Democratic candidate and Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders is setting his sights on Hillary Clinton before the Iowa caucuses, NBC News reported.

Sanders, who was in Iowa Friday, went after Clinton on her opposition to the Trans-Pacific Partnership and her initial support for the Defense of Marriage Act

His attacks come a few days before the Iowa caucuses, where polls show a tight race between the two candidates.

Sanders, who claims to have never run a negative campaign ad in his life, is now being accused of turning negative by the Clinton campaign.

"Does it mention Hillary Clinton? Does it have any image of Hillary Clinton?" Sanders said when asked about the criticism. 

An attorney accused of having sex with an inmate in an interview room at the Main Jail in South Florida has been barred from entering any Broward Sheriff's Office property until further notice.

According to BSO, an officer was making rounds at the jail on Wednesday afternoon when they spotted 35-year-old attorney Jessica Mishali David engaged in what appeared to be sexual intercourse with an inmate, 26-year-old Ysreal Granda.

Broward Criminal Court records list David as Granda's lead attorney in a pending attempted murder case.

David's attorney, Tarlika Navarro with the firm of Haddad & Navarro, denied the allegations in a phone interview with NBC 6 Friday.

"We are denying these false accusations and we will continue to fight for our client," Navarro said. "Her clients are being denied their 6th Amendment rights to counsel."

David won't be making any comments to the media, Navarro added.

Navarro also said she believes there are ulterior motives by the BSO but wouldn't explain what those motives may be.

According to the incident report, the officer opened the door to the interview room which prompted Granda to quickly sit in a chair while David immediately stood and adjusted her skirt.

The officer ordered her to leave the room and proceed to the waiting area, while Granda was secured in the interview area.

Detectives with the Sex Crimes and Special Victims units arrived and interviewed both David and Granda, after which David was released and Granda remained in custody.

David wasn't arrested but officials said the misconduct will be reported to the Bar Association.

Navarro said she is also looking into the matter.

"No crime has been charged, there's no evidence of anything," Navarro said.

BSO has since prohibited David from entering any BSO properties for either personal or professional reasons until further notice.

Granda remains in jail awaiting trial for the unrelated attempted murder charges.

With exactly 925 youth soccer games under his belt, a San Diego-based referee has hung up his whistle and retired from the field.

American Youth Soccer Organization (AYSO) ref Ron Newby, who recently turned 78 years old, told NBC 7 Friday that he refereed his first soccer game back in 1979 – sort of by mistake.

At the time, Newby’s then-10-year-old daughter was playing youth soccer and, during one of her games, Newby asked someone in charge of the match-up if they needed help.

Newby said that man handed him a whistle and a booklet. The following weekend, Newby reported to the soccer field to referee his first game.

Over the years, Newby went on to referee many of his children’s games. When his kids were finished playing AYSO soccer, he stopped refereeing for a while.

Then, his grandkids came along, and the field beckoned him once more.

He grabbed his whistle and uniform and began refereeing games for his granddaughters and grandson.

Over the decades, Newby said he’s overseen some very memorable match-ups. He keeps a log of each game, which is how he knows he has worked exactly 925 of them.

“I've done games where one team was entirely deaf. I've done games where it's a boys’ team but they had a lot of girls playing on the team,” he recalled, smiling. “There's a lot of variety out there and it was fun.”

Newby said he’s always looked at refereeing as an opportunity to get involved with youth and to keep fit.

“It gives you a chance to become a part of them. And to really enjoy the game and the kids themselves," he explained. “I think I would have missed out on an awful lot had I not had that kind of opportunity."

He said his time as a ref has been filled with three important things: “heart, excitement and fun.”

Last weekend, Newby refereed his final soccer game – an all-stars playoff game in San Marcos, north of San Diego County. He said it was a jammed-packed weekend, with ref gigs on Saturday and three games on Sunday.

Newby said his ref gig has certainly kept him looking and feeling young, and he's grateful for the experience.

His family said Newby is an inspiration to his children and grandchildren - a winner in his own right.
 

An Ohio student studying to be a priest traveled to San Diego Friday seeking sex with infants, according to the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Joel A. Wright, 23, was taken into federal custody Friday for allegedly traveling to San Diego to have sex with at least three babies in Mexico.

Wright is charged with two felony counts: traveling with the intent to engage in a sexual act with a minor and attempting to engage in illicit sexual conduct in a foreign country within the southern district of California.

His arrest follows a months-long undercover child sexual exploitation investigation conducted by Homeland Security Investigations special agents in San Diego.

