SF 'LANDLORDS FROM HELL' PLEAD GUILTY TO FELONIES: SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — A couple that prosecutors dubbed the "landlords from hell" for going to scary lengths to drive tenants from a San Francisco apartment building have pleaded guilty to several felonies.
Prosecutors said Wednesday that 37-year-old Nicole Macy and 38-year-old Kip Macy threatened to shoot tenants, changed locks, cleared apartments of belongings, and sawed holes in floors. They say it was all to drive renters out of their building in the increasingly pricey South of Market neighborhood.
The Macys each pleaded guilty to two felony counts of residential burglary, stalking and attempted grand theft.
The crimes occurred between 2005 and 2007 but the Macys had fled to Italy after their 2009 indictment. They reached a plea deal after they were extradited and will each be sentenced to four years and four months in prison.
SONOMA COUNTY REJECTS STATE BEACH PARKING FEES: SANTA ROSA (AP) — Authorities in Sonoma County have turned down a bid to charge for parking at state beaches.
County supervisors on Tuesday denied an appeal by the California Department of Parks and Recreation.
A county zoning board earlier rejected a plan to charge $7 to park at 14 beaches.
However, state officials can still appeal to the California Coastal Commission.
The Chronicle says beach parking is a sensitive issue in the Bay Area and residents have waged epic fights to preserve free public access.
SEARCH SUSPENDED FOR MISSING LIVERMORE KAYAKER: LIVERMORE (AP) — The search for a missing kayaker who disappeared in Lake Del Valle in Livermore is being suspended while crews seek more funding for additional resources.
East Bay Regional Park police Lt. Jon King told the Contra Costa Times that dive crews still haven't found 30-year-old Michael Perez.
Perez disappeared in the water on Sunday after deciding to go for a swim while kayaking with his sister.
King said officials are trying to get funds to add more divers and higher resolution side-scan sonar to aid in the search.
Officials said Perez had removed his life vest and swam to shore. He was on his way back to the kayak when he began to struggle and called for his life vest.
Perez then disappeared beneath the surface.
TECH CONSULTANT CHARGED IN SILICON VALLEY THEFTS: SAN JOSE (AP) — A San Jose technology consultant has been charged with stealing hundreds thousands of dollars' worth of computer components and credit card information from several Silicon Valley offices.
Santa Clara County prosecutors announced the charges against 39-year-old Andrew Madrid in a statement Wednesday.
The district attorney's office alleges that Madrid stole credit card information from several businesses from Redwood City to Los Altos and used it to buy thousands of dollars in motorcycle parts and an electric wheelchair for his aunt.
Madrid also allegedly targeted the companies' servers and stole computer parts containing personal information.
The charges include 24 counts of commercial burglary, several counts of theft and identity theft, and a count of methamphetamine possession.
Madrid served two years for a similar crime in 2007.
DOG THAT KILLED 6-YEAR-OLD CALIF. BOY EUTHANIZED: UNION CITY (AP) — A pit bull mix that bit and killed a six-year-old boy in Northern California has been euthanized.
The San Jose Mercury News reports the dog was put down Tuesday.
Police said the dog bit Nephi Selu of Dixon on top of his head Monday morning at his grandparents' home in Union City.
Emergency crews took Nephi to Lucile Packard Children's Hospital in Palo Alto. He was declared dead about 4½ hours after he was bitten.
The dog's owner was a San Mateo police officer and the boy's uncle. He believed the boy's injuries were not serious and went to work before learning the boy died.
No charges have been filed in the case yet.
MAN SHOT BY DEPUTY AT OAKLAND BURGER JOINT ID'D: OAKLAND (AP) — A man suspected of trying to rob an Oakland burger restaurant at gunpoint before being shot and killed by a sheriff's deputy has been identified as a 32-year-old Oakland resident.
The Alameda County Sheriff's Department identified the man as Quincy Williams on Tuesday.
Sheriff's officials said Williams was dressed in all black when he entered Burger Boulevard around 10 p.m. Friday as the restaurant was closing.
They say he brandished a gun and demanded cash before getting into a struggle with restaurant employees. One employee allegedly grabbed Williams' gun while the other punched Williams.
Another employee rushed outside and found deputies who were conducting a traffic stop.
Sheriff's spokesman Sgt. J.D. Nelson says one of the deputies shot and killed Williams when he did not drop his gun as ordered.
