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STATE BRIEFS
WEEKEND EDITION, OCTOBER 14-15, 2006 ASSOCIATED PRESS
SANTA ANA
Avenging senior citizen gets 25 years in prison An 81-year-old woman who killed the father of her great-grandson because she believed he molested the boy was sentenced to 25 years to life in prison. Jeane Ellen Allen entered a guilty plea and was sentenced Thursday, appearing in Superior Court handcuffed to a wheelchair. She may be the oldest person in Orange County history to plead guilty to first-degree murder, authorities said. Allen pleaded guilty against her lawyerâs advice and âonly because she could not see the end of the tunnel,â Assistant Public Defender Sheryl Beasley said. âIt breaks my heart.â But the mother of her victim called her selfish and evil. âI hope that forever how many days of your life you have left you will suffer knowing that you took the life of an innocent man,â Irene Reyes said in a court statement. Allen was arrested at her home in Lake Forest on Jan. 28 for killing Alex Reyes. The 26year-old Brea man was shot in the head when he arrived for a court-authorized visit with his 18-month-old son. Reyes had been involved in a custody battle with Allenâs granddaughter, Leslie Jane Bieg, who claimed he molested the boy. Reyes denied it and prosecutor Steve McGreevy said the allegation was false. Witnesses told authorities that Reyes appeared to be having a casual conversation with Allen and her granddaughter when Allen pulled out a gun and fired. Allen said she used a revolver once owned by an uncle who was a member of the Chicago police force. NEWPORT BEACH
City gets a park with ocean views The city will get a new oceanside park after nearly five years of effort. The California Transportation Commission on Thursday voted to approve the sale of 15 acres of land to the city for $5 million. It will become Sunset Ridge Park and will have baseball and soccer fields. Disagreements over the price had slowed down the acquisition. It could take two years and another $8 million to develop the park. âFor us to acquire 15 acres in a city thatâs virtually built out, I think is a pretty good achievement,â City Councilman Steve Rosansky said. âWeâre 100 years old, and weâre still building new parks.â PALM DESERT
Tale of the tape ends in disciplinary action A Palm Desert High School water polo coach and several players were disciplined for a hazing incident in which a freshman was duct-taped to a stretcher. A surveillance tape showed the incident took place Tuesday morning at the school pool. The junior varsity coach and eight to 10 players were disciplined, Principal Pat Walsh said. Walsh declined to describe the discipline but Athletic Director Christina Osborne said âthere will be individuals who will not be on (the pool) deck for the season.â Walsh said older players bound the player to a stretcher and one threw an unused condom at the boyâs face. The principal said coaches will meet with athletes to remind them of âappropriate behaviorâ and he will meet with the parents of the water polo players. âWe donât tolerate any behavior where a student or athlete is being treated in a demeaning manner,â Walsh said. On Wednesday, the team lost to Cathedral City, 15-3. It was the first league match the team has lost since 1997. RIVERSIDE
Alleged police beating ends in mistrial A mistrial was declared for a former Beaumont police officer charged with beating a handcuffed prisoner after an important document in the case arrived late. A Superior Court judge on Thursday declared the mistrial and ordered a new jury to be chosen on Nov. 13. Christopher A. Chester, 34, is charged with two counts of assault and a count of assault under the color of authority. He could face up to seven years in prison and a $10,000 fine in convicted. He is accused of punching David Alan Dietrich, 49, after the man spat on him from the back seat of his patrol car.
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