Media Links **NO DISCUSSION**

[Angel Who Cares]

3,500 finish route that Chelsea started
Slain girl’s mother cheers participants
March 21, 2010 at 12:04 a.m., updated March 21, 2010 at 12:05 a.m.
<snipped>
The trails that had grown quiet after the killing of Poway teenager Chelsea King came back to life yesterday as thousands of people finished the run she never did.

They weren&#8217;t necessarily runners or even friends of Chelsea&#8217;s, but strangers once again drawn together by a tragedy that continues to resonate across the nation. &#8220;This is a community thing,&#8221; said Dennis Caco, a member of a group called San Diego Running. &#8220;No runner is left behind.&#8221; In a quintessential San Diego-style tribute, as many as 3,500 people resolutely walked and jogged the three-mile route, symbolically taking back the park as their own. They said it&#8217;s what Chelsea would have wanted.

As they crossed the finish line at Rancho Bernardo Community Park, many were surprised to find Chelsea&#8217;s mother cheering them on. &#8220;Thank you,&#8221; Kelly King told the many strangers who embraced her. San Marcos resident Lori Balfour apologized for her perspiration before falling into King&#8217;s arms and breaking down into tears. &#8220;I love this part,&#8221; King assured her. &#8220;Sweat is good!&#8221; &#8220;It&#8217;s disheartening to be so wary of being in danger in a place so beautiful,&#8221; Balfour said, still wiping away tears after her talk with King. &#8220;Just to see her standing there greeting people and being so gracious is a true measure of strength. You can tell God is uplifting her and her family.&#8221;

Cross-country teams and running clubs wore their uniforms to honor their fallen competitor, while others did so by wearing orange, Chelsea&#8217;s favorite color, and blue, the color of her eyes. But it was too soon to return to the park for many of Chelsea&#8217;s teammates, said their coach, Dan Schaitel.

San Diego State University sociologist Jean Twenge, who studies the current generation of youth, said the response to the slaying of Chelsea, as well as the death of Escondido teen Amber Dubois, crosses generational barriers. &#8220;In this case, Amber walked to school. Chelsea went for a run. They didn&#8217;t do anything wrong,&#8221; Twenge said. &#8220;I see the response as a human response.&#8221;

Amber vanished in February 2009, and her remains were found this month in Pala. A public memorial service for her is set for 1 p.m. Saturday at Escondido High School. John Albert Gardner III, a registered sex offender, has been charged with rape and murder in Chelsea&#8217;s death and is the focus of the investigation into Amber&#8217;s slaying. He is also charged with assault with the intent to rape in an attack on a jogger in the Rancho Bernardo park in December.

Amber&#8217;s mother, Carrie McGonigle, walked the trail yesterday with a volunteer who had helped search for both girls when they disappeared.
*Much More At Link!

Caren Sheffler (left) hugged Kelly King, mother of Chelsea King, at the end of the run yesterday.&#65279;

*More Photos From Yesterday&#8217;s Event:
http://uniontrib.com/chelsea-run

Article:
http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2010/mar/21/3500-runners-walkers-finish-the-route-that/

 

[Angel Who Cares]

Parole agents backing off, critics claim
Crowded prisons cited as motivation
March 21, 2010 at 12:04 a.m., updated March 21, 2010 at 12:05 a.m.
<snipped>
For at least 11 years, the percentage of felony ex-convicts sent back to California prisons for parole violations has dipped. Last year, 15 percent of 106,355 parolees were put back behind bars, a new low. That&#8217;s down steadily from 25 percent in 1998, according to a data analysis by The San Diego Union-Tribune.

It may be that ex-cons are behaving better. But critics of the overburdened state corrections agency say the phenomenon is a systematic effort by parole officials to move their charges through the system, to keep from making crowded prisons worse. The criticism rang anew last week with the release of the corrections file of John Albert Gardner III, the sex offender accused of raping and killing Chelsea King, 17, of Poway. Gardner is also being investigated in the death of Amber Dubois, 14, of Escondido.

Gardner&#8217;s case file showed seven parole violations from a previous molestation sentence that could have resulted in a return to prison and stricter post-release supervision. &#8220;The whole concept of parole is prevention,&#8221; said Graham McGruer, who spent more than 20 years as a parole agent and manager and is now a private consultant. &#8220;There&#8217;s a greater possibility that these girls would be alive today if parole had been watching.&#8221;
*****
When California voters passed Jessica&#8217;s Law in 2006, they expected tougher prison sentences for sex offenders and stricter supervision of convicts after their release. But the ideals of the measure ran into the reality of the troubled California prison system.

