More than a dozen school officials from the Sweetwater, San Ysidro and Southwestern College school districts appeared in court Friday to face charges including bribery and perjury.

Prosecutors said the school officials traded their votes on multi-million dollar construction contracts for gifts and other favors.

The current and former educators were indicted in December in a major "pay-to-play" public corruption case that now stretches across three school districts located in San Diego’s South Bay.

In court Friday, each entered a plea of not guilty.

Defendants include former Southwestern College Superintendent Raj Chopra, former Southwestern College trustees Yolanda Salcido and Jorge Dominguez, former Southwestern College administrator John Wilson, former Sweetwater Superintendent Jesus Gandara, former Sweetwater trustees Jim Cartmill, former San Ysidro Superintendent Manuel Paul, former Sweetwater trustee and Southwestern College administrator Greg Sandoval.

Five defendants are current educators: Sweetwater trustees Bertha Lopez, Pearl Quinones and Arlie Ricasa, and Jim Cartmill; along with San Ysidro trustee Yolanda Hernandez. Ricasa is also currently a Southwestern College administrator.

Judge Ana Espana also ruled that Grand Jury transcripts will be made public, but because they may include inadmissible evidence like hearsay, and names of possible unindicted co-conspirators, she ruled that they not be released Friday.

In May, the defense attorneys will discuss the Grand Jury transcript line-by-line to argue which portions of the transcript should be redacted.

After the court proceedings, Deputy District Attorney Leon Schorr said Grand Jury witnesses were instructed not to discuss hearsay during their testimony.

Marc Carlos, the defense attorney for Sweetwater trustee Pearl Quinones, noted his continuing objection to releasing any of the Grand Jury transcripts, arguing that parts are inflammatory and not relevant to the charges against his client.

After the arraignments, defense attorney Ana Kay unsuccessfully argued for a demur for her client Jeff Flores, a contractor at the center of charges against both Sweetwater and Southwestern defendants. Flores is the estranged son of Rene Flores, another contractor who was set to be sentenced this morning in the downtown courthouse, for his alleged involvement in the case.

The elder Flores is president of the Seville Group Inc., which was program manager for Sweetwater's Prop O bond measure. He entered a "no contest" plea in April 2012 to lesser misdemeanor charges related to the failure of public officials to disclose meals he bought them on state-mandated forms. His sentencing was continued today until after the trial for the other defendants is over. 

The judge overruled the younger Jeff Flores' demur motion, ruling in favor of the prosecution. Afterwards, Jeff Flores entered a not guilty plea for charges that include conspiracy to commit a crime, giving or offering a bribe, and offering a thing of value to a school board member.

Readiness conferences for the case against all 15 defendants were set for July and October. A jury trial date was set for February 18, 2014.

President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama released their federal income tax returns for 2012 (.pdf) on Friday, and the First Wallet took a bit of a hit: the Obama's adjusted gross income was about 23 percent less than what it was in 2011.

The Obamas donated about a quarter of their income to 33 different charities, with the Fisher House Foundation — which provides housing to veterans being treated at military hospitals — receiving the bulk of that money. They received $103,871 in donations from the Obamas.

Vice President Joe Biden and wife Dr. Jill Biden also released their federal income tax returns (.pdf), as well as their income tax returns for Delaware and Virginia.

Here is how they stacked up:

Source: U.S. Gov.

A Virginia man has been arrested and charged for allegedly groping a sleeping woman on a flight from Miami to Washington, D.C., on Wednesday.

According to an affidavit by an investigating FBI agent, Saurabh Agarwal, of Sterling, Va., told the woman she seemed tired and asked if she had a long day as she took a seat next to him on American Airlines Flight 1142 to Ronald Reagan National Airport. She said she would probably fall asleep right after takeoff, which she did.

When she woke, Agarwal was hugging her body with his hand inside her bra fondling her breast, according to the affidavit. In fear, she pretended she was still asleep, and Agarwal squeezed her body tighter. He took the victim’s hand and would squeeze it as he squeezed her nipple, the affidavit said.

Agarwal stopped when the refreshment cart approached. He ordered two scotches and asked the victim if she’d like one, but she continued to pretend to sleep, according to the affidavit.

When the flight attendant moved away, Agarwal allegedly began groping the woman again.

At one point, the victim pretended to wake up and said nothing to Agarwal. She put on her headphones, and Agarwal talked to her as if nothing had happened, according to the affidavit.

