Newly released surveillance video shows a not-so-funny suspect in a frightening clown mask holding a gas station clerk at gunpoint in one of three, possibly related robberies

The video comes from the USA Gas Station on Morena Boulevard in Bay Park, which was robbed on Aug. 6.

In the footage, a man in a clown mask, rainbow wig, black pants and black hooded sweatshirt is seen walking through the door with handgun held at his waist. He waves it at the clerk, who is standing by the store's drink display, and tells him to get behind the counter.

The worker complies and opens the cash register.

"Put it all in the plastic bag. Hurry up," the suspect is heard saying on the video.

"I don't want to blow a hole in you, man. Hurry it up," he continues.

After the clerk fills the white plastic bag, the suspect grabs it and walks out. Before he leaves, the calm cashier utters, "Have a good night, man." 

Detectives are trying to determine if this clown is responsible for two similar incidents, or if it is the work of a copy cat.

The most recent robbery happened around 1:30 a.m. Tuesday at the 7-Eleven at 4080 Convoy St. in Kearny Mesa.

A man in his 20s or 30s wearing a clown mask and carrying a large frame revolver approached the clerk and demanded cash, according to San Diego police. The cashier handed over an undisclosed amount of money, and the suspect bolted out the door.

The crime wasn’t reported until 8:30 a.m. because the clerk didn’t know protocol, police said.

On Aug. 13, a thief struck 7-Eleven at 6615 Linda Vista Rd. In that case, the suspect was wearing a clown mask and rainbow-colored wig, had a thin build and was armed with a gun.

The USA Gas Station decided to release its surveillance footage to help the SDPD get an arrest.

Copyright Associated Press / NBC 7 San Diego

Hundreds of cyclists looped around Fiesta Island Tuesday evening as an emotional tribute to those injured in a collision with a wrong-way driver.

Organizer Joel Price said he just wanted to get the San Diego Bicycle Club back together for their regular, 30-mile Tuesday ride, but after putting it on Facebook, he got an overwhelming response.

Over 400 cyclists sent their RSVP, and even more showed up. Many dedicated their ride to victim Juan Carlos Vinolo, 49, who is being hailed as a hero for pushing a fellow cyclist out of the path of a wrong-way driver. For that act of courage, he is now paralyzed from the chest down.

"This support is the extra adrenaline punch he needs to take the leap forward," said Juan Pablo Romano, Vinolo's nephew. 

Among those who attended Tuesday's ride was Beatrice Dormoy, though she was unable to hop on a bike herself. She had gone through the window of driver Theresa Lynn Owens's car when Owens plowed into a crowd of about 30 riders on Fiesta Island. 

"I'm getting better," said Dormoy. "It's kind of mixed feelings about having been in the situation and feeling luck I'm out and about. It could have been me." 

Ewers, who Vinolo pushed away from the erratic car, said he's alive today because of the man's selfless act.

"It's humbling someone would sacrifice their own safety for you," Ewers told NBC 7.

"If he didn't push me out, I'd be dead or in the hospital," he added. 

Owens now faces DUI and drug possession charges stemming from the crash, and Vinolo is still in critical condition at the hospital.

“We hope this encourages Juan Carlos because he is fighting for his life right now and he loves cycling and he loves this ride,” said Price.

Vinolo's supporters have set up an online fundraiser for Vinolo and his family as they face hospital bills for his two punctured lungs, broken ribs, dislocated left shoulder, broken clavicle, loss of kidney, laceration of the spleen and six broken vertebras.

Pat Murray was riding in the group when the collision happened but was not injured.

For her, Tuesday about overcoming the fears and emotions attached to that horrific day.

“I wanted to take that ride, turn the corner and start to go, ‘OK it's safe here. It's safe here,’” she said.

Murray crafted green ribbons for accident victims, their families and supporters to wear because the color represents hope, she said.

SanDiego Mayor Kevin Faulconer and Police Chief Shelley Zimmerman -- both avid bikers -- set the pace for Tuesday's two lap ride around the island. 

"I cycle here on Fiesta Island several times a month, so it hit home to me personally," said Faulconer of the crash. Zimmerman vowed justice will be served in this case, which she said "was not an accident. It was a crime."

