The U.S. Attorney’s office has released information that a tech CEO and a former San Diego police detective are accused of illegally funneling more than $500,000 to San Diego political campaigns in hopes of influencing elections, including the 2013 special mayoral election.

On Tuesday, Ravneet Singh, the proprietor of Washington D.C.-based ElectionMall, Inc., was arraigned on charges that he conspired to finance political campaigns using money from an illegal foreign source. Singh was arrested by FBI agents on Friday, Jan. 17.

A complaint identified Singh’s co-conspirator to be former San Diego Police Detective Ernesto Encinas. Federal prosecutors say Encinas wanted the next mayor to fire the current San Diego Police chief and replace him with who he wanted.

The complaint goes on to say “Between approximately 2011 and 2013, Singh and Encinas helped the Foreign National donate hundreds of thousands of dollars to a series of candidates for elective office—including during the 2012 San Diego mayoral election, a 2012 Congressional campaign and the 2013 San Diego special mayoral election (up to, but not after, December 2013).”

The court documents do not identify the candidates whose campaigns benefited from this alleged activity.

However, NBC 7 found campaign contribution receipts revealing District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis’ campaign received thousands of dollars from Encinas in 2012.

Late Tuesday night, Dumanis’ campaign consultant gave NBC 7 this statement:

“The complaint filed today appears to be related to contributions to an expenditure committee and not our campaign. Our campaign followed the law and did not coordinate with this independent committee.”

Interim Mayor Todd Gloria's office confirmed to NBC 7 that Gloria received a campaign contribution from Encinas in March 2012. The money was refunded this morning, according to Gloria's spokesperson.

The San Diego Union-Tribune reported that U.S. Rep. Juan Vargas D-San Diego returned $3,500 to Encinas for the campaign that resulted in his election to Congress.

Vargas issued a statement in which he said he urged the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) to return funds to those listed in the complaint "out of an abundance of caution."

NBC 7 also reached out to current mayoral candidates David Alvarez and Kevin Faulconer. The Alvarez camp responded to our questions saying, “The campaign has not accepted any contributions from and has had no involvement with Election Mall Inc., Ravneet Singh or Ernesto Encinas.”

Special Section: Race for Mayor

A spokesperson for Kevin Faulconer says he “has no involvement in this issue.”

On Wednesday, Faulconer spoke with NBC 7 about the federal investigation. 

"It needs to be investigated and it is. We need to make sure all the rules are being followed. In fact as mayor that's something I'm going to insist on, is someone who's going to bring openness and transparency to City Hall," Faulconer said.

FBI officials said the Foreign National’s illegal contributions included:

• A $100,000 contribution to a SuperPAC
• $100,000 in unreported compensation for campaign services
• A $30,000 contribution to a political party committee
• Another $190,000 in unreported compensation for campaign services
• A $150,000 contribution to another SuperPAC
• A $30,000 contribution to another political party committee
• The promise of a “mill” in additional contributions

NBC 7 has learned that U.S. Attorney Laura Duffy will not be involved in this case.

Duffy’s office confirmed that one of her assistants Cindy Cipriani is the Acting U.S. Attorney for this prosecution.

Duffy’s office will not explain why she recused herself and our request for comment from the Department of Justice has not been answered.

But Duffy could have a conflict-of-interest, related to her public criticism of Bob Filner after a candidate’s forum, in the 2012 mayor’s race.

You’ve committed to eating healthier this year, but what to do when you’re on the go? Well, how about reaching for some portable, palatable, liquid libations? Yelp has rounded up the most highly-rated smoothie and juice bars in San Diego’s North County – local places that whip up abundant, fresh selections daily, pressing that juice and blending those berries to give you that health boost. Drink up.

Beach City Smoothies (Carlsbad)
This charming little corner shop in the Carlsbad Village has been serving 100 percent vine-ripened fruit smoothies, organic wheat-grass and fresh juices for more than seven years. The smoothie shop offers free Wi-Fi and a menu that features acai, pitaya, berries galore and the option to substitute soy or almond milk if needed. Make sure you try the “Moonlight Beach Mango Smoothie,” which includes fresh mango, pineapple, strawberry and bananas. Or, drink your way to fit and sexy with a “Beach Body” blend made with carrot, celery, cucumber, spinach, parsley, beet and apple.

Fountain Of Youth Juice (Encinitas)
Home of the famous “WOW” shot and the must-try, immune-boosting, toxin-flushing “3-Day Cleanse,” this juice joint may be tiny, but it sure is mighty. Get your juice on with a wide range of drinks boasting memorable names such as the “Curse Reverse” or the “Green Goddess.” Many regulars swear by the V4-V10 organic veggie juices. There is an entire menu devoted to dairy-free smoothie options, too. By the way, their 3-Day Cleanse may be arguably one of the best cleanse deals in San Diego: $65 for the package, which comes out to 64 ounces of juice per day.

