<![CDATA[Tomoya Shimura - Body of Work]]>Thu, 08 Sep 2011 17:15:53 -0800Weebly<![CDATA[Courthouse locks down after commotion by ‘Restore America' protesters]]>Sat, 14 May 2011 00:00:00 -0800http://www.tomoyashimura.com/3/post/2011/05/courthouse-locks-down-after-commotion-by-restore-america-protesters.htmlVICTORVILLE • The Victorville courthouse was locked down for about half an hour Friday morning after a judge ordered a group of protesters to leave his courtroom.

More than 30 De Jure California Republic members from San Bernardino County, who say their mission is to restore the power of the American people, showed up to support Gilbert Hernandez Scott and Yvette Barragan, a Victorville couple charged with abusing their children.

When called to appear for their case, Scott and Barragan refused to step across the bar, which separates the gallary from the area where court proceedings are held. They also demanded that Judge John Tomberlin relieve their attorneys so they could represent themselves.

The judge advised the defendants on the pitfalls of self-representation in court.

But when Tomberlin told them to cross the bar, some of the protesters in the gallery stood up and began shouting at the bench, said Carlos Rodriguez, who was waiting in the gallery for a different case.

Download the full story (PDF) by clicking on the following link.
2011-05-14_courthouse_lockdown.pdf
File Size: 1004 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File
]]><![CDATA[High Desert economy may suffer from tightened wallets]]>Fri, 13 May 2011 00:00:00 -0800http://www.tomoyashimura.com/3/post/2011/05/high-desert-economy-may-suffer-from-tightened-wallets.htmlVICTORVILLE • As gas prices soar above $4, High Desert residents are among those feeling the worst pain at the pump in Southern California, according to a study released Thursday.

With longer commutes and lower incomes, locals are feeling more of a pinch from the increasing gas prices compared to the wealthier population closer to business centers, and it can impede the economic recovery in the area, researchers say.

“What it means for the High Desert is that people will change their consumption patterns,” cutting back on luxury spending, said Johannes Moenius, associate professor at the University of Redlands School of Business.

The Institute for Spatial Economic Analysis at the University of Redlands School of Business analyzed by ZIP codes how much consumers spend on gas on average to commute to work as a share of their disposable income.

Download the full story (PDF) by clicking on the following link.
2011-05-13_gas_impact.pdf
File Size: 5006 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File
]]><![CDATA[One third of VV civil cases sent to San Bernardino]]>Thu, 12 May 2011 00:00:00 -0800http://www.tomoyashimura.com/3/post/2011/05/one-third-of-vv-civil-cases-sent-to-san-bernardino.htmlVICTORVILLE • One out of every three civil cases at Victorville Superior Court has been sent to a courtroom in San Bernardino to relieve the massive case backlog in the High Desert.

But some attorneys say the transfers put an unfair burden on local litigants who have to travel farther for the public service and pay additional legal fees.

About two months ago, San Bernardino County Presiding Judge Douglas Elwell began ordering the transfer of civil cases from Victorville to Judge Marsha Slough’s courtroom in San Bernardino Superior Court.

Victorville simply doesn’t have any more courtrooms, Elwell said, even if it manages to get additional judges.

“I’m relieving the Victorville court of the significant portion of its civil case congestion,” he said. “The entire citizens of the Victor Valley are better off when there are 50 percent more judges handling the cases. That’s my assessment.”

Download the full story (PDF) by clicking on the following link.
2011-05-12_civil_case.pdf
File Size: 1886 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File
]]><![CDATA[VV mother convicted of starving son gets probation]]>Fri, 06 May 2011 00:00:00 -0800http://www.tomoyashimura.com/3/post/2011/05/vv-mother-convicted-of-starving-son-gets-probation.htmlVICTORVILLE • A Victorville mother convicted of starving her disabled son to death got off with the 359 days she served while awaiting trial because evidence showed Child Protective Services repeatedly told her the victim was doing fine.

Victorville Superior Court Judge Jules Fleuret put Rosondra Marie Clay, 30, on five-year supervised probation for involuntary manslaughter, following the plea agreement and a probation officer’s recommendation.