The state was struggling to house offenders under the 1994 &#8220;three strikes&#8221; law, and was facing a federal court order to improve medical care for inmates. Another group of prisoners had sued to force the state to address persistent overcrowding, which has some prisons operating at more than double their designed capacity.
*****
Paul Sutton has studied the California prison system for more than 20 years. Sutton, a San Diego State University criminal justice professor, has toured practically every lockup in the state. The parole trends are no accident, he said.

&#8220;It&#8217;s happening whether anybody admits it or not &#8212; releasing people early, not supervising them as closely or not supervising them at all,&#8221; Sutton said. &#8220;Everyplace we go, they complain about the fact that parolees are not going to be revoked back to the prisons.&#8221;
*Much More At Link!

Article:
http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2010/mar/21/parole-agents-backing-off-critics-claim/

 

[Angel Who Cares]

ESCONDIDO: Dumanis won't attend forum
March 22, 2010 11:23 am
<snipped>
San Diego County District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis will not take part in Tuesday's community forum on Megan's Law because of a gag order issued by the court that prohibits discussion of any kind regarding the Amber Dubois and Chelsea King cases, said Escondido Councilman Dick Daniels.

Even though the scope of the forum will not cover those cases, the district attorney felt it was inappropriate for her office to discuss any aspect of the issues in a public setting, Daniels said.

Sen. Mark Wyland will replace Dumanis.

Article:
http://www.nctimes.com/news/local/sdcounty/article_dd644750-2a3f-51b2-afd4-ea21337e2bb2.html

 

[Angel Who Cares]

Relative of Gardner&#8217;s mom comes to her defense
Nurse described as &#8216;kind,&#8217; &#8216;generous,&#8217; &#8216;levelheaded&#8217;
Monday, March 22, 2010 at 1:20 a.m.
<snipped>
Osborn has not responded to the criticisms or acknowledged requests for interviews. Her friends and family followed her lead until Friday, when a close relative said Osborn has been the subject of outrageously unfair attacks. &#8220;She is the backbone of this family,&#8221; said the relative, who asked that her name not be used because she didn&#8217;t want to anger Osborn or the family&#8217;s attorney. &#8220;She&#8217;s kind, levelheaded and a generous, nurturing person, extraordinarily good in a crisis. She not only gives good advice, she follows up.

&#8220;John was there to get into rehab, and she was trying to help him find a location. At the same time, he&#8217;s an adult and he was a little resistant.&#8221; Asked whether the rehab would be for drug, alcohol or psychiatric treatment, the relative said, &#8220;probably all three.&#8221;

After Gardner&#8217;s arrest, Osborn went on leave from her job in a behavioral health unit at Scripps Mercy Hospital in Hillcrest. &#8220;She has not been at work for about two weeks, but she is still employed. She has gone through a lot and she&#8217;s been on leave,&#8221; said Don Stanziano, spokesman for the Scripps Health system. Osborn is on leave for an indefinite period, Stanziano said. Some hospital workers said administrators scheduled and then canceled a March 11 meeting with employees who had called for Osborn&#8217;s ouster.

A former relative defended Osborn on Friday in a brief telephone interview. The niece of one of Osborn&#8217;s three former husbands said she knew the family well and has stayed in touch with them. &#8220;She&#8217;s a very good person,&#8221; the niece said. Osborn, 54, grew up in Lawndale, a suburb of Los Angeles, the oldest of four children. As a teenager, she had two daughters. Then, in 1980, at age 25, Osborn married Gardner&#8217;s father. She became licensed as a registered nurse in 1985 and divorced in 1989, when John Gardner III was 10.

The father lived in Palmdale when Osborn moved back to Lawndale and received full physical custody of her son. She worked as a nurse at the UCLA Neuropsychiatric Institute earning about $36,000 a year at the time of the divorce. Osborn remarried in 1990, lived in Running Springs near Lake Arrowhead and worked as a nurse at Community Hospital of San Bernardino. In 1996, she returned to court seeking back payment for the $70 a month in child support payments her son&#8217;s father had failed to pay. By that time, she was earning about $48,000 a year.

