Teen recaptured after escaping from Los Padrinos Juvenile Hall during brawl with staff

• July 30, 2023

Los Padrinos Juvenile Hall remained on lockdown a day after a teenager managed to briefly escape during a fight that involved 13 detainees, according to the Probation Department.

The 18-year-old slipped out of the secure facility amid the fighting, but was immediately apprehended by members of the Probation Department’s Special Enforcement Operations unit. Officials asked the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department to book the young man as an adult in light of his age.

The other 12 youths have been placed in individual rooms “under one-on-one supervision,” according to a statement released by the probation department.

“No serious injuries to youth or staff were reported during the incident, and a subsequent headcount found all 273 youth at the facility present and accounted for,” the statement read.

The fight began around 8 p.m. Friday, July 28, when seven youths assaulted staff and broke an exterior door attached to their living area. They then broke the window of a second unit, allowing six others to join them on the facility grounds. The oldest climbed a wall and escaped onto an adjacent golf course, according to the probation department.

Police officers from Downey, South Gate and the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department responded to assist with what the probation officials called a “major disturbance.” Footage captured by NBC 4 showed police in riot gear and vehicles surrounding the facility with spotlights trained on the walls.

The Downey Police Department, which originally warned neighbors to stay inside with doors and windows locked, issued an update around 9:30 p.m. stating that the “facility has been secured and there is no threat to the public.”

In response to the episode, interim Probation Chief Guillermo Viera Rosa has ordered that a probation department bureau chief be present during every shift at Los Padrinos and has temporarily reinstated the use of oleoresin capsicum spray (OC spray), a type of pepper spray, that the department has been saying it would phase out for years. Officials originally touted that OC spray would not be used in Los Padrinos at all.

Viera Rosa said it would only be used until the facility is stabilized, and that he would revisit the decision in a few days.

“Any time you move a large number of youths, especially to a new facility as we have in the last week or two, there is a potential for problems and we plan for those,” Viera Rosa said in a statement. “But Friday night’s disturbance was an emergency that required an immediate and strong response. I’m thankful that no youth were seriously hurt, and with the help of other law enforcement agencies, we were able to re-establish order.”

Viera Rosa is bringing on Michael Minor, a private security consultant and former director of the California Department of Correction and Rehabilitation’s Division of Juvenile Justice, to work with staff to stabilize operations at Los Padrinos, according to the department.

Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn, whose district includes Downey, offered her thanks to the “law enforcement officers who responded and got this situation under control quickly.”

“We need to understand exactly what happened last night at Los Padrinos,” Hahn said. “I expect our interim Chief Probation Officer to get to the bottom of what went wrong and make assurances to the Board of Supervisors and the City of Downey that this is not going to happen again.”

Sean Garcia-Leys, a member of the county Probation Oversight Commission and executive director of the Peace and Justice Law Center, wasn’t surprised by the incident. The department has struggled with an unending staffing crisis for more than a year, and though the consolidation at Los Padrinos was meant to help with that, early signs suggest Los Padrinos is facing the same problems that led to the shutdown of Los Angeles County’s other two juvenile halls.

“This is the inevitable result of confining too many youth compared to the number of staff the department has available,” Garcia-Leys said. “We need to confine fewer youth so the staff we have can do their jobs well.”

The incident is the latest in a string of failures since Los Padrinos reopened two weeks ago. The Probation Department had scrambled for months to prepare Los Padrinos for the 274 predisposition youth who needed to be relocated to it due to state’s forced closure of Barry J. Nidorf in Sylmar and Central near downtown Los Angeles over poor conditions. The move was pulled off without incident over the course of five days starting on July 14 and it seemed the department would get a fresh start.

Yet, almost immediately, problems emerged.

The department found an unattended firearm in an area accessible only to staff on July 21. It is illegal to bring a firearm into a juvenile facility, even for those who can carry weapons legally outside of it.

The Los Angeles County Office of Inspector General observed searches of the youth and their personal belongings during the transfers, but noted that “there was no indication that individual staff or their boxes coming from either CJH or BJNJH were searched in the move to LPJH,” according to a July 26 report to the Board of Supervisors.