Agarwal leaned into the victim and pressed his legs against her, the affidavit said, and the woman left her seat saying she needed to use the bathroom, which is when she reported the incident to the flight crew.

The woman sitting in the seat on the defendant’s other side witnessed the incident but said she thought the two were together. After the victim left her seat, Agarwal touched the other woman’s leg, saying he had dropped his drink, and she quickly left her seat and went to the back of the plane where she saw the victim crying and realized she wasn’t with the defendant, the affidavit said.

The defendant was taken into custody in at Reagan National. He is charged with abusive sexual contact.

Americans have until 11:59 p.m. Monday to file their taxes with the Internal Revenue Service or request an extension. While procastinators may be busy with last-minute scrambling, the vast majority of taxpayers have already filed their returns and have come to terms with their financial fate.

Whatever that fate may be—a refund or bill—retailers and marketers are prepared to seize on the range of emotions Tax Day might evoke. Here's a roundup of where the recently (or soon-to-be) reimbursed can spend a chunk of their refund, or where those who owe can find solace in freebies.

OFFICE DEPOT: The office supply store is offering five pounds of free document shredding as well as a free black and white copy of your tax return, good through May 1.

HYDROMASSAGE:  Participating locations are offering free massages for the whole week.

AMC THEATRES: Moviegoers can get a free popcorn with this coupon anytime between April 12 and April 15 at participating locations.

GOOGLE PLAY: The music shop has a flash sale on dozens of albums. (Justin Timberlanke's "Justified" is going for $6,99; Drake's "Thank me Later" for $2.99.)

GREAT AMERICAN COOKIES: The cookie chain is offering free Birthday Cake Cookies on Tax Day at participating locations.

PANDA EXPRESS: On April 17, the Asian food chain is offering a free serving of Samurai Surf and Turf with this coupon.

THE MELTING POT: Most locations have deals on fondue, salads and certain entrees. Check the site for details.

SUBWAY: The sandwich chain is offering customers a buy-one-get-one deal on breakfast subs purchased before 9 a.m. through April 30.

CINNABON: Participating locations are giving away free Cinnabon Bites on Tax Day only.

ARBY'S: All day Monday, Arby's is giving away free curly fries or potato cakes.

PINKBERRY: Though this one's not billed as a tax-related discount, it's happening tax week, and therefore relvant. The frozen yogurt chain is offering free full-size servings of Pinkberrygreek, a new Greek yogurt on the menu, every Wednesday in April from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

SONIC: These fast-food joints are offering half price drinks all day long Monday.

SCHOLTZKY'S DELI:The deli chain is giving away free sandwiches with a 32 ounce drink and chips purchased Monday

BOSTON MARKET: This chain's Tax Day "Rib-bate" is two rib meals for $10.40.

A Chicago teen pleaded guilty Friday to the 2011 shoving death of a 68-year-old church deacon at a "L" train stop and was sentenced to 32 years in prison.

Prince Watson, 17, was charged with murder and robbery for pushing Sally Katona-King down a flight of stairs at the Chicago Transit Authority's Fullerton station on the city's North Side. He later was denied bail by a judge who called the teen "a dangerous individual."

The teen pleaded guilty to stealing an iPhone from Katona-King and pushing her as he ran away. King, a Lutheran deacon known for her work with the homeless, died from the fall.

Prosecutors said King suffered a fractured collar bone, skull, nose and ribs, as well as bleeding in her brain. They initially said Watson gave a videotaped confession and told police he heard screams but never turned around because he didn't want anyone to see his face.

Investigators said Watson committed two virtually identical crimes after the woman's death, stealing iPhones from commuters at the Sedgwick station on the CTA's Brown Line on April 17, 2011, and again at the Red Line's Clark and Division stop on May 15, 2011.

"That's how we became aware of him," said Area 3 detective Michele Wood. "We also became aware of him because an officer who saw one of the videos we had of the offender, thought it might be Prince Watson."

About 200 mourners gathered to remember Katona-King. Her daughter, Eileen Katona, said her mother was devoted to her community. She praised her art of baking and lamented that so many of the plans her mother had made for the year would not happen.

A dump truck slammed into a guard rail and landed on its side on northbound Interstate 15 Friday afternoon, snarling traffic.

The accident happened around 2:05 p.m. near Mercy Road.

The crash caused the dump truck to spill a bunch of gravel, rocks and debris onto the shoulder of the roadway.