Suspected DUI driver Owens has pleaded not guilty to charges against her after prosecutors say a bag of meth was found hidden in her vagina.

If convicted, Owens could face 12 years and eight months in prison.

Murder charges were filed Tuesday morning against the man prosecutors believe killed the 19-year-old wife of a fellow Marine and disposed of her body in a 14-story abandoned mine in a remote Southern California desert.

Christopher Brandon Lee, 23, is charged in the murder of Erin Corwin. Investigators have said they were having an affair and that Corwin may have been pregnant with Lee's baby.

San Bernardino County District Attorney Michael Ramos also filed a special circumstance allegation of lying in wait against Lee, an allegation that could set the stage for prosecutors to seek the death penalty. They have not yet decided whether to do so.

"The decision regarding which penalty will be sought will be made after a full review of the facts and evidence in the case," Ramos said in a statement.

Lee was arrested Sunday in Alaska, a day after police located Corwin's remains in mine shaft.

Corwin's cause of death has not been disclosed, but an arrest warrant released Tuesday said .22-caliber "fired cartridge casings and pieces of rebar" were found at the scene.

"The head stamp on the fired cartridge was consistent with head stamps on .22-caliber casings recovered from Lee's vehicle and Lee's residence," the warrant stated.

The warrant also said Lee admitted to conducting Internet searching about how to dispose of a human body.

Corwin was last seen leaving her Twentynine Palms home on June 28. She told her husband she was headed to Joshua Tree National Park to look for hiking trails, authorities said.

Her husband, Marine Cpl. Jonathan Corwin, reported her missing the next day. Erin Corwin’s car was found in Twentynine Palms two days after she disappeared.

Corwin, 19, had a possible secret relationship with 24-year-old then-Marine Cpl. Christopher Lee, both Lee's neighbor and Corwin's friend told investigators, according to a court documents.

Lee lived next door to Corwin and her husband, with his wife and family. Investigators said in a search warrant that Lee and Corwin had begun having an affair in February, and that she may have been three months pregnant with his baby. Investigators believe that may have been a motive for her murder.

Volunteers spent nearly eight weeks combing 300 acres of remote desert nearby before a special team with the San Bernardino County Sheriff-Coroner's Department found Corwin’s body in a 140-foot deep abandoned mine shaft just outside of Joshua Tree National Park, officials said Monday.

Lee appeared in court in Alaska Tuesday afternoon for an initial hearing. He did not waive his right to an extradition hearing, officials said.

It could be four to six weeks before Lee arrives in SoCal, Ramos said.

"Once again, we are faced with a terrible crime that shows absolutely no regard for the value of human life,” Ramos said. "Make no mistake that this office will fight to see that justice is carried out for our victim and her family."

Residents in the North County awoke to thunder, lightning and rain early Wednesday as a summer storm swept across San Diego County.

People living near Camp Pendleton, Oceanside and Fallbrook have received moderate to heavy rain fall since around midnight. There have also been reports of hail.

The National Weather Service has issued an urban and small stream flood advisory for San Diego County through 9:15 a.m. PT.

Minor flooding is possible due to the heavy rain over the burn scars of the recent fires on Camp Pendleton.

NBC 7 Meteorologist Jodi Kodesh said there is a good chance that more will be on the way.

"Just know that we have the potential all day today to have a shower or thunderstorm," Kodesh said.

An area of low pressure will bring the entire county a 30 percent chance of showers or thunderstorms.

It was a change of heart and a change of plea for 20-year-old Dias Kadyrbayev Thursday.

The friend of Boston Marathon bombing suspect Dzohkhar Tsarnaev pleaded guilty to charges of obstruction of justice and conspiracy to obstruct justice.

He specifically admitted to taking a backpack, fireworks, Vaseline, a thumb drive and a laptop from Tsarnaev’s UMass-Dartmouth dorm room after Tsarnaev was identified by the FBI as one of the marathon bombing suspects and later throwing away the backpack and its contents.

Kadyrbayev’s defense attorney Robert Stahl said, “Dias understands that he should not have gone to that room and should not have taken items from that room and he hopes by accepting responsibility that people here in Boston and around the world will eventually understand that he did not do so out of malice or in any way to condone what the Tsarnaevs have allegedly done.”

