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Man to Stand Trial in East Village Hit-and-Run Case

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A San Diego man, accused of running over a woman in a downtown parking lot and fleeing from the scene, will stand trial.

Ricardo Avila Carrillo, 34, was bound over for trial Wednesday on a felony hit-and-run charge. He has pleaded not guilty to the charge in a previous court appearance.

Carillo is accused of driving over a woman in a parking lot at Imperial and 13th on May 12. San Diego police said he paused for a second, got out of the driver's seat, screamed for help, and then fled the scene.

The victim, a 49-year-old woman, was rushed to the hospital with injuries to her hands, face and neck.

At a pretrial hearing on Wednesday, Angela Davis testified about video she took of the incident. Davis was riding on a bus across the street from the parking lot when she saw people running and heard people yelling or screaming for help.

When she saw people trying to lift a vehicle, she immediately pulled out her phone and began to record video.

Even though her video did not capture the license plate of the vehicle, Davis said she called the police to offer it to them as part of the investigation.

“If there was technology that could pull up that information and catch that guy and bring him to justice, it would be worth it,” she testified.

Davis' video was entered into evidence.

Under cross-examination, Davis confirmed she did not see the moment the vehicle struck the victim but saw only the aftermath.

San Diego County District Attorney's Office Investigator Steve Hutchinson testified the victim had a vague recollection of what happened on May 12.

"She had a vague memory of some female in a fluorescent pink shirt assisting her in some way prior to the incident," Hutchinson said.

Under cross-examination, Hutchinson also testified the victim told him she had been drinking alcohol before the incident when she decided to stop in the parking lot.

"She was carrying some shoes that she just bought from the shoe shop and that they became very heavy and she had to stop and put them down," he said.

The defendant learned he had two criminal cases in San Diego in May of 2013 and July of 2016. 

Carrillo pleaded guilty to felony evading, possession of heroin, and grand theft in 2013. He was sentenced to one year behind bars and three years probation.

Because he was found to be driving with a suspended license, the judge ruled the defendant's probation will be revoked.

Carrillo had his license suspended in January of 2016 for driving under the influence. The DMV told NBC 7 Carillo was also cited in April of 2016, four months after his license was suspended, for failure to stop at a red light. One month later, in May of 2016, he was cited for driving with a suspended license from his DUI.

Anyone with information can call the San Diego Police Department at 619-531-2000, or the anonymous Crime Stoppers tip line at 888-580-8477.



Photo Credit: NBC 7

Affordable Housing Complex Unveiled Downtown

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Hundreds of local families were moving into a new affordable housing complex in downtown San Diego after it was unveiled Wednesday morning.

The complex, dubbed "Atmosphere," is located in the 1400 block of Fourth Avenue. Amid an affordable housing crisis and increased homelessness in San Diego, the new housing units are helping low-income families find a new home.

One woman, Vikki Lozano, told NBC 7 how much this means to her family after they lost their entire business during the 2008 financial crisis and have been struggling ever since. She and her husband have also struggled with serious health problems.

"The last 10 years have been really, really hard on us," said Lozano, who was formerly homeless. "This place is just amazing -- and I'm very, very grateful to Wakeland and all the people that have helped us to get to this point."

More than 200 families will be able to live in the complex with monthly rents ranging from $525 to $1,250. The 12-story building offers 205 units, with many rooms including gorgeous views of downtown San Diego.

But this isn't a luxury high rise. The affordable housing complex is part of the city's effort to help families who struggle with homelessness. Some of the units in the complex are specifically designated for those dealing with mental and physical disabilities.  

The non-profit Wakeland Housing Development and Corporation developed the complex. According to the corporation, this took a decade to build as well as $79 million.

Fifty-one units are dedicated to homeless families to help them rehabilitate to the community and connect them with supportive services.

Wakeland Housing Development officials say the funding came from a mix of sources including the county, state tax credits, the housing commission and Civic San Diego.

Earlier this month, another affordable housing complex opened in Lincoln Park. The developer told NBC 7 there were 1,600 people on the waiting list for a unit in Ouchi Courtyards.

Also, Father Joe's Villages is working on developing housing in under-used motels that will be acquired and renovated for affordable housing.

Project managers say about 800 housing units will go up in buildings downtown at 5th and Ash, and along Commercial Street between 14th and 17th Streets. Those units are expected to be available in 2018.



