San Diego deputies are searching for a man accused of trying to lure a 12-year-old girl into his car in Alpine, only driving away from the child after an adult asked him what he was doing.

According to the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department, the incident happened on Sept. 12 around 4 p.m. in the 2000 block of Arnold Way. The girl’s mother reported it to officials Monday.

The girl told deputies she was walking home from the Alpine Youth Center when a gray, four-door car pulled up next to her. The driver then allegedly gestured for her to approach the passenger side door and asked her, “Where is your mom?”

Frightened, the girl ran into a nearby apartment complex, investigators said.

Deputies said the girl’s 8-year-old brother was walking a few feet behind his sister and ran after her. The children hid in a laundry room at a nearby apartment complex where a female resident found them a short time later.

When the woman asked the kids what was happening, the girl told her a stranger had tried to lure her into his car.

Investigators said the man and his gray vehicle reappeared in the area a short time later and drove near the woman and the children. The woman approached the car and asked the man why he was trying to lure the girl.

The man then allegedly yelled expletives at the woman and drove away. No one was injured, deputies said.

The sheriff’s department released a composite sketch of the suspect Wednesday, along with details of the incident. The girl described the man as being about 40 years old with a thin build and short, brown hair. She said he may have had arm tattoos that read “mom,” “dad” and “Mary.” He wore a red San Francisco baseball cap during the encounter.

The incident remains under investigation. Anyone with information should contact the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department at (858) 565-5200 or Crime Stoppers at (888) 580-8477.
 

Criminal proceedings have been suspended against the man accused of fatally shooting three San Diegans until he can undergo a mental competency evaluation, a judge ordered Wednesday.

Carlo Mercado, 29, was set to stand trial in the deaths of Salvatore Belvedere, 22, Gianni Belvedere, 24, and Ilona Flint, 22.

But during an arraignment Wednesday, Mercado’s public defender Gary Gibson told Judge Kathleen Lewis he doubted his client’s mental competency to go to trial.

Judge Lewis ruled that criminal proceedings would be put on hold and that Mercado be held without bail until his mental competency exam on Oct. 10.

He will be evaluated to make sure he understands the nature of the case against him. If officials deem him competent, a trial date will be set at a status hearing on Oct. 28.

If Mercado is deemed not competent, he will to go Patton State Hospital in an attempt to restore that competency.

The suspect has pleaded not guilty to three counts of first degree murder in the Belvedere and Flint deaths that remained a mystery to San Diegans for six months.

It started when Flint and Salvatore were discovered with gunshot wounds in the Mission Valley Mall parking lot outside of Macy's on Dec. 24, 2014. Flint died at the scene, while Salvatore died at the hospital just days later.

At the same time, police began a missing person search for Salvatore's brother and Flint's fiance Gianni.

On Jan. 17, 2014, Gianni's body was found dead from a gunshot wound in his car's trunk, which was parked in Riverside, about 100 miles north of San Diego.

Inside that trunk, investigators found a Febreze canister with duct tape around the trigger, they say in an effort to mask the smell of the badly decomposing body.

Detectives testified at Mercado's preliminary hearing that they were able to pull off one black hair from that duct tape, and its DNA matched Mercado's.

A firearms analyst said the gun that killed all three victims was found in Mercado's possession when he was pulled over by Border Patrol at a San Clemente checkpoint on Jan. 18.

Finally, a crime scene investigator testified Mercado had written "R.I.P." in his smartphone's calender for Dec. 24, 2013 -- the day Salvatore and Flint were shot.

Mercado was arrested on June 21.

Earlier this month, Judge Lewis determined there was enough evidence to bind the suspect over for trial.

Mercado's attorney says his client denies all involvement in these crimes.

A classic British roadster regarded as one of the most beautiful cars ever made will be returned to its 82-year-old owner nearly five decades after the vehicle was stolen.

The 1967 Jaguar E-type convertible was seized by authorities last month at the Los Angeles/Long Beach seaport. Referred to the XKE in the United States, the car has captured hearts of auto enthusiasts, including Ivan Schneider, since it roared onto the scene in the 1960s with its sporting pedigree, graceful long hood, sleek profile and other timeless design elements. The New York Museum of Modern Art even added an XKE to its permanent design collection in the 1990s.

This particular car's story is not all about looks -- although, most of it is.

The car was stolen 46 years ago in New York City and Schneider, now living in Miami Beach, had no reason to believe he would ever see his beloved sports car again. He was so enamored with it that whenever he bought a new car, Schneider recalled regaling dealers with tales of his lost E-type, which the trial lawyer then in his mid-30s bought for $15,000 after winning a big case. Hagerty's classic car price guide now values the convertible 4.2-liter engine model at more than $112,000.