According to the plea deal, Kadyrbayev could be sentenced to up to seven years in prison and then deported to his native Kazakhstan.

His attorney Robert Stahl said Kadyrbayev’s father was in court Thursday to support his son, who’s spent the last year and a half in mostly solitary confinement.

Stahl said, “His father of course like any father is hoping for the best outcome and that his son will after this be returned home to his family and friends where he can try to get on with his life.”

Kadyrbayev’s attorney would not comment on whether his client planned to testify against Tsarnaev in his trial.

Stahl said, “Let me be very clear that Dias did not know that Dzohkhar or Tamerlan Tsarnaev were planning the marathon bombing.”

Kadyrbayev's attorney also would not comment on whether the conviction of Kadyrbayev's friend Azamat Tazhayakov last month on similar charges played a role in his decision to change his plea to guilty.

Sentencing is set for November 18th at 2pm.

Judge Woodlock has merely received the plea agreement at this time.

He will wait for sentencing reports from the prosecution and defense before he decides whether to accept or reject the plea deal.

If rejected, the case would proceed to trial.

If accepted, Kadyrbayev faces up to seven year in prison, then deportation.

Disturbing video captured by surveillance cameras shows a home health care aide abusing a 78-year-old Queens stroke victim, slapping his trembling arm and jerking his head by his nose while trying to force-feed him.

The family of Bentsion Murakhovsky, a 115-pound man paralyzed on his left side who has trouble speaking and swallowing food, installed the surveillance cameras after Murakhovsky told them a home health aide provided by Personal-Touch Home Care treated him improperly.

That home health aide was replaced by a second one sent by Personal-Touch Home Care after Murakhovsky's wife and granddaughter complained about the alleged abuse; the surveillance system was installed prior to the start of the new home health aide's employment in the home to ensure no future lapses in care would occur.

Video captured on surveillance cameras April 8 show the new home health aide abusing Murakhovsky. In one clip, the aide grabs his wrist, slams it into his side and grabs Murakhovsky's nose while pushing a napkin into his face in an effort to force-feed him.

A second clip provided by Murakhovsky's attorney shows the aide twice grab his nose while feeding him and using it to jerk his head back and forth as the patient nervously taps his fingers on his leg.

In another clip captured the same day, Murakhovsky lifts a blanket from his lap to wipe his face and the attendant grabs it, flings it away from the man and slaps his right arm. The 78-year-old is seen trembling as the aide gestures as if yelling at him. The videos have no audio.

The family only checked the surveillance archive after Murakhovsky's wife returned home one day in April to find her husband's face bruised, the family's attorney, Philip Monier III, said. Monier said Murakhovsky's wife said he was unusually withdrawn that day and appeared depressed and frightened. She called her granddaughter; the two of them checked the surveillance cameras and discovered the abuse.

The Murakhovskys called the NYPD. Charges against the home health aide are pending, and the family is suing the New York City branch of Personal-Touch Home Care, which has more than 50 locations in 11 states.

"Mr. Murakhovsky was a prisoner of his own body, defenseless to stop the healthcare worker looming in front of him," Monier said. "You see a fearful, elderly man being terrorized by a home healthcare aide."

"No one should be treated like that," Monier added. "This company is supposed to be sending trained and qualified workers to help elderly disabled people like Mr. Murakhovsky, and they are getting paid a lot of money for sending unqualified workers."

The lawsuit, filed earlier this month in Kings County Supreme Court, seeks unspecified compensatory and punitive damages.

Murakhovsky's granddaughter Gabriel Murakhovsky said he's a proud Russian immigrant who helped raise her and is now virtually helpless.

"My grandfather was a very strong man and it's bad enough he got sick and he's humiliated now that he can't change or he can't do certain things," she said. "For a person to destroy him like that physically and emotionally, I think that is very reckless." 

David Slifkin, CEO of Personal-Touch Home Care, said the allegations were disturbing.

"Each and every one of the thousands of patients we service are treated as part of the Personal-Touch family," Slifkin said. "Even one incident of potential patient abuse is not acceptable. We exercise many precautions to prevent this type of situation from happening." 

Slifkin said the company, which draws staff from a pool of about 12,000 paraprofessionals and 3,000 nurses, puts each aide it hires through a criminal background check using fingerprints. References are checked and prior work history is verified. The company said hires are assessed for any signs of inappropriate behavior during on-the-job training, and representatives make random welfare checks at homes where aides are placed.