A SigAlert was issued right after the accident. At least two lanes were blocked off. CHP officials provided traffic control as crews worked to clear the gravel from the roadway.

As of 2:40 p.m., traffic was moving slowly through lanes that were open near the crash.

It is unclear if the driver of the dump truck was injured.
 

In an interesting twist to the ongoing battle between medicinal marijuana advocates and law enforcement, a Ramona couple stands accused of illegally growing pot on their property despite holding county-issued medicinal marijuana cards.

At 5:30 a.m., federal and state narcotics agents – with guns drawn - raided the home of Dennis and Deborah Little.

“In my mind, we're legal. Everything's good. We got our cards, we're legal,” Dennis Little told NBC 7 San Diego.

The 64-year-old suffers from a chronic nerve disorder. His wife Deborah, 59 is a cancer patient, treated for AIDS for the last 20-years.

In 2011, they began growing marijuana after being issued medical Marijuana cards.

“This was just our little private thing that we decided to try because, we were getting tired of all the, she's taking hands full of pills every day for her conditions. And I'm taking anti-depressants,” Dennis Little said.

Prosecutors say there is enough evidence to show the couple was breaking the law.

Legally, medical marijuana users can have an amount of the drug reasonably related to their conditions.

Prosecutors say agents seized hundreds of pounds of useable marijuana.

The Little's dispute that claim saying they had 25 plants. They also deny charges they planned to sell the drug.

“We've never sold to anybody. We don't go to dispensaries. We bought from two dispensaries,” Deborah Little said.

“I think it's silly. It's a tremendous waste of taxpayers’ dollars,” her husband added.

The Little's say they've received unexpected support from medical marijuana advocate groups but are embarrassed that their private health stories have become public.

However, they say they want people to take a closer look at the debate on medicinal marijuana use.

“Do some research on the Internet. Check it out. Read the articles on it. Cannabis can help you, it's helped me. I swear by it,” Dennis Little said.

That may be the case, but prosecutors say the Little’s broke the law and gave conflicting information to investigators.

The case goes to trial later this year. If found guilty, the couple faces up to six years in prison.

The mother of a Ramona High School sophomore who died after being struck in the chest by a ball spoke Thursday.

Sue Kohler joined a candlelight vigil and thanked everyone for coming, for wanting to remember her son, Taylor Dorman.

Dozens of friends and family comforted each other on the school campus. They held hands and prayed as candles flickered in the wind. There was no more space on the poster for goodbyes.

The outpouring of support from friends and community members helped give her a reason to get out of bed she said.

“Regardless of our loss, there are people out there who still care about us and they need us and we have to keep going whether we want to or not,” Kohler said. “That’s what Taylor would want. He would want us to be happy.”

Dorman died Wednesday after being accidentally hit in the chest with a softball during a game of “over-the-line” in P.E. class.

The teenager collapsed on the field just before 11:30 a.m. He was airlifted to Palomar Hospital where he later died.

It was his 16th birthday.

After Taylor's death, Kohler and her son drove to UC Santa Barbara to pick up her daughter and bring her home. The family was unaware about the memorial at the high school or the impromptu birthday party held Wednesday night.

Then, she saw the coverage on local television early Thursday.

“I was shocked,” she said. “Everybody was saying what I knew about Taylor – that he was wonderful. That gave me strength.”

Kohler and Taylor spent Wednesday morning together, picking up maple bars and strawberry milk before school.

“When he got out of the car at school I told him ‘Happy Birthday’ and told him I loved him. He said he loved me too,” she recalled. “I was happy, we were happy together at that moment.”

Dorman’s family suffered a loss last year when his father died in from heart failure after several bouts of pneumonia.

When Kohler talked to the medical examiner after her son’s autopsy, she learned the teenager had an enlarged heart.

“That is hereditary and there could have been a connection,” Kohler explained. “Despite the fact that we just didn’t know, perhaps he had a condition that led to this.”

The medical examiner said he would do more tests and let the family know the results when they were available.

“Taylor was a big guy. His dad was 6'4” and he was probably going to be 6'4”. He loved people. He had a good heart, a big heart,” Kohler said.

“He didn’t like to see people suffer or be unhappy and he just liked to hug.”

Loved ones will continue honoring Dorman's life and spirit Friday evening with a special birthday party at Collier Park on East Street in Ramona.