"I've had a lot of great cars since then, but none of them as pretty," Schneider, a car collector, said Wednesday. "I've had every car you can think of. That was, in looks, my favorite car.

"It's gorgeous. It looks like a bullet almost. It's a car they should make now again."

The theft occurred outside his New York City residence. Schneider walked downstairs on his way to work and realized the car wasn't where he parked.

"I walked up and down Madison Avenue, then up and down 5th Avenue, and it wasn't there," he said. "I was heartbroken."

He filed a police report. Holding out hope that the Jag would be found, he did not buy another car for about four weeks. Eventually, he accepted the possibilty he would never see it again.

Forty-six years later, he found what a U.S. Customs and Border Protection official told him during an August phone call even more difficult to accept. The car had been located in a shipping container at the Port of Long Beach/Los Angeles that was bound for Europe.

"When I got the call, I thought they were kidding me," Schneider said.

The break in the decades-old vehicle theft case came when Customs and Border Protection was notified by the National Insurance Crime Bureau of a vehicle reported stolen. CBP typically cross-references documentation provided by exporters with information, including vehicle identification numbers, in the Crime Bureau's active stolen vehicle reports.

"When we located the vehicle, it was in a container bound for the Netherlands," said Javier Larios, of the CBP.

The agency notified the carrier that the container should be returned to the Southern California port complex. When agents opened the container, they found Schneider's Jag, painted white over its original gray color.

"The outside looks great, the inside looks terrible," Schneider said. "This is just a miracle, a miracle."

Schneider plans to have the car restored in New York before it is shipped to his Florida home. He said he is "very excited" to take it for another ride after only putting 6,000 miles on the car before it disappeared.

Beau Browning claims to be a survivor of a great white shark attack while he was surfing off of Manresa State Beach, according to reports. Or he says he was hit with a whale's tail -- he's not exactly sure.

Local news affiliate KSBW recently reported the tale from the account given by Browning, who says a shark shot him "probably 10, 15 feet" in the air after delivering him a direct blow while out surfing.

He says he was out on Saturday near dusk when a shark "rammed his surfboard," according to the report. After he was thrown from the board, the shark then "landed on his board and split it," he claimed.

The shark let go after allegedly biting the board and taking it deep underwater with Browning still tethered by his ankle leash.

Browning says his friend briefly listed the damaged board on Craigslist on Monday, offering it for $1,000 or for a trade. The post was eventually deleted.

Browning also alters his story a bit from Sunday to Monday, the TV station reported. At first, he claims that his friends saw the attack. Later, he says they were too far away to see the incident.

Also on Monday, he noted that he may have been "smacked by a whale's tail," according to the report.

The San Diego man who released his son from his seatbelt seconds after a traffic collision, causing him fatal injuries, said he was in a state of shock when he walked away from the scene.

On the night of June 2, 2013, Angelo Fabiani’s son was hanging out of the window of the family’s Nissan Titan teetering on the edge of a retaining wall.

The truck had veered off Interstate 5 and crashed on its side along the highway embankment near Old Town.

Fabiani made the decision to cut his 4-year-old son’s seatbelt with a tool from the back of the truck. As a result, little Valentino fell 10 feet onto the concrete below.

“When he hit the ground it was nothing like I ever heard before,” Fabiani said. He recalled hearing women shrieking at the same time. “That’s not a sound like I’ve ever heard.”

“I just knew there was no coming back from this,” he said.

Fabiani walked away from the wreckage because, he said he just couldn’t bring himself to see his son like that. He described walking 19 miles to Imperial Beach and sitting alone near the water at a place where he would often play with his son.

On Wednesday, Fabiani and his attorney Allen Bloom spoke to NBC 7 in an exclusive interview about the crash and the trial that’s about to start in a few weeks.

Fabiani faces two to three years in prison if he's convicted of the charges of child endangerment and walking away from an injury crash.

Fabiani said he and Valentino spent the day at Mission Beach building sandcastles and playing in the water.

That perfect day soon turned into a nightmare when Fabiani lost control of his truck near the I-5 and I-8 interchange.

“I blacked out or was knocked out. The next thing I remember I was outside my truck standing below the retaining wall looking up,” Fabiani recalled.

He recalls seeing his son’s head and arm sticking out of the truck window.

“I just saw a lot of blood coming out. Immediately, I just had to get to my son,” he said.

