By Marissa Mitchell

Chino Hills – On April 4, the Chino Hills Planning Commission met to discuss the plan that private owner Trumark Homes is requesting approval of for the area over which previously stood Chino Hills City Hall.

Due to various issues with municipal code and site plan reviews, the hearing was continued to April 18, and the report from that review meeting is still being drafted.

What is termed as the “Founders Village Project” because it is located on Founders Drive has been beset with various issues. Previously the location of Chino Hills Civic Center, with the new purchase, the sloped areas of the property would be designated as “private open space” and the flat area of the property would be classified as “medium density residential.”

Discussed at this planning meeting was the adoption a Municipal Code Amendment, which would exempt developments consisting only of duplex housing units from the obligatory building separation standards for multi-family developments in Chino Hills Municipal Code (CHMC).

There would be 38 duplexes consisting of 76 dwelling units in this former municipally-owned area. These proposed 76 units would range from 2,442 sq. ft. to 2,569 sq. ft, each unit possessing five (5) bedrooms, a two-car garage, and a minimum of 525 square feet of private open space (such as backyard space).

Senior Planner Ryan Gackstetter presented the information on this project to the Planning Commission on April 4. The project applications include a General Plan Amendment, Zone Change, Municipal Code Amendment, Site Plan Review, and Vesting Tentative Tract Map. Overall, it would help the city reach housing and population goals.

One public speaker and resident of the adjacent neighborhood on Deer Haven Drive, Antonio Tau, voiced concerns about parking. He stated that the on-street parking within the project may be insufficient, and so residents and guests would park on surrounding streets, such as his own. He suggested prohibitions to overnight parking or required permits as a solution to this potential problem. This concern played a part in the continuation of the hearing until April 18.

The senior planner Gackstetter stated of the proposed alterations and concerns, and the private application overall, “The applicant is making concerted efforts and strides toward adaptation to code and paying heed to surrounding citizens’ concerns.”

A few of the issues the Commission discussed with both staff and applicant included the following: street improvements and project requirements to ensure driver visibility entering and exiting Founders Drive; guest parking on the driveways of the duplex units with fewer on-street parking; landscaping, irrigation, and maintenance of project perimeter slopes; project design, the connection of the duplex units, and the quality of the architecture, among others.

After the application is brought to the commission, it will be brought before the City Council Citizens of Chino Hills will soon see just what their “old” city hall becomes, and who that land houses.

By Marissa Mitchell

Chino Hills – This past Sunday a man was arrested on the charge of murder by drive-by shooting of an 8-year-old boy in Pomona, CA.

On March 26, Sengchan Houl, aged 35 of Pomona, was taken into custody and booked on suspicion of murder for the demise of Jonah Hwang, a young boy shot to death on February 20^th of this year. The shooting occurred on 1100 block of West 11^th Street in Pomona.

The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s office will decide later whether or not to seek the death penalty against Houl, who is currently being held without bail while waiting arraignment on April 26 of this year. The murder charge includes the allegation of murder committed while firing from a motor vehicle.

At the time of the shooting, the boy was in the home with his family while visiting friends for dinner. He was struck by the bullet and killed upon impact. Police have stated that the family formerly residing at the house of the aforementioned crime had no gang affiliations.

Pomona police Chief Paul Capraro, during news conference that ensued the Monday following the shooting, declared there have been four shootings in total since January of this year aimed directly at this house, but for unknown reasons.

“On three of the shootings, the house was unoccupied,” stated Capraro. “Evidence suggests that all four of these shootings are related.”

Investigators were able to identify the vehicle used in all four shootings, and thereafter arrested Houl this past Sunday.

Regarding the arrest, Capraro attested, “Mr. Houl was stopped (while) driving the suspect vehicle…In his possession at the time of his arrest was a firearm that we believe was used in the shootings.”

The motive for these shootings remains unclear, and the investigation continues. Capraro stated police are trying to discover any other accomplices.

The suspect does not have an extensive criminal record, and it is unknown if he is or was involved in criminal organizations.

