Hochman makes case for bail, parole reforms with two convictions
Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan J. Hochman pointed to two August convictions last week as evidence of the need for bail and parole reform, after one defendant absconded while free on reduced bail and the other reoffended while on parole for a prior violent sex crime.
Calvin Lane was out of custody on court-reduced bail during his trial for sex trafficking multiple victims, including a minor, between May and July 2023. Sometime between Aug. 26 and 27, days before closing arguments, Lane absconded; the court found he had voluntarily absented himself and allowed the trial to proceed. A jury convicted him Aug. 28 of forcible trafficking of a minor for a commercial sex act, human trafficking of an adult, pandering of an adult and felon in possession of a firearm. He faces more than 70 years to life in state prison at sentencing and remains at large.
Separately, Dijon O’Neal was on parole for a 2016 conviction for forcible sexual assault of a commercial sex worker when he raped two women and sexually assaulted a third at knifepoint on three separate dates in December 2023, luring each victim through commercial sex websites to abandoned houses. O’Neal pleaded no contest Aug. 20 to two counts of forcible rape and one count of forcible oral copulation, and faces 34 years to life in prison at his Oct. 14 sentencing.
“These cases also unfortunately highlight the significant consequences to public safety when judges or parole boards release dangerous individuals with a history of violent crime from custody. I urge anyone with information on Calvin Lane’s whereabouts to contact law enforcement so he can face sentencing for his egregious crimes,” said Hochman.
Anyone with information on Calvin Lane’s whereabouts can anonymously contact LA Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (800-222-8477) or www.lacrimestoppers.org.
Bass touts 66 arrests in street takeover crackdown
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass praised a multi-agency law enforcement operation this weekend that led to 66 arrests and dispersed a crowd of more than 700 people gathered for an illegal street takeover at South Figueroa Street and West Alondra Boulevard.
More than 150 LAPD officers, along with personnel from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department and California Highway Patrol, moved in around 3:20 a.m. Saturday as part of “Operation Street Sweeper,” according to LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell, who held a press conference at the same intersection Saturday afternoon.
McDonnell said 66 people were arrested on suspicion of participating in or aiding a street race or takeover, with three additional arrests for assaulting an officer, battery and obstructing officers. Police issued 570 citations, including 442 to spectators and 128 to juveniles violating the city’s 10 p.m. curfew, and impounded roughly 200 vehicles.
According to Patch and MyNewsLA, the operation relied on drone technology and prior intelligence tracking four planned takeover sites that night, and the intersection had previously appeared on an LAPD list of the department’s most problematic takeover locations.
“Let me be clear: there is zero tolerance for illegal street racing and street takeovers in Los Angeles. These are inherently dangerous and put the lives of drivers, spectators, and innocent bystanders at risk. We will continue to prioritize prevention, deterrence, and enforcement to protect Angelenos, businesses, and neighborhoods and ensure those involved face consequences,” said Bass.
Allen’s insurance reform package heads to Newsom’s desk
State Sen. Ben Allen (D-Santa Monica, West Hollywood, Beverly Hills, South Bay) advanced two insurance reform bills through the Legislature last week aimed at protecting policyholders from wrongful coverage drops and holding insurers accountable when they fail to fix identified problems.
California has the fourth-highest rate of insurance nonrenewals in the nation, contributing to a 250% increase in the FAIR Plan’s total exposure since 2022, according to Allen’s office.
SB 1301 would require nonrenewal notices to explain the specific reasoning behind a decision, give policyholders a path to fix the identified risk, and provide 90 days’ notice before a policy expires, up from current practice, giving homeowners time to remediate or shop for new coverage before landing on the FAIR Plan.
SB 1209 would let the Department of Insurance impose penalties of up to $20,000 per violation, through a formal hearing process, when insurers fail to implement corrective actions identified in the department’s own market examinations.
“California ratepayers have faced an increasingly difficult insurance market, with rising premiums and fewer options available to them in the face of increasing disaster risk. Working families need better protections to maintain their existing policies and ensure businesses are operating in a manner that best serves them. Otherwise, we risk further burdening the FAIR Plan, pricing more Californians out of homeownership, and inadequate coverage for when disaster strikes,” said Allen.
Gov. Gavin Newsom has until Sept. 30 to sign or veto both bills.
Torres pushes $20 federal minimum wage on Labor Day
U.S. Rep. Norma Torres (D-Pomona, San Bernardino County) introduced legislation on Labor Day yesterday that would raise the federal minimum wage from $7.25 an hour to $20 by 2029.
The Better Pay for American Workers Act would raise the federal floor to $15 in 2027, $17.50 in 2028 and $20 in 2029, then tie future increases to growth in the national median hourly wage. The federal minimum has held at $7.25 since 2009, even as grocery costs have risen 60% and rent has more than doubled over the same period, according to Torres’s office.
“Working people are doing everything right and still struggling to keep up. Seven dollars and twenty-five cents an hour simply does not cut it in today’s economy. If you work hard and put in a full day’s work, you should be able to afford a roof over your head, food on the table, and the basic necessities your family depends on,” said Torres.
California’s minimum wage already stands at $16.90 an hour, rising to $17.40 in January, with higher minimums already in place for fast-food and health care workers. In the Inland Empire, Torres’s office estimates the living wage for a single adult with no children at $28.26 an hour.
“Americans should not have to work multiple jobs just to make ends meet. While even $20 an hour is not enough, we need to take a step in the right direction toward a living wage, and it is past time for Congress to stand with working families, raise wages, and give Americans a better chance to get ahead,” said Torres.