As for whether Osborn should have recognized Gardner could be a continuing danger, that&#8217;s a complex issue, said licensed clinical psychologist Jonathan Gale, who specializes in men&#8217;s issues and adolescents. &#8220;Certainly, if she saw signs that indicated someone&#8217;s life was in danger, she should have done something, particularly if she&#8217;s in the (medical) field,&#8221; said Gale, who is in private practice in La Jolla. Typically, parents invoke self-defense mechanisms because it can be so painful to believe their child is capable of a violent crime, Gale said.
*Much more at link!

Article:
http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2010/mar/22/relative-of-gardners-mother-comes-to-her-defense/

 

[Angel Who Cares]

Gardner's truck repossessed four days after Amber Dubois went missing
Posted: Mar 20, 2010 2:14 AM EDT
Updated: Mar 20, 2010 7:56 PM EDT
<snipped>
A white pickup truck once owned by accused killer John Gardner has become the focus of crime scene investigators in the Amber Dubois murder case. Records obtained by News 8 show the truck was repossessed from Gardner just four days after the 14-year-old went missing. The repossession documents prove Gardner was still driving the truck when Amber Dubois vanished while walking to Escondido High School on February 13, 2009.

Hashemi owns the Value Cars dealership in National City. "We had an offsite sale at Qualcomm Stadium and he bought the vehicle there. It was a 2004 Chevy Silverado truck," Hashemi recalled.

At the Qualcomm Stadium tent sale, Hashemi remembers Gardner traded in a red 2000 Chevrolet Tracker with 266,795 miles on it. The registered owner of the Tracker was Gardner's mother, Cathy Osborn. The transaction stuck in Hashemi's mind because the mileage was extraordinarily high for a 2000 Tracker.

Gardner purchased the white Silverado on October 15, 2006 with 34,918 miles on it. "Evidently he did not make payments," Hashemi said. "They repossessed the vehicle on February 17, 2009."

When it was repossessed, the Silverado had 115, 695 miles on it, according to records provided by Hashemi. That means Gardner put 80,777 miles on the Silverado over the course of 28 months, which averages out to about 35,000 miles per year.

PDF: Notice of Repossession
http://ftpcontent.worldnow.com/kfmb/misc/repo_letter.pdf

Video: Gardner's truck repossessed four days after Amber Dubois went missing 0:31
http://www.cbs8.com/global/category...default&clipId=4638824&flvUri=&partnerclipid=

Article:
http://www.cbs8.com/Global/story.asp?S=12174713

 

[Angel Who Cares]

No sign of teen turns up in desert search
Monday, March 22, 2010 at 2:31 p.m.
<snipped>
About 70 people, including Amber Dubois&#8217; father, searched a remote section of the Anza-Borrego Desert over the weekend for a 16-year-old boy who has been missing since November but were unable to find any trace of him.

Mickey Guidry, a San Marcos High School student, has not been seen since Thanksgiving weekend when he took his parents&#8217; Jeep Cherokee without permission to meet some friends in the desert, said family friend Chris Crawford. On Saturday, volunteers spent 10 hours scouring the rocky and rugged terrain in and around the trail where the Jeep was found. Crawford said they eliminated several areas but still have more places to look in the desolate and harsh environment.

The teen was at a campsite off Split Mountain Road in Ocotillo Wells when he left, presumably to go home. He drove off on an isolated dirt road. The Jeep was found that weekend broken down and abandoned on an off-road trail in Fish Creek Wash with the keys, the teen&#8217;s wallet and other belongings still inside, Crawford said. It was about eight miles from the nearest paved road.

The Sheriff&#8217;s Department conducted a search from land and the air about three weeks later and discovered a blanket that belonged to the teen about 1½ miles northeast of the abandoned Jeep. No other sign of him was ever found.

Crawford said the family appreciated the volunteers&#8217; efforts, especially the help of Moe Dubois, who was instrumental in getting searchers organized.

More information can be found at:
http://mickeyguidry.com/

Article:
http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2010/mar/22/no-sign-of-teen-turns-up-in-desert-search/

 

[Angel Who Cares]

Attorneys acquainted with high-profile cases
March 22, 2010 at 8:57 p.m., updated March 22, 2010 at 11:22 p.m.
<snipped>
Defense lawyers Michael Popkins and Mel Epley, both of the county Public Defender&#8217;s Office, requested the order that bars all parties in the case from commenting publicly about Gardner. Deputy District Attorney Kristen Spieler, the prosecutor, did not object. Most recently, she prosecuted Richard Saldivar, 40, who was arrested in the October stabbing death of his 28-year-old neighbor, Jennifer Lee Jones, in Rancho Bernardo. Saldivar pleaded guilty to first-degree murder and is scheduled to be sentenced next month.