By Marissa Mitchell

Chino Hills – Chino Hills citizen Juan C. Rosas Santillana, age 33, is scheduled to plead guilty on April 21 for participating in a racketeering scheme by acting as a recruiter in a large-scale bribery operation.

On Wednesday, March 29, a former clerk of the Orange County Superior Court pled guilty to federal racketeering charges. With the aid of above Chino Hills resident Juan Rosas and other recruiters, the clerk collected more than a $250,000 in bribes to illegally resolve both criminal cases and traffic offenses.

The clerk, Jose Lopez Jr., age 36 of Anaheim, pled guilty to one count of conspiring to violate the federal Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO). Lopez admitted that he was at the center of a scheme in which co-conspirators (including Chino Hills resident Santillana) paid him as much as $8,000 in bribes to “fix” cases.

Chino Hills resident Juan Rosas Santillana and others were middlemen who “recruited” individuals with pending cases to pay money to resolve their cases without authorization of the court.

With the help of aforementioned middlemen, or recruiters, “defendant [Lopez] improperly resolved approximately 1,034 cases, including 69 misdemeanor driving under the influence cases, 160 other misdemeanor cases and 805 traffic-related infraction cases.” Lopez admitted to these charges on the plea agreement.

Over the course of 5 years, recruiters sent to Lopez and Lopez subsequently “resolved” cases by entering information in court computers to do any or multiple of the following: making it appear that a defendant had pled guilty, making it appear that required fees had been paid and/or community service time served, and even that drunk driving charges had been dismissed or defendants had already served required jail time.

Moreover, Lopez was also found to have forged the signature of a prosecutor within the Orange County District Attorney’s Office.

The conspiracy finally ended in the spring of 2015 when the court discovered the misconduct and took steps to reopen cases that Lopez and his affiliates had interfered with.

“This defendant compromised the justice system in Orange County to line his pocket with money he used to travel abroad, take trips to Las Vegas and open a Mexican restaurant,” stated United States Attorney Sandra R. Brown. “This scheme affected hundreds of cases and caused havoc in the Orange County Superior Court – problems that were further complicated when the former clerk encouraged others to lie about the scheme.”

Lopez pled guilty before United States District Judge Josephine L. Staton, who is scheduled to sentence the defendant on September 22. Consequently, Lopez faces a statutory maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison.

“The defendant ignored the rule of law and potentially undermined public safety by essentially serving as judge and jury in scores of cases to enrich himself,” declared Deirdre Fike, Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI’s Los Angeles Field Office. “The FBI and our partners will continue to investigate complaints of corruption by public officials and those with access to sensitive information.”

With Lopez’s guilty plea, there remain 10 people charged last fall with participating in the racketeering scheme by acting as recruiters.

The other 10 defendants who have pleaded guilty or have agreed to plead guilty are the following:

• Juan C. Rosas Santillana, 33, of Chino Hills, who is scheduled to plead guilty on April 21;
• Ricardo Quinones, 33, of Santa Ana;
• Ramon Salvador Vasquez, 28, of Santa Ana;
• Manuel Galindo Jr., 27, of Santa Ana;
• Gibram Rene Lopez, also known as “Ivan,” 27, of Anaheim;
• Agustin Sanchez Jr., 32, of Santa Ana;
• Luis Alberto Flores Guillen, also known as “Bills,” 26, of Santa Ana, who pleaded guilty earlier today;
• Oscar Centeno, also known as “Mosquito,” 27, of Santa Ana;
• Jeff Reynes Fernandez, also known as “Lean,” 25, of Fullerton; and
• Jesus Saldana, 28, of Garden Grove.

Special agents within the Federal Bureau of Investigation and IRS Criminal Investigation continue to investigate this case.

Photo courtesy: Google Images

By Marissa Mitchell

Chino Hills – Tuesday, April 4, Chino Hills High received a telephonic bomb threat to the school. The phone call occurred at approximately 1 o’clock p.m. that day.

A male individual called on April 4 and threatened to “blow up” the school. The principal immediately ordered a lockdown of the entire school.