Slifkin said Personal-Touch is cooperating with police.

-- Rob Schmitt contributed to this report. 

Copyright Associated Press / NBC 7 San Diego

A report of man carrying a rifle on the campus of Cal State University San Marcos prompted a campuswide lockdown and search by local law enforcement officials Wednesday.

Officials told NBC 7 they determined the man involved was carrying an umbrella, not a rifle.

The initial report described a bald man carrying a rifle on the campus north of San Diego just before 9 a.m., San Diego County Sheriff's Deputies said.

Campus police put the university on lockdown and began a security sweep. After searching for 30 minutes, no suspect was found, no shots were fired and no one was injured.

Just after 8 a.m., CSUSM police tweeted that anyone on campus should shelter in place and barricade. By 9:45 a.m., an all clear was given over the loudspeakers on campus.

Officials said the man involved in the intitial report was carrying an umbrella on the campus because of an unusual winterlike storm that swept the county.

School was not in session according to a school spokesperson. Orientation was scheduled for Wednesday. Fall semester will begin August 25.

Some students who were working on campus Wednesday had just been trained the day prior for the possibility of an active shooter on campus.

“Even though there wasn’t a shooting or anything there is a very relieving feeling to know you’re safe,” said Stephen Carrier.

“It’s definitely scary knowing someone could be around the corner, you know, with a gun,” said Lane Giammalva. “You just have to remain calm, protect yourself and protect the people next to you.” 

Interstate 805 was closed in both direction near Interstate 8 because of police activity, officials said.

The incident began at 8:52 a.m. and prompted California Highway Patrol officers to close southbound lanes at the I-8 interchange. Transitions from eastbound and westbound I-8 were closed as well.

A man who had threatened to harm himself was taken into custody around 11 a.m. according to San Diego police.

To avoid any slowing, drivers should find alternate routes.

Anyone traveling northbound can use State Route 94 to access northbound I-5 or State Route 15. Drivers heading southbound can use State Route 52 to access southbound I-5 or southbound I-15.

CHP officers are diverting those drivers traveling southbound south of State Route 52 to I-8.

The man who beat an elderly jewelry store owner with a hatchet after his credit card was declined pleaded guilty to attempted murder Tuesday.

Travis Kelley, 25, entered the plea and was sentenced to 14 years in prison pending a final court hearing next month.

Kelley beat the owner of Hamlin Jewelers in El Cajon back in January after his credit card was declined while he was making a purchase.

Carl Hamlin, 75, owner of Hamlin’s Jewelers on Fletcher Parkway, suffered multiple injuries in the attack, including a fractured skull, was hospitalized for two days.

He returned to work just days after the attack and credited his "mule's blood" for helping him in his recovery.

Two South Pasadena boys have been charged with making criminal threats for threatening to kill another teen who knew of their alleged plot to shoot students and staff at their high school, prosecutors said Wednesday.

The boys, aged 16 and 17, are each charged with one count of making criminal threats. They both made appearances this afternoon in Pasadena Juvenile Court and denied the charge, which is the equivalent of a not-guilty plea in adult court, according to City News Service.

The father of the 17-year-old boy spoke with NBC4 outside of the courtroom, but asked that his name not be used. He said he has not been able to speak with his son and he does want to hear the boy's side of the story.

"We were greatly saddened and disappointed by the allegations. We would like to apologize to the community of South Pasadena. We would like to thank the person who stepped forward, who had the courage, to advise the authorities," he said.

"And thank South Pasadena Police Department for their professionalism and their kindness to us during this difficult issue."

The step-father of the 16-year-old boy also spoke to reporters before he was whisked away by a defense attorney.

"My wife and I would like to apologize to the whole community, every student, every parent, every faculty. We do not condone this kind of behavior," he said.

Prosecutors say the teens began making detailed arrangements to kill three staff members at South Pasadena High School and gun down as many students as possible.

The pair told another student about the mass shooting plan and they threatened to kill him, according to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office.

The plan was thwarted after the boys were arrested following a police investigation into the alleged plot.