Juice Nation (Solana Beach)
Located in sunny Solana Beach on the Coast Hwy, this blending business is a one-stop shop for nutrition. Beyond the healthy foods offered daily, patrons can drink a whole “Veggie Patch,” a detoxifying concoction featuring cucumber, celery, beet, carrot, parsley, cilantro, kale and spinach. For a post-workout treat, the “Tropical Piña-Mango” is the perfect smoothie to combat sore muscles and deliciously packed with pineapple, mango, coconut oil, raw coconut, banana and agave. All juices are 100 percent organic, raw, vegan and gluten-free.

bBar Superfood Vitality Bar (Del Mar)
Home of Beaming brand cleansing products, this place is more of a gourmet superfood experience than a juice bar. Here, each juice is hand-crafted and cold-pressed with a focus on delicious. The smoothie menu is extensive, with selections like the “Bootie Burn,” an anti-inflammatory and fat burning concoction created with whole grapefruit, pineapple, coconut nectar, chili flakes and ice. Plus, you can add a boost of bee pollen, coconut butter and camu camu – an exotic fruit that grows in flooded areas of the Amazon rainforest in parts of South America. Check out the raw menu items too. We love the coconut ceviche!

The Stable’s Corner Juice & Smoothie (Poway)
A mom & pop place at its finest! Whether you’re out east hiking the Mount Woodson Trail or simply a local in the know, this is the juice joint to frequent. Known for their eclectic barn-themed décor and reasonable prices, you’ll find a range of smoothies and juices to help you cool off and energize without breaking the bank. For example, the “Happy Night Energy” smoothie – which includes almond, walnut, coconut, banana and sesame – is a steal at $6.50 for 32 ounces. If you prefer fresh juice as your drink of choice, try the “Tomato It Up,” a mash-up of tomato, apple, parsley and garlic all in one cup, or their classic “Orange Carrot” juice, both between $3 and $4.

 

Trish Sanderson is the community manager and marketing director for Yelp North County San Diego. She leads the local community of Yelp reviewers both online and off.

El Cajon police officers were called to a jewelry store in the Fletcher Hills area Wednesday to investigate a report of an armed robbery, authorities said.

According to police, Hamlin’s Jewelers – located at 2234 Fletcher Pkwy. – was robbed by unknown armed suspects at around 3:45 p.m.

By the time officers arrived at the business, the suspect had fled the scene.

Further details were not immediately available. There is no word on injuries or estimated loss at the store.

Check back for updates on this developing story.
 

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Drivers will soon pay to park at meters in San Diego's Gaslamp Quarter after 6 p.m., city officials announced Wednesday.

Meter rates will change for the so-called Hospitality Zone in downtown San Diego beginning next month. 

The city will enforce parking at meters between 10:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. as part of a one-year pilot program.

Notices will be posted this week. Warnings will be left on windshields through Feb. 28.

Beginning Monday, March 3, violators will receive fines.

Residents who drive downtown for a bite to eat or to meet friends are used to those meters being free after 6 p.m. under the current rules.

Civic San Diego, a downtown parking advisory board, proposed the pilot program to see if the shift in hours would result in higher turnover for local businesses.

Proponents say there should be no increase in cost for residents who use the meters in that they will be paying for evening hours for the same amount of time they likely paid in the morning.

The area affected by the change includes the area that houses Gaslamp Quarter restaurants and Westfield Horton Plaza.

The zone’s borders are Broadway to Harbor Drive and 1st Avenue to 7th Avenue.

A San Diego woman died and two children were hospitalized after they were struck by an SDG&E truck in Shelltown early Wednesday. 

Ana Herrera Rodriguez and her 5-year-old daughter were walking to school with a 4-year-old neighbor when they were struck by the utility truck around 7:40 a.m.

The San Diego Gas & Electric truck driver was interviewed by police following the incident on Cottonwood Street between Osborn and Earl Streets.

Rodriguez' 11-year-old son, who didn't witness the crash, told NBC 7 that he walked out of his home after the crash and saw his mother pinned beneath the truck's rear tire. 

The location of the incident is north of Division Street about a block south of Balboa Elementary School, where the child attended preschool according to a district official.

Raquel Arias, whose 4-year-old was being treated for chest and leg injuries, said she had just dropped off her daughter with Rodriguez when she heard screaming outside.

“It was a horrible scene,” Arias told NBC 7 outside Rady Children’s Hospital.

Arias said several neighbors jumped in and lifted the truck off Rodriguez while other neighbors rushed to help the children.

Family members told NBC 7 that Rodriguez died from her injuries.

“She risked her life for those two girls. I don’t know what happened but those two girls are okay,” Arias said.

Rodriguez had two sons and two daughters according to the neighbor. The five-year-old girl involved in the accident was hospitalized with a fractured pelvis and some damage to her liver, she told NBC 7.