Wright originally posted a Craigslist ad in Tijuana seeking to adopt an infant, a federal complaint details. A man told Wright he could bring a child to him at a Tijuana hotel, and then he contacted HSI special agents. He said Wright paid him upfront as an adoption fee and waited at a hotel in Tijuana, but the man said he never returned to the hotel with a child or otherwise. Records show Wright entered Mexico in July 2014, which is consistent with the man's story.

The man said he communicated with Wright again in July of last year after Wright posted a Craigslist ad for a Tijuana guide, according to the complaint. By this time the man was using a different email. Although he initially stated he wanted to adopt a child, Wright eventually said he wanted to have sex with female babies, federal officials say.

When asked via email if he had sexual experience with infants, Wright wrote, "I have not gone all the way before but I have made it very close in the past so I do have experience," the complaint says. He later allegedly wrote in January that "virgin babies are the best." In another correspondence, he said, "yes, I like church - it makes me feel good."

He also planned on giving the 1 to 3-year-olds Tylenol and candy "to relax them," the document states. 

With the man's consent, HSI special agents took over the email account in December. The complaint says after describing in graphic detail what he might do to the baby sexually, Wright wrote, "it is so much more fun when it's a bit of a struggle."

After receiving a tip, an undercover HSI agent took over an email account and posed as a Mexico-based tour guide to whom Wright had been speaking. Wright allegedly told the undercover agent via email that he wanted to travel to Tijuana and either own or adopt a child under three and have sex with the child.

Wright then booked his flight to San Diego, where he planned to meet the tour guide. Their plans were then to travel to a Tijuana hotel where he would be brought female infants, according to HSI agents.

Wright was taken into custody by HSI special agents outside of baggage claim at the San Diego International Airport Friday morning.

“This investigation opens a window into a secret world where sexual predators prey on young children around the globe,” said Dave Shaw, special agent in charge for HSI San Diego, in a statement. “Pedophiles who mistakenly believe they can escape justice by committing child sex crimes outside the U.S. should be on notice that HSI will seek to vindicate the rights of those victims regardless where they live. Fortunately, in this instance, our perseverance and diligence prevented the sexual exploitation of yet another innocent victim.”

Wright was a first year pre-theology student at the Pontifical College Josephinum, Columbus, Ohio according to the Catholic Diocese of Steubenville. He was immediately suspended from his studies after his arrest in accordance with the diocesan child protection degree.

Wright is expected to be arraigned on Monday. It's unclear if he has obtained an attorney.

A San Diego family experienced a terrifying ordeal when three intruders broke into their house early Friday morning and held the family at gunpoint during a home invasion robbery.

Officer Frank Cali with the San Diego Police Department (SDPD) said the break-in happened just before 3 a.m. at the family’s home in the 11000 block of Fortino Point, near Stonebridge Parkway, in Rancho Encantada near Scripps Ranch.

Police said three unknown men entered the home, tied up the family and held the victims at gunpoint as they ransacked the residence. The suspects stole jewelry, cash and credit cards from the home.

The men fled the scene in an unknown direction and were nowhere to be found by the time police officers arrived. Cali said none of the victims were injured.

Police said the suspects were only described as wearing dark bandanas and dark clothing. No further details were immediately released.

NBC 7 spoke briefly with one of the victims Friday who said she was home with her husband at the time of the break-in. She was visibly shaken by the incident.

Neighbors told NBC 7 there have been between three and five break-ins in the community within the past year, many on the canyon side of the neighborhood. One resident said he now has a dog and alarms in place to protect his home.

Residents are on edge, fearing armed intruders may strike again.

A San Diego City College student was removed from class Thursday after he was involved in what school officials described as suspicious activity.

Campus police found a gun clip and blanks along with a gas mask inside the student’s backpack, college spokesperson Jack Beresford told NBC 7.

The unidentified student was questioned by campus police but has not been arrested, Beresford said.

He was, however, suspended by the school. Beresford did not say way, only that the student did not violate any education code because the clip is not a weapon.

The evidence was turned over to the San Diego County District Attorney’s Office for a decision on whether charges will be filed in the case.

Staffers were informed of the incident but a campus-wide message was not sent.

Beresford said administrators felt there was no threat to the campus and no need to urgently inform students of what happened.
 

A Watertown, Connecticut, volunteer firefighter and his wife accused of punishing their five children by making them stand in the bathroom said the Department of Children and Families knew about the treatment, court documents said.

George Barnes, 45, and Nancie Barnes, 47, are facing charges including cruelty to persons, unlawful restraint, and risk of injury to a minor. The couple adopted four of the children and are guardians of a fifth child. 

Nancie told police she does not think she has done anything "not acceptable," the court documents read. 

