As students prepare to return to class, Pajaro Valley Unified School District is confronting a contentious debate over police powers in schools. Law enforcement officers argue their work prevents many students from ending up in the criminal justice system.
Criminal Justice
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Inspector seeks ‘full transparency’ on Santa Cruz County Jail deaths
The first report of an Office of Inspector General established to hold the Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office accountable is calling for “full transparency” on the in-custody deaths of three men and sexual assault of another, while recommending an overhaul of use-of-force policies and the way the department investigates such incidents.
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Inspector General: Reform Santa Cruz sheriff force, body camera policies
The first annual report of the Office of Inspector General calls on the Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office to require deputies turn body cameras on for routine calls and recommends an overhaul of how the department handles use of force incidents and investigations into them.
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Murder trial begins for former Mr. Bungle musician Theo Lengyel in death of Capitola’s Alyx Herrmann
On the first day of Theo Lengyel’s jury trial, prosecutors painted defendant Lengyel as an alcoholic with anger problems and a history of abusive behavior. Lengyel’s defense attorney did not dispute that he killed his girlfriend, Capitola resident Alice “Alyx” Herrmann, but disputed the characterization of Lengyel as a violent man and argued that Herrmann’s death was not murder.
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Court weighs release of Madyson Middleton’s killer, Adrian Gonzalez
Convicted in 2021 of the kidnapping, rape and murder of 8-year-old Madyson Middleton, Adrian Gonzalez returns to a Santa Cruz court this week for a hearing to help determine whether he remains a danger to society or if he can be released from prison later this year. The hearing continues Monday.
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Burke sentenced to 56 years to life in 2022 downtown Santa Cruz parking garage stabbing
Following a guilty verdict in late March, 65-year-old John Frederick Burke was sentenced to 56 years to life in prison for first-degree murder with enhancements for prior convictions on Tuesday morning.
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Santa Cruz serial killer Ed Kemper denied parole again
Serial killer Edmund Kemper was denied parole at a hearing Tuesday at California Medical Facility state prison at Vacaville. The 75-year-old Kemper was convicted of murdering eight women and girls while living in Santa Cruz County in the 1970s.
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Consultant charged with child sexual assault had ‘interactions’ with PVUSD community, district clarifies
Monterey County officials arrested and charged the founder of a Salinas-based art nonprofit with seven felony counts alleging child sexual assault. PVUSD Superintendent Heather Contreras said Joshua Alfaro briefly worked for the district last month but the contract had been terminated.
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Man held to answer to murder charge in DeLaveaga Park-area stabbing
Joseph Young, 31, will face trial for murder, Santa Cruz Superior Court Judge Stephen Siegel ruled Friday. Young is accused of fatally stabbing Todd Kolibas, 44, at George Washington Grove in the DeLaveaga Park area in April.
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Man charged with death of UCSC student at Seabright Beach to face trial for murder
Samuel Stone, 21, will face a murder charge in the February death of Zainab Mansoor. “If he walks away, still, I lost my daughter,” Mansoor’s father, Mansoor Naseem, said after a preliminary hearing Tuesday. “If he gets a full sentence, I still lost my daughter. She meant everything to me.”