A memorial fund has been established for Dorman and his family. Those who wish to donate can do so at the Bank of Southern California Ramona branch located at 1315 Main Street by mentioning Dorman's mother, Sue Kohler.

San Diego law enforcement agencies are asking for the public’s help to find two teenage girls who were last seen Tuesday.

Jessica Olachea, 16, and Graciela Gonzalez, 14, may be in Tijuana according to San Diego police. Both teens are described as 5’7” with brown eyes and brown hair.

Olachea was last seen wearing peach-colored jeans with a pink AEROPOSTLE sweater and flip flops officials said. She was carrying a brown bag, a white bag and a multi-colored bag.

Graciela was last seen wearing white leggings and sweater with brown boots police said.

The two friends are considered at risk and so police released images and asked the public to be on the lookout.

Thursday’s San Diego Padres Los Angeles Dodgers baseball game turned into a base “brawl.” The on-field melee injured a $147 million pitcher and had a Padre slugger defiantly defending himself post game.

With the Dodgers leading the Padres 2-1 in the 6th inning, Dodgers pitcher Zack Greinke hit the Padres Carlos Quentin with a pitch. Scroll down to watch the video from MLB.

After being beaned, Quentin stared at Greinke, the Dodger pitcher said something to Quentin, then it was on. View Images

Quentin charged the mound and slammed into Greinke. Both dugouts and bullpens emptied. It took about 20 minutes to clear the field and resume playing ball.

Quentin, Greinke, Dodgers center fielder Matt Kemp and Dodgers utility man Jerry Hairston Jr. were ejected after the brawl. Hairston triggered a second incident when he ran toward the Padres' dugout before being restrained by Padres first baseman Yonder Alonso and teammates A.J. Ellis and Skip Schumaker.

After the game, Quentin hinted that Greinke hit him on purpose. “There’s a history there, that’s why I reacted. It’s an unfortunate situation that dates back a few years” said Quentin.

"I've never thought about hitting him on purpose," said Greinke, who has now hit Quentin three times dating to their days in the American League. Quentin kept saying “we have a history,” but wouldn’t go into specifics when pressed about previous incidents with Greinke.

Quentin suggested that whatever Greinke said to him from the mound was the "last straw" in his feud with Greinke and led him to go out to the mound.

Dodgers Manager Don Mattingly told reporters that Quentin, who dives toward the plate and is regularly hit by pitches, showed "zero understanding of the game of baseball" if he thought Greinke was throwing at him. "A 2-1 game and we're trying to hit him (with a) 3-2 (count)? That's just stupid, that's what it is," Mattingly said. "He should not play a game until Greinke can pitch (again). If he plays before Greinke pitches, something's wrong."

Special Section: San Diego Padres

Greinke, who is in the first year of a six-year, $147 million contract, suffered a broken left collar bone during the brawl. The Dodger right hander was wearing a sling after the game, no official word on how long Greinke will be out.

The Dodgers and Padres won’t have to wait long to settle any scores, the two teams begin a series Monday night in Los Angeles. Asked what he expects in that series Quentin said, “we’ll see what happens.”

A car slammed into a Ramona house Friday afternoon, seriously injuring two people, according to California Highway Patrol.

The incident happened around 3:45 p.m. at 22947 San Vicente Rd. when a car collided with a house.

The driver has been placed under arrest and is suspected of driving under the influence, according to CHP. There was also a male passenger inside the car with him.

Officials said the home has damage to the windows and walls.

Two people were airlifted to the hospital with head trauma, according to CHP. Their injuries are non-life threatening.

Check back for updates on this story.

The home of a former Kaufman County, Texas, judge who says he was questioned by agents just hours after the district attorney and his wife were shot to death last month was searched Friday afternoon.

Local, state and federal agents are at Eric Williams' home in Kaufman executing a search warrant.

The FBI, Texas Rangers and Kaufman County investigators are gathering evidence related to the murders of District Attorney Mike McLelland and his wife and the murder of Assistant District Attorney Mark Hasse back in January, according to Kaufman County public information officer Lt. Justin Lewis.

Williams has never been named as a suspect, and no arrest warrant has been issued for him.

In an interview April 3, Williams told NBC 5 DFW he had nothing to do with the McLellands' murders and doesn't even own a gun.

"If I was in their shoes, I would want to talk to me," Eric Williams had said in an interview at his house. "In the investigators' minds, they want to check with me to do their process of elimination."