A 15-year-old girl was locked in the bathroom from September to mid-December, both George and Nancie told police, according to the court documents.

On Dec. 21, police and the DCF interviewed the 15-year-old victim and her 9-year-old brother about alleged abuse in the house. The 15-year-old victim said she stays in the bathroom when she returns from school and all day on weekends, the court documents said. She told Watertown police she got in "trouble" for reaching out to her biological mom. The victim also told police she was not allowed to sleep with a pillow or talk to the school psychologist, the court documents said. 

She told police she was able to leave the house to get a Christmas tree with the family but had to stay in the car. When the girl was allowed to eat with the family, she was not allowed to speak with her siblings because she was a "bad influence," according to court documents.

The 9-year-old victim told police that when the children were in trouble, including his 15-year-old sister, they had to read while standing for 20 minute intervals before they either "earned" a chore or had to do homework, court documents said.

The DCF temporarily removed the children from the house for 96 hours in December. 

Both George and Nancie said their therapist and the DCF knew about the displinary action, which they said was necessary to curb the children's attitude and tantrums, according to the court documents.

Baby monitors were used to see if the child was standing when he or she was "supposed to be," police said. Meals were brought to the child during the three months. 

All five children, ranging in age from 9 to 18, told police they had been punished various times and would need to stand in the bathroom and read for extended periods of time, Watertown police said. 

NBC Connecticut reached out to DCF and the agency released the following statement:

"The parents who were arrested today were licensed by the Department and accordingly received criminal and child welfare background checks prior to obtaining their license and caring for the children.  We have high expectations for the families who foster and adopt children from state care, and those expectations are met in in all but the rarest of instances. If the allegations are true, the treatment of the children is completely unacceptable and a violation of the trust we place in foster and adoptive families."

The Barneses appeared in court on Jan. 29, where protective orders were issued. Each was released on a $35,000 bond and they are due back in court on Feb. 24.

The couple or the public defender representing them had no comment on Friday afternoon.

San Diego County District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis is holding a Citizens' Academy that explains the criminal justice system and the workings of the District Attorney's Office.

The academy begins March 24 and ends May 26. Classes will be held from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Joan Kroc Institute for Peace and Justice on the University of San Diego campus.

The 10-week program is a free course with the San Diego County Sheriff's Department and other public safety speakers aimed at demystifying the criminal justice system.

Topics include prosecuting homicides and economic crimes; gang; narcotics; elder abuse; the Computer and Technology Crime High-Tech Response Team or "CATCH"; and officer-involved shootings. The course includes a tour fo the County's Medical Examiner's facility.

Applications are currently being accepted and are due by Feb. 8. More information can be found at the DA's website. 

Although the Chargers will stay in San Diego through the 2016 season according to a statement  Friday, the team’s future is in question.

Since the Chargers just reached an agreement 'in principle' with the Rams one specific question is what might happen to their current stadium.

“I’m more optimistic now than I’ve been probably in the last seven, eight months, “said City Councilman Scott Sherman whose district encompasses Qualcomm Stadium. “The mayor and the supervisor and Mr. Spanos met together, just the three of them, which is very good. Face to face hasn’t really happened a lot in the past, and it seems like there’s a sincerity on both sides to try and work something out.”

Sherman admitted to NBC 7 that there’s a lot of ‘bad blood’ with the fans, but keeping the Chargers here is important for maintaining San Diego’s world-class city status.

He agreed playing the 2016 season in San Diego could just be a ploy to sell tickets and merchandise, but said, “With the way the situation turned out in LA…the fact that you’d have to be second fiddle to a much bigger name, a much bigger fan base…I think it makes much more sense to come down to San Diego, concentrate on the mega region down here, be loyal to the fans who’ve been there the entire time, which helped build the franchise, and finally, once and for all, over 14 some odd years, get something done.” He said the fans are ready to get something done regarding the stadium.

He explained he thinks Mission Valley makes more sense for the new stadium, but id downtown is part of the equation they will just need guarantees from the team.
 

Hillary Clinton said she’s welcoming the rivalry that’s developed with her closest Democratic opponent, Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, NBC News reported.

In an interview with NBC News, Clinton accused Sanders of “trying to go negative” with ads accusing Wall Street of trying to buy off politicians. She suggested Sanders’ platform is based on unrealistic goals and said she offered a “more clear agenda that can actually produce results.”

The latest NBC News/Wall Street Journal/Marist Poll of likely Democratic primary voters shows Clinton leading Sanders 48 percent to 45 percent, a statistical dead heat.

Clinton said she wasn’t concerned about losing Iowa and New Hampshire, saying she was “in it for the long haul.” 

