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Person of Interest Named in Connection with Ongoing Investigation in Southcrest

Law enforcement has named Dwight William Rhone, 74, as a person of interest connected to an ongoing investigation at 3443 Newton Avenue in the Southcrest neighborhood of San Diego. On December 2, human remains were located at the property. A joint law enforcement investigation involving San Diego Police, CHP, FBI and the San Diego County District Attorney’s Office is ongoing. Rhone, who was a previous tenant at the Newton Avenue address, is currently in custody and is charged with the homicide of Bernardo Moreno. Anyone with information regarding Rhone’s potential involvement in additional crimes is asked to call the San Diego Police Homicide Unit at (619) 531-2293 or Crime Stoppers at (888) 580-8477.

On December 2, 2025, San Diego Police Cold Case/Missing Persons investigators and the San Diego County District Attorney’s Office assisted the California Highway Patrol and the Federal Bureau of Investigation in the service of a search warrant at the Newton Street address. C.H.P. Detectives had developed information leading investigators to suspect human remains were on the property. Due to the jurisdiction of the address being in the City of San Diego, San Diego Police Cold Case/Missing Persons detectives in conjunction with the San Diego County District Attorney’s Office will be investigating the circumstances of the remains recovered at the location. Detectives will be working with the San Diego County Medical Examiner’s Office to determine the identity of the remains and the cause of death.

There are no additional details on this case at this time. More information will be provided as it becomes available.

Prison Sentence for Man Convicted of Murdering His Ex-Girlfriend

San Diego County District Attorney Summer Stephan said today that 48-year-old Eduardo Magana has been sentenced to 15 years-to-life in prison for the murder of his former girlfriend, Alexis Berenice Guadarrama Orozco, 33.

Magana was convicted by a jury of second-degree murder in November.

At his trial, prosecutors laid out a timeline that showed the defendant met Guadarrama at the Star Motel in Otay Mesa on July 15. The defendant was later seen placing a large, heavy object in the trunk of his car in the early morning hours of July 16. At the same time, all communication from the victim to her friends and family stopped. Magana was arrested three days later in Bell Gardens, Calif. near Los Angeles.

Guadarrama’s body was never found and is believed to be in the Southern California area. DA Stephan and San Diego Police Chief Scott Wahl are asking for the public’s help locating it.

“Even though we have obtained a measure of justice with the murder conviction and today’s sentencing, true semblance of closure and dignity will come when the victim’s remains are returned to her grieving family,” DA Stephan said. “I am grateful to our prosecution team and the San Diego Police Department detectives who solved this case.”

Anyone with information on this case is asked to contact the San Diego Police Department’s Homicide Unit at 619-531-2293 or the Crime Stoppers anonymous tip line at (888) 580-8477.  Please visit www.sdcrimestoppers.org for information on how to send a web or mobile app tip.

While murder prosecutions where no body has been located are rare, hundreds of such convictions have occurred in the U.S. and here in San Diego County over the past several decades, thanks to advances in forensic science and digital evidence.

Deputy District Attorneys Justine Santiago and Jennifer Crampton prosecuted this case. Assistance on this case was also provided by the Los Angeles Police Department, Los Angeles County Sherriff’s Department, and the San Bernardino County Sherriff’s Department.

DA Launches Elder Scam Prevention Campaign

San Diego County District Attorney Summer Stephan released disturbing numbers today related to the amount money seniors lost in San Diego County from various online and phone scams targeting the elderly. During a one-year period, seniors in the county were scammed out of more than $130 million according to San Diego County’s Elder Justice Task Force (EJTF).

Citing the devastating losses, DA Stephan was joined by law enforcement partners at a news conference today to also share details of a large-scale elder scam prevention campaign that has garnered nearly 26 million advertising impressions since mid-September. The campaign began in September and will continue through the end of the year. Its goal is to educate seniors, their loved ones, caregivers, and the public about the types of scams that are currently most prevalent. The outreach is being led by the DA’s Office and is running on outdoor media, multiple digital platforms, print media, and radio outlets.

“We’ve had enough of criminals aggressively targeting some of the most vulnerable people in San Diego County and, in some cases, bilking them out of their life savings,” DA Stephan said. “We want to educate senior citizens and their families about how to recognize scams and what specific actions they should take if they suspect they are being targeted. At the same time, our collaborative work through the Elder Justice Task Force is reaping rewards in both prosecutions and restitution for victims who previously were devastated by their losses.”