Williams, a former Kaufman County justice of the peace, was charged with theft and later convicted in a high-profile trial. He was kicked out of office, and his law license was suspended. He was sentenced to two years' probation and is appealing his conviction.

But he said he is not bitter and wouldn't want to harm anyone.

"I've cooperated with law enforcement," Williams told NBC 5 DFW on April 3. "I certainly wish them the best in bringing justice to this incredibly egregious act."

Williams' name has swirled around the courthouse because his trial was sensational news in this small community, and it included testimony of death threats.

William said he was contacted by investigators on March 30 — only about three hours after McLelland and his wife, Cynthia, were found dead inside their Forney home.

He said he met the agents at a nearby restaurant, where he allowed them to swab his hands for gunpowder residue. He also gave them his and his wife's cellphones, which they returned the next day.

"I know I didn't do anything," he said. "I know where I was."

Williams said he was at home with his wife or up the street at his in-laws late Friday and Saturday.

He expressed shock at the crime and sympathy for the victims' families.

"I want to say my deepest condolences go out to the McLelland family and all the people at the courthouse," he said.

Asked if he is angry at prosecutors, he said, "No, I'm not. Obviously that was also a part of them doing their jobs."

Those who smoke and sell marijuana may soon be protected against federal prosecution.

An Orange County legislator introduced a new bill in congress today that would modify the federal controlled substances act. The bill was introduced by Republican congressman Dana Rohrabacher and it's called the "Respect State Marijuana Laws Act.”

It would amend that federal law to defer to individual states when it comes to marijuana regulations.

Across the country, state laws vary when it comes to use of marijuana. California is one of 18 states where marijuana is legal for medical purposes and in November Colorado and Washington passed laws making the drug legal for anyone over the age of 21.

A Pew research study released last week found that 60 percent of Americans believe the federal government shouldn't enforce federal laws prohibiting its use in states where it is legal.

The Respect State Marijuana Laws Act would protect individual marijuana consumers, as well as businesses operating in states where they are legal from federal prosecution.

Those who oppose bill say it's not really about providing medicine, but rather it's about protecting drug dealers.

“We’re very concerned about the likelihood of drugs going from states that have legalized marijuana …to other states and so it’s very important that uh drugs be controlled federally," said Scott Chipman from Citizens Against Legalizing Marijuana.

But those who support it say it will help medical marijuana users have safe places to buy it.   

“In the state of California, cannabis is legal only for medical purposes and there are thousands of patients who use it every single day and they need a safer, reliable place to get that medicine.” said Eugene Davidovich from San Diego Americans for Safe Access.

Mourners were holding a wake Friday for a 6-year-old New Jersey boy who was shot in the head by his 4-year-old neighbor.

Family and friends were also set to hold a candlelight vigil Friday night for Brandon Holt and another vigil Saturday after his funeral.

They recalled the energetic boy who loved the Jersey Shore boardwalk, and wore buttons that featured his picture with ribbons in green — his favorite color.

"He was just so strong of a person, and to not have him and to not have him here is like losing everything," said Laura Decker, an aunt of the boy.

Neighbors have also placed purple ribbons on trees and mailboxes along his street, in his honor.

Holt died at a hospital Tuesday night, about 24 hours after he was shot with a rifle outside the 4-year-old's home in Toms River.

The two boys had been playing outside when Holt was shot from about 15 yards away. It's not clear if the 4-year-old pulled the trigger or if the rifle accidentally discharged. 

Holt's grandmother, Donna Elefante, told NBC 4 New York that the parents of the younger boy initially told Holt's family that the gun used in the shooting was a pellet gun and that their son had gotten the gun from under the bed in the master bedroom. 

Police are continuing to investigate how the younger child obtained the rifle from his family's home on McCormick Drive. The boy's father was known to be an avid hunter, and his three children have names associated with hunting terms, according to neighbors and law enforcement sources. 

Despite reports that suggest Fleet Week events across the country will be cancelled due to sequestration cuts, the show will go on in San Diego -- at least for the most part.

Alexandra Squires, executive director of the San Diego Fleet Week Foundation, told NBC 7 on Friday that those reports are “wild innuendo and Fleet Week is happening in San Diego.”

“We are absolutely happening in September. There is most definitely a Fleet Week in San Diego. We are America’s Finest City; we have the largest concentration of military in the world and there’s no way that we would not have a Fleet Week here in our community,” Squires added.