Spieler worked as a deputy city attorney in San Diego before then-District Attorney Paul Pfingst hired her in 1998. She was named prosecutor of the year in 2008 by the Deputy District Attorneys Association of San Diego County.

Popkins, 59, is Gardner&#8217;s lead attorney. He has more than 30 years&#8217; experience and has been an adjunct faculty member at California Western School of Law. In 1992, Popkins defended Hai Van Nguyen, an Orange County man accused of killing an El Cajon liquor store owner. Nguyen, then 19, avoided the death penalty by pleading guilty to felony charges days after another man, Robert Alton Harris, became the first inmate in 25 years to be executed after California reinstated the death penalty. Six years later, Popkins represented Veronica Gonzales of Chula Vista, who &#8212; along with her husband, Ivan &#8212; was convicted of torturing and murdering her 4-year-old niece in 1995. Authorities said the couple burned the child with scalding water and waited hours before seeking assistance. They became the first couple in California history to be sent to death row together.

Epley has more than 20 years of experience defending people accused of offenses ranging from theft to murder. Most recently, Epley, 45, handled the case of Dragon Jones, whom authorities dubbed &#8220;The Backroom Bandit.&#8221; Jones was accused of robbing 20 small businesses in a month last year. At each location, Jones ordered a female employee into a backroom and warned her not to call police. He was sentenced to 14 years in prison.

Steigerwalt said Epley is a skilled researcher and legal writer, which &#8212; coupled with Popkins&#8217; experience in high-profile cases &#8212; makes them well-suited to handle the Gardner case. &#8220;It&#8217;s a good combination,&#8221; Steigerwalt said. &#8220;Between those two lawyers, everything that needs to be covered will be.&#8221;
*Much More At Link!

Profiles:
**Kristen Spieler
*Position: Deputy district attorney
*Age: 44
*Education:Bachelor&#8217;s degree, University of California San Diego; law degree, California Western School of Law
*Passed the bar: 1994
*Home: Point Loma

**Michael Popkins
*Position: Deputy public defender
*Age: 59
*Education:Bachelor&#8217;s degree, Villanova University; law degree, University of San Diego School of Law
*Passed the bar: 1976
*Home: Tierrasanta

**Mel Epley
*Position: Deputy public defender
*Age: 45
*Education: Bachelor&#8217;s degree, San Diego State University; law degree, University of San Diego School of Law
*Passed the bar: 1989
*Home: Chula Vista

Article:
http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2010/mar/22/attorneys-acquainted-high-profile-gardner/

 

[Angel Who Cares]

Chelsea&#8217;s Law could create one-strike provision for sex offenders
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
<snipped>
A law that could create a one-strike provision and reform parole and monitoring for registered sex offenders will be introduced into legislation in April, a state lawmaker said Tuesday.

Assemblyman Nathan Fletcher and Chelsea&#8217;s parents, Brent and Kelly King, gathered Tuesday to announce the legislative effort and a timeline for the Assembly Public Safety Committee to consider it. &#8220;The primary responsibility of government is public safety; the protection of the innocent, the vulnerable, our children,&#8221; Fletcher said. &#8220;This has to be our highest priority.&#8221;

Fletcher and the Chelsea&#8217;s Light Foundation &#8212; an organization formed in the wake of King&#8217;s death &#8212; will host a Chelsea&#8217;s Law forum March 30 at 6:30 p.m. at Maranatha Chapel in Rancho Bernardo. Fletcher said he and Brent and Kelly King want to provide information about existing sex offender laws, and allow the community to give input on Chelsea&#8217;s Law.

Authorities are also investigating whether Gardner is involved with the disappearance and death of 14-year-old Amber Dubois, whose remains were found March 6 in Pala.
*More at link!

Kelly King speaks about Chelsea's Law on Tuesday.

Article:
http://www.sdnn.com/sandiego/2010-0...create-one-strike-provision-for-sex-offenders

 

[Angel Who Cares]

REGION: King family joins assemblyman to announce sex predator bill
Nathan Fletcher says changes needed to 'one-strike' law, parole system and tracking

March 23, 2010 7:51 pm
<snipped>
The parents of Chelsea King asked Thursday for public support in their efforts with a state lawmaker to review and tighten restrictions governing sex offenders in California.