“Following the discovery of the firearm, the entire LPJH facility was searched by Probation Department Special Enforcement Operations officers and no other contraband was found,” wrote Max Huntsman, the inspector general. “While the firearm may not have been brought to LPJH during the move, its discovery and the lack of screening of staff and staff belongings raises continuing concerns regarding the introduction of contraband into the County’s juvenile facilities.”

That matter is still under investigation by an outside law enforcement agency, according to officials.

Then, the next day, parents and other guests attending visitation day experienced uncomfortable conditions. The air conditioning had died and the fresh paint on the walls dripped in the heat. Garcia-Leys, who inspected the facility that day, described a strong smell of mildew and said the youth complained to him of bug infestations. One displayed multiple bites on his face.

At the time, youth appeared increasingly agitated by the new environment and the lack of activities available to them compared to the older juvenile halls, he said.

“There was really nothing for them to do besides pace,” he said.

Garcia-Leys said he noticed signs of drug use among some of the youth, another indication the department is still failing to prevent contraband from entering the facility.

Following the hectic week, the Probation Department announced a new superintendent for Los Padrinos at 5 p.m. on a Sunday and stated it would be transitioning the prior leadership of the juvenile hall to “other areas of the department” the next day.

The Board of State and Community Corrections, the regulatory body that shut down Nidorf and Central, is expected to begin inspections at Los Padrinos in August to determine if that facility should be allowed to continue housing youth. The state board previously gave the green light for Los Padrinos to reopen following a series of pre-inspections.

The process to determine the suitability of the facility is more thorough and could take months to complete. If the Probation Department fails those inspections and is unable to submit a plan to fix the deficiencies, Los Angeles County could find itself facing yet another shutdown by the end of this year.

Related links

Early troubles plague newly reopened Los Padrinos Juvenile Hall
State orders LA County to close juvenile halls within 60 days
LA County finishes moving juvenile halls to Downey ahead of state shutdown
ACLU condemns LA County plan to reopen Los Padrinos, assign reserve deputies to troubled juvenile halls
State orders LA County to close juvenile halls within 60 days

​ Orange County Register 

Chargers’ connections serve them well in training camp

• July 30, 2023

COSTA MESA — It’s all about connections, as Chargers veterans Keenan Allen and Eric Kendricks said after Day 3 of training camp Saturday at Jack Hammett Sports Complex. Allen has a well-established one with quarterback Justin Herbert. Kendricks is developing one with linebacker Kenneth Murray Jr.

Allen, a wide receiver, is in his 11th NFL training camp, all with the Chargers, and his fourth as one of Herbert’s top targets. Kendricks, a linebacker, is in his first camp with the Chargers after spending eight seasons with the Minnesota Vikings following a stellar collegiate career at UCLA.

Allen clicked almost immediately with Herbert, the Chargers’ first-round draft pick in 2020. It’s not as if they actually can read each other’s mind, but it often appears they know what the other is thinking as a play or a drill unfolds on the field, the result of endless hours of practice.

“Just putting on a clinic,” Allen said of Herbert’s growth after a standout career at the University of Oregon. “He’s not really missing. He’s not missing passes. He’s able to see things at the line of scrimmage now with his check calls and he can kind of see the defense and get into his own play.

“He’s growing a lot.”

Kendricks was social media friends with Murray before they became teammates, forging a bond over a shared love of cars. Their friendship has only grown since Kendricks signed with the Chargers during the offseason after departing Minnesota, the only NFL home he had known.

“He likes cars,’ Kendricks said. “I love cars. We’re Instagram friends because of cars not really necessarily because we’re linebackers. Now we’re teammates. The sky’s the limit (for Murray). I don’t really think I’ve seen a linebacker that is built like him and capable of doing the things he can do behind the ball.

“He’s very versatile.”

There’s also a mentorship that goes along with being a veteran playing alongside a younger, less-experienced player. Allen, 31, developed his relationships with his fellow wide receivers, including first-round draft pick Quentin Johnston, easily and without hesitation. The same went for Kendricks, also 31.

Allen and Kendricks are each working under new coordinators this season, but that has only been a positive, as far as the Chargers are concerned. Kellen Moore took over as offensive coordinator from Joe Lombardi during the offseason and Derrick Ansley took over from Renaldo Hill as defensive coordinator.

“Quarterback, obviously,” Allen said, referring to Moore’s position while with the Dallas Cowboys and collegiately at Boise State.. “He’s a guy who understands the game. He’s player friendly, so he coaches to us and not really what he’s used to or what it was or something like that. He lets us be free. Justin is a pass downfield guy, so if that’s what he wants to do, then that’s what we’re going to do.”