Photo Credit: NBC 7
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Competitive Eating Champ Preps for Ice Cream Challenge

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The man (the myth, the legend) famous for scarfing down more than his fair share of hot dogs on the national stage of competitive eating is taking on a cool challenge: an ice cream sandwich eating contest.

On Sunday, California’s Joey Chesnut, 32, – nine-time winner of the Nathan’s Famous Fourth of July Hot Dog Eating Contest – will be in San Diego to compete in the first-ever “Baked Bear World Ice Cream Sandwich Eating Championship.”

The contest – hosted by the cult favorite ice cream chain, The Baked Bear – goes down at 1 p.m. in the Park at the Park adjacent to Petco Park. The event is sanctioned by Major League Eating (MLE), the authority on competitive eating.

Contenders will have six minutes to eat as many Baked Bear chocolate chip cookie and vanilla ice cream sandwiches as possible for the victory.

Chesnut is physically and mentally prepared.

“I have a great tolerance for dairy,” he told NBC 7 in an interview Tuesday. “I can drink a gallon of milk in about a minute.”

Chesnut is setting his sights high. He said there are about three ice cream sandwiches to a pound, and his goal is to eat at least 15 pounds of the sweet treats.

“I’m going for 45 to 50 ice cream sandwiches,” he said.

This isn’t Chesnut’s first time taking down some ice cream in a competitive eating match. About five years ago in Florida, he ate 15 pints of ice cream in six minutes.

He admits the challenge was physically painful, especially the brain freeze effect.

“I was shivering and everything hurt – my brain, my throat, my stomach,” he recalled. “It was really painful. Ice cream is a really hard [eating challenge].”

Chesnut said he hopes the weather cooperates for Sunday’s big showdown, to balance out his body temperature as he shoves those ice cream sandwiches in his mouth.

“Hopefully it’s warm and sunny outside that day,” he added.

But, no matter the elements, Chesnut is certainly up for the challenge.

“It’s only six minutes of pain; I can do it,” he said. “Ice cream makes everyone happy, so I think this is going to be great.”

The San Diego event will be Chesnut’s final big competitive eating challenge before he’s off to defend his title at the 2017 Nathan’s Famous Fourth of July Hot Dog Eating Contest in Coney Island in about a month.

He’s considering the ice cream challenge a “reward day,” as he’s been staying away from ice cream during his training for the famed hot dog competition. His preparations consist of a combination of cleansing and fasting.

Chesnut said he can’t help but wonder if his competitive eating nemesis, Matt Stonie, 24, will make a surprise cameo in San Diego on Sunday, just to psyche him out.

Stonie was the first person to strip Chesnut of his title at the Nathan’s contest in 2015, after Chesnut's eight-year winning streak. Chesnut reclaimed the victory in 2016 when he ate a record-breaking 70 hot dogs and buns in 10 minutes. Stonie ate 53.

This year, Chesnut plans to win the hot dog eating competition again.

“My numbers are good; I’m excited,” he told NBC 7. “I’m going to eat more than 70.”

Naturally, after Sunday’s competition at Petco Park, Chesnut plans to eat a couple of hot dogs at the ballpark and grab a craft beer – just for fun.

Shane Stanger, co-owner of The Baked Bear, said contestants at the ice cream sandwich competition will have a chance to win $4,000 in prize money.

Anyone interested in signing up for the contest can pick up a ticket at The Baked Bear tent at the Park at the Park by 12:30 p.m. One person from the bunch will be chosen to compete alongside the pros; Stanger said that person’s name will be announced right before the contest starts.

Stanger told NBC 7 the contest was inspired by mini in-house eating competitions held among staff at The Baked Bear. One of the company’s employees will compete on Sunday – a man who once downed an ice cream sandwich in 31 seconds.

“We think he’ll be able to eat at least 10,” said Stanger.

Stanger said the treat at the competition – vanilla ice cream sandwiched between two chocolate chip cookies – is a classic combination, and one of The Baked Bear’s most popular items.

He figures the flavors will be easy going down. But the brain freeze will, of course, be a hurdle.

“We’re going to learn from this,” he added.

As for Stonie’s rumored appearance, Stanger said he doesn’t think he’ll be there. Thus, he thinks Chesnut will reign supreme.

