An official with a San Diego-area charter high school is accused of discriminating against students who wanted to form an LGBTQ & Allies Club.

Dr. Hellen Griffin, Executive Director of e3 Civic High School , called the allegations "totally untrue" and added that the student group was "definitely a vibrant part of e3 Civic High and welcomed.”

Student Nat Sirodia identifies as transgender queer, and says the high school needed a safe place for LGBTQ students.

Late last year Sirodia and some other students submitted their request to form a school club, but say they were the only ones whose approval was pending.

“[Dr. Griffith] said she had mentioned the club proposal to a panel of parents and the parents had said the way our mission statement sounded like we were promoting a hook-up club,” said Sirodia. “I do not feel her actions were malicious, rather just ignorance.”

Sirodia also says during the meeting with Dr. Griffith, the school administrator insinuated LGBTQ people are promiscuous.

“She said to us that the reason for sex is for romance and to have children and people who had sex for enjoyment aside from romance, that there’s a name for those kinds of people,” the student told NBC 7.

Sirodia and another student approached the local ACLU with concerns that they were facing unusual challenges in creating the club. They say they made the decision to do that independently.

They were supported by their club-sponsor and former e3 teacher Valerie Stewart.

“It took the intervention of the ACLU twice to get the club on the ground,” said Stewart.

The ACLU confirmed it sent a letter specifically to Griffith in December that read in part, “you as its executive director, have unlawfully interfered with the establishment and operation of a GSA [Gay-Straight Alliance] and the discussion of topics related to sexual orientation and gender identity.”

Stewart believes her actions of standing up to Griffith and for the students led to direct retaliation. She was let go from the school last week.

Griffith spoke to NBC 7 over the phone Tuesday and said school policy prevents her from talking about personnel issues.

She did say these kinds of allegations come with the job.

“When you want to hold people accountable to have a high standard and to love all students and to do your job for all students, this goes with the territory," Griffith said.

When asked about her thoughts on homosexuality, Griffith replied, “What are my thoughts? In terms of ed code? Number one, my thoughts on all people are I celebrate and love them. I am not a judge of any one individual or groups of individuals.”

“If you see me you would see I’m a black, African-American woman who knows the pain of discrimination,” she added, explaining she feels just as hurt by the claims.

The LGBTQ & Allies Club (also known as the Spectrum Club) at e3 Civic High School is currently active and has about a dozen members.

Board President Kevin Beiser of the San Diego Unified School District, which is separate and independent of e3 Civic High School since it’s a charter school, says steps have been taken to find a resolution. Beiser has met with Griffith and President of the Charter School Board Mel Katzs several times. He says progress has been made.

Katz sent NBC 7 requirements that clubs must follow to be included at e3. He said all the clubs were listed on their website by the end of November.

"In every conversation we shared the intent that the Spectrum and all clubs carry out the mission and vision of e3 Civic High and to support students in a welcoming environment that will lead to their personal success," Katz wrote in an email.

"We suggested (but did not direct) that the students use language that was more inclusive so all students would feel welcomed to join. Spectrum was approved and allowed to participate in the Club Fair at the end of November and to have their meetings at the school."

Student Nat Sirodia says although the situation has improved, there’s still an elephant in the room and none of them have received an apology.

“We were told by Dr. Griffith she didn’t know what she needed to apologize for or who she needed to apologize to,” Sirodia said.

Griffith listed a number of projects involving the Spectrum club including revisions of the school’s bullying and public display of affection policies.

“We’ve actually had a great year together,” she said.

What’s in a “purrfect” name? The San Diego County Department of Animal Services has released a list of the most popular cat names in the county, and the top pick is as simple as names come.

The Department of Animal Services says the No. 1 in San Diego for adopted cats is “Kitty” – sweet, simple, straight to the point.

The department compiled the cat data by tracking and recording the names of felines at their time of adoption, claim or microchipping.