Asked about the bond between Allen and Herbert, Chargers coach Brandon Staley said, “There’s just that unspoken chemistry on the field that you need, based on all of the different things that you’re going to see, little things that you can’t see from 10,000 feet, but when you’re out there, and it’s moving fast, you have to have that special connection.

“That anticipation and that trust, they have all of that. You need it. I think what’s been good is Justin has developed that trust with a lot more players now, too. He has that same trust for several other guys now, too, and I think that’s going to make us even more challenging to defend.”

Staley referred to Kendricks as “a total stud.”

“There are a lot of things I like about Eric Kendricks,” Staley said. “You see them every single day. They’re little things, they’re big things. He’s calm and you need that out there in the middle. He has full command. He can see the game. He’s a complete player at linebacker.”

CAMP UPDATES

Cornerback J.C. Jackson participated in only a handful of team drills as Staley and the athletic training staff continued to monitor his activity in the opening days of camp. Jackson suffered a season-ending knee injury Oct. 23. …

Offensive lineman Trey Pipkins III was held out of the latter portion of practice for what Staley said were precautionary reasons. Staley didn’t elaborate. …

Center Corey Linsley didn’t attend practice to be with his wife, Anna, who is expecting. …

The Chargers signed linebackers Blake Lynch and Tyreek Maddox-Williams.

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​ Orange County Register 

Galaxy down another player for Leagues Cup match with Vancouver

• July 30, 2023

In a season complicated by injuries, the Galaxy will have to deal with another one.

Midfielder Gastón Brugman, who has worn the captain’s armband for the majority of the season, left Wednesday’s Leagues Cup game with an apparent left leg injury. On Friday, Galaxy coach Greg Vanney confirmed that Brugman had suffered a meniscus tear and will undergo surgery early next week.

“Another non-contact moment, which we unfortunately lose an important player,” Vanney said. “It’s a bit of how things are going. We feel for him. Hopefully when they get in there, the news will be not a complete tear.

Brugman’s injury is the third big blow for the Galaxy, following Javier “Chicharito” Herandez’s ACL injury and Martin Caceres’ knee injury. Both are finished for the season.

Brugman joined the Galaxy last summer and immediately settled into an important role in the midfield.

Uri Rosell came on as a substitute replacing Brugman in Wednesday’s loss to Club Leon. Mark Delgado, who missed Wednesday’s game with a high ankle sprain, is still considered questionable.

“He was involved in most of training today (Friday),” Vanney said of Delgado. “He had a moment here or there where you could tell he was testing things out, he’s certainly progressing in the right direction.”

Midfield options are limited as the Galaxy heads into Sunday’s Leagues Cup game against Vancouver (6 p.m., Apple TV+) with likely only Riqui Puig in his normal starting role. The winner of the game advances to next week’s Round of 32.

“In the short term, internally we have step up,” Vanney said. “I thought Uri (Rosell) came on and had a solid performance. He’s a guy who has a lot of experience in our league and he certainly knows how to play the defensive midfield position. He had some little injury issues early in the season and he didn’t see a ton of time, but I thought he showed some experience when he came on. He’s an option.

“It’s one of these scenarios where for sure in the short term it’s just the next guy has to step in and fulfill the responsibilities of the position, but in the way that that player plays the position. He doesn’t need to be Gastón, he doesn’t need to do anything other than just be himself and trust the system and trust what we’re doing and be themselves.”

One thing Vanney doesn’t want to see is Puig having to change his role.

“I think he’s done a nice job of finding a balance over this stretch of games of when to come down and pick up the ball, when to try to start an attack, when to stay high and pick up the ball finish an attack,” Vanney said. “I think he’s found a nice rhythm inside of that. One of the things I will look for him is to help to continue to evolve as a leader inside of the group. He’s a young guy, but everybody looks to him as a key guy on our team. And now with Javy down, with Martin down, with Gastón down, it’s also going to be about picking up some of the leadership presence inside of the group and I’ve seen that at times over the last few games where Riqui is trying to bring the group along.

“That would be the piece, I would love for him to find another level inside of that just to try to support and bring the group forward from a leadership, emotional perspective.”

