Ventura County Sheriff's Department

The busiest shopping days of the year are upon us. Malls, other retailers, and grocery stores will be more crowded than usual with busy shoppers. Whether you are about to celebrate a holiday in the coming weeks or not, please keep the following in mind when going out to shop:

1. Remember to lock your vehicles. Whether you are at the shopping mall or parked in your own driveway, lock your vehicle and hide or remove your valuables from your car.

2. Tell a security guard or store employee if you see an unattended bag or package. The same applies when taking mass transit: report any unattended packages to security or staff.

3. Be sure not to buy more than you can carry. If your packages are blocking your view and/or restricting freedom of motion, ask a store employee to help you carry your packages to your car.

4. Be extra cautious if you carry a wallet or purse. Do not leave your purse unattended in a shopping cart, or turn away from it while shopping.

5. Be aware of strangers approaching you for any reason. At this time of year, "con-artists" may try various methods of distracting you with the intention of taking your money or belongings.

6. Remember that the bad-guys may be watching you place your packages in your car and then go to another store. That’s when they break into your car to steal what you just stowed away so you could continue to shop.

If you go shopping with children over the next several weeks, keep the following advice in mind for everyone’s safety:

1. Ensure that any children with you know your cell phone number. Give cards with contact information to any who don’t.

2. Make a plan with children in case you get separated. Have a central meeting place, and review with your children who they can turn to for help if they find themselves alone.

3. Go over the dangers of strangers with them so that they know who not to talk to or follow.

By following this advice, you can reduce the stress of shopping during the particularly busy season. As always, keep your personal safety in mind, be aware of your surroundings, and be on the lookout for fraud and identity theft. Please report any suspicious activity to the Moorpark Police Department (805) 532-2700 or in the case of an emergency dial 911.

Nature of Incident: Holiday Safety Tips
Location: City of Moorpark
Date & Time: November 10, 2015 at 11:00 a.m.
Unit(s) Responsible: Moorpark Police Department Beat Coordinator
Prepared by: Senior Deputy Becky Purnell

The ninety three members of the Flashes Regiment came away with top honors on Saturday November 12 at the Granada Hills Charter High School Field Competition with an overall first place in the open division, first place in percussion and second place in colorguard. But the best news came with the announcement that Fillmore won the coveted music sweepstakes award, earning the highest music performance score of the day out of twenty two bands.

It was a busy week for the students as they practiced many hours on the field and put on a concert for the community. Saturday’s competition wraps up the field show season for the Regiment. The group will now start preparing for parades and various winter activities including indoor percussion and colorguard and concert band. Mr. Godfrey and the all of the students involved with the Flashes Regiment would like to thank the Fillmore Band Boosters and volunteers who helped with the field show competitions and fundraising throughout the competitive season.

Cal Fire

Sacramento – While recent rains and cooler temperatures have lowered the threat of wildfires in some areas of the State, CAL FIRE continues to have extra firefighter staffing statewide and remains at peak fire season in Central and Southern California. Last week alone CAL FIRE crews responded to nearly 50 new wildfires. Even as CAL FIRE transitions out of peak fire season in Northern California and into its winter preparedness mode, fire officials are still asking residents statewide to be cautious outdoors as ‘One Less Spark means One Less Wildfire’.

“As drought conditions continued throughout the year, we experienced a significant increase in the number and size of fires," said Chief Ken Pimlott, CAL FIRE director. “Even with the increased likelihood of precipitation due to El Niño, it will still take several years of steady rainfall for some of the larger vegetation to return to normal levels and no amount of rain will bring back millions of bark beetle infested dead and dying trees across the state. We can’t let our guard down, especially with changing climate conditions leading to longer fire seasons and larger wildfires.”

While CAL FIRE has begun to close some of its seasonal fire stations and facilities in Northern California, CAL FIRE is maintaining firefighter staffing that meets the current threat, as well as strategically moving resources to areas that remain at a higher threat level. As California prepares to enter the fifth year of drought, CAL FIRE will continue to monitor weather conditions closely to determine when it can move into winter preparedness in Central and Southern California. The department will also increase staffing in Northern California should the weather conditions change or if there is a need to support wildfires or any other emergencies in Southern California.

The 2015 fire season to date has been an extremely active year, even more than in 2014. Statewide, CAL FIRE and firefighters from many local agencies battled over 6,100 wildfires within the State Responsibility Area that burned nearly 308,000 acres. This is nearly 1,800 more wildfires this year than in an average year. Across all jurisdictions in California there were over 8,100 wildfires that burned nearly 825,000 acres in 2015.

A leading cause of wildfires this time of year is from escaped outdoor landscape debris burning. Residents are urged to still take precautions outdoors in order to prevent sparking a wildfire. In Northern and Central California residents should ensure it’s a permissive burn day in their area by contacting the local air quality district and make sure they have any and all required burn permits. During burning make sure that piles of landscape debris are no larger than four feet in diameter, provide a 10 ft. clearance down to bare mineral soil around the burn pile and that a responsible adult is in attendance at all times with a water source and a shovel.

