will be set April 20 in San Diego Superior Court, said Deputy District Attorney Michael MacNeil on Tuesday. The remaining…
Following 14 hours of deliberations over three days, a jury convicted a Pacific Beach man Monday of six extortion charges and 21 identity thefts from his operation of a “revenge porn” Web site that displayed nude photos of mostly women which could be taken down with fees ranging from $299 to $350. The jury of…
The “Peep Bandit” who robbed adult bookstores and other businesses was sentenced Nov. 18 to eight years in prison and ordered to pay $1,914.14 to the adult businesses. Additionally, Oscar Augustin Smith Jr., 29, was ordered to pay $544.72 to two sandwich shops and 7-Eleven by San Diego Superior Court Judge Timothy Walsh, who said…
A robber known as the “Peep Bandit” who held up adult bookstores and other businesses pleaded guilty Aug. 12 to all charges. Oscar Augustin Smith, Jr., 29, faces a maximum term of 15 years and four months in state prison, said Deputy District Attorney Roy Lai. Sentencing is set for Oct. 16 by San Diego…
An ex-convict who hates Catholics has admitted to committing a hate crime against religion when he torched a Spring Valley Catholic church. A prison term of 40 years to life is the maximum sentence for Eugene William Volk, 45, of Spring Valley, who will be sentenced July 17 by El Cajon Superior Court Judge Laura…
A rapist who was arrested in Ocean Beach after two lesbians heard the victim’s screams and chased him was sentenced April 17 to 30 years to life in state prison. Richard Christopher Butts, 26, said nothing before San Diego Superior Court Judge Timothy Walsh handed down the expected sentence. Butts pleaded guilty March 3 to…