Vancouver at Galaxy

When: 6 p.m. Sunday

Where: Dignity Health Sports Park

How to watch: Apple TV (MLS Season Pass)

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​ Orange County Register 

Layshia Clarendon feels at home with the Sparks

• July 30, 2023

TORRANCE — After a 10-game sample size, it goes without saying the Sparks are better with veteran guard Layshia Clarendon in the starting lineup.

“I would say, your dreams will come true,” Clarendon began when asked for a message to a younger Layshia. “You will have a lot of heartache within this game, but it will all be worth it and to always know that you’re valuable no matter what happens.”

The Sparks are 6-4 when Clarendon starts. Without Clarendon, the Sparks have gone 3-11.

“We missed her for 14 games. Certainly, you can feel it when we didn’t have her and you feel the difference when we do have Layshia on the court,” Sparks first-year head coach Curt Miller said.

Clarendon, a San Bernardino native, grew up going to Sparks games, traveling more than 60 miles each way. Ten years later, the 5-foot-9 Cajon High graduate is finally playing at home in Southern California for the first time in their professional basketball career.

However, the journey to get back to Los Angeles as a pro has been arduous.

“I’ve been a starter in this league. I’ve been a bench player in this league. I’ve been an All-Star,” Clarendon said. “I’ve been out for one year, so I just know every single role in this league and I know how valuable they are and I know how hard each and every one is. None of the roles are easy. People think starting is easy. People think, ‘Oh, you’re on the bench.’ There’s pressure and there’s difficulty to every single role in this league. It’s how can you perform consistently through them all.”

The 32-year-old Clarendon is the definition of a veteran point guard, having played for six of the 12 WNBA teams.

But for the first time in their career, Clarendon has taken on a new challenge of playing out of position as the Sparks’ starting small forward. They’re averaging 7.9 points, 2.9 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 1.3 steals per game, shooting an above-career average 35.2% from 3, while playing a near-career high 27.3 minutes per game.

“It’s putting yourself in position to win games and doing those little things,” Clarendon said. “Being in the right spot defensively, the energy that I bring, the tenacity that I bring that I’m not going to get punked out on the court. That’s the level of fierceness that I bring to the team that I play with and it’s hard to win in this league, every night you have to work extremely hard to try and win games in this league.”

Meanwhile, Clarendon was one of several players hit by a rash of injuries and illnesses this season. Before being sidelined for what was supposed to be four to six weeks with a partial tear of the right plantar fascia, the Sparks were 4-2 with Clarendon as a starter. At the team’s training facility Saturday at El Camino College in Torrance, Clarendon explained the journey of hard work and dedication it took to return to action in four weeks.

“My timeline went really well,” they said. “I did everything I could possibly do from nutrition, acupuncture, massage, sleeping, meditation, just to try and give your body the best possibility to recover. I take a lot of that stuff seriously and some of it’s luck when you come back. Perfect timeline, no hiccups, credit to myself and the medical staff for my body healing.”

“She brings us a toughness,” Miller began. “High basketball IQ player, so she understands and takes things from the film room and executes it onto the floor in game time … she gives us a real general that way. Her versatility has helped us. The other night against Indiana, Jordin (Canada) was tired chasing Kelsey Mitchell around as much as she did defensively that we were able to move Jordin off the ball and get a little bit of rest and put Layshia at the point guard. Her versatility to guard and play wing, but also get the point guard position and move Jordin around, that versatility is so important for us.”

As a junior, Clarendon led Cajon to a 2008 CIF Southern Section title. As a senior, the all-state selection was named Inland Empire girls basketball player of the year by the San Bernandino Sun, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin and Riverside Press-Enterprise in 2009. Clarendon went on to star at Cal and was selected ninth overall in the 2013 draft by the Indiana Fever, later earning an All-Star nod with the Atlanta Dream in 2017.

Now she’s home – or close to it.

“Fourth of July, I got to drive to San Bernardino and see my dad,” Clarendon said. “That’s something that I haven’t got to do for 10 years of my whole career. I’ve always lived so far.”

“I think any time there’s comfortability, it’s great for players,” Miller explained. “Her family is here now with her. She feels like she’s got a home. She was searching, didn’t play last year in the league, was searching for a home. I just think there’s comfortability this year with L.A.. She knows that she has a spot here and she’s thriving here.”