“I knew the amount of blood that was coming out of the window wasn’t going to be just a scrape from the park. I knew that was really bad. So I had to get to him was all I was thinking,” he said.

He tried to climb the wall but when he couldn’t reach him, he climbed over a fence and crawled into the back of the truck.

Fabiani says he broke a window and tried to unbuckle Valentino's seatbelt to get him out.

Once he released the boy and the child fell, Fabiani said he reached for his son.

“All I could see was my hand just inches from his foot. I knew right then every dream I had for my son… places that we wanted to take him, you know all the plans we thought we were going to have for him, you know they were gone.”

Valentino was taken to Rady Children’s Hospital, where he died a week later from a head injury.

CHP investigators arrested Fabiani in Imperial Beach two days after the crash.

According to CHP officials, he took off running immediately following the crash, but then returned to the scene to unbuckle the child from the vehicle. Alcohol didn't play a part in the accident, officials said.

Bloom said Fabiani was in a state shock and wasn't in his right mind.

“The brain simply shuts down. As the psychologist told me, like a computer, it’s frozen,” Bloom said.

Bloom said the DA is basing the endangerment charged on the fact that Fabiani didn’t wait for the ambulance.

Also, Bloom claims, it was an injury from striking a palm tree during the crash, not from the fall to the concrete that likely caused Valentino's death.

Fabiani said he doesn't feel he's to blame for trying to save his son. Intead, he said he feels guilt because his son was in his care when he was fatally injured. 

The case goes to trial at the end of September.

In San Diego, it's now possible to use bitcoin to buy beer.

Inside Downtown Johnny Brown's is one of the first BTMs or Bitcoin Transaction Machines in San Diego. Users can convert paper currency to bitcoin and then use the online currency to buy some of the beer on tap at the eatery on the Civic Concourse near City Hall.

“A person who knows how to use bitcoin can drop them anywhere in the world,” Steven Michaels, CEO of BitcoinMerchant.com said as he demonstrated the BTM.

Patrons touch the screen to begin, enter a QR code and enter a U.S. dollar bill into the machine. The BTM then converts the currency into bitcoin, sending it to the user’s virtual “wallet” on their mobile phone.

The virtual currency can then be transferred to the bar for a pint or used with any of the other businesses now accepting bitcoin.

The restaurant displays a "Bitcoin Accepted Here" sticker on the front door and a logo on its home page.

Just this week, the United Way announced bitcoin would be accepted as donations.

“These are all great companies that are embracing bitcoin because they see it as a way to generate new revenue and take advantage of this new and exciting technology,” Michaels said.

Having the ATM isn’t necessary for a business to accept bitcoin. There is information on how to setup a virtual wallet available to merchants that Michaels says takes just minutes to complete.

There either are or will be machines like this in six locations including Nikki & Company Fine Jewelers in the Gaslamp Quarter, Spiritos Italian Diner in Carlsbad, Rossi’s Pizza in San Marcos and Surf Brothers Teriyaki in La Jolla, Escondido, Encinitas and Carlsbad.

It's important to note the machine does not convert bitcoin into paper currency.

BitcoinMerchant.com receives a nickel fee for each transaction.

Survivors of Hurricane Odile described the Mexican resort city of Cabo San Lucas as lawless and desperate; a place where basic supplies are needed and thousands of Americans are trapped.

Even first responders, tasked with helping Cabo San Lucas recover from the disastrous Hurricane Odile, have run out of food themselves and are in desperate need of help, a spokesperson told NBC 7.

Robert Allen, an American firefighter working for the Cabo Fire Department, came to San Diego on Wednesday for two reasons: to get his family out and to get help for his city.

“The guys are having trouble keeping their own families fed and watered right now, so it’s challenging,” said Allen, who serves on the department’s public relations team.

Hitting land Sunday and Monday, the Category 3 storm left a wide path of chaos across the Baja California Peninsula.

Odile tore through the Mexican resort state of Baja California Sur late Sunday and Monday.

The Los Cabos airport was closed to commercial travel and basic supplies were limited or running low. Survivors like Allen captured video of rampant looting.

“Costco, Sam’s Club, all those stores looted, and there’s been some local Mexican box stores as well,” said Allen. “And then there's gangs roaming the streets and things like that too, helping themselves to people’s personal effects and stuff like that.”

Suburbs once filled with homes were flattened into a field. The main electrical towers were downed, and power poles littered the streets.

City officials don’t expect the electricity to be turned on again for another three weeks, Allen said.