The event will be emceed by MLE’s Sam Barclay who said this will “revolutionize chilled dairy sports as we know it. 

Other fierce contenders will include MLE’s Rich LeFevre (ranked No. 14), Pablo Martinez (ranked No. 20), Mary Bowers (ranked No. 44) and Doug Ecks (ranked No. 45).

The Baked Bear started in San Diego and is known for its huge, customizable ice cream sandwiches on fresh cookies, brownies and doughnuts, often rolled in toppings like Fruity Pebbles or Oreo crumbles.

There are currently four Baked Bear locations in San Diego including the popular shop on Mission Boulevard in Pacific Beach and at Petco Park. The Baked Bear also has locations in Utah, Oklahoma, Nevada and Arizona.

By the way, Chesnut said his favorite ice cream flavors to eat casually and not competitively are good old-fashioned vanilla bean and rocky road.



Photo Credit: Getty Images/The Baked Bear.
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'A Truculent Pride': National Bee Relies on Quirky Spellings

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Noah Webster eliminated many inconsistencies in English spellings in his first dictionary and in blue-backed spelling books published for American classrooms. Fortunately for the survival of spelling bees, his reforms went only so far.

Otherwise English might have been scrubbed of the quirky letter combinations that have bedeviled generations of school children but that also gave rise to this quintessentially American pastime. Spelling bees depend on English's often devilishly different spelling for their appeal.

Webster bestowed his new rules in “A Compendious Dictionary of the English Language,” first published in 1806, and the “The American Speller,” the blue-backed spelling books written for American classrooms.


He dropped the “u” in color and and honor and left off the final “k” in words such as public and music. He substituted the British “c” with an “s” in such words as defense, among other reforms.

“He was the last person who had that kind of authority, who could say, 'okay, ‘We’re going to change the spelling of these words,’” said Ben Zimmer, a language columnist for The Wall Street Journal. “That was the last time that was really possible to do.”

The United States has a long tradition of spelling bees dating to the 19th century, when both children and adults competed. They were in vogue in the United Kingdom in the mid-19th century but for the most part, are a particularly American phenomenon, said Geoffrey Nunberg, a linguist at the School of Information at the University of California Berkeley.

“You have to have a goofy spelling system,” he said. “Most languages spell more or less as they pronounce the words.”

But English’s Anglo-Saxon roots, the influence of Greek, Latin, French and other languages have all contributed to a mishmash of spelling rules and a mismatch between spelling and pronunciation.

“We take a truculent pride in the difficulty of our spelling system,” Nunberg said. “That’s why we don’t reform our spelling for one thing.”


Another reason for the popularity of American spelling bees: the importance of primary education and literacy in the United States in the 19th century, he said.

Merriam-Webster, which has been involved with the bee since 1957, notes that even at the turn of the 20th century spelling bees were considered old-fashioned. The modern-day competition began in 1925, when nine newspapers collaborated to start a national spelling bee that was taken over by Scripps in 1941. It was canceled during World War II from 1943 until 1945, then broadcast live on NBC in 1946, and since 2011, has been seen on ESPN.


The championship round of the 90th Scripps National Spelling Bee begins at 8:30 p.m. on Thursday.

Here are some spelling conventions that might trip up even the best of contestants, Zimmer said.

  • Words from foreign languages that follow non-English spelling rules, such as the German pickelhaube or a spiked helmet worn by German soldiers.
  • A foreign word whose pronunciation has been Anglicized. The competition’s pronouncer must follow the pronunciation given by The Merriam Webster Unabridged Dictionary.
  • The “schwa” sound, the unstressed vowel sound that can be spelled with an a, e, i, o or u.

“You see very often even the top spellers going out on words simply because they’re taking a guess, 'Is that an i, is it an o?" Zimmer said. "Something you can’t necessarily know unless you’ve seen the word.” 

While America’s passion for spelling bees is probably unrivaled, other countries have developed their own competitions. China, inspired by the Scripps National Spelling Bee and worried about the population’s embrace of Latin characters, introduced a television program called the “Chinese Characters Dictation Competition,” USA Today reported in 2013. Contestants write the characters after hearing a word. Two French championships, the Discos d’or in France and the Dictee des Amériques in Quebec, have been discontinued.