Stewart and Liberty come to town

The Sparks (9-15) will host the New York Liberty (18-6) on Sunday at Crypto.com Arena, with a supreme motivation for the teams to play well in front of a national audience on ESPN.

“The focus is us and what we need to do,” Miller said when asked about Sunday’s matchup against New York. “There’s certainly discussion points about New York that it will be their third game in four days coming off a tough schedule of games, so we understand that we could catch them with some jet lag. But at the same time, Courtney (Vandersloot) didn’t play (Friday night) and she’ll energize them back at the point guard position. They’ll want to step back up to the plate after their (88-83 loss at home to the Minnesota Lynx).

“But really our focus (at Saturday’s practice) was more about us, what we think we can accomplish against their defense, what our attack looks like and then what our defensive approach is against them.”

New York forward Breanna Stewart, a five-time All-Star, two-time WNBA champion and the 2018 WNBA MVP, is averaging 23.1 points, 9.3 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 1.4 steals and 1.3 blocks in her sixth season in the league.

The Sparks also have another former MVP to contend with Sundy. Jonquel Jones, who played for Miller with the Connecticut Sun, is averaging 16.2 points and 12.0 rebounds in six games after the All-Star break.

“JJ has been great since the All-Star break, looks like her MVP self,” Miller said. “She’s a rebounding monster. She’s arguably the best, if not one of the best, offensive rebounders in the game.”

Miller said his team, facing New York for the first time, will have to be in the proper positions to defend the 3-point line. New York is attempting nearly 30 3-pointers per game while shooting a league-leading 37.7% from beyond the arc. In fact, 36.6% of New York’s points come from 3-pointers.

Every game matters for the Sparks, who are currently ninth in the standings and battling the Chicago Sky (9-15) for the last playoff spot.

Meanwhile, Clarendon knows what it is going to take to win during the team’s two-game homestand against New York on Sunday and Tuesday.

“It’s going to take grit and toughness and fierceness that, at the end of the day, X’s and O’s won’t matter. That can’t win the game for you, it’s going to take a level of, ‘Are you willing to go out there and punch them in the face?”’ Clarendon said with a chuckle. “Figuratively obviously.”

NEW YORK AT SPARKS

When: 1 p.m. Sunday

Where: Crypto.com Arena

TV: ESPN

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​ Orange County Register 

US Open of Surfing goes full throttle on opening day

• July 30, 2023

The Wallex US Open of Surfing Presented by Pacifico got off to a roaring start in Huntington Beach on Saturday, July 29, bringing big beach crowds to soak in the scene.

In the water, surfers battled it out on opening day in front of fans who laid out towels and beach chairs to watch the show. Others meandered through the festival area, checking out the sponsor booths and lining up to win free gear.

Competitors kicked off the action early in the morning for the first heats of the nine-day event. Long Beach surfer Nolan Rapoza, who grew up surfing Huntington Beach, took first place in his heat with a score of 12.10 (out of 20) to move to the next round.

“Every competitor in that heat was really good. Any of us could have won that heat,” he said. “Competing at home is definitely nerve-wracking, the family showed up to watch me so I didn’t want to disappoint. But I’m extremely excited to make that heat.”

The US Open of Surfing is the premiere event in California for up-and-coming surfers like Rapoza, a contest he grew up watching every time it came to town.

Waves showed up for the first day, the best swell in months, he said.

“There’s definitely waves out there, hopefully it stays that way for the rest of the contest,” he said.

Another big draw this year was the high-flying daredevil action of freestyle motocross riders launching into the air as part of a Nitro Circus exhibition, Full Throttle FMX. Crowds let out cheers, with phones out recording the action, as the riders did flips and tricks high in the sky with the ocean as the backdrop.

Nitro Circus, headquartered in Costa Mesa, is kicking off a 20th anniversary tour Oct. 28 in Anaheim and the US Open appearance is just a taste of what fans can expect later in the year, said Ricky Melnik, general manager of Nitro Circus.

“This is our backyard,” he said.

Eight riders will be showcasing their skills during the next two exhibitions, Sunday, July 30, and Aug. 5, including Jeremy “Twitch” Stenberg, Axell Hodges, Patrick Evans, Jarryd McNeil, Beau Bamburg, Keith Sayers and Brian McCarty and female rider Vicki Golden.