The other names that are the cat’s pajamas, in order, include:

• Tiger
• Baby
• Smokey
• Shadow
• Tigger
• Sassy
• Cleo
• Max
• Lucy

Animal Services says there are also plenty of cats up for adoption at the County’s three animal shelters, including a kitty named “Mango” and another known as “Atticus.”

The department says there’s currently an inundation of kittens and cats up for adoption so now through July 31, cats are available at the County shelters for a “Name Your Price” special meaning the normal cat adoption fee of $58 will be waived, and you’ll be asked what adoption fee you’d like to pay. This offer is limited to two cats per household.

The adoptions include spaying or neutering, vaccinations, a microchip and a free health examination.
San Diego’s three shelters are open Tuesday through Saturday, from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. The locations are: 5480 Gaines St., San Diego; 2481 Palomar Airport Rd., Carlsbad; and 5821 Sweetwater Rd., Bonita.

For more information about pet adoption, call (619) 767-2675 or visit the Department of Animal Services website.

By the way, the Depart of Animal Services released a list last month of the County’s most popular names among licensed dogs. Turns out, a lot of local pooches have human names. That list includes, in order: Bella; Buddy; Lucy; Max; Daisy; Charlie; Molly; Bailey; Roxy; and Maggie.
 

An upcoming outdoor event will combine two of San Diego’s specialties this weekend: craft beer and Comic-Con.

The annual Heroes Brew Fest is flying into town Saturday, this time at The Loma Club at 2960 Truxtun Rd. From 3 p.m. to 6 p.m., attendees can enjoy more than 80 craft beer samples from nearly 50 breweries including local favorites like Green Flash, The Lost Abbey, Mission Brewery and BNS Brewing & Distilling Co. For the full list of participating breweries, click here.

Keeping in theme with Comic-Con 2015 happening in downtown San Diego, Brew Fest patrons are encouraged to come in costume and take part in several contests fit for superheroes.

This includes the “Best Original Caped Crusader” category, which will crown the most creative superhero costume, super power and name. The winner of that contest will walk away with a $300 Coronado Brewing Company/Brew Pub gift card.

Then there’s the “Superhero Look-Alike” contest, which will award the winner with a tasting and tour for 10 guests at Duck Foot Brewing Company. The “Group Costume” contest will award winners with a tasting and tour for 10 at Mission Brewing. Finally, the “Super Villain” category will seek the Brew Fest’s best costumed bad guy or gal.

In addition to samples and costumes, the beer festival will also boast live music, entertainment and food vendors. The event will benefit the Warrior Foundation Freedom Station, an organization dedicated to assisting, honoring and supporting military members and their families during times of recovery.

Tickets to the Brew Fest were nearly sold out as of Wednesday afternoon, but some VIP ($64) and general admission ($49) tickets were still available online. The event does typically sell out, so plan accordingly.

Firefighters are working to put out two small brush fires in Santa Ysabel, an area northwest of Julian. 

The fires were spotted at about 1:40 p.m. off Highway 79 near Mataguay Road, according to Cal Fire. The burned area is close to Lake Henshaw. 

No structures are being threatened, and no evacuations are in place. 

Wounded warriors credit the Navy’s Wounded, Ill, and Injured Program (WII) with changing their lives.

The Naval Medical Center San Diego honored volunteers, partners and donors for the WII Program Wednesday.

The program provides therapy to sick and injured service members with activities including adaptive sports, community reintegration, exercise therapy and mind-body medicine.

The special ceremony recognized those who donated money and bicycles to replace 16 bikes belonging to the Ride for Recovery program that were stolen last March.

"We are blessed to live in a community that cares so much about our Wounded, Ill and Injured," said Kim Elliott, NMCSD Recreation Therapist. "Their kindness and generosity allowed us to continue our cycling programs without missing a beat."

“We’re grateful beyond measure. I can’t even really explain how wonderful this is for those of us who are going through this program and avail ourselves of these resources,” said Michael Rioux, a WII Program recipient.

Dave Rayder, who lost his leg in Vietnam, said it provides him more freedom of movement. “Being on a hand cycle gives me that option to be out there and feel free and be able to move. Having this program has been 100 percent productive for me and all the other patients who come through it.”