WATCH THE NEWS CONFERENCE, HERE.

The county’s Elder Justice Task Force was formed in 2020 and for the first time, combined investigative resources and critical data sharing from federal, state, and local authorities. Since its inception, the EJTF has tracked or identified more than 4,600 victims and over $325 million in losses in San Diego County. The figures are likely much higher, however, since elder fraud is chronically underreported due to shame and embarrassment. In a game-changing effort, the EJTF combines the efforts of the FBI, U.S. Attorney’s Office, DA’s Office, Law Enforcement Coordination Center, County’s Aging and Independence Services, and local law enforcement to focus solely on the financial exploitation of older adults.

“Elder justice has long been a priority for the FBI and the San Diego Division is passionate about protecting this vulnerable population,” said Special Agent in Charge Mark Dargis of the FBI San Diego Field Office. “Ensuring seniors are safe is part of our mission and we take this violation seriously. We aggressively investigate those who seek to destroy the financial livelihood of our elder community and are committed to holding scammers accountable for their crimes to help restore justice to their victims.”

The Elder Justice Task Force investigates cases, prosecutes criminals, and seizes and recovers lost funds whenever possible. Since October of 2023, the Task Force has identified dozens of suspects who have been investigated by EJTF or are still pending investigation and has filed cases on over 70 defendants in state and federal court. Total losses for San Diego-based victims for all EJTF cases currently being investigated is $4.5 million. The District Attorney’s Office has recovered over $274,000 in victim restitution related to 10 of its prosecutions, money that went directly back to victims. Additionally, the EJTF has recovered more than $16 million of victim funds through federal seizure warrants, bank-to-bank coordination, and active loss prevention measures.

“Scammers who target seniors don’t just steal money — they steal their dignity and security,” said U.S. Attorney Adam Gordon. “When seniors are defrauded, they often lose the financial ability to live their lives on their terms. Early reporting makes all the difference. It has already allowed us to interrupt millions of dollars in scams and return money to victims before it’s gone. We urge anyone who suspects they’ve been targeted to report it immediately. Together, we can stop these fraudsters and give our seniors the peace of mind and financial freedom they have earned.”

Despite the Task Force’s successes, the amount of loss continues to increase year-to-year, leading the DA to create its new outreach campaign to reduce victimization of the county’s older residents. The DA’s Elder Scam Prevention campaign includes a comprehensive media strategy and is running through December 31. It is structured to provide broad awareness, multilingual coverage, and consistent reinforcement during the holiday season when scams are most active.

The campaign’s strategy balances mass reach for visibility with targeted placements for cultural and community relevance. By aligning traditional media with digital channels, it is ensuring that both seniors and their families are reached multiple times in multiple formats, increasing retention of the message.

Two months into the campaign, the combined media efforts have already generated more than 25.9 million impressions and is expected to generate over 43 million impressions and reach approximately 3.5 million unique individuals across San Diego County. This wide reach ensures that seniors, caregivers, and families receive repeated exposure to the prevention message in English, Spanish, Tagalog, and Vietnamese through a combination of traditional, digital, and community-based media channels.

Scams against older adults have grown more sophisticated, with tactics ranging from government impersonation to AI-generated voices mimicking family members. The campaign is anchored by the message “Stop. Hang Up. Tell Someone.” This simple, repeatable call-to-action provides clarity and reduces hesitation when a senior or caregiver encounters a suspicious request.

The Federal Trade Commission warned that scams targeting older adults have skyrocketed in the last four years. Reports of adults 60 and older losing $10,000 or more to impersonation scams have increased more than four-fold since 2020. Even more alarming: combined losses of over $100,000 per victim jumped eight times higher, from $55 million in 2020 to $445 million in 2024.

The DA’s outreach campaign notes that scams almost always follow the same playbook: a call, text, or pop-up warning about a fake “urgent” problem. The scammer—pretending to be from a government agency, bank, or major company—pressures victims into moving money to “protect” it. In reality, they’re tricking people into handing over their cash.