Just like the surfers, the moto riders have different moves, or “whips,” they are known for doing on the jumps. The riders are just coming off the X Games, held recently in Ventura.

“Introducing it to a whole new crowd is amazing,” Melnik said of the crowd that gathered in Huntington Beach.

The moto freestyle riders launched from a 75-foot-long ramp, hurling their bikes and bodies over a school bus to the cheers of the crowds.

The show was the reason Angie Mora, of Corona, made the trek down to Surf City. She’s a regular at the shows and races typically held inland.

“It’s definitely attracting a different crowd, like me,” she said. “I usually go to Supercross and stuff like that, so this is right up my alley. I’m just excited to see how big it gets. If it sticks, do they keep it?”

Christopher Kasurto, 12, patiently waited for a photo op and was able to nab a shot with Hodges. His family came from Redlands to spend his sister Giuliana’s 10th birthday at the event.

“It’s cool, the kids love it,” said his father Chris Kasurto. “This is cool to come out to see it live here and give inspiration to future moto-crossers. The tricks they do are crazy.”

Hodges, of Encinitas, said performing on the beach is “unreal.”

“Performing in the summer, it’s super hot so this is probably the best location you can ride in California right now,” he said, with the water just steps away. “The ocean view is nice. The best part is the breeze.”

Longboard surfers took to the water in the afternoon, the first stop of the WSL’s World Longboard Tour, bringing an old-school style of surfing to the event.

“This is a lot of fun. It’s the first time really sitting and enjoying, it’s been great,” said Darren Reilly, who was hanging out with his family on the sand watching the longboard action. “We were here last year, it looked a little bigger. But this has been fun.”

San Clemente’s Griffin Colapinto spent the day, his 25th birthday, signing autographs for fans who lined up to meet the surfer who will be competing for a world championship down at Lower Trestles for the World Surf League’s Final 5 in September and was recently been named a member of Team USA for the 2024 Paris Olympics.

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Around the festival area, crowds filled in through the day despite cool, overcast skies, lining up at booths to play games for free swag, checking out products and buying gear from retailers on the sand. Food trucks were lined up for beachgoers to grab grub.

It has been a few years since San Pedro resident Sammy Razevich has been to the event. This year, he brought his 14-year-old daughter, Kalia. It seemed mellower than past years, he said, but he liked the set up and hopes there will be more vendors later in the week.

“But so far, I like it,” he said. “It’s a cool set up.”

Sheryl Uribe, 46, was in from Chino Hills to check the US Open off her bucket list, she said.

Uribe waited in a long line to toss balls into empty Cup Noodle containers, a game set up to win lip balms and other free swag from the company, which is open of many sponsors. But to get a prize, she had to get all three balls in and walked away empty handed.

Already, she got a free organic juice and a drink Koozie from the 805 Beer booth.

“I think it’s relaxing and nice and has good energy,” she said of this year’s event. “We were admiring the waves, they look so perfect.”

Roberto “Chuy” Madrigal, who is being inducted as “local hero” into the Surfing Walk of Fame on Thursday, Aug. 3, said he misses the free hot dogs, hamburgers and skate presence Vans had on the sand the past decade.

Madrigal helped create the US Open back in 1994 and has seen many changes over the years.

“It went from a giant thing to a more mellow event, which is OK,” he said while looking out at the festival area as crowds filled in.

But one thing that never changes?

“We always have surf.”

​ Orange County Register 

Garden Grove man arrested after attacking woman with knife in her apartment, police say

• July 13, 2023

A Garden Grove man was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder after police said he broke into the apartment of a woman he knew and attacked her with a knife.

Garden Grove police said in a statement that a 27-year-old man “let himself into” the woman’s apartment in the 12500 block of Lorna Street in the early afternoon of Wednesday, July 12.

He encountered the woman and they began to argue and he pulled out a knife and threaten her, police said.

As the woman tried to flee, he grabbed her, “placed his arm around the victim’s neck and began to repeatedly lunge the knife toward her.”

He eventually let the woman go as he left the Garden Grove apartment. The woman had knife wounds to her body and face, police said.

Garden Grove detectives later found the suspect in Westminster and arrested him. They said they found a knife on him matching the one the victim said was used in the attack. Police did not say how they were able to find him.