The boys were arrested Monday after a search of their homes. South Pasadena Police Chief Art Miller said the threat the two posed was credible.

"It was very viable, what they were plotting," Miller said. "They were making a huge plan of a school massacre."

Searches of the boys' computers turned up evidence they were looking at weapons, bomb-making supplies and bulletproof vests, Miller said.

The investigation into the thrwarted plot is ongoing and the boys may face additional charges.

The boys' attorneys were not available for immediate comment.

Parents of special education students in a Southern California city say they were outraged to learn their children had been sorting trash as a school activity.

The Press-Enterprise reported Wednesday that Jurupa Unified Superintendent Elliot Duchon apologized to humiliated students and suspended the activity.

The apology came at a heated school board meeting Monday night. Parents sounded off over the program at Patriot High School that had special education students sort through campus trash bins for recyclables.

Duchon says the program aims to teach special education students general life skills like budgeting and purchasing groceries.

Parent Carmen Wells complained after learning her autistic son was digging through trash on his first day as a high school freshman.
 

Some hard-hitting Las Vegas batters may have gotten the better of Philadelphia's Taney Dragons at the Little League World Series on Wednesday, but Taney fans' confidence in their team, led by pitching phenom Mo'ne Davis, didn't flag on Twitter.

Taney lost to their Nevadan rivals 8-1, despite plenty of impressive plays — including a hit from Mo'ne in the fourth inning that helped give the Dragons their first run of the game, and an impressive sliding catch by Zion Spearman. Fortunately Taney isn't out yet. They play Chicago Thursday night for a shot at the U.S. Final.

Wednesday night, supporters from their hometown and far beyond took to Twitter to cheer on Taney with the hashtag #BelieveInDragons.

• How Star Little League Team Taney Dragons Got Their Start

#TaneyDragons are the truth no matter if they win or lose tonight

— Brian Patt (@BPatt215) August 21, 2014

Play ball! Mo'ne on the mound and already throwing heat. #TaneyDragons #LLWS

— NewsWorks (@NewsWorksWHYY) August 20, 2014

Those boys from Vegas can hit, but Mo’Ne Davis is the truth! Composure on 10, girl has ice in her veins when she’s on that mound. #LLWS

— J.D. (@iownjd) August 21, 2014

Biggest lawn crowd I've seen for a #LLWS game this year. #MoNepic.twitter.com/ZMQQwFxrUL

Lipson is doing great. Crowd is loving him. #taneydragons And that was a great catch! Taney up to bat! pic.twitter.com/eTUNTPM8e8

— Stephanie Farr (@FarFarrAway) August 21, 2014

Defense is the name of the game and Zion snow cones one in right for #TaneyDragons

— Timothy Patterson (@Patters7Timothy) August 21, 2014

Can I draft Mo'ne for my fantasy team? #TaneyDragons

— Tara Gordon (@ihatefloss) August 21, 2014

That, my friends, is how you bunt. #TaneyDragons #LLWS

— Amy Doonan Cronin (@AmyDCronin) August 21, 2014

For me, it's now Little League over MLB any day. These kids are the real deal. True spirit! #TaneyDragons #PhillyPride #girlpower #MoNe

— Julia (@littlesparroh) August 21, 2014

Before the game, Philly's big-league, grown-up teams had offered their support, too:

Good luck tonight to our very own @taneybaseball! #Flyers Nation is with you. #BelieveInDragons pic.twitter.com/medGzBRLsj

— Philadelphia Flyers (@NHLFlyers) August 20, 2014 

Let's go @taneybaseball! Good luck tonight against Las Vegas! #BelieveInDragons pic.twitter.com/p7OZLVZsjg

— Phillies (@Phillies) August 20, 2014

We #BelieveInDragons! Philly is with you, @taneybaseball. #BrotherlyANDSisterlyLove pic.twitter.com/t9hN2JHLq0

— Philadelphia 76ers (@Sixers) August 20, 2014

 So did state-wide leaders:

Good luck @TaneyBaseball! The governor asked for Mo'Ne Davis and entire team's autograph last Friday. #LLWS pic.twitter.com/7wCy9xmILc

— Governor Tom Corbett (@GovernorCorbett) August 20, 2014

Let's go @taneybaseball, it's game time! I #BelieveInDragons and Mo'ne Davis! #LLWS

— Senator Bob Casey (@SenBobCasey) August 20, 2014

Remember, America: this is the #LLWS. Root for ALL the kids. And UMPS ARE STILL FAIR GAME. #TaneyDragons

— Brendon Shank (@bshank) August 21, 2014

A Mira Mesa man with a disability has taken his case for non-traditional mobility devices to trial.