Even the American spelling bee has changed form over the decades and today has little to do with literacy and much to do with obscure words such as “cymotrichous” an adjective meaning having wavy hair.

“It’s an extreme sport,” Nunberg said. “You get these kids who have to spend thousands of hours memorizing word lists.”

As far as the origin of that word bee, it is a bit of a language puzzle, according to the Scripps National Spelling Bee website. It first appeared in print in 1875, though was probably used in speech before that, and refers to a gathering in which friends and neighbors join together in an activity. It might seem to have been inspired by the industrious insect, but scholars suggest a different derivation, according to the website. The word bene, in English sometimes rendered as been or bean, referred to help from neighbors to accomplish a task. Bee could be a shortened form of been.

Zimmer and Nunberg both expect the spelling bee’s popularity to continue, spell check and auto correct aside, in part because of the inconsistencies that make English so difficult. Not that people don’t keep trying to reform the language. The English Spelling Society was founded in 1908 to promote literacy and possibly to reform spelling. Its members have even demonstrated outside the spelling bee in past years but with little success.

“It’s possible that people are paying less attention to making sure a word is properly spelled if they know that their device will take care of that for them," Zimmer said. "But at the same time we still have this language with crazy spelling that poses so many challenges.” 




Photo Credit: Alex Wong/Getty Images
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Car Drives Along OB Sidewalk on Holiday Weekend

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A man faces charges of driving under the influence for driving a vehicle along an Ocean Beach sidewalk over the holiday weekend.

NBC 7 has obtained the video showing what happened around 4 p.m. Sunday in the popular San Diego coastal community.

Andy Lowe recorded the video showing a man driving slowly at first between the beach wall and parking signs.

Then, when someone approaches the vehicle and demands the driver put the car into park, the car moves forward.

Several other people try and get involved to stop the vehicle from moving farther down the sidewalk.

The vehicle lurches forward and then travels off the sidewalk onto a side street.

San Diego police confirm the incident happened at Niagara Avenue on Sunday at 4:32 p.m.

Jacob Souchak, 36, was arrested on allegations of driving under the influence and hit and run.

He was scheduled to be arraigned Wednesday.




Photo Credit: Andy Lowe

Suspect Arrested in North Park Fatal Stabbing

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San Diego police have arrested a man suspected of fatally stabbing a victim in North Park.

Brandon Cooper, 36, was taken into custody in the Marina neighborhood of San Diego at about 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday evening, said police.

NBC 7 ran a background check on the suspect and found he had numerous criminal cases against him, including vehicle theft. According to the DMV, Cooper had one citation on his record for the unauthorized use of a vehicle.

Officers were called to the 2800 block of University Avenue around 9:30 p.m. Monday. Police found a man lying on the sidewalk with a deadly stab wound in his abdomen. Paramedics transported the victim to Mercy Hospital.

Despite life-saving measures, the 38-year-old victim was pronounced dead at the hospital. The victim was identified as Spencer Thompson, a resident of North Park, according to police.

Cooper has been booked into San Diego County Jail on charges of homicide and an outstanding felony probation warrant, said police.

Homicide detectives have carried out an investigation that lead them to identify Cooper as the suspect.

SDPD Homicide Lt. Mike Holden told NBC 7 there is no evidence indicating this was a hate crime. This deadly stabbing appears to be the result of a disagreement between two acquaintances.

Cooper was a friend of the victim and is homeless, according to police.

Anyone with information about this homicide case can call the Homicide Unit at (619)531-2293.

Die-Hard National Spelling Bee Fans Create Fantasy Draft

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The biggest fans study the competitors' records for hours, analyzing their statistics and looking for some indication of who has what it takes to be the big winner. 

The winner, that is, of the Scripps National Spelling Bee. 

One group of die-hard fans of the spelling bee has created a fantasy sports-style draft to track the young spellers, following the event with the same fervor as sports fans watch their teams.

Another group will watch the competition Wednesday and Thursday using an elaborate point system that recognizes if the winning speller has glasses, braces or a faint mustache.


"It gets you hooked in the same way a really good movie or a big sporting event would," said Katie Twyman. "It's this combination of charming and sweet and surprisingly intense."

She and a group of 12 internet friends who live across the country are keeping a close eye on a shared spreadsheet as they watch the four rounds of the bee, which started in National Harbor, Maryland, Wednesday morning and will conclude live on ESPN in prime time Thursday. 