The scams often come in three common forms:

  • “Someone is using your accounts.” They pose as your bank or PayPal, claiming they spotted suspicious activity or unauthorized transactions.
  • “Your information is tied to a crime.” They impersonate law enforcement, warning that your Social Security number is linked to drug trafficking or money laundering.
  • “Your computer has been hacked.” A fake security alert—appearing to be from Microsoft or Apple—directs you to call a number where scammers claim your accounts are compromised.

Once hooked, victims are told to transfer funds, deposit cash into Bitcoin ATMs, or even hand over money or gold to couriers. Different stories—same goal: to steal your money.

How to protect yourself:

  • Never move money to “keep it safe.” No legitimate agency or company will ever tell you to do this.
  • Verify independently. Hang up and call back using a number you know is real—never the one they give you.
  • Stop the call before it starts. Use call-blocking tools to reduce scam attempts.

More information about the campaign and examples of ads can be found on the DA’s website here.

Photo of a gavel over law books and scales of justice.

Pest Control Companies to Pay $3.1 Million in Environmental Settlement

San Diego County District Attorney Summer Stephan today announced a $3.15 million civil settlement against Clark Pest Control of Stockton (Clark), Orkin Services of California (Orkin), and Crane Pest Control (Crane) to resolve allegations that the companies violated state laws governing pesticide, hazardous waste, and customer records privacy laws, by unlawfully disposing of pesticides and hazardous wastes into company waste bins destined for municipal landfills not authorized to accept these wastes. Joining DA Stephan in the lawsuit are the District Attorneys of Contra Costa, Alameda, Santa Clara, San Joaquin, San Mateo, Solano, Sonoma, Yolo, Monterey, Orange, Riverside, and Ventura counties.

The lawsuit also resolves allegations that the companies routinely failed to shred customer records containing confidential information before disposing of those items into the trash.

“By enforcing environmental laws, our Environmental Protection Unit does an outstanding job ensuring that companies don’t profit by cutting corners in ways that harm our communities through pollution, hazardous waste dumping, or other violations,” said DA Stephan. “We will continue to work with regulators and other district attorneys across the state to investigate and prosecute corporations who would break the law and endanger San Diego County’s environmental health and the safety of its residents.”

Clark, Orkin and Crane are residential and commercial pest control service companies owned by Georgia-based Rollins, Inc., with over 70 facilities in California including seven in San Diego County.

The investigation was initiated in 2021 and from March of that year through February 2022, DA investigators throughout the state conducted a series of undercover waste inspections of 40 dumpsters originating at 22 separate Clark and Orkin facilities. The inspections uncovered thousands of unlawfully disposed of toxic, ignitable, and corrosive pesticide and hazardous waste items that were destined for transfer stations and landfills not permitted to receive those wastes.  Those items included containers of pesticide liquids, powders, foams, baits, pellets and aerosol sprays, and hazardous batteries, e-waste, hand sanitizers, caulking, adhesives, and facility cleaning solutions.

The inspections also revealed the pest control companies had improperly managed and disposed of thousands of customer records violating California privacy laws designed to protect consumers by requiring businesses to render personal information in those records unreadable before disposal. Those records included customer service orders, contracts, invoices and route reports.

When Clark and Orkin were notified by the prosecutors of the unlawful disposals, they fully cooperated and quickly responded to enhance company policies and procedures designed to eliminate the improper management and disposal of these prohibited wastes, and to protect confidential customer information in California.

Under the stipulated final judgment, Clark, Orkin and Crane will pay a total of $3,175,000, consisting of:

  • $2,017,000 in civil penalties
  • $400,000 in Supplemental Environmental Compliance projects
  • $333,000 in investigative costs
  • $400,000 in credit for Supplemental Environmental Compliance Measures

San Diego County will receive $125,000.00.

The judgment also requires the companies to comply with a permanent injunction mandating significant operational reforms for a period of no less than five years, including:

  • Retention of a third-party auditor to conduct dumpster audits at a minimum of 10% of its facilities each year for five years.
  • Report the findings of the dumpster audits to the prosecutors.
  • Require that all facility employees complete a training program that ensures compliance with applicable pesticide waste and hazardous waste management and maintain proof of the training for three years.
  • Devote a minimum of two thousand (2,000) hours per year for each year in which the judgment remains in effect to enhanced environmental compliance measures, including compliance reviews of waste accumulation areas, oversight of waste minimization efforts by company technicians, and oversight of enhanced hazardous waste compliance management.