"If our laws were smarter and bolder, Chelsea might still be here," said her father, Brent King. "If there was greater accountability for enforcement of existing laws, Chelsea might still be here." "I beg everyone to be relentless and to join a new group of warriors," said Chelsea's mother, Kelly King. "Warriors for change and for Chelsea's Light."

The grieving parents joined with Assemblyman Nathan Fletcher, R-San Diego, at a press conference as the lawmaker formally announced his intent to introduce legislation next month bearing Chelsea's name. Fletcher said his proposed "Chelsea's Law" will address three areas: changes to the "one-strike" provision that governs certain sex offense cases; parole reform; and better electronic tracking of sex offenders.

Fletcher and the Kings also announced a public forum set for next week to explain sex offender laws and seek community input and suggestions for change. The forum will be at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Maranatha Chapel in Rancho Bernardo.
*Much More At Link!

Brent King's statement:
Twenty-seven days ago, on a beautiful day, a lot like today, in the middle of the afternoon, our daughter Chelsea went for a run in a public park. Other kids were playing baseball, softball, shooting baskets, just enjoying life. During her run, our daughter's life was brutally, tragically taken away from her, and our family's world was shattered.

If our laws were smarter and bolder, Chelsea might still be here. If there was greater accountability for enforcement of existing laws, Chelsea might still be here. If our elected officials, Republicans, Democrats, assemblymen and congressmen, judges and governors made decisions based on how that decision would affect their own daughter or their own son, there would be swift and decisive reform for all of our children now. This is why we're here today. Not just to change how we protect our children from predators, but to revolutionize how we as a society keep them safe ---- in Chelsea's name.

Some might argue that we shouldn't move so swiftly, but Chelsea never moved slowly. And neither will we. Each day is a new day of danger for our children under our current laws. Please, I'm asking everybody, please, as a parent who is living with this pain every minute of every day, I'm asking that you help us seize this moment and help us make these changes now. Thank you.

Kelly King's statement
On the day that Chelsea was born, I was given the most precious gift that anyone could imagine. It is the same gift that every parent is given on the day their child is born. A new life to cherish and to love and protect. With this gift also comes the greatest responsibility anyone could ever imagine. And we welcomed it with a strong and eager heart.

From that day forward, I promised my precious baby girl I would love her and care for her all the days of her life and my life. I would love her with all my being, my heart and all my energy. One month ago, the life I envisioned 17 years ago and was so blissfully fulfilling was horribly and irreparably changed forever. What didn't change was my promise to Chelsea. I continue to love and care for her and protect her spirit and the legacy she created during her time here on earth. But I will also make a new promise. I promise to do all I can to protect other daughters and other mothers from this incomprehensible nightmare I am walking through.

I can't do this alone. Above all else, I am and always will be a mother to Tyler (Chelsea's younger brother) and a wife to Brent. I need every parent, every lawmaker, every citizen to stand with me. I am strong, but the weight of this task ahead will take every single one of us doing the right thing to ensure that this promise can never be broken. I beg everyone to be relentless and to join a new group of warriors, warriors for change and for Chelsea's Light. Thank you.

Brent King asked supporters to visit the two Web sites the family has set up in pursuit of their efforts to change laws.
The first is the official site of their foundation:
http://www.chelseaslight.org/

Brent King asked supporters to visit the two Web sites the family has set up in pursuit of their efforts to change laws.
The second site is a Facebook page:
http://www.facebook.com/chelseaslight

Article:
http://www.nctimes.com/news/local/sdcounty/article_5e19fd3b-2fa8-501d-8cd3-e17555925807.html

 

[Angel Who Cares]

Push to add self-defense curriculum to schools
Posted: Mar 23, 2010 4:44 PM EDT
Updated: Mar 23, 2010 4:56 PM EDT
<snipped>
A San Diego lawmaker is taking action after the murders of Chelsea King and Amber Dubois. She's pushing to have self-defense taught in public schools. State Senator Christine Kehoe is planning to introduce legislation to create self-defense programs starting in seventh grade.

Wilson has received a lot of positive feedback about her suggestion. "One woman called me and said it could be called 'Chelsea's Course', Wilson said.

