Ant-Man’s latest adventure
Zoo’s 60th anniversary
Review: Marvel Studios film stands out for imaginative story - B1
Here’s a look at the Santa Barbara attraction’s history - B2
Our 167th Year
Storm hits state
Work near Gaviota Tunnel
Highs to be in the low 50s
NEWS-STAFF WRITER
A Santa Barbara man convicted of breaking into a neighbor’s house and raping her while she was asleep in bed faces seven years to life in prison when he is sentenced in April. Santa Barbara County District Attorney John T. Savrnoch announced Friday that a jury on Thursday had found Virginio Gomez-Santillan, 49, guilty of assault with intent to commit rape or sexual penetration while committing a first-degree burglary, sexual penetration of an unconscious person and sexual battery. According to prosecutors, the crime occurred in the early morning hours of July 22, 2021, when the victim, identified as Jane Doe, was asleep in her bed with her young child. She woke up to the defendant — her neighbor — on top of her. While she was asleep, the defendant had broken into her house, pulled down her pajamas, climbed on top of her, and
NEWS-PRESS MANAGING EDITOR
A storm came down Tuesday to California from Alaska, and it’s expected to be the coldest storm this winter — if not the coldest one in several years. The first sign of it was cold, fast wind Tuesday, and gusts up to 65 mph were expected Tuesday evening in Santa Barbara County. While Tuesday was a dry day, the National Weather Service predicts rain will fall Thursday through Saturday in Santa Barbara County. Before the rain comes the cold. The weather service expects today’s highs to be in the low 50s throughout Santa Barbara County. Lows will be around the upper 30s or low 40s. And that’s how the temperatures are expected to remain the rest of the week, although the highs on Saturday in Santa Barbara will be a bit warmer, in the mid-50s. The National Weather Service said a strong cold front would move through southwestern California through this morning “with very windy conditions and rapidly falling snow levels. Cold, showery weather will persist until an unusual winter storm brings periods of heavy rain and heavy mountain snow to the region Friday through Saturday night. Improving conditions are anticipated by Sunday.” The storm brings a high surf advisory from Santa Monica to Newport Beach. Winter storm warnings are in effect for mountainous areas from Big Bear down to Julian and much of Northern California with heavy snow in higher elevations. The Inland Empire down to El Cajon is under a winter weather advisory. Elevations above 2,000 feet are forecasted to have up to 3 inches of snow. Boaters in California are advised to remain in port, seek safe harbor or secure sea vessels against dangerous conditions capable of overturning vessels. Ventura Harbor entrances can also experience breaking waves. Ventura and Los Angeles counties can expect waves 7 to 14 feet high. The Central Coast may have 10- to 18- feet breakers with high seas peaking at 22 feet. Ria Roebuck Joseph, a writer with The Center Square, contributed to this story.
By RIA ROEBUCK JOSEPH (The Center Square) — California’s Republican state legislators are urging Gov. Gavin Newsom to take steps to ease the financial burden for California families as summer approaches. In a letter dated Feb. 21, and signed by all of the party’s 18 Assembly members and eight state senators, the representatives asked for three actions to be
By NEIL HARTSTEIN NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER
KENNETH SONG/NEWS-PRESS
Caltrans workers continue to install debris netting along a portion of northbound Highway 101 Friday near the Gaviota Tunnel.