Meanwhile, Arias and her mother, Andrea Garcia, want to know how the SDG&E driver didn’t see the mother and two children crossing the street on the way to school.

“A beautiful life was taken away,” Arias said.

“How you could not see people crossing the street,” Garcia added. “ A life was taken. We need to find out what he was doing. How he could not see them? We need answers and we need them now.”

San Diego police said one victim was transported to UCSD Medical Center. A second was transported to Rady Children’s Hospital.

The Twitter account for SDPD reported one of the victims died in the collision and warned drivers to avoid the area.

At 4:50 p.m. Wednesday, SDG&E issued the following statement regarding the fatal accident:

“A San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) employee was involved in a tragic accident this morning that took the life of a woman in San Diego. The driver was on duty and driving a company vehicle. The circumstances of this accident are under investigation and SDG&E is cooperating fully with authorities.”

“This is a devastating accident and our hearts and prayers go out to the family of the victim. Safety is at the foundation of who we are as a company – from initial employee training to the construction, operation and maintenance of our facilities and the service provided to our customers. We are holding a safety stand down with employees to underscore our commitment to employee and public safety.”

Two weeks ago, a man was struck and killed by an SDG&E truck in El Cajon.

Robert Fisher died in a hit and run accident Jan. 6 on Jamacha Road south of East Main Street.

In this incident, the off-duty employee was accused of driving under the influence and leaving the scene of the accident.

SDG&E has issued a statement regarding Fisher's death.

"SDG&E continues to cooperate fully with authorities. This is a tragic accident. The employee is no longer with our company."

Check back on this developing story.

Police have arrested a community college student accused of sending threatening text messages after two teens were killed in Oceanside last March, according to officials.

Officers arrested Samuel Ruiz, 18, on Tuesday on the Mira Costa College campus.

According to the Oceanside Police Department, Ruiz confessed to sending threatening text messages to students at El Camino High School after four teenagers were gunned down in Libby Lake Park on March 13, 2013.

Two of the victims, 16-year-old Edgar Sanchez Rios and 13-year-old Melanie Virgen, died from their injuries. Melanie was a student at Caesar Chavez Middle School and Edgar was a student at El Camino High School.

The day after the murders, several El Camino High School students received disturbing text messages from someone named “Bart Cheng,” according to police. Police said the sender threatened to kill the recipients if they talked about the shooting.

Officials said Ruiz was identified as a possible suspect, but he denied it and was not arrested.

In late December, another El Camino High student received a text from Bart Cheng. According to police, it read: "187 when you return from Winter break."

Police said when the student asked who was texting, the sender responded: "Blood drop. You’ll see."

Once again, detectives tracked the threats to Ruiz’s phone. They obtained a warrant and worked with Mira Costa College police to arrest Ruiz during class.

Ruiz was booked into the Vista Detention Center on charges of making illegal threats, cyberbullying and possessing an illegal knife on a college campus.

Four people were arrested in connection to the March 2013 Libby Lake murders. Two other teens were killed in the same park in May 2011.

With this season’s flu outbreak in full swing, Scripps Health is now enforcing a number of visitor restrictions at its five San Diego hospitals in order to curb the flu from spreading.

According to Scripps Health, the interim measures – triggered by rising flu rates across both the county and U.S. – went into effect as of 8 a.m. Wednesday.

The restrictions include screening each and every visitor that walks through the door.

Scripps Health says visitors “displaying symptoms of flu-like illness” will be asked to leave. Exceptions may be allowed by infection control and department supervisors for special circumstances.

Additionally, patients will be limited to a maximum of four visitors per day.

Finally, children age 14 and younger will not be allowed in any of the hospitals unless they are patients themselves or have appointments. Scripps Health says this restriction includes no children in campus lobbies, dining facilities and common areas.

The temporary restrictions will be enforced at Scripps Mercy Hospital San Diego, Scripps Mercy Hospital Chula Vista, Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla, Scripps Memorial Hospital Encinitas and Scripps Green Hospital in La Jolla.

“With cases of H1N1 influenza rising quickly in the area, we are taking precautionary measures to limit the risk of infection in our hospitals,” said Scripps Chief Medical Officer James LaBelle, MD. “We ask that visitors follow these new guidelines so that we can maintain the safest possible environment for everyone.”

NBC 7 spoke with Dr. Shawn Evans of Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla on Wednesday who said hospitals and emergency rooms have been inundated with flu cases in the last few weeks.

"We haven't been at the tip of the spear of anything overwhelming. We're certainly staffed for it. But unfortunately we're seeing an uptick [in local flu cases] and it's causing people to have significant symptoms this year," Dr. Evans explained.

Dr. Evans said the last time Scripps Health implemented these types of restrictions was about five years ago, during the 2009-2010 flu season when H1N1 was prevalent.