A San Diego store had to refuse service to a whiskered customer who wandered in from the sea.

A curious little sea lion climbed 145 steps to reach the Cave Store in La Jolla, manager Rachelle Agosti told NBC 7 Friday.

The Cave Store acts as the entrance to a manmade tunnel which delves down the cliffside and into the Sunny Jim Sea Cave.

While most people use the store to access the spectacular cave, the employees were surprised to find a visitor coming from the other direction on Jan 21.

Agosti said just before closing, the sea lion waddled into the store.

“It was shocking,” the manager said.

Security footage shows the sea lion startling customers as it wandered around for about 10 minutes, confused and scared as the employees chased it around.

The quick-thinking humans decided to grab some salmon – normally used to feed their cats -- to grab the sea lion’s attention. They were able to lead it out of the store, back into the tunnel and to the ocean.

This is the first time a daring sea lion has made it into the building, though five years ago, another climbed up the stairs and close to the entrance, said Agosti.
 

Adam Geoffrey remembers the "flood" of people that showed up at his hardware store after the last series of El Nino storms.

"The parking lot was filled up and everyone wanted sandbags," said Geoffrey, "and they were too late."

Hammer & Nails Ace Hardware in Pacific Beach and other hardware stores ran out of bags before the rains ended. Even free bags offered by local cities and the county were gone.  

Erica Roman works at the hardware store and was surprised by the heavy rains backing up in her backyard.

"It turned into a lake and came in through the living room door," said Roman.

Friday, hardware stores had plenty of bags, as do many fire stations and lifeguard stations. Some offer only bags, while others had bags filled with sand.  

But you don't want to put too much sand into the bags.  Road crew workers say you want to fill bags with sand or gravel a little more than half way so they can still settle and work together to block rising water.

But where can you get the sand? Some people fill their bags at the beach.

"I don't think you're allowed to," said Roman, "I'm pretty sure it is illegal."

Bags cost around 50¢ each when you buy them in bulk. At that price it's wise to stock up on a few before the rains come.  

After two people survived a horrible crash on the 163 in Kearny Mesa Thursday, their families are realizing just how miraculous their escape was.

Chris Mitchell, 22, and Marlene Filares, 20, were driving to their job at Servpro in San Marcos Thursday when an 18-year-old rear-ended their work truck sending it over a bridge on the 163 down to the 805 where it burst into flames.

“He really didn’t know what happened,” Rob Robinson, Chris Mitchell’s stepdad said. “He’s looking at us; we’re saying ‘are you okay?’ but he didn’t know what happened.”

Three men jumped into action and pulled Mitchell and Filares from the flames .

“I’m numb,” Fernanda Robinson, Mitchell’s mother said. “I just can’t believe, seeing that video. I’m so thankful the guys were there to help them out and take them out of the truck just in time.”

The Robinsons also said they are grateful to the Servpro supervisors who have been at the hospital nonstop.

Filares went home Thursday, but Mitchell remains in the hospital with a three fractured ribs and a fractured cheek.

“No matter what you hear about people not caring, people do care,” Rob Robinson told NBC 7. “People go out of their way to help you. Those people were there and that’s just perfect evidence – that three young guy’s would stop and put themselves in danger."

Their supervisor believes fuel caught the truck on fire because only moving boxes were inside the vehicle.
 

The San Diego Police Department released photos Thursday of a man who they say stole a credit card to buy merchandise downtown.

The unidentified man was caught on surveillance cameras buying items at Starbucks, CVS Pharmacy and Rite Aid with the stolen card, police say.

He is described as a 50 to 60-year-old man who stands about 6-feet tall with heavy build.

He is bald and wore glasses and a red jacket while making the purchases.

If you know anything about the suspect, call the SDPD at 619-531-2000 or Crime Stoppers at 888-580-8477.

A felon was sentenced to 63 months in custody Friday for carrying a 9mm pistol into an El Centro City Building.

Jesus Adrian Bueno walked into a city benefits office on September 3rd and dropped a gun to the floor and put it back in his pocket according to workers who reported him.

Bueno was immediately escorted from the building and El Centro police were called. Officers later stopped Bueno in a car and recovered the loaded 9mm pistol from his pocket. The gun had the safety ‘off’ and an obliterated serial number. A bullet was in the chamber.

There had been a report of shots fired at Bueno’s home the day before officials said.

As a felon, Bueno is prohibited form possessing a firearm. He has previous convictions for robbery, assault with a deadly weapon and possession of a controlled substance.

He has been in custody since his arrest in September.