Last week, Twyman's group used a random list generator to determine the draft order in which they could pick the spellers on their teams. Each person has a team of seven.

The trash-talking can get heated.

"We get really competitive about it," Twyman said from her home in Minneapolis.

To pick her dream team of spellers, Twyman, a 25-year-old college student, studied how the children performed in previous bees and if they have siblings who competed. If a sibling did well, the speller's family may have a good studying method in place, she said.

Then, the scoring awards points for each round a speller passes, and for the number of points each speller earns.

The group has used variations of their draft system for the past five years after they met in a Harry Potter YouTube community in 2009.

As Twyman and friends watch the finals "together" Thursday night via video call, they'll play a drinking game that celebrates spelling bee tropes.

If a speller ignores a joke by official spelling bee pronouncer Dr. Jacques Bailly, drink.

If a speller walks off before hearing the correct spelling of a word, drink.

If a speller dabs, drink.


Bee officials introduced an app called Buzzworthy two years ago to let fans compete with friends. The competition was fierce.


But the app is not available this year. A bee spokeswoman said officials are looking at technology for "competition viewing" next year.


A family outside Washington, D.C. also created a point system for watching the bee. Six members of the Shelton family have guesses in for who will win the bee, plus the length of the winning word, the origin of the winning word, whether the winner will have a "prepubescent moustache" and more.


"It's a really sweet thing to get into," Lindsay Shelton-Gross said. "I love that I'm supporting something that's intellectually based, and the kids are great."

The Shelton family's system awards 25 points for guessing the winner flat out, 10 points for guessing his or her gender and 5 points for guessing whether he or she has braces. 


Shelton-Gross, an Arlington, Virginia resident who works in health care, said members of her family in Arlington; Loudoun County, Virginia and Chicago have tracked their picks for winner of the bee for the past 10 years.

"My brother and I have been obsessed," she said.


In both the Shelton family's game and the internet friends' game, the big prize is bragging rights.

Just like how watching a sport won't guarantee you'll be a better athlete, watching the spelling bee for all these years is not necessarily making these superfans world-class spellers.

"We can usually keep up until the semifinals, but then the words are way over our heads," Twyman said.



Photo Credit: Getty Images
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Officials Make Arrest in Rancho Santa Fe Killing

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The adult son of a Rancho Santa Fe man was captured in Riverside County in connection with his father's killing, San Diego County Sheriff's deputies announced Wednesday.

Leighton Dorey III, 71, was found dead Tuesday inside the family's home.

The victim's wife called 911 after returning to the couple's home on La Brisa. She told investigators she found her husband dead.

San Diego County Sheriff's deputies and officials with the Rancho Santa Fe Fire Protection District arrived just before 12 p.m.

Investigators said the elder Dorey suffered from serious trauma to his upper body. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

News helicopter footage showed crime scene tape in several areas of the property including a long driveway leading to the home and an outdoor balcony next to a small, detached structure.

Officials said there was no apparent break-in at the property.

Overnight, deputies say the victim's son, Leighton Dorey IV, was taken into custody in Riverside County.

"With the assistance of the San Diego Regional Fugitive Task Force, Mr. Dorey IV and his vehicle were tracked to the community of Idyllwild in Riverside County. Mr. Dorey IV was located early this morning in a heavily forested area near the town and arrested without incident by task force members," the department's news release stated.

He will be booked into the county jail on one count of murder, deputies said.



Photo Credit: NBC 7

Tiger Woods Arrest: Police to Release Dashcam Footage

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Dashcam footage of Tiger Woods' Memorial Day arrest near his South Florida home is expected to be released by Jupiter police Wednesday.

Jupiter police released photos of the Wood's black Mercedes Wednesday afternoon, showing one of the car's tires flat and damaged.

The legendary pro golfer was discovered asleep at the wheel of his black Mercedes near the intersection of Military Trail and Indian Creek Parkway on Monday, according to a police report.

Woods was confused but cooperative when he was taken into custody, on suspicion of DUI, according to a probable cause affidavit.

Woods' speech was "extremely slow and slurred, mumbled [and] confused" and he was "extremely sleepy," according to the report. He initially told the officer he was coming from Los Angeles for a golf trip before changing his story and saying he didn’t know where he was.