According to the doctor, the duration of the temporary restrictions is unknown. Scripps Health will continue to monitor flu levels in San Diego County and keep the restrictions in place or lift them, accordingly, once flu levels decrease.

NBC 7 reached out to the San Diego County Health Department Wednesday. Health officials confirmed that as of Jan. 11, there have been seven flu-related deaths in San Diego. The most current stats will be officially released Thursday.

Health officials have said that the predominant virus in the county this season has been identified as the Pandemic H1N1.

Meanwhile, nationwide, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) ruled last week that the proportion of deaths from pneumonia and flu this season across the U.S. has reached the epidemic threshold, exceeding the numbers that were expected.

Locally, Scripps Health says it’s not too late for patients to get their flu shot.

Though vaccination is the best prevention method, other precautions include washing your hands often, avoiding touching your eyes, nose and mouth and avoiding contact with sick people. Those suffering from the flu should stay home from work and school to avoid infecting others.
 

San Diego police are investigating the fatal stabbing of a man after an argument at a group home in Encanto late Thursday.

According to police, officers were called to a home in the 600-block of Fergus St. just before 10:30 p.m.

Police said the 61-year-old victim had sustained stab wounds.

“Medical intervention was immediately started. Medics arrived one scene. Unfortunately the victim succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead here at the scene,” Lt. Mike Hastings said.

Officers said it appears there was some sort of argument between the victim and one of his roommates.

Less than 24 hours after the stabbing, officers announced they had arrested Sean William Heatherly, 29, on charges of murder.

Investigators said they are not sure what led to the argument.

Three people were killed and more than 20 injured Thursday in a chain reaction crash involving at least 45 vehicles that shut down Interstate 94 near Michigan City, Ind., authorities said. 

One of the victims, 65-year-old Jerry Dalrymple, was from Chicago. His dog was also killed in the crash. The other two victims, 67-year-old Thomas Wolma and 65-year-old Marilyn Wolma, were  from Grand Rapids, Mich., LaPorte County Coroner John Sullivan told NBC Chicago.

More than 20 others were injured, and there were at least five people who were trapped in their vehicles and needed to be extricated, officials said.

The 3 p.m. crash in the eastbound lanes of I-94 at mile marker 36 in LaPorte County involved 18 tractor-trailers, two trucks, and more than 20 passenger cars, vans and SUVs, Indiana State Police Sgt. Ann Wojas said Friday.

"It went from sunshine to complete no visibility, so when they entered in, it turned into slide off, crash, crash, and multiplied into what we have now," she said.

• PHOTOS: Massive I-94 Pileup
• Motorist Stuck in Traffic Describes Scene
• Meteorologist Describes Weather at Time of Crash

Wojas identified the critically injured victims as Jeffery Rennell, 48, from Ada, Mich., and Henry Imboden, 79, from Merrillville, Ind. Rennell, who had been airlifted after crews worked for three hours to free him from his vehicle, was treated and released from Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn on Friday afternoon.

Poor weather conditions were factors in the crash that shut down both directions of a 10-mile stretch of the interstate for several hours, officials said. The westbound lanes reopened hours later, but the eastbound lanes remained closed until just before 9:30 a.m. Friday as crews worked to remove the mangled mess of vehicles.

"It’s just a mess out there right now," Sullivan said.

St. Anthony's medical center in Michigan City received 13 crash victims over a three-hour period, most with a variety of contusions, bruises and minor fractures. Other crash victims went to Porter Regional Hospital in Valparaiso and Indiana University Health hospital in LaPorte.

• Driver Shares Video From Ground
• Sky 5 Footage of I-94 Pileup
• Wrong-Way Driver Travels Through I-94 Pileup Closure

Drivers stuck in the backup Thursday could only wait and try to stay warm as temperatures hovered around 10 degrees. Dixie Juchcinski, who talked to NBC Chicago in stand-still traffic about four miles from the crash, said the accident occurred in white-out conditions.

"When we first came to a stop, it was a complete white-out," Juchcinski said. "It was kind of a surprise to us because we could only see one or two cars in front of us." 

Dominick Fontana and Tyler Cobb live two miles away from the accident scene and heard the vehicles crash from inside their homes.

"It sounded like a train coming off the rails," Fontana said.

Stacey Johnson, 37, had a family emergency and was traveling from western Michigan to Tennessee with her three sons, ages 3, 9 and 10. She told The Associated Press she'd researched road conditions before leaving because she was worried about the weather. She didn't know about the accident until traffic started crawling and then stopped.

Nearly five hours later, long after she'd planned to stop for dinner, her car was still sitting on the westbound side of highway. A woman in the car next to hers noticed she had children with her and offered cereal, popcorn and fruit to tide the family over.

Police said city buses were brought in to warm stranded motorists and transport the injured, though Johnson said she hadn't seen them. But she felt fortunate that she'd gotten gas before leaving Michigan.

