Trial begins for suspected killer of homeless man A Pacific Beach man went on trial this week for the 2012 murder of Darrin Joseph, a Point Loma man whose body was found in the 4900 block of North Harbor Drive. A jury was sworn in Oct. 25 and attorneys gave their opening statements Oct. 28 in the trial of Shane Brian Grattan, 57, in San Diego Superior Court. Judge Amalia Meza, who heard Grattan\u2019s preliminary hearing in 2012, is the trial judge. Joseph, 45, was apparently beaten inside Grattan\u2019s camper van and his body was dragged into the bushes where a passerby discovered it on Jan. 19, 2012. The victim\u2019s blood was found throughout Grattan\u2019s van, though someone had used a lot of water to clean it up.
\nA deputy medical examiner testified at the preliminary hearing that Joseph had suffered from some type of blunt-force trauma with injuries to the head, neck and chest. A weapon was not found.
\nA criminologist testified earlier that tests showed the presence of blood on the steering wheel, doors, windows and handles of the Dodge Tradesman camper that Grattan owned and apparently lived in. Grattan was arrested Feb. 8, 2012, in the 1600 block of Garnet Avenue in Pacific Beach at a facility where the homeless often receive meals.
\nGrattan remains in custody on $1 million bail.
\n\u2014 Neal Putnam Man, 70, held for soliciting teenage girls A federal judge has ordered the owner of an Ocean Beach real-estate school to remain in federal prison without bail after he was charged with sex trafficking of two young teenage girls.
\nMichael F. Lustig, 70, was arrested during a traffic stop on Governor Drive in University City on Oct. 1, following a year-long investigation that started when he was arrested during a prostitution sting at a motel on June 8, 2012.
\nAuthorities looked at Lustig\u2019s cell phones and discovered he had been texting two young girls, aged 13 and 14. The two federal charges Lustig is facing involve sex trafficking of a minor that affects interstate commerce.
\nThe girls apparently received money from Lustig for some type of sexual activity. The evidence against him includes his text messages to the girls. Lustig sent more than 60 texts to one girl in a two-month period in 2011, according to court documents.
\nThe words bookstore and library were used as words to set up a date involving prostitution, according to the U.S. Attorney\u2019s Office. Lustig allegedly rented motel rooms, according to surveillance camera footage.
\nLustig is being held without bail.
\n“There appears to be no conditions short of custody that will adequately protect the community,” said Dembin.
\nLustig\u2019s profile on Linkedin.com says he is the owner of Real Estate License Services that is located in Ocean Beach. The website for the school doesn\u2019t mention his name.
\nHis next appearance in U.S. District Court is set for Oct. 29 and he has pleaded not guilty. He remains in custody.
\n\u2014 Neal Putnam Elderly bank robber gets 37-month sentence The contrast was striking: the 79-year-old man who wore a suit, tie and a fedora-style hat when he robbed a Point Loma bank in May appeared Oct. 28 in a prison uniform and in a wheelchair as he was sentenced to seven months in federal prison.
\nU.S. District Court Judge Marilyn Huff denied probation for Dale Eugene Jenkins, who pleaded guilty in July to the robbery in which $80 was taken from the Comerica Bank at 3361 Rosecrans St.
\n“He did it on purpose to get caught so he could have a place to live,” said his attorney, Kris Kraus, who said Jenkins was a homeless veteran.
\n“I do not recommend you do this in the future,” said Huff to the grey-haired man. “I am not recommending this way in getting attention.”
\nThe money was recovered. Jenkins was arrested several blocks away with a rolling suitcase, which Kraus said represented all his possessions at the time.
\n“I rob banks. It\u2019s my hobby,” said Jenkins at the scene to a KGTV reporter in a video that went viral on the Internet before Jenkins was placed in a police patrol car. Jenkins will get credit for five months he has already spent in prison.
\n\u2014 Neal Putnam Merchants warned of imposter SDG&E scam Warnings are being issued by the Ocean Beach MainStreet Association (OBMA) and the Pacific Beach Business Improvement District (PBBID) to merchants who are being targeted by a telephone scam, in which imposters posing as representatives of San Diego Gas & Electric are attempting to extort money.
\nAccording to the business advocates, the scam involves an immediate threat by the scammers to have a merchant\u2019s power disconnected by SDG&E within a very short period of time if “X” amount is not paid.\u00a0Reports have been filed that dollar amounts range from several hundred to over $1,000.\u00a0The scammer apparently has access to specific information about a merchant\u2019s account and payment history.\u00a0
\nAccording to the OBMA and PBBID, SDG&E will not call merchants to settle up on an outstanding invoice, but rather leave a written notice. Merchants are urged to call SDG&E first to confirm any information before making a payment.
\nThis is a crime that should be reported to the police department\u2019s Economic Crimes Division at (619) 446-1031.\u00a0 For more information about the scam, visit the SDG&E website at www.sdge.-com\/node\/2755.
\nMerchants are also encouraged to call (619) 224-4906, or email info@ocean-beachsandiego.com to report similar activity.
\n\u2014 Staff and contribution Cabrillo reopens after gov\u2019t shutdown ends Cabrillo National Monument is once again open to the public.\u00a0\u00a0The park was closed Oct. 1 because of the
\nlapse in Congressional appropriations.