He and his coworkers have been focused on clearing the roads so emergency vehicle can access different parts of Cabo.

But they don’t have the equipment of other stations to help pry people out of tight spots, and as their food runs low, so does their energy.

Allen plans to contact consulates in the U.S. to see if other countries can offer aid.

If that doesn’t work, Allen – the only Cabo firefighter outside the city right now – will spread the word on his own, asking everyone for assistance. He has launched a GoFundMe.com page to collect donations.

“It originally started as a starving kids program, and now it’s turned into a starving firefighter program just to take care of the guys so they can go help other people,” said Allen.

Newlyweds Craig Newell and his wife Jill said the hurricane was awful in itself but it was the aftermath that was truly frightening.

There was no phone service, no cellular service, no Wi-Fi, nothing.

“All to be gone and to have nothing whatsoever except for our wits, what’s in our backpacks and what’s in our pockets,” Craig said.

A San Diego firefighter, Craig knew they couldn't wait for rescue but had to rescue themselves.

So when they had the chance to jump on an airplane to an unknown destination without their luggage, they took it. They ended up near La Paz and were able to get back to the U.S. Wednesday night.

Those tourists stranded in Cabo are getting very desperate, even hostile, they said. The evacuation is unorganized.

“It’s everybody for themselves,” Jill said.

Both wanted to know why the U.S. government has not gotten involved in the evacuation efforts.

“Thousands of our citizens are trapped down there in horrible conditions that need rescue,” Craig said.

“[Mexican authorities] are overwhelmed with the evacuation,” he said. “I don’t think they have the resources or the personnel or the training maybe to accomplish this massive evacuation.

Another American arrived on the same San Diego-bound flight as Allen: Peter Tschetter.

He said descriptions and photos shown in the media don’t do the hurricane's devastation justice.

“It was total chaos, not even fit for animals to be there,” said Tchetter.

The tourist described a suddenly dangerous city where people were roaming the streets, looking for water.

He said men, women and children grabbed everything from stores -- even things they didn't need.

Homeowners began barricading their property to protect themselves from looters.

“People were even breaking into homes of people who live there to steal their stuff, and if they didn't get out, they'd probably kill them,” said Tchetter.

Tchetter and some 26,000 foreign tourists are struggling to get out of the turmoil, but Allen will be returning in a week to help those left behind.

When residents of El Dorado County, 60 miles from Sacramento, went to sleep Wednesday night, the King Fire threatening their homes was nearly 30,000 acres.

When they woke up Thursday morning, the blaze had more than doubled to more than 70,000 acres, according to Cal Fire, and was only 5 percent contained.

Slightly more than 2,000 homes, and more than 1,500 other structures were in the dangerous line of fire near Pollock Pines in Northern California, according to the the daily Cal Fire update. On Wednesday, 500 homes were threatened.

Despite that, no structures have actually burned, unlike in the town of Weed in Siskiyou county, where more than 1,000 structures, mostly homes and two churches, suffered damage from the Boles Fire there. On Thursday, the fire in Weed, which had burned 375 acres, was 65 percent contained, and Highway 97 had been reopened.

The King Fire is burning in steep terrain in the South Fork of the American River Canyon and Silver Creek Canyon, and so far, has caused two injuries. While the largest fire currently blazing in California, it is more than three times smaller than the Rim Fire near Yosemite, which burned about 250,000 acres last August, becoming California's third largest wildfire in history.

As a result of the King Fire, a portion of Highway 50 was closed, and many evacuations were in place. A King Fire Facebook page was set up by Cal Fire and the U.S. Forest Service to keep the community alerted with up-to-date information.

The page was full of community members offering consolation and help. Yvette Cadeaux offered to take in "goats, dogs or a horse or two down here in Grass Valley for anyone who needs to place their critters."

Laura Owens, who wrote in that her husband works for animal control, thanked all the "staff and teams on the fire lines and behind the scenes coordinating the efforts. We appreciate all of you!"

As of Thursday, more than 3,600 firefighters were fighting the King Fire.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.
 

The King Fire was still raging out of control in Pollock Pines, 60 miles east of Sacramento, on Wednesday evening, as more than 2,500 firefighters battled the blaze, which grew by thousands of acres overnight and has burned through nearly 29 square miles.

The wildfire was threatening 500 homes, with some under mandatory evacuation orders, and was just 5 percent contained.

“It's burning in steep, dense terrain with heavy timber that's posing quite a challenge,'' said Alyssa Smith, a spokeswoman for the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.

