costa-mesa - Law Offices of William W. Bruzzo

Jury Unable to Decide if 1988 Rapist-Killer Should Get Death

Law Offices of William W. Bruzzo — Tue, 12 Jun 2012 00:57:00 GMT

There was still no verdict on the death penalty sentence for Jason Michael Balcom who was convicted in March of murdering and sexually assaulting a pregnant woman in Costa Mesa back in 1988. The DA is pushing for the death penalty on the count of the violent nature of the crime. She had been gagged and bound and stabbed in the chest. Deputy District Attorney Matt Murphy explains that Balcom deserve the death penalty because of his previous sexual assault cases. Also based on the tragedy the family had to endure. The defense attorney for Balcom, Dolores Yost argues for life without parole citing his upbringing in shaping his life. This mother was mentally ill, “needy, manipulative and self-absorbed” and her suicide on train tracks providing a troubling childhood for Balcom. The penalty retrial was scheduled to begin on May 14, 2012.

Orange County Dad Attacks Two Sons, Evades Police and is Arrested

Law Offices of William W. Bruzzo — Thu, 17 Mar 2011 20:57:00 GMT

A family dispute in Costa Mesa resulted in an arrest of the father of two sons. The mother of the two, who was not present at the scene, called police stating that her husband had hit the younger son. Police arrived and after speaking with the brothers, one a 28-year old and the other 17-years old, took them into the police car. The eldest had a gash on his forehead after his dad allegedly hit him with a ceramic floor tile. The Costa Mesa PD was told that the father had left in his pick-up truck. Investigations suggest that the father had gotten into an argument with his sons. There were no details as to why the father got so upset. Then he hit his teenage son and also used the tile to hit the eldest. The father, Donald Greene, then wielded a gun in front of the sons and fired a round in the garage. As the younger Greenes were sitting in the marked police car Mr. Greene was being chased by police and crashed into the parked police vehicle containing his sons. Mr. Greene sustained major injuries. Police add that the suspect has also made a statement that he wanted to hurt himself as he crashed into his sons. Penal Code Sections 273a(a), 273a(b), [child abuse], 245(a)(1) [Assault with a deadly weapon], 246.3 [Negligent Discharge of a Weapon], Vehicle Code Section 2800.1 [Evading a Police Officer]

White Powder

Law Offices of William W. Bruzzo — Fri, 07 May 2010 04:03:00 GMT

William Louis Poolman sent a check to the Judicial Data Systems in Costa Mesa in order to pay a ticket. The ticket was for $68.50 for not paying parking fees at Carpentaria State Beach. He had appealed the ticket according to the Orange County Register but did not win. When the payment was received the enveloped also contained a copy of his denied appeal and white powder. Authorities examined the powder and determined it was not hazardous. Poolman was arrested and faces a felony charge of false or facsimile weapon of mass destruction. He faces prison or jail time if convicted.

Sobriety Checkpoints Continue In Orange County Cities

Law Offices of William W. Bruzzo — Tue, 27 Apr 2010 15:40:00 GMT

Sobriety checkpoints continue to be the trend in Orange County as deputies from the Sheriff’s Department were conducting DUI roving patrols the weekend of April 16, 2010. Funding was been provided through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration grants. The patrols targeted areas with high incidences of DUI-related arrests and collisions in the cities of Dana Point, San Juan Capistrano, and San Clemente. In Costa Mesa, police were to conduct a DUI and driver’s license checkpoint on Friday evening, April 16th. All vehicles are open to inspection at a check point and can be checked for drivers who are under the influence of any alcohol or drugs. Cypress, in Western Orange County, were also to be conducting a DUI and driver’s license checkpoint on Saturday starting in the evening and going into the late night hours. See Vehicle Code Sections 23152 (a), (b); 23153(a) (b).

The Deadly Dentist

Law Offices of William W. Bruzzo — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 00:39:00 GMT

Former Orange County dentist Tony Protopappas convicted of second-degree murder in 1984 has been granted parole by an appellate court. He was convicted for the deaths of three women he had as patients at his Costa Mesa dentistry office. They died from a high dosage of anesthesia. His attorney acknowledges that there are some possible road blocks: the Attorney General office could appeal the decision or Governor Schwarzenegger could change the ruling. His attorney Richard Pfeiffer had told the court that the deaths were when Protopappas was a dentist and that he would no longer be practicing dentistry or administering anesthesia therefore he was not a threat to society. Deputy Attorney General Amy M. Roebuck argued that Protopappas’ “drug and alcohol use contributed to his negligence” and that he had not fully accepted responsibility for the deaths. Mr. Protopappas served 25 years of a life sentence.