Orange County Juvenile Hall

Regarding the recent Orange County Juvenile Hall events ("Relatives Allege Coercive Tactics at Juvenile Hall," June 24): Of course there are irregularities in Juvenile Hall involving wards; this is neither the first nor the last. Of course a so-called internal investigation is a contradiction in terms. What is needed, and inmates and taxpayers are entitled to this, are objective outside investigations whenever indicated. Try to tell that to the Probation Department. HANS ASKENASY Laguna Beach

Seven months after a Santa Ana woman was killed, police have arrested her 16-year-old daughter and the daughter's boyfriend in connection with the death. Darlene Saddler, 49, was found shot and stabbed in the head in September in the home she shared with her two daughters, Police Cmdr. Tammy Franks said Saturday. Saddler's son discovered her body when he arrived at the home. Her 5-year-old daughter had been inside the home with the body for several hours before he arrived, Franks said.

Authorities on Friday were investigating the apparent suicide of a teenage inmate at Orange County Juvenile Hall. Vicki Mathews, spokeswoman for the Orange County Probation Department, said the 17-year-old boy was found unconscious in his room "in what appeared to be an attempt to end his own life." He was taken to UCI Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead. The incident occurred Thursday and is being investigated by the district attorney's office.

A 14-year-old girl fatally poisoned her family's two dogs after an argument with her parents over bad grades, police said. The girl has been arrested on suspicion of animal cruelty and is in custody at Orange County Juvenile Hall, Sgt. Mike MacDonald said. The girl fed her sister's medications to a Yorkie and a larger dog Sunday night after her parents left the house, police said. The dogs were in shock when the family returned, police said, and the animals were rushed to a pet clinic, where they died.

Two brothers have been arrested in Tustin on suspicion of sexually molesting two boys, ages 7 and 9, that they were baby-sitting, authorities said Tuesday. The brothers, both 16, told investigators they had fondled 15 other children, Tustin Police Lt. Mike Shanahan said. The brothers' names were not released because of their age. The youths are being held at Orange County Juvenile Hall.

Two suspected gang members have been arrested in the death of a 15-year-old boy who was gunned down about two weeks ago on a local sidewalk, police said Saturday. The youths, 15 and 17, were booked into Orange County Juvenile Hall on Friday as suspects in the Nov. 3 shooting of Robert Lucero Jr., La Habra Sgt. Boy Wyse said. Wyse said both suspects, whose names were not released because they are juveniles, are believed to be members of a La Habra gang.

A 14-year-old girl fatally poisoned her family's two dogs after an argument with her parents over bad grades, police said. The girl has been arrested on suspicion of animal cruelty and is in custody at Orange County Juvenile Hall, Sgt. Mike MacDonald said. The girl fed her sister's medications to a Yorkie and a larger dog Sunday night after her parents left the house, police said. The dogs were in shock when the family returned, police said, and the animals were rushed to a pet clinic, where they died.

Seven months after a Santa Ana woman was killed, police have arrested her 16-year-old daughter and the daughter's boyfriend in connection with the death. Darlene Saddler, 49, was found shot and stabbed in the head in September in the home she shared with her two daughters, Police Cmdr. Tammy Franks said Saturday. Saddler's son discovered her body when he arrived at the home. Her 5-year-old daughter had been inside the home with the body for several hours before he arrived, Franks said.

A federal judge has dismissed an American Civil Liberties Union lawsuit protesting alleged conditions at Orange County Juvenile Hall with an explanation that the case should be filed in a state court. ACLU attorney Harry Lerner, who filed the suit in August, said he will refile the action in Orange County Superior Court as soon as possible.

A 15-year-old boy wanted on suspicion of murder was arrested at his mother's apartment Tuesday after police received an anonymous tip. The teen-ager, whose name was not released, escaped from Orange County Juvenile Hall on Dec. 5 along with three other inmates, Huntington Beach Lt. Jeff Cope said. Police, backed by a SWAT team, approached the apartment in the 17000 block of Keelson Street about 3 p.m.

Authorities on Friday were investigating the apparent suicide of a teenage inmate at Orange County Juvenile Hall. Vicki Mathews, spokeswoman for the Orange County Probation Department, said the 17-year-old boy was found unconscious in his room "in what appeared to be an attempt to end his own life." He was taken to UCI Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead. The incident occurred Thursday and is being investigated by the district attorney's office.

Girls in trouble with the law in Orange County are being taught how to act, dress and even salsa as part of an ambitious project to boost their self-esteem and provide them with the basic social skills and support they will need to lead productive lives.

Two youths at Juvenile Hall who were working on a kitchen detail Sunday escaped from the facility in Orange, sheriff's deputies said. The unidentified males, whose ages were not released, escaped about 6:15 p.m. while returning from the kitchen to their barracks, Sheriff's Sgt. William Hunt said. Sheriff's deputies searched the area with patrol units and a helicopter but the pair had not been found by late Sunday night.

A prominent prison-rights attorney filed a class-action lawsuit Wednesday accusing Orange County Juvenile Hall of keeping youngsters behind bars for too long without a court hearing. The civil rights suit contends that juveniles are not receiving hearings within 72 hours after their arrest to allow a judge to decide whether they should remain locked up. County officials strongly deny the allegations. Attorney Richard P.

A group of middle school students from Santa Ana went to Juvenile Hall on Wednesday for a lesson in life. "This is all real, not just some story you're seeing on television," Orange County Dist. Atty. Tony Rackauckas told the kids from Sierra Intermediate School. "These are kids in serious trouble who have made bad choices in their lives." After this preamble, the students filed into the courtroom of Commissioner Gregory W.

A nurse at Orange County Juvenile Hall pleaded not guilty Wednesday to allegations that he molested a teenage inmate who was seeking medical help for an illness, authorities said. Kevin Duane Van Otterloo, 34, of Anaheim Hills was arrested last month after the teen reported the alleged sexual abuse to another county official, said Deputy District Atty. Randy Payne.

A teen-ager suspected of shooting a 9-year-old boy earlier this week is expected to be charged with involuntary manslaughter at a hearing today in Orange County Juvenile Court in Orange. The 15-year-old Garden Grove High School student could face nine years in the California Youth Authority if found guilty of the charges, Deputy Dist. Atty. David Brent said.

The judge whose ruling forced major changes in disciplinary procedures at Orange County's Juvenile Hall dropped a contempt charge against the county after juvenile rights advocates said the facility is operating within court orders. Superior Court Judge Linda H. McLaughlin abided by the wishes of the California Youth Law Center and the American Civil Liberties Union in dropping the contempt order, which charged that the county overstepped its bounds in restraining troublesome youths.

A nurse at Orange County Juvenile Hall pleaded not guilty Wednesday to allegations that he molested a teenage inmate who was seeking medical help for an illness, authorities said. Kevin Duane Van Otterloo, 34, of Anaheim Hills was arrested last month after the teenager reported the alleged sexual abuse to another county official, said Orange County Deputy Dist. Atty. Randy Payne.

Two brothers have been arrested in Tustin on suspicion of sexually molesting two boys, ages 7 and 9, that they were baby-sitting, authorities said Tuesday. The brothers, both 16, told investigators they had fondled 15 other children, Tustin Police Lt. Mike Shanahan said. The brothers' names were not released because of their age. The youths are being held at Orange County Juvenile Hall.