The 14-time major champion failed several field sobriety tests, but passed his breath test, twice scoring a .000. In a statement released Monday evening, Woods blamed his condition on an "unexpected reaction" to prescription medication he was taking, but said he was taking responsibility for what happened.

The 41-year-old was given a mandatory court date for July 5.



Photo Credit: Palm Beach County Sheriff's office
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House Panel Issues Subpoenas in Russia Probe

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The House intelligence committee is issuing subpoenas for several individuals, including former national security adviser Michael Flynn and President Donald Trump's personal lawyer, Michael Cohen, as part of its investigation into Russian activities during last year's election.

Subpoenas were approved Wednesday for Flynn and his company, Flynn Intel Group, and Cohen and his firm, Michael D. Cohen & Associates.

Reps. Mike Conaway and Adam Schiff, who are leading the committee's probe, say the panel approved the subpoenas to compel certain individuals to testify and to obtain personal documents and business records. Cohen earlier rejected a House intelligence committee request for information.

Earlier Wednesday, NBC News reported that fired FBI Director James Comey is expected to testify in public before the Senate Intelligence Committee next week after having been "cleared for takeoff" by Special Counsel Robert Mueller.

Mueller was named earlier this month by Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein to be special counsel overseeing the sprawling FBI investigation into Russian election interference.



Photo Credit: Getty Images

Jack Doshay Sentenced in School Kidnapping

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A North County man was sentenced Wednesday to years behind bars under a plea agreement reached with prosecutors in the kidnapping of a student on the grounds of her school.

Jack Doshay admitted to assault with intent to commit felony child molest and the allegation that the victim was under 14 years old.

Doshay, a member of an affluent San Diego family, pleaded guilty to charges of kidnapping at Skyline Elementary School in March 2015.

Doshay walked onto the campus not long after the dismissal bell rang and confronted a girl, then 7 years old, as she walked to her after-school program.

Doshay tried to silence the girl by wrapping tape around her face and started to carry her off.

The girl kicked and screamed and drew the attention of staff and parents nearby who chased Doshay but could not catch him before he drove away.

Defense attorney Paul Pfingst said the good news is that in this case, mental illness was helped with proper diagnosis and care.

"Jack Doshay had a severe mental illness at that time," he said. "Since that time, with care and treatment, that mental illness has been lifted and there is a different person than there was two years ago." 

"I think we should celebrate that," Pfingst said, adding that should not negate his client's action or the victim's experience.

Doshay was sentenced to 10 years, four months in state prison and must register as a sex offender. With 793 days in custody, his sentence may be closer to eight years, two months.

Deputy District Attorney Ryan Saunders said an important part of the plea agreement was that Doshay will also be eligible for sexually violent predator laws.

“It’s not a guarantee he will be released at the end of that prison sentence,” Saunders said.

“The prison will take a look at him before they release him to make sure he’s not a danger to the community,” he said.

If Doshay were to be convicted of a future felony, he would serve 25 years to life.

Doshay’s parents are Glenn and Karen Doshay. Glenn is a minority stakeholder of the San Diego Padres.

Glenn suspected his son may have been involved based on the vehicle description, grand jury transcripts said.

According to the documents, Glenn told investigators he had also looked at his son’s computer and found online search history on how to “tape” someone up using duct tape.

There were also searches on the laptop for the terms “child erotica,” “little girls modeling” and “Japanese schoolgirl teens” under Jack Doshay’s log-in.

As Glenn pieced things together, he hired Pfingst to represent his son, according to documents filed in the case.

Jack Doshay had been accepted into a university 10 days prior to the 2015 attempted kidnapping.



Photo Credit: NBC 7

New Attractions Unveiled at SeaWorld Leave 'Shamu' Behind

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SeaWorld unveiled several new attractions Wednesday, to replace the "Shamu" show that ended in January after being lambasted by critics.

Two of the park's new attractions for 2017 include the Ocean Explorer and the Orca Encounter which opened around 10:30 a.m.

About a dozen sea-themed perfomers, bubble machines and a 27-foot-tall eel puppet celebrated the grand opening at the park.

More than 160 first graders from Flying Hills and Valencia Park Elementary Schools were at the park to try out the new rides. They were among the first youngsters to explore the new three-acre realm.

An ocean-themed shroud was lifted to reveal the Ocean Explorer. The new attraction transforms riders into the role of the scientist by taking passengers through an underwater world.