Firefighters will also be utilizing this same window of opportunity to conduct prescribed burns aimed at improving forest health on private and public lands.

For more ways to prevent sparking a wildfire visit www.ReadyForWildfire.org. One Less Spark, means One Less Wildfire.

Fire Chief Rigo Landeros reminded the Council of the El Nino Community Town Hall Meeting. It will be held on Tuesday, November 17, 6 p.m.-8 p.m. at the Veterans Memorial Building, 511 Second St., Fillmore.

The November 10, 2015 Fillmore City Council Meeting had a full agenda including a Consent Calendar second reading of the Humane Living Ordinance which brought back local realtors to voice their opposition.

First to speak on the ordinance was former Fillmore Realtor Doug Hause who did not hold back when questioning the Councils motives stating "....I just wonder if this Council hasn't been lobbied by contractors and others in the construction business to sweeten opportunities with the strong arm of the government in town" suggesting the council had been influenced. He commented on the financial stability of some vulnerable residents "living paycheck to paycheck" stating "this ordinance by its very nature puts many at risk" leaving the door open to the unscrupulous predator practice of selling for the minimum through private sale. "I have lived in this town for 45 years and never have I seen such a mean spirited self-serving proposal as this ordinance."

The second person to speak was Realtor Cindy Diaz-Telly who wanted to correct the City record on a number of issues. One was the amount of citizen calls the City received concerning the issue as 33. Diaz-Telly informed the Council that and additional 22 residents contacted her stating they could not get through, that they received a recording stating the message box was full. She also disagreed stating Council Member Rick Neal had accused the realtors of threatening a lawsuit, responding there was no threat of a lawsuit. Another problem she stated in the claims of some Council Members was that discussions had already been tried, saying, "Talking at this podium for five minutes is not a conversation."

Diaz-Telly spoke at length of legal problems associated with the ordinance and questioned the response at the previous meeting by City Attorney Tiffany Israel stating other towns have had a good response to similar ordinances. Diaz-Telly questioned "What cities are they, what is the median income?" She then questioned the proposed six months trial period asking, "What's your measure of success....at the end you're passing an open-ended ordinance" and ended with suggesting the Council slow down and "consider other options."

Council Member Rick Neal, who has pushed to move forward made a motion to approve the ordinance. Council Member Manuel Minjares quickly interjected that he also felt the council members had not met with the realtors stated, "I want to give them the opportunity to talk it over with them." Council Member Diane McCall agreed with Minjares stating that people are still telling her they disagree with the ordinance. "I'm for putting together a better product."

Council Member Carrie Broggie responded, "I keep hearing the same thing...citing the same points....I've heard nothing new.....if you want to talk to realtors I'm ok with that."

Neal stated he would not talk to any realtors without an attorney present with each realtor and that it would cost the City a great deal of money to do that. He went on to cite the higher cost of Santa Barbara's ordinance compared to the proposed Fillmore ordinance, but did not mention the huge difference in income between the two cities.

McCall reminded the Council that many of the homes in Fillmore are very old and there is no documented history on improvements and changes made. There are homes in Fillmore that date before the Fillmore Planning Department.

Minjares told the others he would like to see a subcommittee created to investigate the need for the ordinance. Mayor Douglas Tucker reported he had heard from both sides, in favor and opposed and understood the need for housing and for safety, but "the end result is the ordinance improves the value of properties." Tucker ended with "the hardest part is we have to make decisions....allowing the trial of six months we'll see how it works for the community."

A vote was taken ending in 3-2, with Broggie seconding Neal’s motion and Tucker being the deciding vote in favor. Both Minjares and McCall voted No.

A Public Hearing item was the proposed 8% increase in trash removal fees. Fillmore resident Ray Mel addressed the Council stating there was no need to increase the brown yard clippings bin because there is less need since the drought and if the number of bins picked up stayed the same there would not be a need to increase the costs. He stated that so many utilities have increased and it is having a hard impact of residents.

Councilman Neal responded, "I think there was an increase coming anyway." It has been 5 years since Harrison Industries has increased the fee and a 5% was expected. There was an offer of picking up all three bins every week at an increase of 8% and the Council agreed that for the added 3% the citizens were getting a better offer. Tucker reminded others that Harrison is still cleaning the streets without charging and McCall added that they also clean up after events with no charge to the City.

Fire Chief Rigo Landeros reminded the Council of the El Nino Community Town Hall Meeting to hear from experts on the potential for a very wet winter season and the planning and response efforts underway.