She does concede, however, that there will be some cutbacks.

She says this year there will not be any Ship Tours. She said last year, tours were given on ships at Naval Base San Diego – the first time the base was open to the public since the 9/11 attacks. Tours were also given on ships at NAS North Island during the Coronado Speed Festival.

Squires also says money is being raised in an effort to avoid cancellation of the annual golf tournament at Admiral Baker Field.

Squires says Fleet Week San Diego will kick off on Sep. 18 with the MAC Breakfast. The enlisted Recognition Leadership awards at Sea World will follow on Sep. 19, and the Coronado Speed Festival will take place on Sep. 21-22. A date for the annual Fleet Week football game had yet to be determined.

San Diego State University men’s basketball player Jamaal Franklin announced Friday he will be leaving college a year early to enter the NBA draft.

Franklin, who helped lead the Aztecs to the NCAA tournament this year, is a two-time Associated Press All-American and has led the team in scoring and rebounds during his sophomore and junior year.

Highlights of Franklin’s time at SDSU include three NCAA tournament appearances and two Mountain West Conference championships.

Franklin is looking to be the Aztecs' second NBA Draft pick in the last three years, following former teammate Kawhi Leonard, who was a 2011 first-round choice with the San Antonio Spurs.

This year’s NBA Draft is slated for June 27.

A 49-year-old San Diego woman was sentenced to 35 years to life in prison Friday for the violent kidnapping, beating and sexual assault of another woman.

On August 18, 2011, Catherine McCoy and Christopher Carrera abducted a 21-year-old woman after the woman admitted to having sex with McCoy’s boyfriend.

After beating the victim and allegedly sexually assaulting her with a golf club, McCoy and Carrera dumped the woman on southbound State Route 125 in Spring Valley. She was left naked and severely injured on the side of the road, where she later waved down motorists for help.

In November 2011, the victim testified in court, sharing graphic details of her attack. The woman said she was confronted by McCoy and Carrera as she was grabbing some of her clothing from a home in City Heights.

After the victim admitted to McCoy that he had slept with McCoy’s boyfriend, she was allegedly thrown into a white SUV and beaten on the head and body with a flashlight. She was then ordered to strip naked inside the car and was sexually assaulted with a golf club that was allegedly forced into her body eight times during the attack, the victim testified in Nov. 2011.

The victim knew McCoy and Carrera. In earlier testimony, the victim said she had seen Carrera about 10 times at a home she lived in for several weeks. She also said she had been to McCoy’s home to purchase drugs on two occasions.

The victim admitted to using heroin and marijuana.

McCoy was convicted for the violent kidnapping and assault of the victim in November 2012.

She was retried on the sexual assault charge, leading to her sentencing in court Friday. McCoy will now serve 35 years to life in state prison.

An emotional letter from the victim’s mother was read in court Friday in which she called McCoy “an evil person.”

The judge who sentenced McCoy said the defendant had shown “no remorse at all” for the brutal crimes against the victim.

Meanwhile, Carrera pleaded guilty to his involvement in the kidnapping and was sentenced to 16 years in prison.

Several brush fires sparked near westbound Interstate 8 Friday afternoon in the East County.

The fires began just before 1 p.m. near the Grossmont Center off-ramp on westbound I-8.

CHP officials said a 37-year-old man from Santee pulled his vehicle over on I-8 under the SR-125 freeway underpass because his car was smoking and had partially caught on fire. A passerby had a fire extinguisher in his car and began to help.

The vehicle fire caused multiple small spot fires along brush near the highway, officials said.

Sonny Saghera of Heartland Fire & Rescue said the root of the vehicle fire was a malfunctioning catalytic converter. That spawned four small brush fires approximately 100 yards from one another, Saghera said.

Heavy smoke filled the air near I-8 as firefighters rushed to the scene. Flames could be seen stemming from the brush near the roadway by the Severin Drive and Fuerte Road exit.

Police provided traffic control on the freeway as crews worked to extinguish the fires. CHP officials issued a SigAlert at 1:35 p.m. Lanes were shut down for 30 minutes for the safety of drivers, as the winds made conditions smoky in the area.

Trolley service in the area was also briefly shut down for about 30 minutes.

Officials said the westbound I-8 fires sparked in spots from West Main Street in El Cajon to Severin Drive in La Mesa.

Grossmont High School, which is located nearby, was evacuated as a precaution, school officials confirmed. Students were taken to Harry Griffen Park.

