A man, who Riverside County Superior Court records say called himself “The Godfather,” was ordered to serve 54 years in state prison and pay $23 million in fines for masterminding a criminal organization that attempted to bilk the state out of $150 million in a workers’ compensation fraud, the District Attorney’s Office said on Monday, April 15. Judge Charles J. Koosed sentenced Peyman Heidary, 53, on Friday, April 12, after his January conviction on 68 counts of insurance fraud, money laundering, conspiracy and other crimes, including falsely advertising himself as a lawyer. Koosed said Heida ..read more

Seven high school students were injured in La Habra on Wednesday after a collision involving two vehicles caused one car to strike pedestrians, including the students, as they were waiting to cross the street, police said. The collision occurred around 1:34 p.m. in the area of Palm Street and East La Habra Boulevard. A total of eight patients were hospitalized, including one of the drivers, with two people in critical condition, a spokesperson from the Los Angeles County Fire Department said. Details on the circumstances of the crash were not released. Drugs and alcohol are not believed to hav ..read more

SANTA ANA — A state appeals court panel Monday affirmed the conviction of a mother who dropped her 7-month-old son from a Children’s Hospital of Orange County parking structure a decade ago, but sent the case back to a judge to consider whether the woman’s mental illness should weigh in favor of a probation sentence rather than life in prison. Sonia Hermosillo of La Habra was sentenced in May 2022 to 25 years to life in prison for killing her son, Noe. But while the Fourth District Court of Appeal justices found that the jury rightly convicted Hermosillo, who had pleaded not guilty by reason o ..read more

On the heels of opening its first Orange County location in Fountain Valley, Dutch Bros, the Oregon-based coffee empire noted for its expansive menu and chummy customer service, announced plans for a new location in La Habra. “We’re hoping to open the La Habra shop by the end of 2024,” said Dutch Bros public relations specialist Madison Fahey. The new Dutch Bros will be a 950-square-foot space near the southwest corner of Lambert Road and Beach Boulevard., which will come with both drive-though and walk-up window options. SEE ALSO: Mama Hieu’s Vietnamese Fried Chicken opens in Westminster’s Li ..read more

By PAUL ANDERSON SANTA ANA — A 34-year-old man was sentenced Friday to 15 years to life in prison for an alcohol-fueled crash in La Habra that killed a 24- year-old man who was driving home from his girlfriend’s house. Scott Seiji Hisaka was convicted Dec. 4 of second-degree murder for the Sept. 20, 2018, crash that killed Jacob Eddy Farrand. “Losing my son, Jacob, in such a horrific manner was the most devastating thing in my life,” the victim’s mother, Nancy, said in a victim impact statement read in court Friday. Farrand’s mother said she has been in therapy since her son’s death and remain ..read more

There’s a bit of a rematch happening in California’s 38th congressional district. Rep. Linda Sánchez, a Democrat from Whittier who is serving her 11th term, is being challenged by Walnut City Councilmember Eric Ching, pastor John Sarega and entrepreneur Robert Zhang Ochoa. She faced Ching and Sarega in the midterm election in 2022. Voter Guide Series Editor’s Note: This story is part of a series breaking down each of the six congressional races in 2024 in Orange County. We explore the districts and candidates’ platforms. For more, check out our comprehensive voter guide here. Sánchez’s seat is ..read more

A man was found dead on Beach Boulevard in La Habra on Saturday morning, Dec. 23 and police believe he was hit by a vehicle whose driver fled after the crash, authorities said. Police were called to the northbound lanes at Hillsborough Drive just before 7 a.m., where they found the man lying unresponsive in the left lane, police said. Paramedics pronounced the man dead at the scene. “Initial indications are that the death was the result of a hit and run traffic collision,” police said, but further information was not immediately available. The man was not identified by police pending notificat ..read more

La Habra police on Monday, Oct. 23, were investigating the discovery of possible human remains near railroad tracks at Idaho Street. Police were dispatched just before 10 a.m. to Idaho Street, where the railroad tracks cross through several residential areas, regarding what appeared to be “skeletal remains,” according to police. There were no suspects being sought by authorities on Monday. Police were working with officials from the Orange County Sheriff’s Coroner division on identifying the remains. Anyone with information on the remains should contact the detective bureau at 562-383-4300 ..read more

With her blonde wig and a shoe flying off, a woman who authorities said led police on a pursuit in a stolen work truck, rammed patrol cars, blasted through a fence and ran across a freeway finally took refuge in a Denny’s on Sixth Street in Corona on Monday night, Oct. 2. The 26-year-old resident of Los Angeles was led out of the restaurant in handcuffs as news media and law enforcement helicopters circled and curious onlookers photographed her. The woman was arrested on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon, possession of stolen property and evading police. La Habra police said she was on ..read more

A La Habra man was charged Wednesday with fatally stabbing an 84-year-old East Whittier man and attacking a Whittier man in his 70s in their homes. Kaszey Noel Encarnacion pleaded not guilty to murder, attempted aggravated mayhem and two counts of first degree residential burglary with a person present during his Wednesday arraignment at Downey Superior Court, according to Venusse Navid, a spokeswoman for the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office. The murder and attempted aggravated mayhem charges each carry a potential life sentence, she said. The crimes happened on Aug. 28 and in bot ..read more