Homeowners are just waiting, hoping to get word that their house is in the clear. Mark Catrambone, along with his wife and dog, were evacuated from their home in Swansboro. They said they’re thankful they had enough time to pack their valuables and get out safely.

“We’re safe and that’s the most important thing,” Catrambone said. “Would hate to lose it all. It’s just property, but still, it’s your life and home.”

Twenty-one families have been evacuated. Fire officials said keeping those houses safe is a top priority, but fire crews are struggling with dangerous conditions.

“It’s risky out there. It’s a fire, moving quickly, and it’s very steep and rugged terrain,” Capt. Michelle Eidam said, adding the low humidity and the wind is making their job tough.

“Our fuels are very dry,” Eidam said. “That’s playing a huge role in helping this fire grow quickly, burn hot and spread fast.”

The King Fire is one of a number of wildfires burning across California. Dozens of homes, churches and buildings were wiped out after a fire roared through the small logging town of Weed, California.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Pumpkin patches, apple picking, football and ice rinks can only mean one thing: it's fall in San Diego. As the season turns, enjoy these fun fall activities that remind us, once again, that we truly do live in America's Finest City.

Julian Apple Picking
Craving some fresh fruit in the fall? Once the leaves start to turn, San Diegans often head east to Julian for apple picking season, which typically runs from Sept. 1 through October. Apples and Art Orchards, for instance, will host apple picking by appointment only for larger groups. Visitors will get to pick McIntosh, Jonathon, Golden and Red Delicious Apples early in the fall season, plus Granny Smith, Fuji, Lady Apples and heirloom varieties a little later. For a full list of orchards in Julian, click here.

Bates Nut Farm
Nothing says fall in San Diego like a visit to the Bates Nut Farm in Valley Center. The picturesque North County family farm opens its doors to visitors year after year, offering a beautiful setting for picnics, leisurely strolls and, of course, delicious snacks including nuts, candies, dried fruits, chocolates and homemade fudge. This fall, the farm will open its famous pumpkin patch from Sept. 24 through Oct. 31 featuring family-friendly activities and pumpkin picking. On weekends, the Bates Nut Farm Pumpkin Patch includes live entertainment from noon to 3 p.m., plus fresh BBQ, kettle corn, food trucks and other fall fun. Both admission and parking are free.

Chargers Football
Really, what is fall without football? Decked out in blue and gold, San Diegans can cheer on the Chargers all season at Qualcomm Stadium. Check out the Bolts website for the schedule of home games at the Q. Also, don’t forget the tailgate party before the game.

The Haunted Trail at Balboa Park
As the spooky Halloween season approaches, The Haunted Trail at Balboa Park is a sure-fire way to have a frightening fall. Open from Sept. 26 through Nov. 1, this mile-long trail is a stroll through the park you’ll never forget. Those who dare enter through a twisted grove of pines and gnarled oaks. After that, all bets are off as scary surprises wait at every corner. This year, The Haunted Trail will also host an additional maze dubbed “The eXperiment,” described as “3,500-square-feet of freak-infested terror.” Tickets range from $19 to $35 per person, depending on whether you want to combine the trail and “eXperiment” maze.

The Haunted Hotel
Looking for spine-tingling thrills? Head to The Haunted Hotel in the Gaslamp for a good scare – if you dare. Patrons make their way through a creepy hotel, trying to escape from all kinds of ghouls. This spooky fall attraction runs from Sept. 26 through Nov. 1 and general admission costs $18 per person.

Viejas Ice Rink
Sure, we live in sunny San Diego but ice rinks do exist here, too. Take the family to the ice rink at the Viejas Outlet Center in Alpine (right next to the casino and resort) – the largest outdoor ice rink in Southern California. The skating season kicks off Oct. 31 with a special Halloween Trick-or-Treat event from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. and wraps up on Jan. 4, 2015. Each year, approximately 33,000 people skate here. It’s $12 to skate for kids 12 and under and $14 for adults and teens.

Ice Skating at Horton Square
Each year, the square just outside the NBC 7 studios and Horton Plaza Mall in downtown San Diego transforms into an ice rink. The skating season usually begins in November and runs through the first week of January. Tickets cost $14 for adults and $12 for children 12 and under and include rental ice skates. Season passes can typically be purchased for around $35.