FORM: You can make your voice heard by calling your local assemblymen and senators. Senator Kehoe has a form on her web site where you can show your support.
http://legplcms01.lc.ca.gov/PublicLCMS/SurveysDirect.aspx?district=SD39&survey=1206&

Video: Push to add self-defense curriculum to schools 2:33
http://www.cbs8.com/global/category...default&clipId=4644275&flvUri=&partnerclipid=

Article:
http://www.cbs8.com/Global/story.asp?S=12191159

 

[Angel Who Cares]

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EuW4QZ2eHRU[/ame]

 

[Angel Who Cares]

ESCONDIDO: Local leaders pledge to tighten control on sex offenders
Hundreds attend informational panel on predator laws
March 23, 2010 10:52 pm
<snipped>
About 500 people attended a forum Tuesday night in Escondido on how to tighten the state's sexual-predator laws. State legislators, city leaders, law enforcement officers and educators participated in the two-hour meeting at the California Center for the Arts, Escondido to discuss how to better protect the community against violent sexual predators and what measures are being taken to address gaps in the laws.

The informational panel was held in response to the recent slayings of local teens Amber Dubois and Chelsea King. John Albert Gardner III, a registered sex offender, was charged earlier this month with raping and murdering Chelsea and is a focus in the investigation of Amber's death.

Tuesday night's panel also included presentations from state Sen. Mark Wyland, R-Carlsbad, Escondido Mayor Lori Holt Pfeiler, Escondido police Chief Jim Maher, Escondido Union Elementary District Superintendent Jennifer Walters and Escondido Union High School District Superintendent Ed Nelson.

Amber's remains were found in Pala on March 6, more than a year after the 14-year-old disappeared while walking to Escondido High School. At Tuesday's forum, three Escondido high school students gave Fletcher a petition signed by about 2,000 students asking for better protection from sex predators. "Stricter regulation and monitoring of sexual offenders is urgently needed for the protection of our community," one of the students said reading from the petition. "Public officials must realize that those who need protection now are our future political, business and social leaders of our community. Protecting them is protecting San Diego's future."
*More at link!

Article:
http://www.nctimes.com/news/local/escondido/article_df55388a-cd88-5d0e-95c4-74c0295122e0.html

 

[Angel Who Cares]

Living with their loss
Slain teen&#8217;s parents try to cope, move forward
Tuesday, March 23, 2010 at 5:16 p.m.
<snipped>
The college acceptance letters keep coming, two this week. &#8220;Every time I get one I cry,&#8221; said Kelly King, whose daughter Chelsea, a senior at Poway High School, had applied to 11 schools and was awaiting word when she was killed. &#8220;They are tears of profound sorrow, but also tears of profound joy,&#8221; Kelly King said. &#8220;She spent basically her whole life working toward these moments. These are all the culmination of all that hard work and everything she wanted. I&#8217;m so proud of her.&#8221;

College acceptance letters from the University of Washington, Colorado, Denver, Emerson College, UC-Davis and others have been received. A couple of admission counselors later followed up with letters of condolences, Kelly King said. Brent King said Chelsea had planned on visiting every school she was accepted to before making a decision. &#8220;I told her: &#8216;Chels, every one of these schools will accept you if they really know who you are.&#8217; &#8221;

The Kings did not want to discuss aspects of the case against John Albert Gardner III, a convicted sex offender charged with murder and rape in connection to the case. Brent King did say from what they have been told &#8212; and they haven&#8217;t been told a great deal **&#8212; the case is &#8220;air tight&#8221; against Gardner, who was arrested on DNA evidence two days after Chelsea disappeared. He pleaded not guilty to felony charges March 3 in what could become a death-penalty case.

The Kings said family, friends, and &#8220;angels sent to us by Chelsea&#8221; have helped get them through everything. Who are the angels? &#8220;When they read the article they&#8217;ll know who they are,&#8221; Brent King said.

A week after Gardner&#8217;s arrest, Amber&#8217;s remains were found in a remote location north of the community of Pala. The Escondido High School freshman had been missing for more than a year. Authorities have not said how they were led to Amber, saying only that Gardner is a focus of the investigation. The Kings will attend Amber&#8217;s memorial service on Saturday at the high school. &#8220;We will participate as much as they ask us to,&#8221; Brent King said.
*Much more at link!

Article:
http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2010/mar/23/theres-no-preparation-turn-our-lives-took/

 

[Angel Who Cares]

Megan&#8217;s Law is focus of Escondido public forum
Wednesday, March 24, 2010 at 12:05 a.
<snipped>
About 300 people attended a community forum yesterday to learn the facts about Megan&#8217;s Law, which allows public access to information about registered sex offenders living in the community. The two-hour meeting, held at the California Center for the Arts, was sponsored by the city and the Escondido Chamber of Commerce and featured presentations from several local and state officials, including state Sen. Mark Wyland, R-Solana Beach, and Escondido Police Chief Jim Maher.