The San Diego DA’s Environmental Protection Unit is part of its Economic Crimes and Consumer Protection Division. Prosecutors in the Unit handle cases involving the illegal treatment, transportation, storage, and disposal of hazardous materials and waste. They also review industrial accidents referred by Cal-OSHA (California Occupational Safety and Health Administration), especially when there are serious safety violations that lead to death, disability, or significant exposure risk. Prosecutions can be criminal or civil depending on the situation.

Deputy District Attorney Michael McCann handled the civil suit on behalf of the San Diego DA’s Office.

 

More Repeat DUI Offenders Responsible for Fatal DUI Numbers

San Diego County District Attorney Summer Stephan announced today that her office is receiving a $950,000 grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety for the twelfth year in a row to prevent and prosecute DUI fatality cases. The grant award comes as the number of San Diego County fatal DUI cases remain on the rise.

In 2024, the DA’s office filed charges against 23 DUI drivers responsible for 28 deaths. So far this year, charges have been filed against 22 DUI drivers responsible for 23 deaths.

“This grant allows our office to continue funding a dedicated team of prosecutors and investigators focused on holding impaired drivers accountable and preventing future tragedies,” DA Stephan said. “Every year, we see far too many lives lost to DUI crashes. As the holiday season approaches, I urge everyone to make responsible choices. Use a rideshare, call a friend, and never let someone drive if they’ve been drinking or using drugs.”

When someone kills another person while DUI, they may be charged with vehicular manslaughter, which carries a penalty of up to 10 years in prison, or even second-degree murder, which carries a penalty of up to 15 years to life in prison. The number of second-degree murder cases involving DUI drivers filed by the DA’s office increased this year, in large part due to the number of repeat DUI offenders responsible for these fatalities. In 2025, the DA’s office filed second degree murder charges against 13 DUI drivers. By comparison, in 2024, the DA’s office filed second degree murder charges against only 5 DUI drivers.

The grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety will allow the DA’s DUI Homicide Unit to continue its critical work, including education and prevention efforts within the community. The specialized unit, which was launched in 2014, has prosecuted hundreds of cases and has received approximately $6 million in funding from the Office of Traffic Safety.

Funding will also be used to:

  • Provide education for young drivers about the dangers of DUI-driving.
  • Provide training for prosecutors and investigators through California’s Traffic Safety Resource Prosecutor Program as well as San Diego County specific trainings.
  • Host quarterly regional meetings with law enforcement partners to improve DUI investigations and prosecutions.

In 2024, the District Attorney’s Office filed 4,389 DUI cases, including 280 DUI drug cases. As of October 29, 2025, the DA’s Office has filed 9,405 DUI cases including 426 DUI drug cases this year. Many of these numbers are significant increases from years past.

Funding from the California Office of Traffic Safety is provided through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The grant program runs through September 2026.

Campo Man Convicted of Felony Animal Cruelty for Neglecting His Dog’s Injury

San Diego County District Attorney Summer Stephan said that Osvaldo Deleon, 61, was sentenced today to 132 days in custody, two years formal probation, and ordered to abide by several conditions for failing to seek medical attention for his dog’s severely injured leg. The dog’s hind leg had an open wound with exposed bone when officials with the county’s Department of Animal Services (DAS) encountered it. The dog was taken into a veterinarian’s care and ultimately her leg had to be amputated.

Deleon was found guilty by a jury of one count of felony animal abuse on October 15. At today’s sentencing Superior Court Judge Herbert Exarhos ordered Deleon not to own animals for 10 years, waive his rights to searches under the Fourth Amendment, and complete a cruelty prevention and education curriculum.

“Our office remains firmly committed to holding individuals accountable for all forms of animal abuse, cruelty, and neglect,” said DA Stephan. “We are dedicated to being a voice for animals who cannot speak for themselves and to seeking justice on their behalf. Working closely with our law enforcement partners and the community, we strive not only to identify and prosecute abuse but also to prevent it before it happens.”

