Crime Voice

IRVINE, CA (February 27, 2008): Irvine police have obtained an arrest warrant for former Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim infielder, Scott Spiezio, stemming from an alleged drunken driving incident that occurred December 30, 2007 in the City of Irvine.

The warrant for Spiezio, an Irvine resident, includes charges of driving with a blood-alcohol level of 0.08 percent or more, hit and run with property damage, and aggravated assault and battery.

According to a press release posted by the Irvine Police Department, Irvine officers responded to a report of a solo vehicle crash at Campus and Carlson on December 30, 2007. They arrived to find that a 2004 BMW, registered to Spiezio, had crashed into a curb and through a fence. Following the crash, the driver reportedly fled the scene.

Further investigation lead police to a neighbor of Spiezio’s who told officers he was assaulted by Spiezio immediately following the collision at their condominium complex a short distance from the crash scene. According to the neighbor, Spiezio arrived home disheveled and apparently injured. When the neighbor tried to help, Spiezio proceeded to vomit in the neighbor’s condo and assault him causing significant injuries.

Police believe Spiezio left a Newport Beach Bar at about 12:20 AM after having several vodka drinks, Lt. Rick Handfield of the Irvine Police Department said. Police are not releasing the bar’s name at this time.  

Most recently Spiezio has played for the St. Louis Cardinals, but this afternoon the team announced his release after learning of the warrant for his arrest. “We hope Scott will continue to seek appropriate help and wish him the best in baseball, but more importantly in life,” said the Cardinals General Manager, John Mozeliak.

Spiezio also missed about a month last season with the Cardinals reportedly due to a substance abuse problem.

The arrest warrant was filed in Orange County Harbor Court yesterday and provides for a $10,000 bail. The District Attorney’s office also stated that the 35 year old Spiezio could face up to two years in prison if he is convicted.

SACRAMENTO – 62 year-old Kenneth Cervellin and his 47 year-old Ronald Cervellin were sentenced for a credit card scam that they had been running.

Kenneth was sentenced to spend 15 months in prison for his mail fraud conviction, while his son, Ronald, has been sentenced to three years’ probation for concealing a felony from law enforcement.

Prosecutors say that in order for the father and son to perpetuate the fraud Kenneth would give out false $25 debits each month to 500 of his 1,200 merchants and then rotate them so not to arouse suspicion.

In the event that someone discovered the $25 debit the Cervellins would refund the money along with a false explanation.

They would then mark the client’s file to make sure to not falsely bill that client again.

Ronald helped to conceal the fraud and made false statements to the FBI agent that was investigating the case.

They both pleaded guilty in April 2007.

The Charred remains of a man and a woman were found inside a burning pickup and are suspected of being linked to two men who were pulled over by deputies for driving a stolen car. A tip and several hours of questioning led to the men becoming both suspected and arrested.

The bodies were discovered in a parking lot on the 7400 block of Holworthy Way at 12:30 a.m. Tuesday. According to Sacramento County investigators, the victims were first shot inside there home and then moved two miles away to the intersection of Walerga and Antelope roads were they were found inside the burning vehicle.

Several minutes before the burning car was reported, a sheriff and his trainee stopped a stolen car that had four people in it. While the occupants were being questioned the police received an anonymous call that a homicide had taken place inside a home on 3700 clock of Bolivar Avenue.

After the home was investigated the police came up with a list of suspects and then announced them on the sheriff’s department radio broadcast. The name of one of the suspect announced was recognized as one of the occupants of the stolen car by the deputy who had pulled the car over.

As a result, 34-year-old Thomas Meece and 31-year-old Alan Eisman were arrested on suspicion of two counts of murder.

OAKLAND- Two brothers, Carlos Mejia Valadez, 24, and Cesar Valadez, 19, have been charged with stabbing a total of eight people at and party Sunday morning along with the kidnapping of three others.

The 19 year-old girlfriend of Carlos Valadez was also charged with kidnapping which took place after the three of them forced the hostess and two other to drive them from the scene.

The two brothers were charged with eight counts of assault with a deadly weapon and three kidnappings. The men are also suspect members of Hayward’s DGF gang and both have criminal records.

The Three of them lived together in the 1200 block of Thiel Road in Hayward and have a bail of $150,000 to more than $500,000.

Police are not entirely sure why the fight broke out. They think it might have been over a woman being pushed or over some other unknown personal dispute.

After the fight the three suspects lost the keys to their car so they forced the party hostess, her niece, and another man to drive them away.

The three of them were caught when Carlos Valadez went to Eden hospital for treatment of his injuries. A visit police quickly learned about and came to arrest them.

Ruth Lee was a reluctant witness Wednesday as she testified in the murder trial of her own son, Byron Julious Wooten.

Ruth recounted what she witnessed form the passengers seat of her son’s car the day he is accused of bowling through a crowd of people in May 2005 when he was 20.

Wooten is charged with one count of second-degree murder, five counts of attempted murder and hit-and–run resulting in death.

Victims of this incident are 5 people along with a thirteen-year-old Reggie Johnson. Wooten drove two blocks before he stopped, dragging one youngster with him the entire way.

Wooten was driving South Owen Street when he saw a group of boys who were gathered with Wooten’s cousin, Ronnie hill, 24. He then drove his car into the group.

The incident was probably partly due to a long running dispute between Wooten and Hill, and a longstanding feud between lee and her sister. Hill was lucky enough to survive and was also at the trial to testify Wednesday.

This is Wooten’s second trial connected with the incident. This is because the defense was granted a mistrial September after some of the evidence was handled improperly.