"If it weren't for the fact that I have a full tank and a safe car, this could be a really dangerous situation," she said.

A band of heavy lake-effect snow was dropping up to 2 inches of snow per hour with visibility at a quarter-mile or less at the time of the wreck, National Weather Service meteorologist Evan Bentley said.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
 

As police announced a second arrest in the beating death of a 23-year-old woman, mourners held a vigil on Friday to remember the former Chapman University student and aspiring writer whose life was cut short after a melee outside a nightclub.

Dressed in white, mourners placed flowers and candles near the spot where Annie Hung "Kim" Pham was beaten last Saturday outside a Santa Ana nightclub.

"I hope that people out there realize how wrong this is," said Pham's second cousin, Kathleen Trinh during the emotional vigil.

Earlier, police announced that a 27-year-old Santa Ana woman was arrested in connection with the beating.

Police Chief Carlos Rojas declined to identify the suspect and did not immediately provide details on her arrest other than she was taken into custody at home.

Police were still searching for a third woman, pictured below, who is suspected of participating in the post midnight Saturday brawl.

"We are looking for the third person. This is the one person that has not been identified," Rojas said. "She was involved in the phsyical altercation, and we are naming her as a person of interest at this point."

Pham was punched, kicked and knocked to the ground while she waited to get into the Crosby Restaurant and Nightclub in a beating that some bystanders captured on cellphone cameras, police said.

Woman Charged With Murder in Nightclub Beating Death

Police believe three people were involved in the attack and were reviewing footage from three cellphones from that night. Police have three videos from different angles, Rojas said. Some of the video has audio, he added.

Three security guards were on duty and at least one is seen in the video trying “to separate people,” the chief added.

An unrelated fight between several men broke out "almost simultaneously," adding to a "very chaotic" scene, Rojas said. There were about 50 people outside the club before the brawl, Rojas said.

Zavala was with a group of people leaving the club when a “verbal and physical altercation” occurred, Rojas said. There was no evidence to suggest the confrontation was motivated by gangs or racial animosity, he added.

Police have determined that only three women were involved in the attack on Pham, despite earlier reports that five people were being sought, Rojas said.

Vanessa Zavala, 25, pleaded not guilty on Wednesday to a second-degree murder charge in connection with the beating.

She was jailed on $1 million bond. Her attorney, Kenneth Reed, plans to hold a news conference on Monday to talk about the case against his client.

Girl, 14, Charged After Half-Sister Stabbed 30 Times

Defense attorney Michael Molfetta, who represents the woman arrested, also declined to identify her.

Molfetta told NBC4 that what happened that night was explosive and senseless. He said that an inadvertent bump precipitated the fight and that his female client was hurt in the melee as well.

Pham died of complications from blunt force trauma to the head.

Although she was declared brain dead Sunday, Pham remained on life support while her organs were harvested, but she was taken off life support Tuesday and died around midday.

Pham graduated from Chapman University last year with a psychology degree and had worked to raise money for breast cancer awareness.

A reward totaling $11,000 was raised for information leading to the attackers.

City News Service contributed to this report.

A former top Senate aide accused of possessing child pornography was found dead in a possible suicide Thursday, the Carroll County, Md., Sheriff's Department confirmed.

At about noon Thursday, family members reported finding 35-year-old Jesse Ryan Loskarn unresponsive in his parents' basement in the 6900 block of Kenmar Lane in Sykesville, according to the sheriff's department. The preliminary investigation found he may have killed himself. His body was taken to the medical examiner for autopsy.

"We loved our son very much, and we're devastated by his death," read a statement from his parents. "Please respect our privacy at this difficult time and let us grieve in peace. Pray for him, his family and friends."

Loskarn, the former chief of staff of Sen. Lamar Alexander, R- Tenn., had been living in his parents' home since Magistrate Judge John M. Facciola released him to their custody Dec. 16. The judge had ordered he wear a monitoring device and not use the Internet.

• READ MORE: Judge Explains Decision to Release Loskarn

"For everyone involved, this is a sad and tragic story from beginning to end," Sen. Alexander said in a statement Friday.

Loskarn was arrested in December at his southeast D.C. home as a result of a child pornography investigation involving U.S. and Canadian authorities, who identified him as a customer of a company that sold DVDs and downloads. Those videos, according to investigators, showed children as young as 5 or 6 years old involved in sexual acts with other minors or adults. Loskarn was accused of offering one video for distribution on a peer-to-peer file sharing network.

As investigators were at Loskarn's front door to arrest him, he was seen placing a computer hard drive outside a rear window, according to court documents. Authorities found images of children engaged in sex acts on it.

Alexander replaced Loskarn as chief of staff after the arrest.