 

“This sentencing reinforces our commitment to protecting the health, safety and welfare of people and animals in unincorporated San Diego County,” said County Animal Services Director Vaughn Maurice. “Eagle’s case shows that these matters are taken seriously and we appreciate the District Attorney’s work in pursuing justice. With community support and our officers’ dedication, we can respond quickly, investigate thoroughly, and ensure animals receive the care and protection they need.”

In the past year, the District Attorney’s Office has filed animal cruelty-related charges in 48 criminal cases.

In December of last year, 61-year-old Todd Schuster was convicted of one count of felony animal cruelty and sentenced to two years in jail for viciously kicking a dog during a road rage incident and then running over the animal with his vehicle, killing it.

Previous animal cruelty-related prosecutions have included an elderly couple who hoarded 92 Yorkshire Terrier and Yorkie-mix dogs in a feces-filled home in Poway and a 31-year-old Oceanside resident who received an eight-year prison sentence for torturing and killing at least 10 cats. The defendant adopted the cats from the San Diego Humane Society and through Craigslist, subjecting them to severe abuse.

In 2018, the DA launched the office’s first-ever Animal Cruelty Prosecution Unit, which provides prosecutorial consistency countywide, investigative support and dedicated expertise for animal abuse cases. Since there is a strong link between animal abuse and violent crimes against people – particularly children and domestic violence – the unit resides within the DA’s Family Protection Division. The unit works closely with police, Sheriff’s deputies, DAS, animal control officers, the San Diego Humane Society, and others to investigate and prosecute animal cruelty cases vertically (one prosecutor handling the case from beginning to end.)

To report suspected animal abuse in San Diego County, you can contact the following agencies depending on the location and type of incident:

  • San Diego Humane Society – They handle animal cruelty investigations in most of San Diego County, including the cities of San Diego, Escondido, Imperial Beach, Poway, Santee, and others.
  • County of San Diego Department of Animal Services – Covers unincorporated areas and certain contract cities.
  • Local Law Enforcement – If an animal is in immediate danger, call 911 or your local police department.

The Osvaldo case was prosecuted by Deputy District Attorney Maura Duffey.

Operation Mic Drop Concludes with Convictions for Dozens of Gang Defendants

San Diego County District Attorney Summer Stephan announced today that a complex, gang-related criminal prosecution resulting from a law enforcement operation conducted in southeast San Diego in 2022 has concluded with the conviction and sentencing of 22 defendants. The defendants were indicted by a grand jury on 221 charges resulting from Operation Mic Drop, a joint investigation conducted by the San Diego Police Department and the FBI targeting violent and drug-related criminal activity centered around Mike’s Market in the Mountain View area of San Diego. The final defendant was sentenced on October 31, closing the multi-defendant case.

In the two years prior to the Operation Mic Drop investigation, the area around Mike’s Market had experienced significant violent crime, including murders, attempted murders, assaults with firearms, robberies, and narcotics sales. There had been four homicides and 1,000 calls to the police, including 160 calls for violence that were occurring at the time. This hub of narcotics and gun activity created a flashpoint for violent crime that endangered the safety of neighborhood residents and impacted their quality of life.

In the three years following the conclusion of Operation Mic Drop, there were no homicides in the area, no robberies, a 75% decrease in calls for service per year, and a 50% decrease in arrests.

 “This prosecution demonstrates how law enforcement strategically identifies and effectively responds to public safety threats and holds organized gangs accountable for large-scale fraud, and illegal drug and gun trafficking,” said DA Stephan. “As a result, peace of mind has been restored in this neighborhood, and the community is significantly safer. It was heartbreaking to hear the voices of the great families in this San Diego neighborhood who were terrorized by crime and violence. Every child, adult and senior deserves to be safe and that’s our goal. I want to thank our law enforcement partners at the FBI and San Diego Police Department for their critical role in investigating these cases, as well as our prosecution team led by Deputy DA Miriam Hemming whose dedication saw this complex case through to the end.”

 

 “The proof is in the numbers on this case of just how effective law enforcement, working with our communities, can be in identifying a problem and bringing all of our resources together to address it,” San Diego Police Chief Scott Wahl said. “I want to commend the work of our investigators and the District Attorney’s Office for their tireless efforts to hold these criminals accountable. This is a win all around for violence reduction in our communities.”