considered to ease the burden for Californians “struggling to afford the rapidly increasing cost of basic necessities.” The letter asked for a stop on the gas tax hike, an extension of the diesel tax holiday and a delay in the fuel blend transition. The request comes as Gov. Newsom’s gas tax proposal is scheduled for a hearing today.The group argued that Californians already pay more than 50% above the national average for gas. An 8% increase
FOLLOW US ON
66833 00050
3
began to sexually assault her, prosecutors said. The victim fought the defendant, and he eventually left her apartment, prosecutors said. The Santa Barbara Police Department, led by Detective Adam Mik, conducted a thorough and extensive investigation, and placed the defendant under arrest. The prosecution team was led by Deputy District Attorney Lauren Franco. According to District Attorney Savrnoch, “Jane Doe testified at the trial, where she exhibited extraordinary bravery. “By reporting the crime, and testifying at trial, the jury was able to hold this defendant accountable for his actions,” he said. Sentencing is scheduled for April 20 before Judge Pauline Maxwell. Mr. Gomez-Santillan is currently in custody on $1 million bail. email: nhartsteinnewspress@ gmail.com
Man arrested for allegedly threatening Santa Maria police
Republicans urge Gov. Gavin Newsom to act to prevent gas price hikes THE CENTER SQUARE CONTRIBUTOR
Convicted rapist faces seven years to life in prison By NEIL HARTSTEIN
By DAVE MASON
6
75¢
W E D N E S DAY, F E B RUA RY 2 2 , 2 0 2 3
is expected to take effect in July 2023. The Republicans are asking for relief from the 2023 increase through a suspension of the gas tax increase. On Tuesday, the price for gas was $4.738 a gallon in California and $4.723 a gallon in Santa Barbara County, according to the American Automobile Association. The war in the Ukraine, begun in 2022, has pushed prices upward. In response, President Joe Biden made what the White
House calls “a historic release from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve to serve as a bridge to greater supply” in 2022, but it was not clear from the start how significantly gas prices would be reduced by this course of action. In November 2021, 50 million barrels of crude from the reserves were released in an effort to reduce the already high costs at the pump. Another 30 million Please see GAS PRICES on A2
A Santa Maria man was arrested over the weekend on suspicion of threatening the lives of Santa Maria police officers and their families, including targeting and stalking officers’ homes, police said. The threat came to light on Friday at approximately 9:46 p.m., when the Santa Maria Police Department received information regarding Santa Maria Police officers and officers’ family members being threatened via social media posts, Sgt. Daniel Rios said in a police department news brief posted online Saturday. Officers initiated an investigation, and a suspect, Albert Varelas, 34, was identified, Sgt. Rios said. Mr. Varelas’ social media account was also located. During the initial investigation, several more social media posts allegedly were made by Mr. Varelas and observed by officers in real time involving further threats against Santa Maria police officers and family members, Sgt. Rios said. Mr. Varelas’ threats allegedly referenced previous police contact and current threats to “kill” officers and family members, Sgt. Rios said. Further investigation confirmed that Mr. Varelas was allegedly targeting and stalking officers’ homes in the Santa Maria area, Sgt. Rios said. Officers obtained an arrest warrant for Mr. Varelas on
suspicion of making criminal threats but were unable to locate him. That changed about 7:30 a.m. Saturday when the Santa Maria Police Detective Bureau took over the investigation. Detectives were able to track the suspect to a location in the Orcutt area near Foster Road and Hummel Drive. At about 2:20 p.m. Saturday, Santa Maria police detectives, with assistance from the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office Patrol Division and the Santa Maria Police Patrol Division, were able to safely locate and arrest Mr. Varelas without incident, police said. He was booked into the Santa Barbara County Jail on the criminal threats warrant, and he is being held there on $250,000 bail. Investigators are recommending that the Santa Barbara County District Attorney’s Office review the case for related stalking charges. Anyone with information related to this investigation is encouraged to contact SMPD Detective Eduardo Servin at 805-928-3781, ext. 1362, or the SMPD Communications Center at 805-928 -3781, ext. 2277. Sgt. Rios did not return the News-Press’ phone calls Monday or Tuesday seeking comment on a possible motive for Mr. Varelas’ alleged online threats. email: nhartsteinnewspress@ gmail.com
INSIDE
L O T T E RY RESULTS
Classified................. B4 Life...................... B1-2 Obituaries............... A4
Saturday’s SUPER LOTTO: 2-3-36-38-45 Meganumber: 24
Tuesday’s DAILY 4: 3-9-3-8
Tuesday’s MEGA MILLIONS: N/A Meganumber: N/A
Tuesday’s FANTASY 5: 2-7-9-27-34
Tuesday’s DAILY DERBY: 08-02-06 Time: 1:40.68
Monday’s POWERBALL: 3-17-26-38-54 Meganumber: 15
Sudoku................... B3 Sports . ................ A3-4 Weather................. A4
Tuesday’s DAILY 3: 4-2-3 / Wednesday’s Midday 8-8-3