Some, but not all, charges dismissed,so Santana, Vasquez must stand trial

by Tom Nadeau

Visiting Judge John Darlington has granted some – but not all – of the objections Yuba-Sutter attorneys Jesse Santana and David Vasquez raised in a motion to dismiss charges they may have violated certain rules of law and ethics during disputed legal negotiations.

That means the two attorneys may go on trial in Yuba County Superior Court at an as yet undetermined date. If the defense files no more objections before Aug. 13, the rulings go into effect Aug. 27.

Santana’s attorney, Roberto Marquez said in a blistering written statement that he intends to file a writ of mandamus with the Third District Court of Appeals on the grounds the indictment was tainted because the judge who presided over the indicting grand jury had a demonstrable history of prejudice against Santana.

The counts, one by one ... Read more »

Simlick held to answer in double homicide case; he's looking at possible death penalty

by Tom Nadeau

In a courtroom packed with the families and friends of the victims and relatives of the accused, Joseph Hayden Simlick pleaded innocent Tuesday to charges he killed Jack and Susan Martin, whose bodies were found Friday in their burnt-out home in the town of Sutter.

If convicted of special circumstances murder, Simlick, 21, could face the death penalty or life in state prison with no possibility of parole, Sutter County Superior Judge Chris Chandler said.

People v. Simlick, felony cases #10-1786 and #10-1787, also charge Simlick with felony violations of California Penal Code sections 236 and 237, both involving false imprisonment.

As so far disclosed by law enforcement, Simlick is suspected of unlawfully holding the Martin’s youngest daughter for some five days prior to the parents’ deaths.

Delay denied ... Read more »

Theater, sex, crime converge once again

The man who stole Shakespeare to fund a good time and a girl got eight years and a tongue-lashing from a judge for booklegging a priceless early edition of the Bard's works, the British press reported today.

An unemployed antiques dealer with a taste for the high life was jailed today for eight years after he was convicted of handling a stolen copy of a rare first collection of Shakespeare's plays.

Raymond Scott, 53, who drove a yellow Ferrari and posed as an international playboy despite having huge debts, walked into one of the world's leading Shakespeare research centres with the 17th century book.

Staff at the renowned Folger Shakespeare Library in Washington D.C. recognised the valuable book and called the police, the British Embassy and the FBI.

Regarded as one of the most important printed works in the English language, less than 250 copies of the collection survive.

They were first printed in 1623, seven years after Shakespeare's death.

Judge angered by crime against culture ... Read more »