Jeff Kemp, 60, was cited last June by a San Diego police officer for riding his scooter in the street without a helmet.

Kemp isn't ready for a wheelchair, but his disability prohibits him from staying on two feet for too long. So he struck what he thought was a compromise with his scooter.

But the scooter led him to a far greater challenge: Changing California's definition of mobility aid.

By state definition, a seat, two wheels and a motor is a scooter. But to Kemp, it’s a mobility aid.

“It makes it a lot easier to get in and out of the car. It's cheaper. It gets through crowds easier,” he said.

Complications with a hip replacement left Kemp disabled.

“I can't sit for very long. I can't stand for very long,” he explained.

He bought a razor scooter, hung up his handicap parking placard and painted the same symbol on the foot rest.

Kemp says he's ridden it on sidewalks, bike paths, some streets, in buildings and parking lots for five years without complaint – until now.

San Diego Police Officer Godfrey Maynard cited Kemp for riding on a road with the posted speed limit of 25 miles or more and failure to wear a helmet.

Kemp was ticketed after crossing Mira Mesa Boulevard at the 8800 block June 19, the very place NBC 7 cameras recorded a woman Wednesday on a three-wheeled mobility device, also wearing no helmet.

Kemp's impassioned plea to a judge was not evidence enough to override current state law.

He was found guilty on the helmet violation. The other was dismissed for lack of evidence. Kemp's fine was reduced by half.

Officer Maynard politely passed on an interview.

Kemp says he feels defeated.

“It's my dignity, you know? Where have they taken that? I'm going to have to wear a helmet like a little kid. I'm not a little kid. I'm a senior,” Kemp said.

The Americans with Disabilities Act allows a disabled person to use whatever mobility device that best suits them inside public structures. More two-wheeled vehicles are now in use, so similar situations could arise.

A new group calling itself the Huey P. Newton Gun Club launched armed self-defense patrols Wednesday with one stated purpose: to protect Dallas neighbors from police.

Group leader Charles Goodson said recent unrest in Ferguson, Missouri over the killing of an unarmed black teen named Michael Brown by a white police officer is only part of the reason for the new Dallas patrols.

The group is named after Huey P. Newton, a founder of the Black Panther Party in the 1960s who was killed by a rival militant in 1989.

"We don't think that what happened to Michael Brown in St. Louis is an isolated incident. We have so many Michael Browns here in the city of Dallas," Goodson said.

Another leader, Huby Freeman, said the group wants to educate neighbors about the right to bear arms and the need for it.

"We believe we can police ourselves and bring security to our community, ridding our community of black-on-black crime, violence, police terror, etc., etc.," Freeman said.

Freeman and more than two dozen other people, many carrying rifles, marched Wednesday afternoon along Martin Luther King Boulevard and Malcolm X Boulevard, streets named for civil rights leaders.

David Harrison, whose mentally disabled brother was killed by Dallas police two months ago, attended the march in support. Harrison said an autopsy showed his brother was shot six times, twice in the back.

"When you have to plant your loved ones, it's rough. And it's forever," Harrison said.

At one point, the march went to Elaine's Restaurant on Martin Luther King Boulevard, where demonstrators piled rifles on tables as they ordered cold drinks and food.

A Dallas police lieutenant and deputy chief were eating lunch in the restaurant at the time. They politely spoke to the demonstrators as they paid their bills.

Owner Elaine Campbell said police officers look out for her and she is not worried about them.

"No, I'm here over 25 years and I'm not afraid of them," she said.

Campbell also welcomed the extra business from the armed demonstrators.

"I just happen to go with the flow and don't let them bother me," she said.

Watching the march go by on Malcolm X Boulevard, tire store owner George Rogers said he was not ready to join.

"If you're not doing anything wrong, you don't have to worry about the police," he said. "As long as you're abiding by the law, I think you're all right."

