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RANCHO SANTA FE NEWS
JAN. 15, 2010
ODD FILES
by CHUCK SHEPHERD
Man found guilty of supplying prostitutes
LEAD STORY Big-time traffickers who smuggle illegal immigrants into the U.S. from Mexico rely on GPS devices to evade the Border Patrol, but starting in June, borderjumpers who travel on their own can have protection, too. Three University of California, San Diego faculty members have designed inexpensive cell phones with special software to locate water, churches and medical facilities in the treacherous Southwest desert (while avoiding law enforcement) and will give the devices to Mexican charities. The phones, which will also feature “welcome to the U.S.” poetry, are expected to save the lives of many of the hundreds who die each year on their dangerous journeys, but illegalimmigration protesters are demanding that the academics be arrested for assisting in crimes.
The Continuing Crisis — A man identified in China’s Chongqing Evening News in November as Mr. Zhang, 32, admitted he is competitive with his wife and “never wants to lose an argument,” but inevitably his contentiousness leaves him with “bruises and scars all over” because Mrs. Zhang is a kung fu master. After negotiations led by Mrs. Zhang’s parents, she agreed by contract to limit any beatings to no more than once a week, with a parent-administered penalty for exceeding that. — The Kirklees (West Yorkshire, England) Environmental Health department cited farmer Ronald Norcliffe, 65, in 2008 for inadequate lighting in his barn, which inspectors said failed to meet the “psychological needs” of his one cow and her calf. In his formal appeal, heard in October 2009, Norcliffe noted (unsuccessfully) that he has had a clean record as a farmer for 30 years and that in fact, he still lives fine without electricity in his own house. After his defeat, Norcliffe’s lawyer sighed. “I still have no idea how much lighting is appropriate for a cow.” — In December, a court in Istanbul,Turkey, found 39 people guilty of trying to overthrow the government after a trial that lasted, on and off, for 28 years. More than 1,000 defendants had been rounded up after challenging a 1980 military coup. The original trial lasted 10 years, but the case languished in an appeals court for 13 years while judges awaited 100 folders of evidence that had somehow gone missing. The 39 were given life sentences, but were immediately released based on time already served. The European Union has urged that Turkey upgrade its judicial system TURN TO ODD FILES ON 7
By Randy Kalp
size of the document and the scope of the project, fairgrounds officials opted to double that. So far, public discussions about the project have been less than favorable. Opponents say the expansion will create more noise, traffic and pollution than the area can handle. They claim plans to mitigate those problems are not adequately addressed in the
A San Diego jury on Jan. 7 found an illegal immigrant guilty of federal charges relating to supplying prostitutes to North County migrant camps. Adrian ZitlapopocaHernandez was convicted of two counts each of sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion and nine other charges relating to a prostitution ring he started in 2008. The charges carry a minimum sentence of 15 years in prison. Prosecutors allege Zitlapopoca manipulated two women he had relationships with in Mexico into prostitution. Both victims are at least 10 years younger than him. Anabel De la CruzRamirez and Florencia Calixto-Velasco both admitted to police that they both worked as prostitutes for Zitlapopoca, court documents state. De la Cruz said she began dating the defendant in 2006 when she was 18, according to court documents. Over the course of their relationship, she said she was assaulted physically and mentally by Zitlapopoca. She told police she worked as a prostitute in North County at various canyons, apartments and ranches, court records state. De la Cruz said she was paid by the defendant $10 for each night she worked as a prostitute. Calixto, who was 17, when she met the defendant in 2004 at a bus station in Oaxaca, Mexico, described a similar set of circumstances relating to her relationship with Zitlapopoca. She said she worked every night and made $200 to $1,000 an evening, which she gave to Zitlapopoca, according to court records. Prior to coming to America, both girls said they worked as prostitutes in Mexico under the defendant, court records state. They said their careers as prostitutes started shortly after they met the defendant and he coerced them into it. He had told the women he had planned on marrying them. De la Cruz told authorities she kept working as a prostitute because she thought she was in love, didn’t have anywhere else to go, and didn’t want to face the shame associated with a failed relationship, according to court documents. Authorities arrested Zitlapopoca on Nov. 20, 2008, in an area in Valley Center known for prostitution activity. De la Cruz
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SUPER SOCKERS Midfielder Miguel “Chiky” Luna and defender Guadalupe “El Lupillo” Castaneda, of the Stars of Mexico, battle for the ball during the San Diego Sockers’ Nov. 7 exhibition game. Luna scored two goals, the first and last, in the Sockers 9-5 win. Photo by Bethany Salvon
Sockers kick into high gear at season’s end By Bianca Kaplanek
DEL MAR — It took 11 games and a trip to Canada for the revived San Diego Sockers to be handed the first loss of their inaugural season, but the region’s professional indoor soccer team is still in great shape to make the playoffs for the U.S. Open Arena Soccer Championship. The 28-member team of mostly North County natives lost to Calgary United 6-4 on Jan. 9, but a Miguel “Chiky” Luna goal 20 seconds into overtime the following night
against the Edmonton Drillers allowed the team to return home from the twoday road trip with an impressive 11-1 record. Coach Phil Salvagio said a playoff appearance is guaranteed if the team wins four of the remaining six games against teams the Sockers have already defeated this season. The Sockers began in 1974 as the Baltimore Comets. Within a year, they moved to Southern California, where they were renamed San Diego Jaws.