Clay, who was originally charged with the murder of 5-year-old Kevin Baldwin, accepted the prosecution’s offer and pleaded guilty to the lesser charge on April 2.

After postponing the sentencing for a week to review facts of the case, Fleuret said Thursday the plea agreement was appropriate.

Download the full story (PDF) by clicking on the following link.
2011-05-06_clay_sentencing.pdf
File Size: 1859 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File
]]><![CDATA[Local small business owner sells mixers globally]]>Sun, 01 May 2011 00:00:00 -0800http://www.tomoyashimura.com/3/post/2011/05/local-small-business-owner-sells-mixers-globally.htmlADELANTO • Hidden Valley Ranch, Diet Pepsi or Tylenol. If you consume any of these popular products, there’s a good chance they were made using mixers from a factory in Adelanto.

Scott Turbon Mixer Inc., founded by Bill and Linda Scott 31 years ago, designs and builds stainless steel mixers for many of the largest food, pharmaceutical, cosmetic and chemical processing facilities. It ships products not just in the United States but to about 20 other countries around the world.

With 40 or so employees, the company has successfully competed against much bigger manufacturers such as SPX, a Fortune 500 company.

How?

Bill Scott knows where to fight. The company goes after a niche market, sometimes even creating one.

“We want to be known as the stainless steel specialist, so when companies call for stainless steel mixing equipment they will call us first,” Scott said.

Download the full story (PDF) by clicking on the following link.
2011-05-01_secrets_to_success.pdf
File Size: 359 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File
]]><![CDATA[Pot delivery case up in smoke]]>Sun, 24 Apr 2011 00:00:00 -0800http://www.tomoyashimura.com/3/post/2011/04/pot-delivery-case-up-in-smoke.htmlVICTORVILLE • Prosecutors dropped felony charges in what they believed to be the first criminal case in the High Desert against an alleged medical marijuana dispensary.

The San Bernardino County District Attorney’s office filed the charges against Kenneth Elswick, 47, and Harvey Wolfe, 63, last year in the midst of the county’s effort to crack down on medical marijuana. The owners of California Association of Patient Collectives and Dispensaries in Phelan were charged with selling marijuana.

But Deputy District Attorney Kurt Maier told the court Friday morning his office dismissed the case because he was not ready to go to trial.

Elswick rushed out of the courtroom as soon as Judge John Tomberlin declared the dismissal.

“I never wanted this. I never thought it was going to turn into a witch hunt,” Elswick said, trying to fight back tears. “I’m a good person. I’ve never committed any crime in my life. I’ve never done anything wrong in my life.”

Download the full story (PDF) by clicking on the following link.
2011-04-24_pot_collective.pdf
File Size: 1033 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File
]]><![CDATA[Hotel owner gets weekend jail in $863,000 scam]]>Wed, 20 Apr 2011 00:00:00 -0800http://www.tomoyashimura.com/3/post/2011/04/hotel-owner-gets-weekend-jail-in-863000-scam.html
VICTORVILLE • A local hotel owner convicted of stealing more than $800,000 from Orbitz.com was sentenced Tuesday to 270 weekend days in jail.

Victorville Superior Court Judge Lynn Poncin also ordered Ashka Patel, 28, to pay restitution to the online travel company.

The prosecution alleged Orbitz’s losses totaled about $863,000, whereas Patel claimed the amount was closer to $500,000. She agreed to give up $680,000 authorities seized from her three bank accounts after her arrest. Patel’s restitution hearing is set for July 15.

Download the full story (PDF) by clicking on the following link.
2011-04-20_ashka_patel.pdf
File Size: 1429 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File
]]><![CDATA[Daily Press honored for general excellence]]>Sun, 17 Apr 2011 00:00:00 -0800http://www.tomoyashimura.com/3/post/2011/04/daily-press-honored-for-general-excellence.html
Picture
LOS ANGELES • The Daily Press on Saturday was named the overall second best newspaper in the state among papers similar to its size.