“I think it’s absolutely fantastic both for the local groups that have helped, and the local volunteers, and the folks from out of the area,” Rioux said. “Now we’ve got even more capacity, not just in the uprights that were stolen but in the recumbents for folks like myself who can’t ride an upright. We’ve got some new equipment that’s in much better shape than what we had before. And it’s an absolutely amazing thing.”

Capt. José A. Acosta, Commander, NMCSD, and Rear Adm. Bruce L. Gillingham, Commander, Navy Medicine West made remarks at the ceremony.

The father of a 7-month-old baby boy found dead in the Connecticut River on Tuesday night has been charged with the murder of his son.

Police said Tony Moreno, 21, of Middletown, threw his son off the Arrigoni Bridge in Middletown late Sunday night before attempting to commit suicide by plunging off the bridge.

Moreno admitted to throwing the boy over the railing and has been charged with murder and murder with special circumstances, according to police.

Police responded to the bridge after receiving a 911 call at 11:45 p.m. on Sunday from Moreno's mother. She said her son was threatening suicide and a baby was heard cooing and crying in the background.

"(C)ome down to the Portland bridge and get my phone and the stroller so you have pictures of the baby," he said, according to court paperwork. "Sorry, just tell everyone I'm sorry."

Officers rushed to the scene and arrived just before Moreno jumped into the river. Police said Moreno was not holding the baby when he jumped, but officers noticed an empty stroller nearby. 

Moreno did not respond to questions regarding his son's whereabouts was after Middletown firefighters pulled him from the water. With no one to confirm baby was also in the water, police issued a Silver Alert for Aaden.

Police said Moreno later admitted to throwing his son over the railing before officers arrived.

A person in a canoe found Aaden's body in the Connecticut River in East Haddam on Tuesday night. Authorities had searched nearly 48 hours for the boy, who was presumed dead Monday morning.

"Our community suffered an indescribable tragedy this week," Middletown Mayor Daniel Drew said during a news conference Wednesday, "one that we'll never really be able to make sense of."

Moreno was arraigned Wednesday morning at Hartford Hospital and is being held on $2 million bond. Police said a public defender is representing him.

Moreno was also charged with two counts of violating a restraining order on June 25. According to court paperwork, the restraining order expired on June 29. A judge denied the mother's request to renew it.

Aaden's mother applied for the restraining order because she feared for her baby's safety, according to court documents. She wrote in a statement that Moreno told her he could make her or her child "disappear" at any time.

Six days later, Moreno jumped off the bridge.

Moreno is in the custody of the state Department of Correction and will continue to receive medical care.

A vigil for Aaden was set for 6 p.m. Wednesday on the south green in Middletown.

A Medal of Honor-winning soldier's remains were received Wednesday prior to his reburial with full military honors scheduled for Thursday — nearly a century after his death.

Sgt. Charles Schroeter, a Civil War-era soldier born on July 4, 1837, will be laid to rest Thursday at Miramar National Cemetery. Officials spent nearly two years poring through archives, reports and even graves in search of clues about Schroeter's remains, before he was finally discovered an unmarked mass grave.

“We wanted to honor him with all the proper military ceremonies he was due at Miramar,” said Bill Heard, a public information officer for the Miramar National Cemetery Support Foundation.

Schroeter's remains were received at 9 a.m. Tuesday with the help of an honor guard of the 11th Armored Cavalry from Fort Irwin, lead by Brig. Gen. Joseph M. Martin and the Miramar National Cemetery Support Foundation. 

A rifle squad fired a salute and the soldier's urn was buried at the foot of a white marble gravestone marked with golden inscription.

It was almost a century ago when Schroeter was cremated and placed in an unmarked grave with other soldiers at Greenwood Cemetery in San Diego, according to research done by Heard and others.

Schroeter received the Medal of Honor, the United States' highest military honor, for his valor in battle against the Apaches in an 1869 Arizona fight, the Campaign of the Rocky Mesa.