The team relocated to Las Vegas in 1977, but a year later returned to San Diego and became known as the Sockers. During the next two decades, the team won eight championships between 1983 and 1992 and switched leagues a handful of times before folding for the first time after the 1996 season. The team was revived in 2001 but folded again three years later. Salvagio said he and his partners structured the current team so “it can survive
for many years” by cutting the previous $2 million budget in half. Most of the cost savings come from Salvagio’s salary since he serves as general manager as well as head coach. He said the key to the team’s success on the field is age. “In the rest of the league, the average age is 22 or 23,” Salvagio said. “Ours is 30.” Normally youth is an advantage in professional sports. “Not on this team,” TURN TO SOCKERS ON 23
Money management problems solved By David Wiemers
tain online money manageRANCHO SANTA FE — ment systems, transfer During these economically money, prepare financial challenging times, many peo- reports and organize tax docple find it difficult to pay uments. “I have a wide variety of clients,” their bills. Some are Odmark said. short of money, “From couples in while others simply their 40s who are find the task of paytoo busy to pay ing their bills and bills, to retirees in keeping their money their 80s who are in order a challenge. ready to turn those Bills go unpaid, late re s p o n s i b i l i t i e s fees are charged, over to someone and overdraft else.” charges kick in. Odmark has Enter Roz ROZ ODMARK been a resident of Odmark. A daily money manager, Odmark Rancho Santa Fe for the past provides a service to Rancho 10 years and is passionate Santa Fe residents to pay about the work she does. “I their bills, set up and main- sleep well at night knowing
I’ve helped others get their bills paid,” she said. She gained experience working in the finance departments of companies for 30 years, so 10 years ago she decided it was time to go into business for herself. “I don’t advertise, my clients are strictly referrals — word-of-mouth. All of my clients are in the Rancho Santa Fe area so I can travel to them easily.” Odmark clearly enjoys doing what others find challenging. “Some people are very disorganized and they’re apologizing from the time I walk in the door.” She puts the pieces of their financial puzzle together. “It’s like I’m a detective,”
she said. “And it feels great to help close a chapter on a book.” For the past several years, Odmark has provided pro bono accounting services to the Rancho Santa Fe Historical Society. “It’s a chance to give back to the community,” she said. When she’s not paying someone’s bills, Odmark is an avid golfer, scuba diver and loves to cycle. “And I love doing a good Sudoku puzzle just before I go to bed.” For more information on the daily money management services that Roz Odmark provides, she can be contacted at Rox.dmm@ cox.net.
More time given for input on fairgrounds changes By Bianca Kaplanek
COAST CITIES — The 22nd District Agricultural Association spread some last-minute holiday cheer when it announced on its Web site a few days before Christmas that comments on the master plan and draft environmental impact report for an expansion project at the Del Mar Fairgrounds will now be accepted through Feb. 8. The extension gives area legislators, jurisdic-
tions, residents and organizations an additional 30 days to submit written comments on the 4,500-page document. The 22nd DAA, which manages and operates the fairgrounds, is proposing several improvements to the 340-acre site that would be completed during the next 15 years. Near-term plans include a 330-room condominium hotel with an 18,000-squarefoot ballroom and parking facilities for 58 RVs, new
exhibit halls with underground parking and three rooftop sports fields, a health club and administrative offices. The east parking lot would be paved and the existing fire station relocated. Long-term projects call for a multilevel parking structure and a seasonal train platform. The public review period, which began Oct. 9, was required to remain open for at least 45 days. Given the