New pension indictment

A federal grand jury has issued a second indictment against five former San Diego city retirement officials, adding a new twist to the long-running case.

The superseding indictment handed down Tuesday accuses the five defendants -- former pension system administrator Lawrence Grissom, former board lawyer Lorraine Chapin and former board members Cathy Lexin, Ronald Saathoff and Teresa Webster -- of a straightforward mail and wire fraud scheme.

The indictment alleges the five schemed to have the retirement board pass a plan in 2002 to underfund the pension system. In exchange they benefited personally, so Saathoff could get a special retirement benefit for union heads, and the others could keep their jobs with the city and "seek new employment opportunities." In effect it accuses them of engaging in a fraud in order to get money or property, such as a job.

The previous indictment issued in January 2006 used the same facts but accused them of the potentially more difficult to prove honest services fraud. While the honest services fraud charges remain, this new indictment essentially gives prosecutors a second theory of guilt to pursue in the case.

The indictment also provides more details of the conspiracy the five are accused of engaging in.

Small grass fire out in Carmel Valley

San Diego firefighters have extinguished a small grass fire in an open lot used as a parking area near El Camino Real and Carmel Mountain Road, according to a dispatcher.

Firefighters got to the flames just before 12:30 p.m. and quickly extinguished the flames, the dispatcher said. There were no injuries and no structures were threatened.

Clairemont canyon fire out

Firefighters extinguish small fire--Photo by Angelica Martinez

San Diego firefighters quickly extinguished a vegetation fire that scorched about 25 yards in a canyon adjacent to Regents Road just south of state Route 52 this morning.

Firefighters were called about 8:30 a.m. and at least five units were sent to douse the flames. No structures were threatened and no injuries were reported. The cause is unknown at this time.

Southbound Regents Road is temporarily closed at state Route 52 as firefighters take care of any hot spots. Northbound traffic is being allowed through the area.

Firefighters credited ice plants in the canyon with slowing the spread of the flames.

--Angelica Martinez

Canyon fire in Clairemont

San Diego firefighters have been sent to a fire in a canyon near Regents Road and Luna Avenue in Clairemont that may threaten some nearby homes, according to a dispatcher.

Firefighters were called about 8:30 a.m. and at least five units and the city's firefighting helicopter have been sent to douse the flames, the dispatcher said.

We will provide more information as soon as it becomes available.

Rancho Peñasquitos school vandalized

An elementary school in Rancho Penasquitos was found vandalized this morning, according to San Diego police.

A teacher who arrived at Sundance Elementary school on Twin Trails Drive just after 5 a.m. reported that the front office had been broken into and ransacked, police said.

Detectives are investigating how much damage was done and whether anything was stolen.

Masked men hit apartment

Two men in ski masks and carrying pistols broke into an apartment north of Scripps Ranch around midnight and stole cash and cell phones from two or three victims, San Diego police said Wednesday morning.

The victims were not injured during the home-invasion-style robbery on Stonebridge Parkway in the Rancho Encantada neighborhood.

A man reported at 12:10 a.m. that he and his girlfriend were at the apartment when two men forced their way in through a window. It wasn't clear from police information whether a third victim was also in the apartment. The gunmen took a purse, wallet, cash and cell phones.

One robber was described as black, 6 feet tall, 180 pounds, bald, wearing a full ski mask with eye holes. The other robber, in a similar mask, wore a long-sleeved shirt or sweater and jeans with holes torn at the knees. he was further described as Latino, 20 to 30 years old, 5 feet 9 inches tall, 180 pounds, with some facial hair.

100-mph pursuit ends in southeastern San Diego

A 100-mph California Highway Patrol pursuit south on Interstate 15 to
Interstate 805 has ended near Home Avenue, where the driver and at least one passenger bailed out of a red pickup, authorities say.

A sheriff's helicopter crew and San Diego police are helping to look for the two, who reportedly ran across the freeway to the west and tried to hide in backyards.

Officers noticed that the pickup had an expired registration tag near state Route 56 and they tried to pull over the driver, San Diego police and the CHP said. The driver was going more than 100 mph past Miramar Way as he headed south about 11:53 p.m. He and one or more passengers bailed out of the pickup about 12:02 a.m.

San Diego police said two people were being detained about 12:10 a.m. on Crenshaw Street.

Gunman orders cash, to go

A gunman in a ski mask ordered money, not food, at a City Heights taco shop Tuesday night, San Diego police said.

Employees at Taco Fiesta on University Avenue near 50th Street told officers the robber came to the walkup window about 8:30 p.m., displayed a pistol and demanded money. He was given some cash and he left.

The robber was described as Latino, about 30, 5 feet 11 inches tall, wearing a black ski mask, black sweat shirt and blue shorts.

Juliet fire now 60 percent contained

This from Marc Peebles, U.S. Forest Service spokesman for the Juliet fire command:

The Juliet fire on Camp Pendleton grew to 3,985 acres Tuesday, but is now 60 percent contained, and the force of 710 firefighters assigned to it will continue to extend and reinforce their containment lines during the night.

There was no estimate on when the fire would be fully contained, but firefighters are increasingly confident. "There probably will be some winds tomorrow, but more on the light side," Peebles said.

Most residents from the Oceanside neighborhoods evacuated Monday at the height of the fire are back in their homes, he said. All of the evacuation orders on Pendleton also were lifted Tuesday except for the San Luis Rey housing area; the evacuation order there remains in effect, Peebles said.

Two greenhouses just outside the base were destroyed in the first stages of the fire on Monday, but no homes have been damaged on or off Camp Pendleton, where the fire started, Peebles said. No injuries have been reported, he said.

Click here for the latest on the fires.

Firefighters: Good progress vs. Juliet fire

This from Marc Peebles, spokesman, Juliet fire command:

Firefighters have been too busy fighting the Juliet fire to map it. Officially, it still stands at 3,000 acres and 25 percent containment. But Peebles said they've been making good progress.

"We've been able to extend our lines, strengthen our lines, do a lot of aggressive mop-up," he said. "The winds did not present any real challenge to us on the Juliet fire."

Once firefighters have had a chance to survey the fire perimeter by day's end, the amount of containment should grow substantially, Peebles said.

Escondido fire out, outbuilding damaged

The fire at Interstate 15 and Deer Springs Road has been extinguished. One outbuilding has been reported damaged.

Most Pendleton evacuation orders lifted

This from Forest Service spokesman Marc Peebles, Juliet fire command:

All evacuation orders on Camp Pendleton stemming from the Juliet fire have been lifted -- except one:

The evacuation order for San Luis Rey base housing remains in effect.

Outside the base, evacuation orders issued last night for Oceanside neighborhoods have been lifted, but police are only allowing resident into those areas. Those neigbhorhoods will be fully reopened some time after 10 p.m.