Megan&#8217;s Law is named after 7-year-old Megan Kanka of New Jersey, who was raped and murdered in 1994 by a convicted child molester who lived across the street from the girl&#8217;s family. The law allows public access to information about registered sex offenders. In 1996, Congress required all states to release information to the public about convicted sex offenders, usually through CD-ROMs and databases that could be accessed at police stations.

California expanded its version of Megan&#8217;s Law in 2004, allowing sex offenders&#8217; addresses and photos to be placed on a public Web site. However, there are some limits. Under state law, information about some sex offenders is not subject to disclosure and therefore is not included on the Web site.

Mike Woods of San Marcos, who is retired from the Los Angeles County Sheriff&#8217;s Department, said he attended last night&#8217;s meeting because he has an interest in the implementation of sex offender laws. He said he believed we have enough laws to address the problem, but parole and law enforcement officials are &#8220;handicapped&#8221; when it comes to enforcing them, without the proper resources, technology and support from government.
*More at link!

Article:
http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2010/mar/24/megans-law-is-focus-of-escondido-public-forum/

 

[Angel Who Cares]

Questions on Gardner case for state panel
Wednesday, March 24, 2010 at 12:05 a.m.
<snipped>
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger yesterday demanded answers to four questions about the state&#8217;s handling of convicted sex offender John Albert Gardner III, charged in the death of Poway teenager Chelsea King.

In a letter to his advisory Sex Offender Management Board, Schwarzenegger called on members to determine:
&#8226;Why was Gardner not labeled as a sexually violent predator or high-risk sexual offender before his release?
&#8226;Were his parole residency rules appropriate and properly enforced?
&#8226;Were parole violations handled according to state policies and law?
&#8226;What other steps should have been taken?

Schwarzenegger&#8217;s letter clarified his earlier directives to the sex offender board charged with investigating whether the state&#8217;s prison and parole systems failed Chelsea. The letter was released a day before two of the governor&#8217;s top prison chiefs are scheduled to testify before an Assembly committee investigating the history and reasoning behind state policy &#8212; since rescinded &#8212; to destroy field files kept by agents a year after discharging a parolee.
*More at link!

Article:
http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2010/mar/24/state-board-must-account-for-gardner-case-handling/

 

[Angel Who Cares]

How do we make Megan's Law really work?
Posted: Mar 23, 2010 10:07 PM EDT
Updated: Mar 24, 2010 11:44 AM EDT
<snipped>
Megan's Law may have been a start, but many parents are upset that it does not go far enough to protect kids from predators. A public forum in Escondido was underway Tuesday to talk about Megan's Law's problems and how to fix them.

A News 8 Investigation found the state's Megan's Law web site mapping out sex offenders' reported addresses to be a confusing sea of blue dots, showing hundreds of sex offenders with the same vague charge as Gardner's -- "committed a lewd act against a child" -- without explaining the circumstances or flagging the most violent offenders.

For that a courthouse records search is needed, but News 8's Jeff Zevely demonstrated that often yields no additional information. So what needs to be done? "The number one thing that would help protect our children in this county is if the police could direct their attention like a laser beam on the highest risk offenders and not spend their time working on the medium- and low-risk offenders. That would be more productive," former district attorney Paul Pfingst said.

Video: Critics and parents discuss ways to fix Megan's Law 2:16
http://www.cbs8.com/global/category...default&clipId=4646938&flvUri=&partnerclipid=

Video: How do we make Megan's Law really work? 2:24
http://www.cbs8.com/global/category...default&clipId=4645497&flvUri=&partnerclipid=

Article:
http://www.cbs8.com/Global/story.asp?S=12192992

 

[Angel Who Cares]

Parents, lawmaker announce goals for Chelsea's Law
Posted: Mar 23, 2010 3:18 PM EDT
Updated: Mar 23, 2010 9:18 PM EDT
<snipped>
Brent and Kelly King said in an interview they will begin their effort in Sacramento by backing a state bill being called Chelsea's Law in honor of their daughter. The bill is expected to be introduced next month in the state Legislature.

The Kings also want to see changes in federal law. If that fails, they intend to work state-by-state for heightened electronic monitoring and other measures targeting sex offenders such as the one charged with the murder of their daughter.

The Kings said they were educating themselves about the legal system while staying focused on their priority of raising Tyler King, Chelsea's younger brother. "We're still in the very infancy of trying to even breathe in the morning," Brent King said. They have met for hours with Assemblyman Nathan Fletcher, a San Diego Republican who intends to introduce Chelsea's Law.