Wine Tasting in Temecula
Temecula in north San Diego County is known for its wine country and in the fall, many wineries host special harvest events in addition to their daily tastings. Wilson Creek Winery & Vineyards, for example, will host a “Sip, Savor & Stomp” harvest celebration on Oct. 3 and Oct. 24 that includes a hayride along vineyards, wine tasting, grape stomping, a farm fresh buffet dinner and live music. Lorimar Vineyards and Winery will kick off the fall season with a grape stomp and harvest festival too, set for Sept. 20 from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Surfin’ Santa at Seaport Village
In true Southern California fashion – sporting board shorts and flip-flops – Surfin’ Santa is slated to make his annual arrival at Seaport Village on Nov. 29. He’ll arrive in style, via a special water craft, and enjoy the San Diego sunshine while visiting with locals from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. He’ll also pose for pictures with his surfboard, of course.
 

A new mapping tool may help predict when Santa Ana winds will create conditions for a catastrophic fire in Southern California.

It's no secret to San Diego residents that the hot, dry Santa Ana winds that usually arrive in the fall months have the potential to turn small brush fires into raging infernos.

We just need to look to the damage left in the wake of the Cedar Fire in 2003 and the 2007 Witch Creek fire for proof of how Santa Ana winds can increase fire danger.

Now there's a new online tool that could potentially help fire agencies gauge the likelihood of a catastrophic fire.

It's called the Santa Ana Wildfire Threat Index, a classification system that analyzes the fire threat potential of the powerful Santa Ana winds.

The index, unveiled Wednesday, shows whether a fire may grow rapidly to uncontrollably as a result of weather conditions like gusty winds. It can also alert first responders and the public in time to take appropriate action.

Roger Pierce, the director of the National Weather Service in San Diego, said he believes this new tool help the public be better prepared for wildfires.

In fact, a beta version of the tool correctly predicted at least three of the nine fires that burned in one day in San Diego County in May.

The map will stretch from Santa Barbara to San Diego and include a six-day forecast.

When winds are gusting, the maps will be updated with yellow for marginal fire risk, orange for moderate, red for high and purple for extreme.

Clicking on an area will yield a full forecast, as well as advisories about how to prepare for a possible conflagration. Users also can find the locations of fires already burning and live readings from weather stations.

The classification system is based on 30 years of historical Southern California weather data.

It has four levels, ranging from "Marginal" to "Extreme" and will include tips for homeowners like charging cell phones, keeping a full gas tank, studying evacuation routes and making contingency plans for pets.

"I asked my team to come up with something similar to the categories to rate hurricanes," says Dave Geier, Vice President of Electric Transmission and System Engineering at San Diego Gas & Electric.

The development of the index was a collaboration among San Diego Gas & Electric, UCLA, and the U.S. Forest Service, which was already working on a categorization system for fires and the Santa Ana winds.

The threat index includes four levels -- marginal suggests fires may grow rapidly. An "Extreme" rating means fires could burn very intensely.

For more information, visit: santaanawildfirethreat.com.

Oracle CEO Larry Ellison, a Silicon Valley icon, is stepping down, effective immediately, the Redwood Shores company announced on Thursday.

Ellison will be replaced by Mark Hurd and Safra Catz. Oracle's Board of Directors announced in a statement it had elected Ellison to the position of Executive Chairman of Oracle's board and appointed him the company's Chief Technology Officer.

"Larry has made it very clear that he wants to keep working full time and focus his energy on product engineering, technology development and strategy," Dr. Michael Boskin, the current director of Oracle's board, said in the statement.

"Safra and Mark are exceptional executives who have repeatedly demonstrated their ability to lead, manage and grow the company. The directors are thrilled that the best senior executive team in the industry will continue to move the company forward into a bright future," Boskin said.

"The three of us have been working well together for the last several years, and we plan to continue working together for the foreseeable future. Keeping this management team in place has always been a top priority of mine," Ellison said in statement.

Tech industry experts said Thursday that Ellison stepping aside, evan a little bit, could have serious implications for Silicon Valley.

“There’s an old joke in Silicon Valley -- What’s the difference between God and Larry Ellison? God doesn’t think he’s Larry Ellison," said Rich Jaroslovsky, chief journalist for SmartNews.

Jaroslovsky then quipped: "But God doesn't retire."

That joke has even become the title of a book, where reporter Mike Wilson described Ellison as the tech world’s Warren Beatty: “racing yachts, buying jets, and romancing beautiful women.”

Ellison is among the “last generation of swashbucklers,” and his departure from Oracle is sure to have “repercussions,” Jaroslovsky said.

Jaroslovsky did not know why he was stepping down, but he did say the 70-year-old Ellison’s intentions might be “admirable.”

“Perhaps he’s one of those founders who wants to exit gracefully,” Jaroslovsky said. “Bill Gates did it. But the list of those greats who leave by their own choice is a list that’s not very long.” 