• READ MORE: Senator Replaces Chief of Staff After Arrest

Judge Facciola had explained his decision to release Loskarn to his parents, rather than keeping him in custody, in a memo. The judge said Loskarn's parents had assured the court the only devices in their home that could access the internet were iPads protected with a password they would not share with Loskarn, so the risk of Loskarn downloading more child pornography was not great.

Loskarn faced up to 10 years on the possession charge and a minimum of five and maximum of 20 years on the distribution charge.

“The pH Miracle” author Robert O. Young has been arrested in San Diego County, accused of practicing medicine without a license on his avocado ranch.

Young, 61, was arrested by U.S. Marshals at the author’s “pH Miracle” center in Valley Center.

Prosecutors claim the center is actually temporary quarters on Young’s property and is not an adequately equipped medical facility.

Young is being charged with conspiracy to practice medicine without a license and multiple counts of grand theft.

According to the San Diego County District Attorney’s Office, Young and others at the ranch used intravenous treatments on patients.

"The pH Miracle", sold through Barnes and Noble, Amazon and other stores, claims to help readers treat low energy, poor digestion, aches and pains and disease with an alkaline diet.

Young's "pH Miracle Retreat" offers nightly rates from $1295 to $2495 per night. The rate includes lodging, meals, supplements, and therapies.

The District Attorney’s Consumer Unit is prosecuting Young.

He remains under investigation by the Medical Board of California, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration Office of Criminal Investigations, and the District Attorney’s Office, which believe there may be more victims.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the District Attorney’s Office at 619-531-3507.

Young was arrested along with Rocio “Rosie” Placensia, 32, of Valley Center, who is described as a customer service manager at the ranch.

Talk about a bear scare.

A Scottish couple visiting Pasadena had a close encounter with a young bear earlier this week, and the incident was captured by a surveillance camera.

Images: Adorable Zoo Babies | Unbelievable Animal Stories

Bobby and Irene McKeown left the home they were staying at Tuesday morning. Bobby McKeown turned to lock the door as his wife waited nearby -- but neither noticed the furry figure that can be seen  lurking in the background on the security video.

The bear appeared to take a step back when the couple first exited the house onto the porch. But instead of continuing the retreat, the curious young bear followed the McKeowns out to their car.

Bobby Mckeown suffered a nip or claw to his calf in an incident off-camera.

WATCH: Caught on Camera: Tourists' Close Encounter With SoCal Bear

"There were a couple of scratches," Bobby McKeown said.

Despite the minor injury, the couple characterized the encounter as just another story to tell their friends about their Southern California visit.

"I’m very lucky. Never had such excitement," Bobby McKeown said.

WATCH: Bear Munches on Trash in Altadena Backyard

Neighbors in the area are very familiar with bears, and one family says this bear regularly eats their family’s trash, according to an NBC4 report.

Some think he may be here with his mother, a bigger bear seen in the Pasadena area on Thursday.

READ: Search Called Off For Wayward Bear

There is speculation that this bear could be from same bear family that was spotted two years ago in a tree in an Altadena neighborhood.

WATCH: Mother Bear, Cubs Climb Trees, Fence in Altadena

"He doesn’t look too harmless but he’s a wild animal, you never know. So it's probably safe to tranquilize him or get him out of here somehow, you know," a neighboring Pasadena resident said.

Following on the heels of a new law in the city of Los Angeles banning single-use plastic bags from supermarkets, California lawmakers are proposing a similar bill statewide.

Sen. Alex Padilla, D-Pacoima, along with two other senators, and environmental and labor leaders, unveiled SB 270 Friday in Vernon that would make consumers pay at least a dime per reusable plastic bag at supermarkets, liquor and convenience stores, and pharmacies in California.

New CA Law Requires Chefs Wear Gloves

The reusable bags would need to be made up of at least 20 percent recycled material, and strong enough to be used more than 100 times. Over time, the bags would be increased to 40 percent recycled material, Mark Murray, executive director of Californians Against Waste, said in a statement.

“Plastic bags that don’t meet the re-use standard will no longer be available,” Murray said.

14 New California Laws Effective in 2014

The bill seeks to soften opposition from plastic bag makers by allowing businesses to apply for grants to retrain workers and re-engineer products to meet the bill’s criteria. The grants would come from $2 million from state recycling funds.

Under the bill, which is pending in the Assembly Labor Committee, the bag requirements would take effect at large grocery stores in 2015 and at pharmacies and liquor stores in 2016.

Calif. Appeals Court Upholds Plastic Bag Ban

Padilla authored a similar bill last year that fell three votes short of the 21 needed to pass in the California State Senate.

A new law in Los Angeles requires shoppers to pay 10 cents a recyclable paper sack at large grocery stores. The law went into effect on Jan. 1.

Nearly 90 American cities have already banned plastic bags. 

A driving lesson between a father and son ended with the father pinned against a wrought iron fence with multiple broken bones, San Diego police said.

The father, 64, was teaching his 40-year-old son to drive around 9:30 p.m. Thursday in Normal Heights.