This new section of rides is part of SeaWorld's development away from the Shamu Show, which ended because of the negative publicity and low attendance rates.

Brian Morrow, Vice President of Theme Park Development, told NBC 7 the new rides show they have listened to the public's feedback.

"We listened to our guests and they told us what they wanted, and we have now done all that," said Morrow. "And so, Orca Encounter is sort of the capstone of completing that mission, and now we're moving and continuing to evolve forward."

The new rides focus on education and use technology as a way to connect with a younger demographic, said park officials.

Most of the new rides emphasize interactive technology, marking a departure from the performance-based shows that used to be associated with SeaWorld.

Park officials say SeaWorld is making the biggest investment here in San Diego. Later, this park may be used as the prototype in Florida and Texas.

A third attraction, Electric Ocean, will debut on June 17.



Photo Credit: NBC 7

1 Dies on Iron Mountain Trail in Poway

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One person died Wednesday on Iron Mountain Trail in Poway, authorities confirmed.

Deputies, Poway firefighters, and San Diego Fire-Rescue crews were called to the popular hiking trail at approximately 2:30 p.m.

The initial call was to help a hiker in distress.

Officials said firefighters and paramedics made their way to the scene and found one person dead.

The temperature in the Iron Mountain Trail area was in the 70s and mostly cloudy.

No other information was available.

The trail to Iron Mountain is a 6-mile round trip from Poway Road to the peak and is considered one of the city's most popular recreational sites. The trailhead is near a parking lot along State Route 67 at Poway Road.

Please refresh this page for updates on this story. Details may change as more information becomes available.

Air Force Vet Who Tried to Join ISIS Gets 35 Years in Prison

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A onetime Air Force serviceman turned ISIS supporter has been sentenced to 35 years in prison for supporting ISIS. 

Tairod Pugh, 49, was sentenced in federal court Wednesday following his March conviction of attempting to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization. 

Pugh tried to travel to Syria in 2015 to join with ISIS fighters but he was stopped in Istanbul and sent back to the U.S. where he was arrested by the FBI.

"The defendant turned his back on his country, and the military he once served, to attempt to join brutally violent terrorist organization committed to the slaughter of innocent people throughout the world," said Bridget M. Rhode, acting U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of New York. 

During his trial, prosecutors pointed out his writings, including one letter to his wife voicing support for ISIS and telling her he was trying to become a martyr.

Pugh had served in the Air Force as a mechanic more than 20 years ago. But officials said he became increasingly radical after the 9/11 attacks, culminating with his attempts to travel overseas in 2015.

Authorities seized Pugh's laptop after his arrest and found Internet searches for "borders controlled by Islamic state," an ISIS propaganda video and ISIS execution videos. On Facebook, he advised followers "to [support] ISIS with your bodies." 

Pugh is one of dozens of suspects arrested for trying to travel overseas. The FBI has said it has investigations ongoing in all 50 states into suspected extremists.

Pugh’s lawyers have promised to appeal the conviction. Judge Nicholas Garaufis is expected to hand down the sentence on the terror-related charges in Brooklyn federal court, charges which carry a maximum of up to 35 years in prison.

CORRECTION (May 31, 2017, 7:15 p.m.) An earlier version of this article misstated the name of the New York judge. He is Judge Nicholas Garaufis, not Judge Nicolas Garrafus.



Photo Credit: Government Exhibit

Man Arrested on Charges Related to Child Molestation

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A 43-year-old pastor in Carlsbad was arrested on charges related to child molestation Wednesday, the San Diego County Sheriff's Department (SDSO) confirmed.

Matthew Tague, a pastor at the North Coast Calvary Chapel is facing multiple counts of lewd and lascivious acts with one minor victim.

According to SDSO officials, the charges are not related to his position at the church.

Tague, a San Marcos resident, was arrested around 12:30 p.m. Wednesday. He was booked into the Vista Detention Facility and is being held on a $1,900,000 bail.

Sheriff's department said the investigation is ongoing. There is no indication if there are any additional victims.

No other information was available.

Please refresh this page for updates on this story. Details may change as more information becomes available.


Recycling Fire Reported in Parking Lot of Tierrasanta Church

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A trash fire was reported in the parking lot of a church in Tierrasanta on Wednesday, the San Diego Fire-Rescue Department (SDFD) confirmed.