As to how his cremated remains ended up where they did, however, “that is a mystery,” Heard said.

Ten years ago, the Congressional Medal of Honor Foundation set about locating all the graves of Medal of Honor recipients. They found almost 500 graves, but not Schroeter’s remains, Heard said. 

Those involved in the search, including those at the Miramar National Cemetery Support Foundation, the San Diego History Center and the Congressional Medal of Honor Foundation, spent nearly two years trying to decode the mystery.

Heard’s job was doing the research to connect the Medal of Honor recipient to the man buried in the unmarked grave. He spent two months of a nearly two year process researching the details of Schroeter’s life. In late April, he finally traced Schroeter’s past to Greenwood Cemetery, where Heard found the soldier's remains.

“We were a little shocked that the remains of a Medal of Honor recipient were in an unmarked crypt with a dozen or more containers of remains of other unclaimed persons,” he said.

A native of Germany, Schroeter immigrated to the U.S. and first enlisted in St. Louis, Missouri, at age 25.

He spent 25 years serving his adopted homeland, where he fought with the U.S. Cavalry’s 1st Division during the Civil War and, once that war ended, with the 8th Cavalry Regiment fighting in the Indian Wars.

Schroeter re-enlisted in the armed forces multiple times throughout his life, including in the Grand Army of the Republic and the Marine Corps, before his retirement as a sergeant.

He never married or had children but did live in San Diego, Heard said. When he died, Schroeter left behind $200 in life insurance. In those days, it was enough for a proper burial. That money was never used for a burial, Heard said.

Until April 21, his remains were stored at the Greenwood Cemetery in an unmarked grave. Though it is unclear when he was born, Heard said it was likely from 1834 to 1837. 

Schroeter, the first Medal of Honor recipient to be buried at Miramar National Cemetery, will be laid to rest on July 9, just days after his birthday on the fourth of July.

Balitmore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake fired Police Commissioner Anthony Batts on Wednesday amid a spike in the city's homicide rate.

The news comes the same day that the city police union released its 32-page after action review of the city's handling of the riots in April. Many Baltimore police officers reported they lacked the proper equipment, training and leadership to adequately respond to the riots and unrest in the city following the death of Freddie Gray while in police custody. 

• Read the full report here (PDF)

The union placed the responsibility largely on Police Commissioner Anthony Batts.

However, Gene Ryan, president of the Baltimore Fraternal Order of Police, said the results of the review were not "a recommendation for [Batts] to leave."

"This is a recommendation for improvement," Ryan said.

Ryan said that the Baltimore Police Department still remains unprepared for future riots. He also said the riots and unrest were preventable and that the injuries to more than 200 officers could have been avoided or at least minimized, according to WBAL-TV.

"This after action review came about because the police officers, sergeants and lieutenants of the Baltimore Police Department do not want to see Baltimore burn again," Ryan said in a news conference.

Officers were told not to intervene or engage with rioters, not to wear their issued riot helmets, and that all arrests had to be given approval by civilians who worked in the Baltimore Police Department legal section, Ryan said, WBAT-TV reported.

The information contained in the report came from surveys, firsthand accounts, a radio transmission, focus groups and emails.

Since the riots, the city has suffered from a sharp increase in violence, with 155 homicides this year, a 48 percent increase over the same period last year, reported the Associated Press.

"We need a change," Rawlings-Blake said Wednesday during a news conference. "This was not an easy decision but it is one that is in the best interest of Baltimore. The people of Baltimore deserve better and we're going to get better."

Deputy Police Commissioner Kevin Davis will become the interim commissioner, Rawlings-Blake said.

A Massachusetts woman appeared in court Wednesday to face charges after she allegedly hit an officer with a bag of dog feces last month.

Margaret Greer, 63, a successful financial adviser from Wellesley, is charged with disorderly conduct, resisting arrest and assault and battery on a police officer. She requested a continuation at Wednesday's pre-trial hearing because her attorney couldn't be there and is now scheduled to return to court on July 23.