Dad decided to step out of the car to direct his son into a driveway, officers said. That’s when things went wrong.

When the son stepped on the accelerator, the car moved forward and to the right.

The car hit the father and pinned him against the fence.

Officers said the father suffered a broken pelvis, knee, tibia and what’s described as an open fracture to his foot.

The San Diego Police Traffic Division is investigating the incident. Officers said alcohol was not a factor.
 

The road doesn’t get any easier for San Diego State, which takes a perfect conference record and 16-game winning streak into prime time with a showdown Saturday night at Utah State.

The Dee Glen Smith Spectrum in Logan, Utah, is a notoriously tough place to play. The No. 7 Aztecs (17-1, 6-0 in the Mountain West Conference) hope to put that out of their minds once the ball is tipped.

"You see it when you first walk in for shoot around and things like that, but once the game starts, I don't think anybody really pays attention to all that stuff,” senior guard Xavier Thames said. “You just heard the crowd noise and how loud it is, but when you first walk in, you do see those things."

Head coach Steve Fisher is more worried about the Aggies’ prolific 3-point shooting.

“They're a good shooting team and they shoot better at home than on the road, statistically,” he said. “But their guys are confident shooters. We will need to make sure we contest every shot, not give them wide-open threes. They do a nice job of selectively running too, so if you get carless, they're going to fly right by you. So we'll find out whether we'll be able to continue to guard efficiently against multiple threats.”

Utah State (12-6, 2-4) has lost two straight and four of six, but boast one of the best players in the conference in Jerrod Shaw. The 6-foot-10 senior is averaging 16 points and nearly eight rebounds a game.

"I don't know how he compares to other (centers), but I do know he's long, athletic, can move away from basket and make you guard him, he scores over the top of you, he's got good low post moves,” Fisher said of Shaw. “He's a basketball player, he knows how to play, and he's a veteran player. So they find ways to get all their guys involved where they can do damage.”

The pressure mounts with each win, as do expectations for the Aztecs. They are projected as a No. 3 seed in the NCAA Tournament by ESPN.com’s Bracketology. Their lone loss was more than two months ago, a 69-60 defeat at the hands of Arizona on Nov. 15. The Wildcats are still undefeated and have since climbed to No. 1 in the nation, a place they’ve held for the past seven weeks.

"I don't think it's pressure on us,” said junior Aqeel Quinn. “We take it game-by-game and try not to look at the rankings and we definitely can't get big-headed with the coaches, they don't let us. So I don't think it puts any pressure on us."

Saturday’s game starts at 8 p.m. and can be seen on ESPNU or heard on AM 1090. The Aztecs are next at home a week from Saturday against Colorado State.

There are only two known survivors of the 1906 earthquake that devastated San Francisco more than a century ago. Friday, San Francisco’s fire chief made a special visit to the North Bay to celebrate the 108th birthday of one of those survivors.

Bill Del Monte never thought he would live to see his 108th year.

“It’s something I just can’t believe,” Del Monte said.

• PHOTOS: The Great 1906 San Francisco Earthquake

A lot can change in 108 years.  Friends and family members have come and gone, and he has watched the San Francisco that burned in the earthquake more than a century ago, when he was just three months old, rebuild and transform.

“It wasn’t too much of a city then, but it sure is now,” Del Monte said.

Del Monte never had children, and his wife died more than 20 years ago.

He now lives in a retirement home in Greenbrae. That’s where San Francisco Fire Chief Joanne Hayes-White met him on Friday for lunch, catered by John’s Grill.

Over some steaks and a glass of scotch, Del Monte recalled his mother’s memory of the moments after the 1906 quake, when he was just a baby.

"My mother in the kitchen, she put the table cloth around me, wrapped it around me as a bundle, and put me on a cart and went we down Broadway Street to the ferry," Del Monte said. “There was fire on both sides of the street.”

Hayes-White said Del Monte is not just a connection to San Francisco’s past. He reminds us all how to live a long, satisfying life.

“Just his love for life, living day by day, not taking things for granted, but just appreciating life in the moment,” Hayes-White said. “He gives me that. He’s a true gift.”

As for a secret to longevity, Del Monte said, there is no real secret. He’s just taking life as it comes.

• South African Wins Mavericks Invitational Surf Contest

“Live and enjoy it while you’re here,” Del Monte said. “Even though it’s a long time, when you’re gone, you’re gone.”

Del Monte said he is not planning to attend the ceremony at Lotta’s Fountain on Market Street in April to mark the 108th anniversary of the quake, so he taped a video message that will be shown.

The ceremony happens April 18 at 5:13 a.m. Del Monte and the only other survivor, 112-year-old Ruth Newman, said they would both rather sleep in this year.

After a quick search, the Coast Guard found a surfer that went missing off the coast of Carlsbad on Friday afternoon.