Police haven’t said why the man allegedly attacked the woman. He was booked into an Orange County jail on $500,000 bail.

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​ Orange County Register 

Buying a new construction home? Beware the fine print in upgrades

• July 13, 2023

Armed with an excellent job as a purchasing manager, mother of two Ilene Soto decided it was time-time to find a home to buy.

As a school district employee who works remotely from home, Soto had the advantage of shopping for a more affordable, new home somewhere over the Grapevine, north of Los Angeles.

Last October she signed an 83-page purchase contract for a new $510,500 home in Tehachapi. I issued a mortgage pre-approval letter to the builder. Soto’s house was expected to be completed in April 2023.

SEE MORE: Will homeowners’ insurance crisis upend home sales in California?

Well into spring and with the original tract sales agent long gone, the sales manager engaged Soto about options and upgrades. Through phone calls and text messages, they discussed upgrades for the home for roughly 15% of the base price, totaling $76,995.

Soto is adamant she never agreed to anything in the back-and-forth. Plus, Soto could not afford the increased payment, much less qualify for the payment jump.

A standoff ensued. The builder insisted Soto had agreed to and must pay $76,995 for the upgrades if she wanted the home.

READ MORE: Home sellers can finance their low-rate mortgage and generate income

The sales manager told me via email that the original tract agent “missed a signature” on the previously agreed money that was added to the sales contract.

The contract I received indicated a $510,500 sales price plus a $5,000 lot premium but nothing more. That contract was the basis of the pre-approval letter my brokerage issued.

The builder insisted it could keep Soto’s $5,000 earnest money deposit or send the fight to arbitration, which likely would have cost Soto more in legal and arbitration fees.

Regardless of the communication issues between the sales manager and Soto, the options and upgrades construction could have been delayed or avoided entirely had the sales manager asked me to issue an updated pre-approval letter plugging in the increased sales price and new mortgage amount. And never mind factoring in soaring mortgage rates between last fall and this spring. Soto could no longer afford the home or the new mortgage rate.

In my experience closing hundreds of builder loans, if the sales price increases more than, say, a few thousand dollars, the builder seeks an updated pre-approval letter reflecting the increases before home customization begins.

To the homebuilder’s credit, but only after I asked attorney Mike Hensley to review the documents and contact the developer on Soto’s behalf, did they agree to refund the $5,000 earnest money deposit.

The home eventually closed on June 23 for $573,000 to another buyer, according to Lawyers Title.

Just about everyone lost, except for the replacement buyers. Ilene Soto lost the home she wanted. The builder lost $19,495 because their total sales price with Soto would have been $592,495.

The homebuilder declined to respond to several requests for comment.

So, what about the law?

“The statute of fraud exists to make sure key terms like purchase price are contained in a written document,” said attorney Mike Hensley via email. “The developer’s own documents show that an additional written contract had to be done for add-on improvements, which was never done,”

“That means that the original purchase price was the one which governed,” Hensley said.

The whole experience shows us that a broker needs to be involved with developer contracts, especially when it’s 83 pages long. An agent can help a buyer understand deadlines, liquidated damages and arbitration issues.

However, the buyer has no chance in “take it or leave it” provisions, so using a knowledgeable agent to negotiate the contract can work more favorably for the borrower, Hensley said.

Here are some new home facts, according to John Burns Research & Consulting:

—New home builds represent 12% of all residential sales nationwide

—New home inventory in the region: 347 in San Diego County, 1488 in Inland Empire, 170 in Orange County, 359 in Los Angeles County

—4,800 new builds are available for sale statewide (excluding Imperial County and portions of northern/central California due to limited data)

—Median new home prices: San Diego County $850,000, Inland Empire $584,400, Orange County $1,140,000, Los Angeles County $1,111,500

—422,000 new builds are available nationwide (US Census Bureau)

Pros of new builds

—Clean slate, customizable upgrades and options, including the hardscape and landscape.

—Except for 55 and over communities, new builds tend to attract young families, which is important if you friends with whom your children can play.

Cons of new builds

—Prices for options and upgrades can be inflated at builder design centers compared with independently shopping for and engaging with contractors

—Builders do not allow buyers to finance upgrades into the mortgage if using outside contractors

—New builds may come with higher property taxes on top of the 1% established under Proposition 13 such as Mello-Roos taxes, property assessments, parcel taxes and additional taxes to pay for voter-approved debt. (Buyers might occasionally find additional taxes on resale homes, too.)