Wellesley Police said they responded to a report of a woman who was verbally harassing two teenage boys who were fishing at a pond in Centennial Park on June 19. The boys told police the woman was giving them a hard time and throwing their fish back in the pond, saying they were protected.

As police were interviewing the two teens, they said Greer emerged from the woods with her dog. The police report said she appeared agitated and then began "ranting" about how the park is a game reserve and the fish and wildlife there are supposed to be protected. Police said they observed signs that Greer may have been drinking, and noticed she was carrying a clear plastic bag in her hand that contained what appeared to be dog feces.

But Greer has a very different story.

"They weren't doing this with a hook, line and sinker," she said of the fishing boys. "They had a 6-foot casting net that they were pulling fish by the dozens."

Greer says she told the kids to leave, but they called police. She says while she tried to explain what happened to one of the fathers who had arrived at the park, she was accosted by an officer.

"He immediately carried me around, picked me up under my arms, off the ground, kicked my feet out from under me, and threw me face down on the ground," she said.

Police said Greer became extremely agitated while talking to the officers and attempted to leave. When one of the officers said he needed to speak with her first, they said she continued to walk away.

Police admit using an arm bar takedown to gain control of the Greer, who says she ended up bruised and with a broken wrist. According to police, she then turned back toward the officer and swung the bag of feces at his face. The officer said he moved out of the way and tried to grab her arm to control her. She began to rub the bag of dog feces on the officer's left arm and continued trying to pull away. As officers tried to restrain Greer, they said she continued to pull away, while screaming obscenities. Police say they were eventually able to subdue her and handcuff her.

As she was taken to the police station in a cruiser, police say Greer became belligerent, listing off the names of various town officials and influential residents she knew. She later allegedly refused to leave the cruiser and enter the police station, and police say they had to pull her out of the vehicle forcibly.

Police say Greer appeared drunk.

"I had not been drinking," she told necn.

If her name is familiar, this isn't her first brush with the law.

In 2009, she was accused of trying to run over a state trooper while he was writing her a parking ticket at Logan Airport.

Necn reached out to Wellesley's police chief, but has not heard back. Greer says she thought fishing was prohibited in this park and that's why she confronted the boys, but fishing is legal here.

Rita’s temporarily substitutes award-winning frozen custard with soft-serve ice cream due to an egg shortage.

All Rita’s locations have stopped offering the frozen custard because of the avian flu outbreak that is affecting the country’s egg-laying hens, making less eggs available nationwide.

Until the company has access to a sustainable supply of eggs, Rita's has announced they will be serving soft-serve ice cream in place of the custard.

The bird flu virus is a highly contagious virus that kills commercial poultry quickly once it gets into a barn and has wiped out millions of chickens on commercial farms.

“Our company is built on ‘ice, custard and happiness’ so we will transition back to our award-winning Frozen Custard as soon as the nationwide egg supply returns to a stable level,” the company said in an explanation about the substitution on their website.

A San Diego woman was beaten and robbed outside a 24-hour Walmart by people she confronted inside the store.

The victim suffered welts on her face and a broken finger after two people attacked her just before 3 a.m. Wednesday in the parking lot of the Serra Mesa store.

Two women were being rude and causing a scene inside the store, according to the victim, so she said she asked the women to move so other people to get through the checkout line.

The victim told NBC 7 that when she left the store, the two women attacked her, stole her purse and shopping bags. She told law enforcement officers that, at one point, she was on the ground with one of the women on top of her.

A San Diego Police officer investigating the incident confirmed two people were causing a “ruckus” inside the store and somehow the victim got involved.

The officer was interviewing Walmart employees to piece together what happened.

He was still inside the store when the attack happened and said he used a GPS tracker installed in his fiancée’s phone to help San Diego Police track the culprits to Lakeside.

Two women were taken into custody in 12000-block of Lindo Lane.

The victim was evaluated at the scene but not taken to a hospital. She was shaken up by what happened in the parking lot, her fiancé told NBC 7 in an exclusive interview.