Heartland Fire Rescue Battalion Chief Ted Kakuris said all of the small fires combined burned less than one acre. Within two hours, firefighters from La Mesa and El Cajon assisted by Cal Fire and Santee crews had the blazes completely contained and mopped up.

Kakuris the car that caught fire on westbound I-8 had spewed sparks and chunks of flames toward surrounding brush. Kakuris said there simply wasn’t enough moisture in the brush for it not to ignite.
CHP officials interviewed the driver of the car that caught on fire at the scene. Officials said no one was injured in the fires.

Saghera said a structure on Murray Drive was briefly threatened by the fires, but fire crews "aggressively attacked the flames to keep them along the freeway’s shoulder."

A Camp Pendleton official who dubbed himself the “Godfather” of the base was charged with bribery in court on Friday.

U.S. Department of Defense employee Natividad “Nate” Lara Cervantes, 64, served as the supervisor for Construction and Service Contracts at Camp Pendleton.

According to the FBI, Cervantes has been accepting bribes for years, since at least as early as September 2008. Investigators say he used his position to extort bribes from companies seeking to do business at Camp Pendleton.

In return for major contracts with businesses, investigators say Cervantes received thousands in cash payments and remodeling work on a condominium.

Cervantes was arrested on Mar. 28 on Miramar Road after allegedly accepting $10,000 in cash from a witness that was cooperating with the FBI. Cervantes did not know he was being watched by agents at the time.

The $10,000 was a partial payment of a $40,000 bribe that Cervantes had allegedly requested from a business in exchange for help in obtaining a new $4 million contract at Camp Pendleton.

The bribe was to be paid to Cervantes over a number of payments, according to investigators. The $30,000 balance would be paid after the massive contract was awarded.

At Friday’s prosecution, U.S. Attorney Laura E. Duffy said the arrest and charges against Cervantes are an example of her “zero tolerance” policy when it comes to government corruption.

“Given the large military presence in San Diego, it is imperative that this Office ensure that the government contracting process is free from bribery and undue influence,” said Duffy. “There must be a level playing field free from corruption for all government contractors.”

Cervantes will appear in court again on May 10. He faces up to 15 years in prison and a $250,000 fine if convicted of bribery.

The FBI’s public corruption investigative program handled this investigation. The FBI encourages the public to report possible corruption criminal activity to the FBI’s public corruption hotline at (877) 662-7423.

The 14-year-old from China isn't going anywhere in a hurry. And this Masters is still a long way from taking shape.

Despite being the first player at Augusta National to get hit with a one-shot penalty for slow play, teen sensation Guan Tianlang still made history Friday as the youngest player to make the cut in a PGA Tour-sanctioned event.

And it came down to the last shot of a wild and windy day.

Jason Day could have sent the kid home early with a birdie from just off the front of the green on the 18th hole. But the Australian was wide left and tapped in for par, giving him a 4-under 68 and a one-shot lead over fellow Aussie Marc Leishman and the ageless Fred Couples.

The par meant that Guan, who had one shot added to his score on the 17th hole for his second bad time of the round — made the cut under the 10-shot rule.

"If I can make it, I would be really happy for it," Guan said some five hours earlier. "But if I didn't make it, it's still a great week."

He's now part of a weekend at Augusta that should be as dynamic as ever.

Day was at 6-under 138, and 18 players were within four shots of the lead, including Tiger Woods.

Woods moved into a share of the lead with a two-putt birdie on the eighth hole, and his game looked to be as sharp as ever — perhaps too sharp. Right when it looked like he might take the outright lead, Woods hit a lob wedge that was so perfect it hit the flag on the par-5 15th and caromed backward off the green and into the water. Instead of having a short birdie putt, he had to scramble to save bogey.

Woods posed over another shot on the 18th and was stunned to see it hop onto the upper shelf, leading to his second three-putt bogey of the week. He had to settle for a 71, though he was still only three shots out of the lead.

"My score doesn't quite indicate how well I played today," Woods said.

Day, a runner-up at the Masters two years ago, can be one of the most exciting players in golf when his game is on, and he was firing at flags from everywhere Friday. Even from the pine straw under the trees on the dangerous 11th, the Aussie took dead aim at the pin and set up a rare birdie to join the leaders.