Operation Mic Drop uncovered connections between the market and local gang members facilitating narcotics sales, as well as fraudulent use of food assistance benefits (EBT). A criminal street gang had taken over the location and was using it as a headquarters for narcotics sales, funded by over two million dollars in stolen taxpayer dollars perpetrated by store employees and gang members. Investigators uncovered a scheme where the store employees would illegally allow customers to use their EBT cards to receive cash, which would then be used by the customers to purchase narcotics from the gang members who both provided the drugs and vetted which customers would be allowed to engage in the EBT fraud.

The months-long investigation resulted in convictions on charges including narcotics sales, firearms-related offenses, EBT fraud, and gang enhancements. Defendants’ sentences ranged from 15 years in state prison to formal probation, as well as a court order for $2 million in restitution.

The DA’s Gangs Division prosecutes complex murder cases and other serious crimes perpetrated by violent gang members who terrorize neighborhoods. These cases are handled by one prosecutor from beginning to end – also called vertical prosecution. Cases in this division are expertly navigated by 26 prosecutors and 20 investigators to bring justice to families left in the wake of violence. In 2024, the Gangs Division conducted 23 murder jury trials, which is more than 40% of the total murders tried in the DA’s office. The division also prosecuted other cases including kidnapping for rape, assault with great bodily injury, robbery, carjacking and possession of illegal firearms, such as ghost guns, by gang members.

Second-Degree Murder Conviction for Defendant Who Killed Ex-Girlfriend

San Diego County District Attorney Summer Stephan said today that 48-year-old Eduardo Magana has been convicted by a jury of second-degree murder in the disappearance of his former girlfriend, Alexis Berenice Guadarrama Orozco, 33.

At his trial, prosecutors laid out a timeline that showed the defendant met Guadarrama at the Star Motel in Otay Mesa on July 15. The defendant was later seen placing a large, heavy object in the trunk of his car in the early morning hours of July 16. At the same time, all communication from the victim to her friends and family stopped. Magana was arrested three days later in Bell Gardens, CA near Los Angeles. He faces 15 years-to-life at his sentencing hearing on December 2.

Guadarrama’s body was never found and today it is believed to be in the Southern California area. DA Stephan and San Diego Police Chief Scott Wahl are asking for the public’s help locating it.

“While this killer is being held accountable for his crime and justice is being delivered, Alexis Berenice’s family and friends also deserve the closure of knowing her remains can be laid to rest,” DA Stephan said. “Investigators are not giving up and sometimes a tip that seems small or inconsequential can help lead law enforcement to a break in the case. The San Diego Police Department’s Homicide Unit has done an outstanding job investigating this murder and the dedicated prosecution team led by Deputy DAs Justine Santiago and Jennifer Crampton brought a just murder conviction. Now, our team is focused on bringing Alexis Berenice home. Let this case also be a warning that hiding the victim’s body will not deter us from pursuing justice and that jurors will still convict without a body in accordance with the law. The only thing killers prove by hiding the body is that their cruelty is at a greater level.”

 

“This case highlights the thorough investigative work by our homicide detectives who tirelessly pursued the truth for Alexis Berenice and her loved ones,” Chief Wahl said. “Even though the verdict brings justice, our work is not over. We need your help in finding her body so her family can have the peace they deserve and give her a proper burial. We are asking anyone who may have information to please come forward.”

Anyone with information on this case is asked to contact the San Diego Police Department’s Homicide Unit at (619) 531- 2293 or the Crime Stoppers anonymous tip line at (888) 580-8477. Please visit www.sdcrimestoppers.org for information on how to send a web or mobile app tip.

While murder prosecutions where no body has been located are rare, hundreds of such convictions have occurred in the U.S. over the past several decades, thanks to advances in forensic science and digital evidence. Deputy District Attorneys Justine Santiago and Jennifer Crampton prosecuted this case. Assistance on this case was also provided by the Los Angeles Police Department, Los Angeles County Sherriff’s Department, and the San Bernardino County Sherriff’s Department.

Photo of Gavel and prison cell.

Hells Angels Assault Case Concludes

San Diego County District Attorney Summer Stephan announced today that a criminal prosecution involving members of the Hells Angels and other gang members has concluded with 14 defendants being convicted and sentenced for a vicious attack on three young men on a public sidewalk in Ocean Beach. The attack was perpetrated by members of the San Diego Hells Angels along with members of other motorcycle gangs that subordinate to the Hells Angels.