He said it's nice to know the women are in custody but still an emotional and physical toll on his fiancé.

The victim said her phone was returned but she was still missing her wallet and purse.
 

Comic-Con attendees will cram as much as possible into the convention’s 4 days (5 including Preview Night) in an effort to make the most of the experience.

Comic-Con International Director of Marketing and Public Relations, David Glanzer, also has a very busy week keeping the “train on the track”.

Glanzer is a huge fan of comics and pop culture, but unfortunately most of his time is spent working rather than enjoying the convention.

We asked him, if somehow, he could trade his sport coat in for a cape this weekend – to put a top 3 punch list together.

Here’s his answer...

Police are at the scene of an Ocean Beach apartment, following up on a case and looking for two suspects, San Diego Police officials told NBC 7. 

Officers are on the scene of an apartment on the 4700 block of West Point Loma Boulevard, police said. 

They are following up on a case, though they cannot confirm what type of case, officials said. 

Police are looking for two suspects.

No further information is available. 

Check back for updates on this breaking news story. 

The Cabrillo National Monument will raise entrance fees to the park later this year.

The increase, which goes into effect November 1, will be used to fund “maintenance and improvement projects within the park,” according to a news release.

Fees will double from $5 to $10 per vehicle for a seven-day entry, and the annual pass will increase from $15 to $20.

The park reduced the amounts first proposed last November after public responses to a civic engagement campaign. They received 49 formal comments, most agreeing the original numbers were too much all at once.

“This modest increase in fees will allow us to continue to protect, preserve and share the natural and cultural resources here at Cabrillo NM with current visitors and future generations,” said Superintendent Thomas Workman in a news release. “After carefully considering the impact of a fee increase on visitors and community members, we came to the conclusion that this is the right course of action to improve facilities and services important to visitors.”

Entrance fees support various projects such as rehabilitating trails, educational programming and restoring natural habitat. Among other projects the increase will provide funds to upgrade military history exhibits, build an interpretive shelter at the tide pools and refurbish the visitor center restrooms.

This is the first increase since the park started charging a fee 27 years ago.

A young man pleaded not guilty to murdering his father-in-law and stabbing him 40 times during a 4th of July celebration. 

22-year-old Joseph Henry Garcia is accused of a homicide that occurred on the 3100 block of National Avenue in Logan Heights around 7 p.m. Saturday night, police said. 

"The victims spine was stabbed during this attack which paralyzed his arms so there are no defensive wounds on the victim yet he was still stabbed forty times because the victim was just stuck after his spine was disabled," said Prosecutor Rebecca Zipp in court.

On July 4, 54-year-old Hermeneglido Para died in a house's yard after a physical fight. Police said family and friends gathered at a home in the 3100 block of National Avenue when the fight occurred. 

The suspect fled the scene in a car, police said, which was later found in the South Bay. Late Sunday, Garcia was arrested at the Otay Mesa Point of Entry, according to San Diego Police.

The prosecutor argued because Garcia fled to Mexico, bail should be set at $1 million, in addition to the stab wounds. 

The defense attorney pointed out that Garcia had 29 family members in court supporting him, including, he said, the victim's two daughters. The defense indicated there may be mitigating circumstances. 

The judge set bail at $850,000. 

If convicted of first degree murder, Garcia could face 26 years to life in prison. 

A U.S.-based robotics company has thrown down the metallic gauntlet and goaded a Japanese competitor into a heavy metal battle of mechanical proportions. 

"Suidobashi, you have a giant robot, we have a giant robot. You know what needs to happen," said co-founder of MegaBots, Inc Matt Oehrlein—along with his partner Gui Cavalcanti both draped in an American flag—in a YouTube video challenging Suidobashi Heavy Industries' Kuratas.

Megabot, the U.S.-based company, is confident in its Mark 2 model: a towering 6-ton metal beast. 

"We just finished tightening the last bolts on the Mark 2—America's first fully functional giant piloted robot," Oehrlein says in the video to the Japenese robotics company.

