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Ex-prosecutor sues over fight with colleague

MARTINEZ  (AP) — A former Northern California prosecutor has filed a lawsuit against a former colleague over an office fistfight.

The Contra Costa County prosecutors had been at odds since the 2010 election of a new district attorney. Paul Sequeira and Harold Jewett had backed opposing candidates.

The 53-year-old Sequeira filed a Superior Court lawsuit on Wednesday claiming Jewett, who is 55, punched him during an argument and he needed hospital care. He's seeking unspecified financial damages.

Jewett says he acted in self-defense after an office argument escalated.

Sequeira was third in command at the Martinez district attorney's officer. Jewett is a senior prosecutor.

Youth counselor sentenced for child porn

OAKLAND (AP) — A former youth counselor in Martinez has been sentenced to 29 years in federal prison following his conviction on child pornography charges.

The San Francisco Chronicle reports (http://bit.ly/wk7F0C) that a U.S. District Court judge in Oakland issued the sentence against 54-year-old Thomas Jewell on Wednesday. Jewell pleaded guilty to one count of producing child pornography in November.

Authorities say he molested two teenage boys and produced images of the abuse.

Jewell worked as a youth mental health counselor at Juvenile Hall in Martinez before his 2010 arrest. It's not clear whether he met the teens there.

NorCal woman indicted in Ponzi scheme

AMERICAN CANYON  (AP) — A Northern California woman is among two people facing charges in a Ponzi scheme that prosecutors say bilked investors out of $75 million.

The indictments against 55-year-old Jacquline Hoegel of American Canyon in Napa County and 62-year-old William Wise, formerly of Raleigh, N.C., were unsealed on Wednesday. They are each charged with conspiracy and mail and wire fraud.

Prosecutors say the pair promised investors returns sometimes greater than 16 percent from overseas investments, but used the money for themselves and to cover interest payments to earlier investors.

Special-ed teacher pleads not guilty to abuse

REDWOOD CITY  (AP) — A San Mateo County special education teacher has pleaded not guilty to charges that she slapped and kicked her young students.

Forty-three-year-old Alexia Bogdis entered her plea Thursday to five counts of child cruelty and four counts of battery. All charges are misdemeanors.

Prosecutors say Bogdis slapped a 5-year-old boy and kicked him in the stomach at Roosevelt Elementary School in Redwood City. She's also accused of kicking the back of another 5-year-old's chair, twisting his wrist and withholding food.

NBC acquires America's Cup rights

 

SAN FRANCISCO  (AP) — The America's Cup will be on network TV for the first time since 1992 when NBC broadcasts the first two races of sailing's marquee regatta on San Francisco Bay in September 2013.

Officials told The Associated Press that the deal with the NBC Sports Group also includes three broadcasts on NBC this year from the America's Cup World Series. The remaining races in the America's Cup match will be on cable on NBC Sports Network.

The deal is big for regatta organizers who hope to showcase the modernized America's Cup to mainstream fans. Racing will be on a short course close to shore rather than miles out to sea, and in fast, wing-sailed catamarans rather than plodding sloops.