Sergio Valencia

THE marathon swimmer churned a solitary path through the chilly current, his wave-sculpted shoulders and arms dragging his lifeless legs through the sea off Baja California. Thirty years ago, a car accident severed Sergio Valencia's spine, forcing him to use a wheelchair. Then the ocean called to him in a dream. In the ocean, a voice told him, you will find freedom. So Sergio Valencia swam: From Isla de Todos Santos to Playa Hermosa in Ensenada, becoming the first to cross the 12-mile stretch.

The car accident that severed Sergio Valencia's spine 30 years ago couldn't crush his spirit. He found meaning in the sea, where his powerful swimming stroke dragged his paralyzed legs across the Strait of Gibraltar and several island-to-mainland spans off Baja California. But despite finishing more than one dozen marathon distances, one dream always eluded him: swimming in America. On Sunday, the disabled swimmer from Ensenada finally got the chance.

The car accident that severed Sergio Valencia's spine 30 years ago couldn't crush his spirit. He found meaning in the sea, where his powerful swimming stroke dragged his paralyzed legs across the Strait of Gibraltar and several island-to-mainland spans off Baja California. But despite finishing more than one dozen marathon distances, one dream always eluded him: swimming in America. On Sunday, the disabled swimmer from Ensenada finally got the chance.

THE marathon swimmer churned a solitary path through the chilly current, his wave-sculpted shoulders and arms dragging his lifeless legs through the sea off Baja California. Thirty years ago, a car accident severed Sergio Valencia's spine, forcing him to use a wheelchair. Then the ocean called to him in a dream. In the ocean, a voice told him, you will find freedom. So Sergio Valencia swam: From Isla de Todos Santos to Playa Hermosa in Ensenada, becoming the first to cross the 12-mile stretch.

A 21-year-old Lake Forest man died after losing control of his motorcycle and hitting a curb, authorities said Wednesday. Sergio Valencia was driving a 2005 Kawasaki west on Alton Parkway near Valley Oak Drive approximately 100 mph about 9 p.m. Tuesday, according to Irvine police, when he lost control, hit a curb and was ejected. Valencia died at the scene, police said. It appears that alcohol was a factor in the crash, they said.

A 14-month-old boy wandered into his back yard with an older brother and drowned in the family pool Monday afternoon, becoming at least the sixth child to drown in Orange County this year. The child's mother, Laticia Valencia, 26, said she was in the kitchen cooking when she heard a family member screaming that "the baby was in the pool." Police said that shortly after 3 p.m.

A federal judge declared a mistrial Wednesday because a jury could not reach a verdict in the trial of three men accused of selling enough methamphetamines in the San Fernando Valley to keep a person high for 256 years, authorities said. Jose Sigala-Lomeli of Sylmar, Sergio Valencia Valenzuela of Pacoima, and Humberto Bombela Estrada of Van Nuys will be retried beginning Sept. 6 on charges of conspiracy and possession of methamphetamines with the intention to distribute, Assistant U.S. Atty.

A Van Nuys man was sentenced Monday to almost 16 years in prison for selling nearly 20 pounds of methamphetamine to undercover federal agents, officials said. Humberto Estrada Bombella, 33, was convicted in September of conspiracy and possession with intent to sell the drug, said Assistant U.S. Atty. Anthony Pachecho. Bombella was also convicted on a weapons count because a loaded handgun was found on the floor of his car during the arrest, Pachecho said. U.S.

Two San Fernando Valley men were convicted in federal court Friday of trying to sell enough methamphetamine to keep a user continuously high for 256 years--a crime that could keep them imprisoned for the rest of their lives, according to the U.S. Attorney's office. Humberto Estrada-Bombela, 30, and Jose Sigala-Lomeli, 40, were each found guilty of one count of conspiracy to distribute the illegal drug and one count of possessing it with intention to sell.

Federal agents, who last month arrested a group of San Fernando Valley men accused of operating a multimillion-dollar drug ring specializing in cocaine, heroin and methamphetamines, are seeking a sixth man who was arrested, but later released. Jose Jesus Gonzalez, 29, of San Fernando, was arrested along with five other men during an undercover drug bust in the parking lot of a Burbank restaurant, said Ralph Lochridge, a spokesman for the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration.

A 21-year-old Lake Forest man died after losing control of his motorcycle and hitting a curb, authorities said Wednesday. Sergio Valencia was driving a 2005 Kawasaki west on Alton Parkway near Valley Oak Drive approximately 100 mph about 9 p.m. Tuesday, according to Irvine police, when he lost control, hit a curb and was ejected. Valencia died at the scene, police said. It appears that alcohol was a factor in the crash, they said.

Savanna High School scored more points than any other Valencia opponent this season Thursday night, but it wasn't enough for a victory as the teams played to a 14-14 tie in an Orange League game at Valencia. For a number of reasons, it had to be one of the more satisfying ties for Savanna (3-3-1, 1-0-1). Valencia (6-0-1, 1-0-1), the six-time defending league champion, came into the game ranked eighth in Orange County. Savanna didn't win a league game last season.

Larry Bird said Wednesday that he plans to step down as coach of the Indiana Pacers at the end of the upcoming NBA season when his three-year contract expires. "Do I expect Larry to coach after next season? No," Pacer President Donnie Walsh said of Bird's statement, adding that he and Bird haven't discussed Bird's future since last season.