The agencies represented at the meeting: National Weather Service; Ventura County Fire Department; Fillmore City Fire Department; Ventura County Sheriff's Office; Watershed Protection District; Ventura County Sheriff's Office of Emergency Services; Ventura County Animal Services; American Red Cross.

It will be held on Tuesday, November 17, 2015 6 p.m.-8 p.m. at the Veterans Memorial Building, 511 Second St., Fillmore.

Elizabeth Moten, age 53 of Fillmore.

After a week long investigation the arrest of Elizabeth Moten, age 53 of Fillmore, was made today for forgery and grand theft from an elderly person. Investigators determined between March 2014 through August 2015 Moten had cared for an elderly couple, ages 92 and 83 years old of Santa Paula. During that time frame the suspect had written multiple false checks and made unauthorized withdrawls on the elderly couple's account. The total loss in false checks and unauthorized withdrawls is approximately $8,500. Also during investigation it was determined Moten had stolen jewelry from the elderly couple and had pawned it at a local pawn shop. The dollar amount regarding the stolen jewelry is still being investigated at this time.

Based on the investigation at this time we believe the possibility exists there may be other people who have been victimized by Moten. If you believe you have been a victim please contact Detective Walter Harper at 525-4474 x 221.

Moten was arrested for 470(a) PC - Forgery and 365(d) PC - Grand Theft from an Elderly Person. Moten was later transported to Ventura County Main Jail where her bail is set at $20,000.

Vicente Sosa Pedrito, Aka: Juan Mendoza, Juvenal Martinez, Alfonso DeLeon, “El Peluchin”, DOB: 05/29/1967, 05/05/1975, Sex: Male, Ethnicity: Hispanic, Eye Color: Brown, Hair Color: Black, Height: 5’5”, Weight: 150, CDL: C6458134, Tattoos: Rose flower on left hand, Jesus on left arm, woman on right arm.

The Ventura County Sheriff's Office is seeking the public's help in locating Vicente Sosa Pedrito. Pedrito has been out of compliance with his sex registration requirements since March 18, 2015.

Vicente Sosa Pedrito
Aka: Juan Mendoza, Juvenal Martinez, Alfonso
DeLeon, “El Peluchin”
DOB: 05/29/1967, 05/05/1975
Sex: Male Ethnicity: Hispanic
Eye Color: Brown Hair Color: Black
Height: 5’5” Weight: 150
CDL: C6458134
Tattoos: Rose flower on left hand, Jesus on
left arm, woman on right arm

Felony Warrant issued on 03/13/2015 for Probation Violation and Failure to Register as Sex Offender.
Pedrito has been employed at a car wash and hung out at the Tipsy Fox on High St. in Moorpark in past. He has prior arrests for Annoy/Molest Children, DUI, domestic violence, drunk in public, and failure to register as sex offender.

Information about Pedrito's whereabouts can be shared with:
Ventura County Crime Stoppers
Hot Line: 1-800-222-TIPS (Se habla Espanol)
Text: BUSTED plus message to CRIMES (274637)
WebTips: www.venturacountycrimestoppers.com

Laura Bartels

Santa Clara Valley Attorney Laura Bartels was recently selected to be the recipient of the Ben E. Nordman award, the highest honor of the Ventura County Bar Association. She will receive the prestigious honor on Saturday, November 21, 2015 at the bar’s annual dinner at Ventura’s Crowne Plaza Hotel at 7 PM.

Known for her two decades of work with Fillmore’s Santa Clara Valley Legal Aid, Laura began volunteering there as an attorney in 1997, acting as the director since 2002- two decades of volunteering every Thursday night during the school year. Laura is proud of the fact that most of the attorneys at SCVLA have received the California State Bar President’s Pro Bono Service Award; Laura received the award in 2001 along with attorney Debora Vierra, the legal aid’s founder.

Legal Aid has served over 11,000 people since its inception. It is unique as an all-volunteer organization that relies exclusively on individual donations. Laura describes the power of transformation at SCVLA – how the focused, active listening to people sharing their problems and giving them legal advice and hope, validates their concerns and liberates them toward change. She loves helping people because it is “so rewarding.” SCVLA provides information to the individuals and families who come; if necessary, individual matters are handled by the attorneys on their own.

Laura started volunteering in the 1990s for the Los Angeles Episcopal Diocese, helping victims of clergy sexual misconduct. She observed first-hand “the transformative power of having the person tell their story and having someone listen and be an advocate.” Since then, she hasn’t stopped being of service.

She has been elected Bardsdale’s representative to the Valley Advisory Committee (a Santa Clara Valley land use advisory committee to the Ventura County Board of Supervisors), appointed to the Ventura County Planning Commission (including serving as chair), a member of the Santa Paula Hospital Board of Directors; a mentor for Ventura County Big Brother-Big Sisters; recipient of the Fillmore Soroptimist Women of Distinction; a member of the Heritage Valley Tourism Bureau Board; a Ventura County 99 (women pilot’s); President of the Ventura County Bar Association, and many, many other activities, including coaching Fillmore High School Mock Trial. Laura’s unique ability to immediately connect to people strengthens the bond created in serving others.