Copyright Associated Press / NBC 7 San Diego

The Mainside post office at Camp Pendleton could soon be renamed after Medal of Honor recipients if a newly-introduced bill is passed.

Earlier this week, 49th District California Congressman Darrell Issa introduced H.R. 5468, a bill to rename the Mainside post office located at 1103 USPS Building at the Camp Pendleton Marine Corps Base to the “Camp Pendleton Medal of Honor Post Office.”

The bill proposes to name the post office to specifically recognize those of the U.S. Marine Corps and Navy Corpsman with strong ties to Camp Pendleton who have received the Congressional Medal of Honor – the nation’s highest award for valor and heroism.

Issa released the following statement in support of the bill:

“The stories of valor by Medal of Honor recipients are inspiring and worthy of remembrance by every citizen in our country. This naming will serve as an enduring reminder for all that visit of the heroism of their fellow servicemen and servicewomen. To all of the Marines and Navy Corpsman with ties to Camp Pendleton we are grateful for your bravery and service.”

The bill has the bipartisan support of 50 members of Congress.
 

A 37-year-old man has been arrested on an arson charge and is being held on $10 million bail stemming from the King Fire burning in the Sierra foothills, one of the largest wildfires currently burning in California, Cal Fire announced.

At a news conference Thursday, Cal Fire Director Ken Pimlott said Wayne Allen Huntsman was taken into custody at the Placerville jail on Wednesday. He was formally arrested on one count of arson on forest land where prosecutors accuse him of "willfully and maliciously" setting fire to land around Pollock Pines. Huntsman was also charged with a special aggravating circumstance of injuring a firefighter.

Huntsman's last known address was listed in Aptos, about nine miles from Santa Cruz, but when a reporter went there, neighbors said Huntsman hadn't lived there for more than a decade. It was not immediately clear whether Huntsman was being represented by an attorney. No one answered the phone number associated with his last known address.

El Dorado County District Attorney Vern Pierson said Huntsman is scheduled to be arraigned on Sept. 19. The complaint shows that Huntsman had been previously convicted of assault with a deadly weapon, grand theft and unlawfully taking or driving a vehicle, stemming back to 1997 in Santa Cruz.

Authorities said Huntsman had "no known" arson conviction in his past.

Officials, however, would not comment on what evidence led them to suspect Huntsman. But Pierson did the "ongoing" investigation "started within minutes" after the fire was reported on Saturday. But he wouldn't say more.

"I don't mean to be difficult," Pierson told the crowd of reporters. "I don't want to be difficult, but I don't want to comment specifically on anything that's not in the complaint."

As of the Thursday, King Fire had more than doubled in size overnight, reaching more than 71,000 acres, according to Cal Fire, and was only 5 percent contained. Pollock Pines is part of the Sierra Nevada Mountains and is about 15 miles east of Placerville and 60 miles east of Sacramento. Officials said it was costing $5 million to battle the fire. Gov. Jerry Brown on Wednesday declared a state of emergency for El Dorado County.

Slightly more than 2,000 homes, and more than 1,500 other structures were in the dangerous line of fire near Pollock Pines in Northern California, according to the daily Cal Fire update. On Wednesday, 500 homes were threatened.

Despite that, no structures have actually burned, unlike in the town of Weed in Siskiyou county, where more than 150 structures, mostly homes and two churches, suffered damage from the Boles Fire there. On Thursday, the fire in Weed, which had burned 375 acres, was 65 percent contained, and Highway 97 had been reopened.

The King Fire is burning in steep terrain in the South Fork of the American River Canyon and Silver Creek Canyon, and so far, has caused two injuries. While the largest fire currently blazing in California, it is more than three times smaller than the Rim Fire near Yosemite, which burned about 250,000 acres last August, becoming California's third largest wildfire in history.

As a result of the King Fire, a portion of Highway 50 was closed, and many evacuations were in place. A King Fire Facebook page was set up by Cal Fire and the U.S. Forest Service to keep the community alerted with up-to-date information.

The page was full of community members offering consolation and help. Yvette Cadeaux offered to take in "goats, dogs or a horse or two down here in Grass Valley for anyone who needs to place their critters."

Laura Owens, who wrote in that her husband works for animal control, thanked all the "staff and teams on the fire lines and behind the scenes coordinating the efforts. We appreciate all of you!"

As of Thursday, more than 3,600 firefighters were fighting the King Fire.

NBC Bay Area's Tim Bollinger and Gonzalo Rojas and NBC affliate KSBW contributed to this report.
 