His only blunder was hitting into the water short of the 12th, though he still managed to escape with bogey, and then he fired a 4-wood low enough to stay below the trees and avoid the wind on the 13th, setting up a two-putt birdie.

He was cognizant of the guys behind him — Woods included — though just as much pressure comes from trying to be the first Australian in a green jacket.

"The moment I start worrying about other players is the moment I start losing focus on what I need to do, and when I do that, I'll start making bogeys," Day said. "It's obviously great to have the lead. I'm very exciting for the challenge over the next two days. It really is exciting to have the opportunity to win the Masters. I'm very, very happy where I am right now."

The 53-year-old Couples, who shared the 36-hole lead last year at the Masters, birdied the 18th hole for a 71 and will play in the final group.

"I did tee off Thursday with the idea of playing well, and now it's Friday afternoon late. I'm surprised, but I'm not going to freak out over it," Couples said.

Former Masters champion Angel Cabrera birdied five of his last six holes for a 69 and was in the group two shots behind, along with former U.S. Open champion Jim Furyk (71) and Brandt Snedeker (70). Woods was at 3-under 141 with six others, including Adam Scott (72), Lee Westwood (71) and Justin Rose (71).

And still in the mix was Rory McIlroy, who turned his fortunes around with a 5-wood from about 275 yards that set up a short eagle putt. He added three more birdies on the back nine and had a 70, leaving him only four shots out of the lead going into the weekend.

"Anything under par today was going to be a good score," McIlroy said.

The hole locations were severe in spots, with one pin tucked on top of a mound toward the front of the fifth green. The par 5s played into an opposite wind on the back nine, and they were not easy to reach. Furyk got home in two on the 15th hole Thursday with a hybrid. He used that same club to lay up on Friday.

Such tough conditions made the performance of Guan that much more impressive. He had a respectable 75, which included the one-shot penalty.

And for the longest time, it looked as though it might be costly.

Guan, playing with Matteo Manassero and Ben Crenshaw, was informed his group was out of position as it left the 10th green. They were on the clock on the 12th hole, meaning players would be timed to make sure they hit their shots within the 40-second limit. The teen got his first bad time with his second shot on the 13th hole, and it was clear he was in trouble after his shot into the 17th when John Paramor, chief referee in Europe, walked out to speak to him.

"You give him the news, the best you can," Paramor said.

Fred Ridley, the head of competition at the Masters, did not say how long Guan took to hit his second shot on the 17th, only that it was a "considerable margin" over his time. Guan still managed to make par on the 17th, and if he was shaken by the news so late in the round, it didn't show. He made one last par and was at 4-over 148.

His game is well beyond his years, and so was his attitude over the first slow-play penalty in a major since Gregory Bourdy in the 2010 PGA Championship.

"I respect the decision they make," said Guan, who spent nearly 90 minutes talking with officials after the round. "They should do it because it's fair to everybody."

The penalty looked ominous because Dustin Johnson was running off birdies every way imaginable, the only player to reach 7-under par in nasty conditions. His round imploded, however, when he played the final five holes in 6-over par. That included a double bogey on the 15th when he hit his third shot into the water. He had a 76 and plunged down the leaderboard, though he was still only five shots behind.

Furyk also hit into the water on the 15th with a wedge he chunked so badly that it didn't make it halfway across the pond. Scott made his third straight bogey at No. 5, but that was the last mistake he made. He answered with three birdies the rest of the way.

Day's 68 was the lowest score of the round, with conditions so tricky that only five players broke 70.

"It just feels like every shot is the biggest shot you've ever hit in your life out there," Day said. "It's really, really difficult. I'm just glad to be in the clubhouse right now."

One player who didn't recover was Sergio Garcia, who opened with a 66. One day after six birdies and no bogeys, he had four bogeys and no birdies. One day after he saw so many shots go where he was aiming, he couldn't cope with the wind.

"I hit the ball better today and was I was 10 shots worse," Garcia said after a 76 that put him in the group at 2-under with McIlroy, former Masters champion Charl Schwartzel and 55-year-old Bernhard Langer. "But even with everything that happened today, we still are in a decent position to hopefully do something on the weekend."

That weekend will include defending champion Bubba Watson, who will play with a marker in the first group Saturday morning, and Phil Mickelson, who shot 40 on the back nine and had a 76 that left him nine shots out of the lead.

And it will include an eighth-grader who is assured of winning the sterling silver cup as the low amateur. He was the only amateur to make the cut, penalty shot and all.