For four years she organized a winter coat drive in Fillmore, giving away around 1,800 coats; this was the only time I have ever been Black Friday shopping: with Laura Bartels at 3:00 in the morning, buying out Macy’s, Old Navy, and J.C. Penney’s. After the coat drive got too unwieldy, she still went to Walmart, bought as many soccer balls as would fit in her car (over fifty) and gave them out at Christmas.

Last year she actively participated in a local coalition in providing assistance to immigrant children fleeing from Central America, who were temporarily housed at Port Hueneme Naval Air Base.

Husband Bill is the Ventura County Film Liaison and Laura’s supportive, caring and deeply loved partner. Married 28 years ago, their 3 children are the fifth generation of Bartels who have grown up in the ranch house built by Bill’s great grandfather 100 years ago. Son Matthew (13) is an 8th grader at Fillmore Middle School; Hannah (15) is a 10th grader at La Reina High School; and Nico (17) is a senior at Fillmore High School. The family farm is currently planted to artichokes, but has grown jalapeños for Sriracha hot chili sauce, Brussels sprouts and navels and Valencias.

After high school on the north Oregon coast, Laura attended Mount Holyoke College, the oldest women’s college in the country, with a degree in History and a minor in Women’s Studies. Laura and Bill moved to Fillmore in 1986 and she started working for attorney John Scoles in 1988 as a legal assistant. With his encouragement, she began studying law at Ventura College of Law in the mid-90s and took the February 1997 bar. With her paralegal Joi Searson, office manager Andrea Davis, and office German Shepherds Twiggy and Brando, she has an active probate and estate planning practice in Fillmore at Taylor, Scoles & Bartels which is celebrating 85 years of serving the families and farmers of the Santa Clara Valley.

Laura is quite the Foo Fighters fan, and thanks to family connections, Laura has seen, to date, 39 shows, in cities throughout California, as well as St. Louis, Atlantic City, New York, Kansas City, and even Germany. Recently her seats were on the stage with her mother, where the guitar techs had to walk around her. Besides the Foos, she is a licensed pilot and her hobbies are photography, activities with her children, and cheering Le Tour de France.

She also collects handshakes with famous people. On her list so far: Archbishop Desmond Tutu, His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Hillary Clinton, Michelle Obama, Congresswomen Shirley Chisholm, guitarist Dave Grohl, writer Ram Dass, actor Richard Gere, model Cindy Crawford, software guru Peter Norton, California Chief Justice Ronald George (ret.), California Supreme Court Justice Tani Cantil-Sakayue, and singer Sheryl Crowe. Noted anthropologist Margaret Mead was a good friend of Laura’s mother and her famous quote seems to have seeped its way into the fiber of Laura’s being: “Never doubt a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world … indeed it is the only thing that ever has.”

Laura has received other honors and awards, including the Volunteer Lawyer Services Program award in 2001 and 2003, and the Holly Spevak Memorial Award from the Ventura County Women Lawyers in 2012. However, the Nordman award is truly a special honor.

Please call the Ventura County Bar Association at 805-650-7599 for ticket and sponsorship information. Reservations are required.

Leslie McAdam is a partner at Ferguson Case Orr Paterson LLP, where she handles business litigation, employment counsel and litigation, and real estate matters. Leslie is a six year veteran volunteer of Santa Clara Valley Legal Aid.

Ventura County Sheriff's Department

On November 02, 2015, Deputies along with Investigators with the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office Major Crimes Bureau responded to a call of a stabbing at the intersection of Third and B St., in the City of Fillmore. Upon arriving, it was discovered the victim had been involved in an altercation with the suspect and the victim sustained a stab wound to the chest. The victim was transported to VCMC where he later succumbed to his injuries. The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information about the incident is encouraged to contact the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office Major Crimes Bureau.

Nature of Incident: Homicide
Report Number: 15-2062756
Location: 300 Block of B St., Fillmore, California
Date & Time: 11/02/2015 / 2106 Hours
Unit(s) Responsible: Sheriff’s Major Crimes Bureau
(S)uspects, (V)ictims, (P)arty, (D)ecedent City of Residence Age
(V) Torres, Edgar, 24
(S) Unknown Fillmore
Prepared by: Detective Jennifer Bowie / Major Crimes Bureau
Media Follow-Up Contact: Sergeant Mark Gillette / Major Crimes Bureau
(805) 384-4727
Mark.Gillette@ventura.org
Senior Deputy Steve Michalec / Major Crimes Bureau
(805) 384-4732
Steve.Michalec@ventura.org
Approved by: Captain Melissa Smith / Major Crimes Bureau.

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).