“The successful conclusion of this case demonstrates my office’s commitment to holding organized gangs accountable for a wide range of offenses, including violent hate crimes,” said DA Stephan. “This was an unprovoked, vicious attack that nearly ended in tragedy. Thanks to our dedicated prosecution team for their commitment to delivering justice as this complex case wound its way through the criminal justice system.”

The case resulted from an incident in June of 2023, after a large group of motorcycle gang members had taken over a public sidewalk on Newport Avenue for a “Bike Night.” The victims, all Black men ages 19, 20 and 21, were walking down the street when the defendants brutalized them in an unprovoked attack. Despite their efforts to run away, the victims were caught by the defendant group and punched and kicked in the head and body while they lay on the sidewalk as their assailants used racial epithets.

The Hells Angels is an international organization whose primary purpose is the commission of criminal activity and who’s membership has been known to espouse racist ideology.

During that attack, longtime Hells Angels member Troy Scholder, 45, pulled out a knife and stabbed one victim in the chest, fracturing his sternum, severing an artery, and nearly killing him. At the time of the stabbing, the victim had been curled up on the ground, trying to protect his head. After this attempted murder, Mr. Scholder casually folded up his knife, walked away, and returned to the Hells Angels clubhouse in El Cajon where he was later arrested. The victim survived his injuries, as did the second victim who was knocked unconscious.

Thirteen of the defendants pleaded guilty to felony assault with force likely to produce great bodily injury and admitted allegations that they acted for the benefit of, and in association with their gang. Their sentences ranged from formal probation to custody in state prison. Scholder was convicted by a jury of premeditated attempted murder with a hate crime enhancement, along with additional felony charges, and was sentenced to 21 years-to-life in state prison.

The DA’s Gangs Division prosecutes complex murder cases and other serious crimes perpetrated by violent gang members who terrorize neighborhoods. These cases are handled by one prosecutor from beginning to end – also called vertical prosecution. Cases in this division are expertly navigated by 26 prosecutors and 20 investigators to bring justice to families left in the wake of violence. In 2024, the Gangs Division conducted 23 murder jury trials, which is more than 40% of the total murders tried in the DA’s office. The division also prosecuted other cases including kidnapping for rape, assault with great bodily injury, robbery, carjacking and possession of illegal firearms, such as ghost guns, by gang members.

Deputy District Attorney Miriam Hemming prosecuted this case.

Photo of a court gavel over a law book on a desk with the scales of justice and more books in the background.

Man Who Threatened School with Mass Shooting Found Guilty by a Jury

San Diego County District Attorney Summer Stephan announced today that a man who threatened a mass shooting at Shoal Creek Elementary School in Carmel Mountain Ranch has been convicted by a jury of one felony count of making a criminal threat. The jury arrived at this just verdict on October 21.

Lee Lor, 40, sent more than 400 emails to various recipients that threatened he would commit a mass shooting at the school, sending fear through the community in Carmel Mountain and beyond.

“The threat of a mass school shooting has become one of the most unsettling fears we live with each day,” DA Stephan said. “These threats take a real toll on students, teachers, parents, and communities, who are continually confronted with stories and images of school shootings nationwide. I am proud and grateful to our team for fighting for justice for this school and community. This conviction by jury should send a clear message that we will not tolerate anyone criminally attempting to threaten our schools and instill fear in our community.”

In San Diego County, the School Threats Protocol guides school, law enforcement and prosecutorial responses to school threats. The protocol was established in 2018 with law enforcement agencies, mental health professionals, prosecutors, school staff and more to advise the 42 school districts in the County. Last year, the Law Enforcement Coordination Center in San Diego County received 580 school threat suspicious activity reports.

Having this type of coordination is more important than ever to the public’s safety. Teachers and school staff play a critical role in detecting and addressing concerning and threatening behavior.

“When we look back at most school shootings, attackers made threats or exhibited concerning behaviors that were ignored or went unreported,” DA Stephan said. “Our School Threats Protocol highlights the importance of recognizing warning signs, reporting them, and working together to with our community partners to keep everyone safe.”

Lor’s sentencing is set for November 19.

Deputy District Attorneys Savanah Howe and Clay Biddle in the DA’s Superior Court Division prosecuted this case.