The massive robot is operated by a team of two people and can shoot three pounds paint balls at from its cannon at 100 milers per hour, according to Oehrlein.

"And because we're American, we added really big guns," co-founder Cavalcanti added with dramatic pause. 

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Suidobashi's CEO responded to MegaBots' gentlemen's duel in his own video: "Come on guys, make it cooler," Kogoro Kurata said, with shots of him wrapping the Japanese flag around his shoulders.

"Just building something huge and sticking guns on it," Kurata continued. "It's super American."

Suidobashi launched The Kurata, named after the CEO and designer, in 2012. At 4.5 tons, it was a little less than Mark 2, a full heads-up display (HUD), and guns controlled by an advanced targeting system. 

No venue or date for the battle of the death metals, but the challenge has been accepted. 

The Global Positioning System (GPS) has important applications for most everyone, from the military to daily commuters.

GPS technology is used to track thousands of convicted criminals nationwide, including in San Diego County where Sentinel Offender Services monitors more than 250 pretrial defendants, sentenced offenders and parolees.

NBC 7 Investigates uncovered some alarming glitches in the system used to watch some of those offenders in San Diego.

Three years ago, both the San Diego County Sheriff's Department and its probation department contracted with an Irvine-based GPS monitoring company called Sentinel Offender Services.

It monitors a wide range of the county's offenders, from those convicted of sex crimes to drunken drivers.

"It permits someone to have structure around their life. They have rules. They have limits, and they have boundaries," Sentinel Divisional President Darryl Martin said.

The departments rely on Sentinel to keep track of when the equipment fails. But as NBC 7 Investigates learned, the company won't say how often that happens.

Lt. Holly Mitchell oversees the sheriff's department's County Parole and Alternative Custody program (CPAC), which has a contract with Sentinel.

"As long as that device is properly charged and it's working, we know where they are any given time of the day," Mitchell said.

The job of keeping track of criminals is a very serious and precise job, but NBC 7 Investigates found out Sentinel's programs and policies may not be.

"The county of Orange terminated our long standing relationship with Sentinel,” Orange County Supervisor Todd Spitzer said.

Orange County first contracted with Sentinel in 1986. Spitzer lost faith in the vendor after a random 2013 internal audit of 143 cases revealed more than 15 instances of gross negligence, most involving lost contact.

"In some cases, up to a month, Sentinel had no idea where that probationer was," Spitzer said.

He said Sentinel also did not report probation violations and equipment malfunctions, creating a dangerous situation where participants were not checking in and able to use drugs and alcohol.

"We're not proud whenever we make a mistake, and there were some mistakes made in Orange County, and I think that's where I should leave that,” Martin said.

Orange County findings prompted a Los Angeles County audit of Sentinel's services in its probation department.

In a copy obtained by NBC 7 Investigates, some of the discrepancies include 51 of 196 GPS clients having to exchange their equipment during a two-month period in 2013 due to malfunctions. Violent offenders, including sex offenders, went unmonitored for periods of more than five days.

Auditors called it "Unacceptable Service." Despite the findings, LA County kept its contract.

“Were there lessons learned in Orange County? Absolutely there were lessons learned . So we enhanced our training not only for our staff but for our customers," said Martin.

"In Los Angeles County, we definitely made some modifications, some changes to the monitoring equipment with the goal of it performing better," he added.

In San Diego, NBC 7 Investigates found Sentinel's performance has never been audited and the local agencies don't keep track of faulty devices

"If you are asking if we are monitoring to see if 15 of our 20 devices are working ongoing, we are not doing that here," Mitchell said. The sheriff's department is relying on Sentinel to that, according to the lieutenant. 

Martin said the company it notifies the proper authorities when contact with a GPS client is lost.

"Do you alert the sheriff's department?” NBC 7 Investigates asked.

"Absolutely,” Martin said. "Every time?” NBC 7 Investigates asked. "Absolutely," Martin said.

The San Diego County Probation Department also uses Sentinel to monitor high-risk sex offenders.