—Builders often pressure buyers into using their affiliated mortgage lender by offering credits toward rate buydowns and closing costs. But note, their rates and prices are typically inflated compared with what buyers can find on the broader market

Buyer best practices when shopping new homes

Do your new home searching ahead of time with an independent, licensed real estate agent. Ask the agent to arrange the new home tours and thoroughly read and negotiate the contract and manage the process. Always have your agent register with the builder at the get-go so they get paid.

“Almost all builders offer some level of broker compensation,” said Scott Wild, a senior vice president at John Burns. “It could be $10,000 or 1%. The Great Park in Irvine is paying 3-5%.”

If you need further legal assistance for contract review but can’t afford to pay, contact the California State Bar at calbar.ca.gov or the Legal Aid Association of California at lawhelpca.org, according to Rick Lopes, assistant commissioner of Communications and Publications at the California Department of Real Estate

Check out builders with standing inventory. There might be “deals” similar to the discount the buyers snagged at the back end of Soto’s failed purchase.

Carrying costs are profit killers for builders. “On average, it takes anywhere from 7-12 months from contract signature to delivery, if there are no hiccups,” said Morgan Morales, the political affairs and community manager at the California Building Industry Association.

Compare and contrast design center upgrade and option charges (and credits) against your own contractors.

If you want to finance your upgrades, consider the Fannie Mae Homestyle Renovation mortgage through an outside mortgage lender. It runs roughly one-half percent higher in rate than a standard 30-year fixed from Fannie Mae. With a few limitations, this financing instrument allows borrowers to finance the upgrades post-closing instead of having to pay cash for them. And, you have up to one year from closing to complete the work.

Shop and compare title companies. Every California builder uses a title insurance company to both insure and act as a settlement agent. Sometimes builders add contract language requiring the buyer to pay both halves of the title and settlement fees. The Southern California practice is usually the buyer pays half and the seller pays half.

Pick the lowest-priced title insurance company you can find. Put it in the contract. It is your right, according to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

“The seller cannot require you to buy a title insurance policy from a particular title company,” said Tia Elbaum, spokesperson at the Office of Public Affairs for the CFPB. If the builder refuses your settlement services request, share this article. If the builder still refuses, file a complaint with the CFPB.

Freddie Mac rate news

The 30-year fixed rate averaged 6.96%, 15 basis points higher than last week. The 15-year fixed rate averaged 6.3%, 6 basis points higher than last week.

The Mortgage Bankers Association reported a .9% mortgage application increase compared to last week.

Bottom line: Assuming a borrower gets the average 30-year fixed rate on a conforming $726,200 loan, last year’s payment was $684 less than this week’s payment of $4,812.

What I see: Locally, well-qualified borrowers can get the following fixed-rate mortgages with one point: A 30-year FHA at 6%, a 15-year conventional at 5.75%, a 30-year conventional at 6.375%, a 15-year conventional high balance at 6.5% ($726,201 to $1,089,300), a 30-year high balance conventional at 7% and a jumbo 30-year fixed at 6.625%.

Note: The 30-year FHA conforming loan is limited to loans of $644,000 in the Inland Empire and $726,200 in LA and Orange counties.

Eye catcher loan program of the week: A 30-year conventional fixed rate at 5.875% with 2 points cost.

Jeff Lazerson is a mortgage broker. He can be reached at 949-334-2424 or [email protected].

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Boxing champ Devin Haney arrested in Los Angeles on felony weapons charge

• July 13, 2023

LOS ANGELES — Undisputed lightweight champion Devin Haney was arrested on a felony weapons charge Thursday in Los Angeles, according to police.

Haney, 24, was charged with carrying a concealed weapon in a vehicle and released on $35,000 bond. An Aug. 3 municipal court date was set, online court records showed.

Haney was in the back seat when police conducted a traffic stop, Bill Haney, the boxer’s father, trainer and manager, told ESPN.

The elder Haney said the charge is “a misunderstanding that will be solved when Devin goes to court. It’s unfortunate that he was arrested with his armed licensed security, and I’m confident things are going to be worked out.”

Haney retained his titles and improved to 30-0 in May with a unanimous decision over Vasiliy Lomachenko at 135 pounds in Las Vegas.

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