The Victorville newspaper finished second in the “general excellence” category in a mid-size daily division of the California Newspaper Publishers Association 2010 Better Newspapers Contest. The Santa Cruz Sentinel won the division.

The winners were chosen by journalists across the state based on the following criteria: General news coverage, breadth of coverage, story selection, editorial excellence, quality of writing, news judgment, graphics excellence and editorial page.

“It’s great. I’m proud of the staff and it’s nice to be recognized by our peers,” Daily Press Editor Don Holland said. “I’ve always believed that serving our readers and recognition by the marketplace are more important than any award.”

Senior Reporter Brooke Edwards won second place in the feature writing category with her story “Tiny fighters.” Edwards told the story of two local babies who were born severely premature and of the doctors, nurses and families who supported their battle to live.

“I’m very grateful to the families of baby Cole and baby Grant for sharing their stories with me and our readers,” Edwards said.

In the photo essay category, Photo Editor James Quigg received a blue-ribbon recognition. His essay “Fighting for a change” captured images of teenagers in the Hesperia Police Activities League Boxing Gym.

Lisa Benson received second place in the editorial cartoon category. Benson’s cartoon illustrated the substantial revenue Inland Energy has generated through its contracts with Victorville.

The Hesperia Star, the Daily Press’ sister weekly newspaper, also finished second for its front page in the broadsheet category.

Download the full story (PDF) by clicking on the following link.
2011-04-17_cnpa_awards.pdf
File Size: 1836 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File
]]><![CDATA[Ex-deputy sentenced to 20 years for soliciting sexual favors]]>Thu, 07 Apr 2011 00:00:00 -0800http://www.tomoyashimura.com/3/post/2011/04/ex-deputy-sentenced-to-20-years-for-soliciting-sexual-favors.html
VICTORVILLE • An ex-Victorville sheriff’s deputy was sentenced to 20 years in prison Wednesday morning for soliciting bribes and sexual favors in exchange for reduced charges.

Victorville Superior Court Judge Jules Fleuret sentenced Matthew Linderman, 34, to the maximum prison term under  the law.

Because Linderman is eligible for half-time credits, he could get out in 10 years if he’s not disciplined in prison. He will have to register as a sex offender when he gets released.

His hands and ankles cuffed, Linderman appeared in court wearing a protective custody jumpsuit with stubble on his face.

Download the full story (PDF) by clicking on the following link.
2011-04-07_linderman_sentencing.pdf
File Size: 2082 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File
]]><![CDATA[Trial begins for 2003 Kemper Campbell Ranch murder]]>Wed, 06 Apr 2011 00:00:00 -0800http://www.tomoyashimura.com/3/post/2011/04/trial-begins-for-2003-kemper-campbell-ranch-murder.htmlVICTORVILLE • A couple awoke to the sound of breaking glass from downstairs in their Kemper Campbell Ranch apartment.

Alice Sauls said her husband, Joel Auest, told her to call 911 before he ran downstairs. Upset and terrified, she couldn’t dial the phone, Sauls testified Tuesday, recalling the early morning of Oct. 4, 2003.

Auest soon came back into the bedroom, followed by a slender, young man wearing blue medical scrubs.

“You’re gonna have to calm down ma’am,” the stranger told Sauls, according to her testimony. “You’re gonna have to have my baby.”

The intruder approached Sauls and struck her in the head with an object in his hand, Sauls said. She went downstairs to get help after the man went out to the balcony, Sauls testified. Later Auest came downstairs with blood dripping from his head.

The couple was airlifted to Loma Linda University Medical Center where Auest died three days later from blunt force trauma to the head.

The prosecution began presenting its witnesses Tuesday in the trial of Melvin Douglas Cannon, accused of murdering 55-year-old Auest — a crime that shook the tranquil Victorville ranch community more than seven years ago. The 23-year-old is also charged with the attempted murder of Sauls, burglary and other allegations.

Download the full story (PDF) by clicking on the following link.
2011-04-06_melvin_cannon_opening.pdf
File Size: 1798 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File
]]>