Fletcher appeared Tuesday with the Kings at a news conference and spoke only in broad outlines about the proposed legislation. He said it would include "an effective one-strike provision" to send predators to jail, changes to the parole system and closer monitoring of sex offenders. Fletcher said he was also considering the possibility of lifetime parole with GPS monitoring for sex offenders and having parole violators go before the Board of Parole instead of lower-level corrections officials.
*Much more at link!

Chelsea's Law
http://www.cbs8.com/Global/story.asp?S=12189895

Video: Chelsea's parents unveil law in her honor 2:36
http://www.cbs8.com/global/category...default&clipId=4645245&flvUri=&partnerclipid=

Video: Parents, lawmaker announce goals for Chelsea's Law 2:15
http://www.cbs8.com/global/category...default&clipId=4644128&flvUri=&partnerclipid=

Article:
http://www.cbs8.com/Global/story.asp?S=12190387

 

[Angel Who Cares]

Amid budget crisis, California makes parole easier
Posted: Mar 24, 2010 11:52 AM EDT
Updated: Mar 24, 2010 12:25 PM EDT
<snipped>
California's budget crisis and overcrowded prisons have led to a new reality for thousands of convicted felons: Parole is getting a lot easier - no more random drug tests, travel rules or requirements to check in with an officer.

Restrictions have been relaxed for nonviolent criminals like burglars, drug offenders and swindlers under a new law that aims to shrink the prison population by reducing the number of minor parole violations that send ex-cons back to prison.

About 24,000 nonviolent ex-cons are expected to qualify for less supervision. The number includes many people already on parole and those expected to be paroled over the next year.

Nonviolent offenders leaving prison will still be required to register their addresses with the prisons agency, but a state parole officer won't check up on them. Unannounced home visits and searches will be left to local law enforcement, if anyone at all.
*Much more at link!

Video: Amid budget crisis, California makes parole easier 0:30
http://www.cbs8.com/global/category...default&clipId=4647166&flvUri=&partnerclipid=

Article:
http://www.cbs8.com/Global/story.asp?S=12195826

 

[Angel Who Cares]

Kings Back Assemblyman's 'Chelsea's Law' Plan
POSTED: 12:00 pm PDT March 23, 2010
UPDATED: 7:05 pm PDT March 23, 2010
<snipped>
"If our laws were smarter and bolder, Chelsea might still be here," said her father, Brent King. "If there was greater accountability for enforcement of existing laws, Chelsea might still be here. "If our elected officials ... Republicans, Democrats, assemblymen and congressmen, judges and governors ... made decisions based on how that decision would affect their own daughter or their own son, there'd be swift and decisive reform for all of our children now," he said.

Assemblyman Nathan Fletcher, whose 75th District includes Rancho Bernardo and Poway, said a proposed new law designed to better protect children against sexual predators -- called Chelsea's Law -- will be introduced early next month.

Brent and Kelly King have established the Chelsea's Light Foundation, designed to support legislative, educational and other viable remedies to support sexual predators from harming children. The "Chelsea's Law Forum" will be held March 30 at Maranatha Chapel in Rancho Bernardo to offer the community a chance to learn about the existing sex offender laws and to give input into what can be done to better protect children, Fletcher said.

Raw Video: Assemblyman, King Family Speak On 'Chelsea's Law' 27:24
http://www.10news.com/video/22924919/

Video: King Family Calls For Sex Predator Law Changes 2:32
http://www.10news.com/video/22925787/

Article:
http://www.10news.com/news/22921656/detail.html

 

[Angel Who Cares]

Kings call for swift changes to sexual predator laws
Updated: Mar 24, 2010 at 10:16 AM PDT
<snipped>
The parents of slain Poway High senior Chelsea King called today for swift changes in the law to strengthen protections for children against violent sexual predators. The 17-year-old honors student disappeared Feb. 25 during a run in Rancho Bernardo Community Park. Her body was discovered five days later in a tributary of Lake Hodges. Convicted sex offender John Albert Gardner III is charged with her rape and murder.

Video: Kings call for swift changes to sexual predator laws 4:41
The parents of slain Poway High senior Chelsea King called today for swift changes in the law to strengthen protections for children against violent sexual predators.
http://www.kusi.com/home/88963657.html?video=YHI&t=a

Article:
http://www.kusi.com/home/88963657.html