The surfer had been separated from friends in the vicinity south of Carlsbad State Beach.

High waves have hit the entire area today, leading to a swimmer being rescued in Ocean Beach.

The mother of a firefighter killed in a crash with a speeding driver wants to spread a message to others on the road: slow down and be careful behind the wheel.

“I would feel like my son did not die needlessly and in vain if one person said, ‘I can do that, I can follow the law, I can honor the law.’ That would really make it a little easier to bare knowing someone said, ‘Yeah, I get it,’” said mother Jill Reid.

It’s been nearly four months since Reid’s son, U.S. Forest Service firefighter Darin Steffey, 37, was killed in a collision in Campo. For his grieving mother, time may have passed, but the pain of losing her son has not and never will subside.

“He was my gift in my life, and I just honor him,” said Reid.

On Oct. 3, 2013, Steffey was struck and killed while riding his motorcycle on Buckman Springs Road. He was on his way from work at the time of the accident. Steffey was also a veteran of the U.S. Air Force.

According to the California Highway Patrol, the driver of the vehicle, 21-year-old Natasia Wood, was speeding, driving at approximately 70 mph when the posted speed limit in the area is 55 mph. Wood was charged with vehicular manslaughter and gross negligence in the deadly crash.

Now, she faces a civil lawsuit for wrongful death filed by Steffey's parents, represented by attorney Dan Gilleon, who says when there's negligence, there's a price to pay.

The collision happened just a mile away from Steffey’s fire station. His colleagues were the first responders on scene – and have been by his family’s side ever since.

“They just loved on us. They still text me, ‘How are you, Mom?’ which is amazing,” said Reid. “They helped us survive those first 24 hours.”

Heartbroken, Reid is still trying to survive, still grieving the loss of her son – and of what could’ve been.

“There’s also the anticipatory grief of not having any grandchildren,” said Reid. “Not having his wedding to go to – instead, having to go to a memorial.”

A nurse for 40 years, 20 of them as an Emergency Room nurse, Reid is well aware of the pain, agony and suffering that can be caused by negligence.

So many lives changed, she says, on both ends.

“I grieve. She [the driver] will grieve the rest of her life. I know that, but you can't take it back. Once it's done it's done and no amount of agony on her part or anyone else's can change it,” said Reid. “So we have to think when we get in the car – that’s all it is.”

So, think, take 30 seconds to remind yourself that you are driving a lethal weapon. Don’t take it lightly, Reid said, because the aftermath is anything but light.

With the best of conditions under sunny skies, the Mavericks Invitational, the so-called Super Bowl of surfing, was won by South African Grant "Twiggy" Baker.

Baker also won the title in 2006 and reclaimed the title on Friday afternoon, with Hawaiian Shane Dorian coming in second in  his first Mavericks contest and Ryan Augenstein of Santa Cruz coming in third.

• Raw Video of Mavericks 2014 | Photo Gallery

Fellow Californians Tyler Fox of Aptos, Greg Long of San Clemente  and Anthony Tashnick of Santa Cruz rounded out the six surfers who made the finals.

“I got lucky today. I didn't get bucked off," Baker said.

Now Baker takes home the $12,000 -- and a lot of respect from fellow surfers.

"Mavericks is a one-of-a-kind wave that you've got to prepare for, for life and for years,” competitor Rich Peters said. “So it's not something to take lightly. I really respect these guys. They're athletes just like any other athlete."

The competition kicked off Friday morning off the coast of Pillar Point north of Half Moon Bay, Calif.

As predicted, the big waves reach astounding heights of between 40 and 50 feet.

The surfing conditions were so ideal, that Hawaii-based professional surfer Mark Healey told NBC Bay Area that there are "no excuses" for surfers not to do well during the contest.

First place is $12,000, second place is $6,000 and third place is $5,000, according to Mavericks Invitational spokeswoman Jessica Banks.

• Mavericks Invitational is Frickin' Sick

Surfers this year hailed from Santa Cruz, Pacifica, San Francisco, San Clemente South Africa, Hawaii, Brazil and Australia.

Crowds began gathering on Thursday because they were anxious to snap and sketch pictures of practicing surfers from a vantage point they won’t be able to get on Friday because of restrictions that keep the public away from the beach.

In 2010,  several contest onlookers were injured by large sneaker waves.

PHOTOS: Waves Wipe Out Mavericks Spectators

That’s why, this year, spectators were able to watch at a beer garden being constructed outside the Oceana Hotel, or one of the many bars and restaurants anxious for this year's Mavericks.

But Mavericks pioneer Jeff Clark said the upwards of 40-foot waves are exactly what make his Mavericks competition so challenging and the trophy such a prize.

"I would say this is pretty close to the Lombardi trophy for surfing,” Clark said. “It takes everything you know about the ocean to compete and survive and be successful at Mavericks when it's this big."

Bay City News contributed to this report.