Thereafter, the Sheriff’s department received a call informing them that a possible bomb threat had been issued at CHHS. The entire school was immediately put on lockdown as the police arrived and proceeded with a thorough investigation.

The police conducted searches of every building on campus while students were waiting for them to check and clear the space. Deputies searched and swept the school room by room. Students were moved to a safe area as the searches were conducted.

Roads were closed at that time. Surrounding streets were closed and have since reopened.

Many parents flooded social media during this frightening time, asking online for prayer. At the end of the school day, students were given the “all clear” and were allowed to go home.

No motive was clear and no one has been apprehended so far.

Photo by: SI.com
Lavar Ball speaks to his son, LaMelo Ball, at UCLA game.

Staff Reports

Chino Hills– Chino Hills Sheriffs Department is looking for two males “wearing dark clothes” after a possible burglary was reported at the home of three basketball standouts while they played in a nationally televised game.

The Sheriff’s Department received a “possible burglary” call last week and were called out to the 16000 block of Aquamarine Court after a neighbor reportedly heard glass breaking next door.

A search of the area on foot and via helicopter was inconclusive as the two suspects were not found.

The home is owned by Lavar Ball, father of three standout basketball players who have made national headlines. UCLA forward Lonzo ball and brothers LiAngelo Ball and LaMelo Ball who both attend Chino Hills High. The two brothers were playing in a nationally televised playoff game.

LaMelo Ball recently gathered national attention after scoring an astounding 92 points after dedicating his play to fellow classmate Lexi Anderson, who just underwent a successful heart transplant last week.

The burglary occurred while the family was attending LiAngelo and LaMelo’s televised high school playoff game. Since no suspects were caught, its not known whether the burglars knew the family would be in Lawndale for the game.

Police found a pile of the homeowners possessions stacked up in the home, indicating a burglary was most likely interrupted.

LiAngelo Ball was quoted as saying the door was messed up and things were outside the closet, local reports said.

Anyone with information about this burglary can contact the Chino Hills Police Station’s detective bureau at (909) 364-2000.

Photo by: Marissa Mitchell

By Marissa Mitchell

Chino Hills – This year, a whole new era of sports media and paraphernalia is emerging in the form of Big Baller Brand clothing and apparel line.

LaVar Ball, father of  basketball prodigies Lonzo Ball (now at UCLA), LiAngelo, and LaMelo Ball (both at Chino Hills High), has turned the sports branding world upside down through the creation of this “triple-B” brand. LaVar currently runs the business as a “family business”…but it won’t stay that way for long.

Most known for his bold statements in the media (such as his statement that his son could outplay Steph Curry, or that he himself could beat Michael Jordan one-on-one), LaVar is more “infamous” than famous at this point in time. Nonetheless, the superb athleticism of his sons is undisputed, especially with his son Lonzo leading the UCLA team, so far victoriously, through the NCAA championship.

Unlike LeBron James, who signed a $90 million dollar deal before the 2003 NBA draft, Lonzo Ball will own a portion of his own brand. “[James doesn’t] have a brand—that’s a brand that Nike created,” LaVar stated. “Try to go somewhere with that King sign and take it from Nike. You can’t do that. These triple B’s? They’re mine.”

And this is true. Not only that, but Big Baller Brand has broken new ground, perhaps unwittingly, for student-athletes. Because UCLA conceded to LaVar, noting that while he used UCLA colors, it was a “family” operation, the NCAA has broken its strong hold on college athletes. The brand has begun in the same place LaVar trained his three fantastically talented sons: in his home. But sales have been increasing so rapidly, it’s been difficult to keep up with demand.

Such success does seem to pose a visible threat to big-name labels. In a recent interview, LaVar averred, “[Some labels are like] Blockbusters, and the Big Baller Brand is Netflix. And you know what happened to Blockbuster? If you don’t change, guess what’s going to happen. There’s a red box everywhere.”

There is no doubt we are seeing more “BBB” items out and about. Perhaps “big name labels” really do have something to worry about.