Program monitor Deputy Chief Lorrain Fernandez declined a camera interview. But in an email, probation spokesperson Michele Clock told NBC 7 Investigates, "Probation does not keep records of instances when Sentinel GPS devices malfunctioned. Ongoing maintenance and monitoring of the devices is handled by Sentinel.”

Since Sentinel keeps the maintenance records, NBC 7 Investigates wanted to know how often its system malfunctions when monitoring San Diego offenders.

"It's falling within industry norms; however I am unable to communicate to you the number of failures that occurred in San Diego,” Martin said.

Martin said the industry's normal failure rate is between 5-10 percent, less than what Orange and Los Angeles counties found during their audits.

Without its own audit, San Diego County is taking Sentinel at its word.

Sentinel keeps a record of equipment and operator malfunctions that occur with its San Diego participants, although Martin said that list is not shared with the sheriff's department or probation.

Martin said such discrepancies, however, can be discussed at quarterly client meetings

A Long Island man battling cancer had his wish fulfilled when he wed his girlfriend at his hospital bed Wednesday. 

Keith Borum of Lake Ronkonkoma has been battling non-Hodgkin's lymphoma for the past year, and during his frequent stays at Good Samaritan Hospital Medical Center in West Islip, he often mentioned to the staff that he wanted to save for an engagement ring to propose to his girlfriend of three years, Nina Scott, a hospital spokeswoman said. 

Touched by his wish, the nurses, aides and others who looked after Borum decided to take up a collection for a wedding.

They purchased wedding rings with the $400 they raised, and the local community donated a bouquet and a cake. Staffers brought in homemade treats for a reception. 

On Wednesday afternoon, Borum and Scott were married in Borum's hospital room. 

"I feel great," said Borum. 

The couple said they're grateful to the hospital and the staffers who made it happen. Scott said Borum has a special bond with his caregivers. 

'"They're loving, they're nurturing. They cater to him," said Scott.

There are nearly 80,000 new cases of lymphoma diagnosed in the U.S. each year --- about 9,000 Hodgkin's, and 71,000 non-Hodgkin's, according to the hospital. About 20,000 people die from lymphoma each year (about 1,100 from Hodgkin's and 19,000 from non-Hodgkin's). 

A local family is demanding changes to how the county of San Diego handles children with disabilities after they say a social worker nearly cost them custody of their son with autism.

At just over a year old, Nathan Chen was diagnosed at risk for autism. A decade later, his mother Ichun explained that taking care of him is still a round-the-clock job because he is non-verbal and has occasional seizures.

Last year, the family applied for help from the county’s In Home Supportive Services program, so a social worker was sent to interview the family about Nathan’s needs.

“And we gave her instances where Nathan has wandered off or found himself at the neighbor’s, and we though we're just describing who he is,” told NBC 7 Ichun.

Not long after the interview, the Chens were contacted by Child Welfare Services because the social worker reported the family for child neglect, according to Ichun.

“Having that sort of allegation against me was unfathomable,” she said.

The Chen family has filed several complaints with the state over the past year, claiming that the social worker “grossly distorted the facts.” Ichun said she had no training in children with autism and did not seem to understand their behaviors.

County child welfare investigators did eventually clear the Chens of the accusations.

The San Diego County Grand Jury recently looked into the case and found concerns with the county's in-home services program, according to its report. Among the listed concerns was "IHSS social workers may mistake some behaviors of disabled parents and their children as neglect or abuse."

The report recommends the county set up a separate unit specifically for children and give social workers special training.

Ichun told NBC 7 the grand jury’s findings not only vindicates her family, but all families like them.

"In telling other parents about what happened to us, there's been a lot of fear that's been expressed by them, saying what if I use the services? What if my kid gets reported too? I have a kid that does a lot of the same things your kid does,” she said.

The county’s Department of Health and Human Services has until Aug. 24 to issue a written response to the grand jury report.

NBC 7 reached out to the county multiple times to get their response to the family’s claims. A spokesperson said they would not comment on this case until that formal response to the grand jury is sent next month.