Huey P. Newton Gun Club organizers hope neighbors will take up arms and join future patrols.

"We think we can lead by example, so hopefully they will see that they have the ability to do this and they will exercise this pertaining to the issues that we're dealing with in this city," Goodson said.

In response to a request to Dallas police for comment about the Huey P. Newton Gun Club patrols, Chief David Brown issued a statement saying, "the Dallas Police Department supports the constitutional rights of all."

Some Orange County pool owners may not be able to fill their pools if a strict water-saving ordinance goes into effect in response to California's drought concerns.

Officials estimate it takes 20,000 gallons of water to reach the top of most swimming pools. The ban would prevent new pools from being filled, refilled or even topped off if they drop a foot of water.

"The major concern is that we don’t know if we’re in the third year of a drought, or we’re in the third year of a 10-year drought,” Santa Margarita Water District official Daniel Ferons said. “And so we do have to really plan ahead what is efficient use of water.”

The ban on water for new pools applies to the city of Rancho Santa Margarita and other cities served by that water district. The new ordinance is considered one of the strictest in the state.

Pool builder Cecil Fraser builds about 100 pools a year. In some ways, pools are no more of a water guzzler than a backyard sprinkler, he said, adding that if pools are covered most of the surface evaporation is eliminated.

"I'm saying that the water loss is half what it was with grass and that half, we can solve that problem…by covering," Fraser said.

The district has 56,000 water connections in Orange County, including community pools. District officials said that about four feet of water disappears annually from both pools and lawns.

Some pool builders are concerned that the cost on conservation could run into the millions if jobs are lost and supplies aren’t needed.

"I think it’s responsible for us to look at all these issues and figure out a smart solution," John Shippy of Geoscape Landscape said.

Pool builders and homeowners who hope to change the ordinance are expected to be in attendance at a district meeting Friday morning.

Former San Diego Mayor Bob Filner gave a deposition Wednesday for a lawsuit that accuses him of sexually harassing a city employee at Mission Bay Park.

Filner resigned from office in August 2013 after more than a dozen women accused him of inappropriate behavior. In October, he pleaded guilty to three criminal charges and served 90 days of house arrest earlier this year.

The lawsuit stems from an incident involving longtime city employee Stacy McKenzie, Director of Parks and Recreation at Mission Bay. McKenzie alleges Filner made suggestive comments toward her, grabbed her hands and asked her on a date during an event at De Anza Cover in April 2013.

At one point, Filner allegedly put her in the “Filner Headlock,” approaching from behind and putting his arm around her chest, in front of two other city employees.

The embattled former mayor declined to talk to the media as he arrived at the deposition Wednesday morning.

McKenzie's attorney Dan Gilleon said Filner looked healthy and relaxed, but claimed not to remember much about the incident at Mission Bay.

“He reiterated what he said in his Mea Culpa, which is that it appears he offended women. He also reiterated what he said in his resignation that he didn’t think that he harassed anybody,” Gilleon said.

McKenzie filed seeking $500,000 in damages from the city. Filner’s former communications director Irene McCormack Jason settled with the city for $250,000. A third lawsuit has been filed on behalf of wounded Marine Corps veteran Katherine Ragazzino and nurse Michelle Tyler.

The city attorney's office would not comment on the deposition.

Feeling a little tense? Center yourself and manage your end of summer stress by taking some time on the mat at a local yoga class. A search on Yelp will yield dozens of highly-rated yoga studios all over north San Diego. Namaste.

San Marcos Yoga (San Marcos)
Owner Kathleen Quinn is at the helm of this studio devoted to instruction based on the teachings of B.K.S. Lyengar. Here, the goal is to take you through a series of poses and promote your individual practice. Also, you’ll definitely want to experience their specially-designed rope wall. The atmosphere is serene and intimate with plenty of blocks, mats, blankets and other props to assist you in reaching your goals.

Peace, Love and Yoga (Carlsbad)
If you’re looking for a non-judgmental environment to improve your practice head to PLAY (Peace. Love. And. Yoga, get it?). Owners Jess and Ian McGimsey opened their doors in 2010 and they offer hot yoga classes as well as a variety of non-heated Vinyasa Flows. They base their instruction influences from Ashtanga, Anusara, Jivamukti: Combining all the styles you love into one beloved community studio filled with good karma.

