Korea DMZ
Enlarge Photo

Korean AAV
Enlarge Photo

Photos and Story courtesy Cory Freeman

During the last month and a half the United States has been participating in the inter service international training exercise Ssang Young in South Korea. Members from the United States Marine Corps, Army, Air Force, and Navy have been practicing scenarios in precaution for the event of a conflict arising on the Korean peninsula between the North and the South. Korean, Australian, and American troops worked in cohesion making preparations and executing actions to further strengthen interoperability between the nation’s militaries. The event was a success regardless of constant belligerent threats from Kim Jong Un leader of the Northern totalitarian regime.

Ventura County Sheriff's Department

On 4/29/2013, patrol deputies from the Santa Clara Valley Sheriff’s Station responded to a report of a home invasion robbery on East Telegraph Road in the unincorporated community of Piru. The victim reported three suspects entered his residence, threatened him with serious bodily injury, struck him with a baseball bat and took property from him. As the three suspects ransacked the victim’s home for valuables, the victim was able to escape and seek help. The suspects stole electronics, prescription medications, and cash.

Investigators from the Sheriff’s Gang Unit immediately joined the investigation with the Santa Clara Valley Station detectives. Through the course of the investigation, all three suspects were identified. Max Ziegler and Mendy Martin were arrested at a home in Santa Paula on the evening of 4/29/2013.

Sheriff’s investigators tracked the third suspect, Nick Crockett, to a motel in the city of Carpenteria. Crockett was identified and taken into custody without incident. Sheriff’s investigators served a search warrant on Crockett’s motel room and discovered evidence and property related to the home invasion robbery.

All three suspects were booked into Ventura County Jail for home invasion robbery with bail set at $100,000.

Nature of Incident: Home Invasion Robbery Investigation/ Arrest
Report Number: 13-9469
Location: 3500 block of East Telegraph Road, Piru
Date & Time: 4/29/2013 @ 4:40 PM
Unit(s) Responsible: Sheriff’s Gang Unit
(S)uspects, (V)ictims, (P)arty, (D)ecedent City of Residence Age
(S) Nick Crockett, Ojai, 45
(S) Max Ziegler, Santa Paula, 21
(S) Mendy Martin, Santa Paula, 37
Prepared by: Senior Deputy Brian Slominski
Media Release Date: 4/30/2013
Follow-Up Contact: Detective Beau Rodriguez (805) 654-3541
Approved by: Captain Monica McGrath

Ventura County Crime Stoppers will pay up to $1,000 reward for information, which leads to the arrest and criminal complaint against the person(s) responsible for this crime. The caller may remain anonymous. The call is not recorded. Call Crime Stoppers at 800-222-TIPS (8477).

Jose “Froggy” Estrada. Photo courtesy Judy Fairall.

The Champ is here! On April 6th, at the Earl Warren Showground's in Santa Barbara, the M.M.A. 160lbs Champion Jose "Froggy" Estrada from Fillmore, went into the cage to fight Cota Taylor of San Luis Obispo, in a three round fight. This was a non-title fight. "A new year, and a new outlook for me," said Froggy. "I am ready to go -- ready to perform -- ready to make it my fight -- ready to put it down -- ready to put it all together. I want them to all know that Froggy is not done yet!” I don't know about you folks but it sounded to me that Froggy was ready two hours before fight time.

The Champ came in at an even 160lbs for the fight. With his training workouts six days a week at the West Coast Gym in Oxnard, three hours a day, Froggy was in tip top shape and looking forward to get into the cage.

Froggy was about to face his toughest completion yet in Taylor. He was seven wins and two losses in Muay-Thai fighting, and one win and no losses in M.M.A. fighting. "This is a big step up for me, but I know I am ready for him," said Froggy.

The Champ was focused in on this night. His Grandfather Rafael "Tata" Ramos passed away on February 2nd of this year, and "Tata" was on the Champ’s mind in a big way.

''He was a big part of my family’s life. We all miss him. Tonight this one is for ‘Tata’!"

Froggy not only had CONTINUED »

David Morales, 33 of Fillmore, was sentenced this week to 25 years to life after being convicted of first-degree murder in an attack on his sister in 2010. He was convicted on March 12, 2013.

Ventura County Sheriff’s Deputies arrested Morales on September 15, 2010 at his family’s apartment complex in the 200 block of Sespe Avenue, Fillmore. Deputies arrived at 6:01 p.m. and subdued Morales after a brief struggle as he attempted to flee the area. The victim, Maricruz Morales, 20, was immediately treated at the scene by Fillmore City Fire and taken to Ventura County Medical Center via American Medical Response (AMR) ambulance where she was pronounced deceased. The assault took place inside a residence after a family dispute. Morales was booked into the Pre-Trial Detention Facility on murder charges.

He used a variety of objects in the attack, including a curtain rod and a hammer to crush her skull. The jury also convicted Morales of assault with force likely to cause great bodily injury on a second victim, his mother Roselia Morales. Morales attempted to choke her, then grabbed her hair, punched her in the head and threw her against a wall. He was sentenced to an additional four years to be served consecutively. The crimes were witnessed by neighbors who confronted Morales and attempted to help the victims during the assault.

Morales’ lawyer Claudia Bautista told the jury that he acted in the heat of passion after he was cursed at and hit with a broom and candle holder. Prosecutor Rebecca Day said there was no evidence that he was provoked.

Testimony at David Morales’ hearing showed that he became enraged when he learned that his mother and sister had packed all the family’s belongings for the move to a new apartment and he was told he could not move with them.
In 2006, he ate his mother’s parrot, according to court records. He was convicted of misdemeanor animal cruelty.