A fire first reported in a  two-story commercial building in Hillcrest Friday evening turned out to be a dumpster fire and possible crime scene according to officials.

The San Diego Fire Department responded to the call at Brookes Avenue and 4th Avenue around 10:57 p.m.

Information is limited due to an ongoing investigation.

A highly-anticipated storm system will move into Southern California this weekend, bringing much needed rain to the region -- the first substantial rainfall to hit San Diego since the top of January.

Big surf, high winds, possibly heavy rain and mountain snow are expected, as the storm moves ashore Sunday.

“This is a very typical El Nino storm,” said NBC 7 meteorologist Jodi Kodesh. “The plume of moisture associated with it, stretches all the way to Hawaii, so it’s packing some moisture.”

As soon as late Saturday night, showers could develop in our area. The storm itself will not move though until Sunday, possibly lingering into Monday morning.

A High Surf Advisory is already in effect for San Diego beaches, in advance of the storm, warning of powerful waves and rip currents that are expected to materialize. Waves of six to 10 feet, with sets to 12 feet are possible. Beachgoers are warned that waves may over-top jetties and sea walls, causing coastal damage and beach erosion.

San Diego police and lifeguards have closed down Ocean Beach Pier for the weekend as a precaution.

“These waves are wind-driven, so you can bet wind will also be a problem with this storm,” said Kodesh. “Gale force winds are possible over the outer coastal waters, making it dangerous for boaters.”

As the storm moves in, Sunday, coast and inland valleys may see wind gusts out of the north-west to 30 and 40 mph. Mountains and desert foothills could see winds to 50 and 60 mph, with isolated gusts to 75 mph. This will make driving extremely difficult, and could topple trees and power lines.

Moderate rain is likely with this storm, and heavy rain possible. Coastal cities and inland valleys could receive anywhere from a quarter of an inch, to an inch of rain, while more than two inches could fall in the foothills and mountains. Desert areas are expected to receive about a quarter of an inch.

Sunday, the snow level will start around 6,500 feet, dropping to 4,000 Sunday night. Moderate to heavy snowfall will be possibly above 5,000 feet. By Monday morning, the snow level will have fallen to 3500 feet, where a dusting of snow is possible.

After the storm passes, next week looks mostly sunny. For weather updates from NBC 7, click here.

A day after San Diego police arrested a teacher for allegedly engaging in a sex act with a student, the school is feeling the ripple effects.

Toni Nicole Sutton, a 37-year-old Spanish teacher and volleyball coach at Crawford High School, was arrested late Thursday night.

Police said after a parent discovered inappropriate communication between her son and an adult family friend, investigators found evidence that led them to suspect Sutton. The son is a CHS student and a minor.

NBC 7 talked to students, with their parent’s permission, about the arrest, and many said Sutton seems like a nice teacher.

“I did have her as a teacher,” said student Guled Hussein. “She was actually a pretty cool teacher. She helped us out with everything we needed help. I hope this is not telling the truth, what is going on.”

It was a tough situation for the students caught in the middle of a very adult situation.

On Thursday the parent called police concerned about her son's relationship with Sutton.

Police went to CHS to talk to Sutton and led her from campus for questioning. Sex Crimes detectives then found enough evidence to arrest her.

Sutton is not married, but she lives with her boyfriend not far from the school. She has a daughter, and her boyfriend has two children.

Several students found the arrest unbelievable, saying Sutton always seemed like a good person.

“She was a good teacher; she was a cool teacher. She was always there for the students who needed help, give snacks and stuff like that. She wasn't a person who would do bad things,” said student Ricky Stewart.

The San Diego Unified School District put Sutton on paid administrative leave and said she will not return to campus. A substitute teacher will be taking over the Spanish class.
 

Emotions were all over the place on Friday afternoon after news first broke that the Chargers had reached a deal to share a stadium with the Rams – only to announce an hour later the team would stay in San Diego for the 2016 season.

Hundreds of fans took to Twitter and Facebook to express confusion, frustration, relief and a number of other emotions mixed in.

Many people questioned whether this meant the team would only be here another year before moving to LA.

“If I'm a Chargers fan, should I be happy they are playing one more year in SD or feel betrayed beyond all belief?” Duncan Marshall tweeted.

“Chargers playing next year in San Diego won't be awkward at all,” Doug Gottlieb echoed in a tweet.

Some fans expressed outright joy at the surprising turn of events. Others called it “schizophrenic.”

“I was just reading this. What a schizophrenic process this has been, crazy. I fully expect to read tomorrow that the Raiders are definitely coming to San Diego,” Jonathan Sasse commented on NBC 7’s Facebook page.

How do you feel about this latest news? Are you confused?