Yoga 80 (Sorrento Valley & New in Carlsbad)
This studio promotes a Vinyasa specialized sequence in a warm environment of 80 degrees. Owner Rob Pastor credits yoga for the ability to manage chronic pain from past surgeries and injuries without medication and co-owner Reegan Lessie has over 17 years of experience. They both have a devotion to helping their students develop a personal practice and even offer healthy tips and recipes on their website.

Yoga Jai Ma (Rancho Bernardo)
This studio, hidden away in a Rancho Bernardo shopping center, is a surprising retreat from the hustle and bustle. If you’re an expectant mother you’ll find Jai Ma Family and Birth Warrior Yoga taught here. The business is also committed to keeping its space green and healthy with cork floors, low VOC paints, Low phthalate mats and recycling programs: Nothing toxic for you, your families or your unborn children here.

Bindu Yoga Studio (Del Mar)
This location teaches a wide variety of classes, from Vinyasa Flow, mediation and yoga barre to prenatal floors and yoga for teens. Cliff Williams is a 3rd generation San Diegan and owns the studio together with Tristen Campanella, who has over a decade of teaching experience. They believe in listening to your body and have created this sanctuary for you, dedicated to your practice development.

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.

The former superintendent of San Ysidro schools has entered a guilty plea in federal court to the misdemeanor charge of deprivation of benefits for political contributions. In other words, he admitted to extracting political contributions from a prospective contractor by threatening to withhold work.

Manuel Paul, 63, admitted in his plea agreement that he asked contractor Loreto Romero to make a $3,600 campaign contribution to three members of the San Ysidro board, who were running for re-election in the 2010 campaign cycle.

The maximum penalty for the federal charge is one year in prison and a $100,000 fine. The plea deal brings the two-year federal probe to an end.

NBC7 Investigates was first to report about a suspicious cash drop-off to Paul in the parking lot of a Chula Vista steakhouse made in 2010.

The former superintendent admitted in his plea agreement that he made it clear to Romero that the contractor's inclusion on a list of potential contractors for future building projects under the district's bond program was contingent on Romero making the payment.

FBI Special Agent in Charge, Daphne Hearn, said: "We demand the best from our public servants and expect them to deal honestly and fairly when conducting the public's business. Mr. Paul did not do that, and will now be held accountable for his actions."

Paul's criminal defense attorney said he had no information regarding whether Paul would be returning his severance package, as he promised to do in April 2013, when he said he would return $186,000 if he was convicted of any crime. Paul could not be reached for comment.

In the plea deal accepted in federal court this morning, Paul stated that he accepted $2,500 cash in a parking lot from Romero, and then took the money to a Tijuana print shop for campaign signs for then-school trustees Yolanda Hernandez, Jason Wells and Jean Romero. Two years later, he submitted receipts totalling $1,400 for the campaign signs.

In addition to Paul's plea agreement, the former educator who worked for the district for 38 years, agreed to pay a $5,000 fine to the state political watchdog agency for accepting a gift in excess of the annual gift limit from a single source.

Paul previously pled guilty to a misdemeanor charge in a separate prosecution by the San Diego County District Attorney's office, related to filing paperwork under the penalty of perjury that did not include all gifts he received from contractors.

The separate federal probe began in 2012 when Paul's cash demand came to light.

"Today’s guilty plea is a stark reminder that illegal money in our elections – regardless of the amount – is a threat to our democratic form of government and will be treated as such by our office. All citizens of our district have the right to elections free from dollars obtained through coercion,” said U.S. Attorney Laura E. Duffy in a press release today.

Partly in response to Paul's actions, a bill banning administrators from seeking campaign money for the elected officials they serve is set to be signed into law by Gov. Jerry Brown.

“Top-level administrators who are involved in the making of contracts with district contractors, vendors and employee unions should not be raising campaign cash for the school and college board members, especially when those administrators are employed at the pleasure of those board members,” said the bill's author Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez, D-San Diego. 

As a condition to the plea agreement, both the defendant and the prosecutors agreed to the recommended sentence of three-years probation and no fine, but a judge is under no obligation to adhere to that recommendation, according to the U.S. Attorney's office.

Paul is scheduled to appear for sentencing on Nov. 18.