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Friday, August 5, 2011 – Daily News 9A Federal indictments result from pot bust SACRAMENTO — A federal grand jury returned a one-count indictment charging Agustin Pena-Contreras, 25, and Nemecio Garcia-Alcazar, 22, both citizens of Mexico, with cultivating marijuana plants in Tehama County, U.S. Attorney Benjamin Wagner announced Thursday. On July 18, law enforcement officers eradicated 2,296 marijuana plants from three sites that were connected by well-worn paths in the Mendocino National Forest, accord- ing to court documents. The defendants were arrested in the third plot. This case is the product of Operation Full Court Press, a joint state and federal investigation targeting marijuana cul- tivation in the Mendocino National Forest, which lies within the eastern and northern districts of California. To date, Operation Full Court Press has resulted in the eradication of over a half million marijuana plants at 73 locations. Assistant United States Attorney Heiko P. Coppola is prosecuting the case. If convicted, the defendants face a statutory penalty of 10 years to life in prison. Corning police searches for gang assault suspects By JULIE ZEEB DN Staff Writer Corning Police are looking for unknown suspects involved in a potentially gang-related assault with a deadly weapon Wednesday afternoon in the 300 block of Marin Street. Officers were sent at 3:49 p.m. to a fight in progress on Marin Street near Marguerite Avenue and an officer safety be-on-the-lookout for (bolo) was issued about 4:15 p.m. The bolo was for four people connected to the incident, which involved a baseball bat, according to scanner reports. Scanner reports also indicated the subjects were last seen on Marguerite Avenue in a white Nissan CRX with primer on the front of the vehicle. As officers arrived in the area, a vehicle matching the description of the involved vehicle was seen leaving the area, a Corning Police release said. Officers made a stop on the vehicle and contacted the occupants, Eric Sandoval, 23, and Gerardo Moreno, 22, both of Corning. Both Sandoval and Moreno had several lacerations on their heads and faces and were taken to St. Elizabeth Com- munity Hospital where they were treated and released. The incident is being looked at as a gang-related incident and the investigation is on-going. Anyone with information is asked to contact Corning Police at 824-7000. ——— Julie Zeeb can be reached at 527-2153, extension 115 or jzeeb@redbluffdailynews.com. Corning fire has busy day By JULIE ZEEB DN Staff Writer Firefighters were kept busy Wednesday in the Corn- ing area where seven vegetation fires of varying sizes, including one caused by arson, were reported between noon and 10 p.m. • The biggest fire of the seven was reported at 1:45 p.m. on Rawson Road, across from Davis Road. It burned 10 acres. The fire, which did $4,500 in damage to olive trees, was contained at 2:05 p.m., CalFire Capt. John Wilson said. The cause was vehicle exhaust, he said. •A 1.5 acre fire reported at 12:17 p.m. on Toomes Avenue, across from South Avenue, was the first of the fires. The fire, contained at 12:28 p.m., was caused by a mowing operation. CalFire and Tehama County Fire responded with Corning Fire assisting. Damage was $500. •A second 1.5 acre fire broke out at 3:41 p.m. on Troutbrook Road. The equipment-caused fire was con- tained at 3:58 p.m. Tehama County Fire and CalFire responded. Corning Fire assisted. Damage was $1,000. • The cause of a quarter-acre fire reported at 7:57 p.m. on Hall Road, near Thomes Creek, has not been determined. The fire was contained at 8:13 p.m. CalFire and Tehama County Fire responded. •A spot fire reported at 9:53 p.m. on Gallagher Avenue, across from Edith Avenue, has been deter- mined to have been arson. CalFire and Tehama County Fire responded. The fire was contained at 10:02 p.m. •A 10-year-old Corning boy was referred to the juvenile fire setter program after his playing with fire caused a vegetation fire reported at 4:21 p.m. on Columbia Avenue. CalFire and Tehama County Fire responded. Corning Fire assisted. The spot fire, con- tained at 4:28 p.m., caused $150 damage with a $150,000 save. • A vegetation fire was also reported at the Rolling Hills Sevillano Links Golf Course at 12:56 p.m. The cause of the spot fire was a rock strike. The fire was contained at 1:00 p.m. CalFire responded. CalFire also sent equipment to the Mendocino Fire located east of the town of Covelo including five engines and eight handcrews, Wilson said. ——— Julie Zeeb can be reached at 527-2153, extension 115 or jzeeb@redbluffdailynews.com. Oh Snap! The Daily News wants your pho- tos: Cute kids, Adorable pets, Inspi- rational sights, Any shot you think readers would enjoy You might just see it in the Daily News Send pictures to editor@redbluffdailynews.com or drop off at 545 Diamond Ave. in Red Bluff. Include a caption. Red Bluff Simple Cremations & Burial Service Family owned & Operated Honor and Dignity 527-1732 722 Oak Street, Red Bluff, FD Lic. 1931 Courtesy photo Volunteer Shopper Sandra Jansen helps Carla shop at the 2010 Great Shopping Day of the Back to School Project.The 2011 Great Shopping Day will be Aug. 13 and Cuts for Kids is 2- 6 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 14, in Red Bluff River Park. BACK Continued from page 1A “That’s $60,000 spent on that morning,” Berry said. “It’s a big deal and a big boost to the local economy.” The Back to School Project will Judge awards $309 million in Bratz spat SANTA ANA (AP) — A federal judge ordered toy giant Mattel Inc. to pay rival MGA Entertainment Inc. more than $309 million on Thursday, a sum that dwarfs the $88 million awarded ear- lier this year by a jury. The litigation related to a years-long dispute over ownership of the urban, multi-ethnic and street- smart Bratz dolls, which were a runaway hit with girls between ages 9 and 11. U.S. District Court Judge David O. Carter awarded Los Angeles-based MGA $172.5 million for trade secrets misappropriation and MGA and its Chief Executive Officer Isaac Lar- ian another $137 million in legal fees related to copy- right and trade secrets issues. The total was more than $309.8 million, accord- ing to court papers and MGA lead counsel Jennifer Keller. The awards include $85 million punitive dam- ages. Mattel said in a statement that it was disappointed with the ruling and would ‘‘review the court’s ruling and evaluate next steps.’’ The El Segundo-based toy maker can appeal. Michael Zeller, who han- dled the case for Mattel, did not immediately return calls seeking comment. Mattel first filed a lawsuit in 2004 alleging that Bratz designer Carter Bryant was employed at Mattel when he designed the Bratz dolls. But a jury in April reject- ed Mattel’s claims and instead awarded MGA dam- ages in a counter-claim. The smaller toymaker had alleged in its countersuit that also help with haircuts with the free Cuts for Kids event taking place 2-6 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 14, at Red Bluff River Park. Cornerstone Community Bank and Iglesia Nueva Vida will provide free food at the event where 16 styl- ists will be providing haircuts for hundreds of children. We Shoot Ya Photography will be providing free Mattel used hired gumshoes to spy on its toy designs and marketing plans at trade shows and stole its trade secrets. Carter lowered the origi- nal $88.5 million in dam- ages on the trade secrets claims to $85 million after finding the jury made a mathematical error, but then awarded an additional $85 million in punitive damages. Firefighters battling fires in Contra Costa County OAKLEY (AP) — Fire crews are battling a series of small fires burning near the Contra Costa County city of Oakley. Fire marshal Lewis Broschard says one home has been burned and several others are threatened. Broschard says at least three fires are burning, with the largest one having con- sumed about four acres. No injuries have been reported. About 50 firefighters are battling the blaze, with more fire crews on the way. The area where the fire is burning is an area of grass- lands and farmland. The fires were first reported around 1:40 p.m. Fire officials have not yet determined what sparked the blazes. Raw milk prosecution draws LA protest LOS ANGELES (AP) — Protesters have gathered at a Los Angeles courthouse where a market owner faces charges of selling unli- Adam James Wright July 21, 2011 - July 21,2011 Memorial Fund at Tri Counties Bank The family is accepting donations for Adam’s memorial service. If you would like to contribute, please go to any Tri Counties Bank or for more information contact the parents, Angela or Aaron Wright 530-366-2266 Independently owned Telephone: (530) 824-3792 Over 50 years of serving Tehama County professional photos for children. Donations for the remaining 163 children can be sent to P.O. Box 292, Red Bluff, 96080. For more information call 529-4074 or visit www.backtoschoolproject.com. ——— Julie Zeeb can be reached at 527-2153, extension 115 or jzeeb@redbluffdailynews.com. STATE BRIEFING censed raw milk. Sixty-four-year-old James Stewart is scheduled to be arraigned Thursday on more than a dozen criminal charges. Prosecutors say his Rawesome market in Venice has operated for six years without permits. Supporters say the mar- ket is really a members-only club specializing in raw foods and they accuse the government of an unjusti- fied crackdown on unpas- teurized milk. Stewart was arrested on Wednesday along with Ven- tura County farmer Sharon Palmer and her employee, who are charged with pro- ducing unlicensed, unpas- teurized goat milk products. Raw milk is legal in Cal- ifornia but it’s regulated. In the past, unpasteurized milk has been blamed for out- breaks of bacterial illnesses. TSAstaff at LAX undergoing transgender training SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — A transgender Transportation Security Administration agent who was fired from her job at Los Angeles International Air- port for using the women’s restroom has received back pay and a five-figure award for pain and suffering as part of a civil rights settlement. Ashley Yang says she was ordered to dress like a man, pat down men and use the men’s restroom after she informed a human resources manager that a background check would reveal she was born male and hadn’t under- gone sex reassignment surgery. In addition to compensa- tion, her settlement requires TSA managers based at LAX to undergo transgen- der sensitivity training. TSA spokesman Nico Melendez says he can’t dis- cuss details of Yang’s case because of privacy rules, but he says the manager training started this summer. Teen buried on beach thought he would die ORANGE (AP) — A teenager who was buried in 6 feet of sand while digging a trench on a California beach says he was certain he would die before rescuers pulled him to safety. Matt Mina told The Associated Press on Thurs- day that he passed out after a few minutes, but before he lost consciousness he thought of his family and friends. He says he didn’t know if anyone knew he was buried or could hear his screams. The 17-year-old from Virginia was visiting his aunt and uncle in Orange County and spent the day at Newport Beach with his cousin. He was buried alive Wednesday after digging a 6-foot-deep pit and attached trench that collapsed sud- denly. It took dozens of res- cuers about 30 minutes to dig him out.