\nMonument officials expressed excitement to welcome visitors to Cabrillo National Monument.
\nBecause of the shutdown, the park\u2019s three-day Centennial Celebration during the weekend of Oct 12-14 was cancelled.\u00a0Park staff will spend the coming days working to reschedule the events and will announce those dates, once determined.
\nThe “Cabrillo Lights Up the Night” event has been rescheduled for March 15.\u00a0For more information, visit www.cnmf.org. For additional park information, visit www.nps.gov\/cabr. OBTC elects new slate of officers for 2013-14 The Ocean Beach Town Council\u2019s (OBTC) Board of Directors has elected a new president, vice president and other executive officers for the 2013-14 term.
\nGretchen Kinney Newsom, who previously served as the board\u2019s recording secretary, was elected president at the board\u2019s private meeting Oct. 9. Newsom, who also serves as chairwoman of the annual Ocean Beach Holiday Parade, said she is looking forward to strengthening the OBTC\u2019s role in community advocacy and promoting the betterment of Ocean Beach and the welfare of its residents.
\n“I am honored to serve Ocean Beach and the OB Town Council,” said Newsom. “This is a great community group with a strong and dedicated set of leaders working toward preserving and improving our community resources, advocating for a sustainable local economy, enhancing community discourse and civic engagement, increasing neighborhood safety and maintaining our unique Ocean Beach vibe.”
\nStephen Grosch, general manager of the Ocean Beach Hotel, was elected vice president of the board. Grosch will also continue to serve as the board\u2019s liaison to the Ocean Beach Community Development Corporation and has been instrumental in ongoing efforts to revitalize the Ocean Beach Veterans Plaza.
\nOther executive committee members elected this month include Melinda Therkalsen, who returns to her 2012-13 role as OBTC treasurer. Marin Green was elected recording secretary and Jon Carr will serve as correspondence secretary.
\nThe board also appointed chairs of several committees and leadership positions:
\n\u2022 Community Enhancement Committee chairman \u2014 Jim Musgrove
\n\u2022 Community Relations Committee \u2014 Anthony Palmiotto
\n\u2022 Membership Committee \u2014 Jody Thompson
\n\u2022 Public Relations Committee chairman: Dave Cieslak
\n\u2022 OBMA Liaison \u2014 Jenn Avoledo
\n\u2022 Ocean Beach Planning Board liaison: Giovanni Ingolia
\nThe entire board was sworn in Oct. 16 at the Ocean Beach Town Council\u2019s annual awards dinner at Shades Oceanfront Bistro. Board members will have their first public meeting of the new term on Oct. 23 at 7 p.m. at the Masonic Center, 1711 Sunset Cliffs Blvd. Comedy Fundraiser Night slated for Nov. 1 A comedy fundraiser show to benefit the Point Loma Assembly is set to draw plenty of belly laughs during a performance on Friday, Nov. 1 at the Point Loma Assembly Hall, located at 3035 Talbot St. \u00a0
\nThis final Comedy Fundraiser Night for 2013 features national touring comedian Karen Rontowski and Anita Milner. \u00a0
\nThe Point Loma Assembly aims to restore and preserve the land and buildings at the site and hopes to become a meeting place of choice for local civic groups and community clubs.\u00a0
\nThe\u00a0comedy show starts at 8 p.m., with the doors opening at 7 p.m. with a beer, wine and dessert cash bar.
\nTickets for the Comedy Night are $20 each and are available at American West Bank at 1350 Rosecrans St., or by calling Patti Adams at (619) 887 9313, or visiting www.eventbrite.com\/event\/86381-69999. Public\u2019s help on background of ex-librarian Matt Beatty, branch manager of the Ocean Beach Branch Library, is seeking information\u00a0on Margaret Rankin, a librarian in Ocean Beach from 1922 to 1959.\u00a0Beatty is planning a presentation on Rankin\u2019s life during a meeting of the Ocean Beach Historical Society.\u00a0 Anyone remembering Rankin can contact Beatty at (619) 531-1530, or email mbeatty@sandiego.gov.\u00a0<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Trial begins for suspected killer of homeless man A Pacific Beach man went on trial this week for the 2012 murder of Darrin Joseph, a Point Loma man whose body was found in the 4900 block of North Harbor Drive. A jury was sworn in Oct. 25 and attorneys gave their opening statements Oct. 28 […]<\/p>","protected":false},"author":726,"featured_media":280862,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"11561","_seopress_titles_title":"Quick Hits","_seopress_titles_desc":"","_seopress_robots_index":"","jnews-multi-image_gallery":[],"jnews_single_post":[],"jnews_primary_category":[],"jnews_social_meta":[],"jnews_override_counter":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[11551,11561],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-280861","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","category-peninsula-beacon"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/test.sdnews.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/280861","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/test.sdnews.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/test.sdnews.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/test.sdnews.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/726"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/test.sdnews.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=280861"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/test.sdnews.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/280861\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/test.sdnews.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/280862"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/test.sdnews.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=280861"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/test.sdnews.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=280861"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/test.sdnews.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=280861"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}