A rare virus that has sickened dozens of children across the country has been reported in San Diego, health officials confirmed Thursday.

Three children from San Diego County and one child who was visiting were hospitalized earlier this month for a respiratory illness, which turned out to be Enterovirus D68, according to the San Diego County Health and Human Services Agency (HHSA.)

The children, who ranged in age from 2 to 13, were treated at Rady Children's Hospital and have since been released, health officials said.

These are the first Enterovirus D68 cases reported in California.

Symptoms of enterovirus are similar to the common cold, including fever, runny nose, sneezing, coughing and body aches. In severe cases, children could be wheezing and have difficulty breathing, particularly those with asthma.

How To Avoid Transmission:

• Avoid close contact with sick people.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water for 20 seconds, especially after changing diapers.
• Cover coughs and sneezes.
• Avoid touching your face with unwashed hands.
• Clean and disinfect surfaces.
• Stay home when you’re sick

(Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention/California Department of Health)

Check back for updates on this developing story.

The iPhone 6 and 6 Plus hit the shelves at Apple Stores on Friday morning, ending weeks of anticipation by Apple fans.

At some Apple stores, lines have stretched around the corner for days or even weeks. Apple sold more than 4 million phones in online preorders on the very first day they were available. And this weekend, the company is expected to make billions. According to Bloomberg Business Week, the phone line accounts for more than half of Apple's $171 billion annual revenue.

But is the phone for everyone? More importantly, is it for you?

We put together this Phone Wizard to help you find out. We examined the key features of eight state-of-the-art phones, looking at things like battery life, size, operating system and camera quality. After you answer a handful of questions about your personality, preferences and habits, we identify the phone that we think is right for you.

Now, don't get carried away: Just because we tell you the Samsung Galaxy S5 is better for you than the iPhone 6 Plus (that 4K HD is just so important to you, right?) doesn't mean you should go and buy one today. At least visit your local retailer to see how it feels in your hand before plopping down a few hundred dollars. But consider this a starting point. 

The former owner of a luxury car dealership in San Diego now admits he took more than $700,000 in cash from a customer who prosecutors say was a multi-state drug trafficker and failed to report those cash transactions to the federal government, as required by law.

John Mussari Jr. has been the subject of several NBC 7 Investigates stories.

In April, Mussari admitted to defrauding Mussari Motors clients of more than $200,000.

Some of those angry customers said they paid Mussari for high-end vehicles, including Ferraris, Lamborghinis and Porsches, but never got the pink-slips that proved they owned the car.

In April, Mussari pleaded guilty to eight felonies. He recently finished a brief term in county jail and is now on probation and enrolled in a work-furlough program. Mussari’s lawyer told NBC 7 Investigates that his client has repaid approximately $150,000 to his victims and promises to pay another $70,000 in restitution.

But if Mussari can’t pay back that money by December, his victims may have to wait years for their cash.

That’s because on Thursday, Mussari pleaded guilty to evading the federal cash transaction law.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Sherri Walker Hobson said Mussari failed to report $719,000 in cash from a convicted drug dealer in a series of illegal transactions during the fall and winter of 2008.

“The drug trafficker in this case purchased two Lamborghinis, a Porsche and a Ferrari during the 4-month period,” Walker-Hobson told NBC 7 Investigates. “The drug trafficker also gave John Mussari substantial cash for an investment scheme.”

Court documents reveal that federal agents first detained Mussari when he tried to leave the drug dealer’s home in Fallbrook. Agents found $205,000 in cash inside the Lamborghini he was driving that night.

That evidence was among the information provided to a grand jury, which issued a four-count federal indictment against him last November.

Thursday’s plea deal means Mussari will not be prosecuted on three of those counts, including conspiracy to launder money and conspiracy to engage in monetary transactions with property derived from unlawful activity.

He instead pleaded guilty to a single count of conspiring to evade currency reporting laws.

In an exclusive interview after Thursday’s hearing, Mussari’s attorney told NBC 7 his client did not -- and will not -- admit that he knew the customer was a drug dealer.

Attorney Anthony Colombo also said his client is “committed to turning his life around and making amends for the mistakes that he made back in 2008 through 2010, during the financial crisis, that led to the decisions he made to try to save his business.”

Mussari faces a maximum penalty of five years in federal prison and a $250,000 fine when sentenced on Dec. 5.

Prosecutor Walker-Hobson told NBC 7 Investigates she will recommend a 30-month prison term, but the sentencing judge could overrule that recommendation and send Mussari to prison for a longer term.