The fire was reported around 4:35 p.m. on Villarrica Way and Antigua Boulevard in the parking lot of the Church of Latter Day Saints.

A trash truck driver smelled smoke in the load inside the vehicle while he was picking up trash at a nearby apartment complex. He drove into the church's parking lot and dumped the load.

The driver did stay at the scene.

The fire was mostly knocked down as of 5 p.m., according to SDFD officials.

There is no word on whether there were any injuries.

Church of Latter Day Saints Bishop praised the truck driver and firefighter's quick response and said they were lucky the parking lot was mostly empty tonight.

No other information was immediately available.

Please refresh this page for updates on this story. Details may change as more information becomes available.



Photo Credit: Monica Garske

Clinton: Russia Likely Had US Help to 'Weaponize' Leaks

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Hillary Clinton provided a lengthy deconstruction Wednesday about the factors she believes cost her the 2016 presidential election, arguing that some in the U.S. must have helped Russians "weaponize" information to use against her in last year's campaign.

The former Democratic nominee stopped short of saying President Donald Trump or one of his associates colluded with Moscow, but said there are plenty of unanswered questions that suggests coordination was possible, NBC News reported.

"The Russians, in my opinion, and based on the intel and counter intel people I've talked to, could not have known how best to weaponize that information unless they had been guided," Clinton said during an appearance at the Recode conference in Rancho Palos Verdes, Calif. "Guided by Americans."



Photo Credit: KNBC-TV

Construction Worker Dies Near San Ysidro Port of Entry

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A construction worker died Wednesday after a valve ruptured and struck him in the chest in San Ysidro, a spokesperson for the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) confirmed.

The incident occurred on the 5700 block of Camiones Way near the U.S.-Mexico border and Interstate 5.

According to the San Diego Fire-Rescue Department (SDFD), medics were called out around 10:52 p.m.

A 2-inch hose hit the worker, a 52-year-old, in the chest and knocked him off the platform. When medics arrived on scene, the man was not conscious, SDFD officials said.

San Diego police also responded to the scene.

Luke Brown, spokesperson for OSHA, said the employee worked for Atkinson Clark, a subcontractor of Earth Tech Well Drilling.

At this time, OSHA is investigating both companies for the death.

According to previous OSHA records, Atkinson Clark was investigated for two construction accidents -- in Westminster and Foothill Ranch.

No other information was available.

Please refresh this page for updates on this story. Details may change as more information becomes available.



Photo Credit: Getty Images

Hackers Can Get Into Your Baby Monitor

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With so many devices that enhance our lives, they can also lead to security breaches in ways we never thought possible before.

It's called the 'internet of things' - any smart device that goes in your home to help you. This includes baby monitors that connect to your wifi, letting you see, hear and talk to your children remotely.

But cyber security experts say baby monitors can be hacked, and there is no telling what that person will say to your child without you in the room.

"In one recorded case, someone was talking in a devil voice to the child while it was sleeping," said Dr. Murray Jennex, a professor at San Diego State University in Cyber Security and Information Technology. "This happened just in the last year."

There are things you can do to protect yourself, experts say. Make sure your wifi is password protected and choose something complex with capital letters, numbers and symbols. This will help to make sure hackers can't guess what it is.

The baby monitor will also most likely come with a set username and password that can be easily looked-up on Google. Experts recommend changing this before it is placed in a child's room.




Photo Credit: Getty Images

Local Student Does Not Make Finals of National Spelling Bee

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A local eighth grader was unable to make the final rounds of the Scripps National Spelling Bee.

Yash Hande attends Pacific Trails Middle School in Carmel Valley.

He correctly spelled two words Wednesday in the second round of the 90th Scripps National Spelling Bee in Maryland but was later eliminated.

Of the 291 competitors who started, only 40 will advance to the finals.

On March 23, Yash qualified for the national spelling bee by winning the San Diego Union-Tribune Countywide Spelling Bee.

At that spelling bee, Yash had to spell the word "sphacelated" to win. He was crowned champion after four hours of competition as 93 students tested their spelling skills.

The national spelling bee is limited to students in eighth grade or below. Contestants range in age from six to 15 years old.

You can see a full list of finals here.



Photo Credit: San Diego County Office of Education
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