Stephen Kay

THE MOST superfluous traffic sign in California is the one on the short spur road that winds along the bay front to the state penitentiary at San Quentin. The sign says "NOT A THROUGH STREET." On a February morning of record-low 32-degree chill, Stephen Kay, a tall, deaconish Los Angeles County deputy district attorney, drives past the sign and parks at the road's windswept end. A body search completed, Kay is escorted to a prison conference room. He has a few minutes to arrange his papers for the latest in nearly 20 years of confrontations with Charles Milles Manson, mastermind of the peculiarly unforgettable mass murders that badly rattled California in August of 1969.

Stephen R. Kay, head deputy for L.A. County's district attorney office in Compton, has prosecuted murder cases for more than 35 years, and he says Steve Hodel has enough facts to convict his father, the late Dr. George Hodel, for at least two murders. But it wasn't easy for Kay--speaking for himself and not the D.A.'s office--to write a six-page letter to Hodel endorsing his case.

The Manson murderers are not in prison because of what they may or may not do in the future. They are in prison because of what they did do. All this talk about how rehabilitated Leslie Van Houten may be in the future is absurd. They all gave up their privilege to a future when they took away the future of those they murdered. God bless Stephen Kay, and thank you for the article. JONE GUZZETTI Los Angeles

No one can say prosecutor Stephen Kay lacks credentials to try the "big case." Just ask Charles Manson or Lawrence Bittaker, two of the most notorious multiple-murderers in the annals of Los Angeles crime. Both were convicted by Kay, a 28-year veteran of the district attorney's office, who will prosecute the photographer accused of murdering former Raiderette Linda Sobek.

At least 10 women paid a heavy price for deals the district attorney's office made with a jailhouse informant. They were kidnaped or raped. Some of the county's most respected career prosecutors made the deals, twice persuading judges to release the informant, Stephen Jesse Cisneros, from jail. Cisneros, a mentally disturbed sex offender, was in jail each time for attempted rape. In each case, prosecutors traded him his freedom for information he provided on murder cases.

Stephen R. Kay, head deputy for L.A. County's district attorney office in Compton, has prosecuted murder cases for more than 35 years, and he says Steve Hodel has enough facts to convict his father, the late Dr. George Hodel, for at least two murders. But it wasn't easy for Kay--speaking for himself and not the D.A.'s office--to write a six-page letter to Hodel endorsing his case.

No one can say prosecutor Stephen Kay lacks credentials to try the "big case." Just ask Charles Manson or Lawrence Bittaker, two of the most notorious multiple-murderers in the annals of Los Angeles crime. Both were convicted by Kay, a 28-year veteran of the district attorney's office, who will prosecute the photographer accused of murdering former Raiderette Linda Sobek.

Gemstar-TV Guide International Inc. accused Digeo Inc. of infringing patents for interactive TV listings. Gemstar sued Digeo in federal court in Los Angeles after the closely held company refused to negotiate a license and targeted Gemstar with an antitrust lawsuit, General Counsel Stephen Kay said. Hollywood-based Gemstar's suit also names Charter Communications Corp., a cable provider controlled by billionaire Paul Allen that uses Digeo's Moxi program guide. Spokesmen for Kirkland, Wash.

The Tuberous Sclerosis Alliance held its sixth annual Comedy for a Cure fundraiser last Sunday at the Music Box Theatre in Hollywood. 6. Ray Romano joked about having "vacation sex" with his wife, while 7. Sherri Shepherd signed an auction item. Returning chairwoman 8. Teri Hatcher certainly didn't look desperate, with new beau Stephen Kay. 9. Jeff Garland got laughs before awards went to Patricia Heaton, David Hunt and "House" creator David Shore, for raising TS awareness on the series.

The owner of a pit bull that brutally attacked three people, including an animal control officer, was charged today with three counts of felony assault with a deadly weapon, Deputy Dist. Atty. Stephen Kay said. Edlyn Joy Hauser, 37, initially faced seven misdemeanor charges filed by the city attorney's office. But Kay said those charges will be dropped when Hauser is arraigned Thursday.

At least 10 women paid a heavy price for deals the district attorney's office made with a jailhouse informant. They were kidnaped or raped. Some of the county's most respected career prosecutors made the deals, twice persuading judges to release the informant, Stephen Jesse Cisneros, from jail. Cisneros, a mentally disturbed sex offender, was in jail each time for attempted rape. In each case, prosecutors traded him his freedom for information he provided on murder cases.

The Manson murderers are not in prison because of what they may or may not do in the future. They are in prison because of what they did do. All this talk about how rehabilitated Leslie Van Houten may be in the future is absurd. They all gave up their privilege to a future when they took away the future of those they murdered. God bless Stephen Kay, and thank you for the article. JONE GUZZETTI Los Angeles

THE MOST superfluous traffic sign in California is the one on the short spur road that winds along the bay front to the state penitentiary at San Quentin. The sign says "NOT A THROUGH STREET." On a February morning of record-low 32-degree chill, Stephen Kay, a tall, deaconish Los Angeles County deputy district attorney, drives past the sign and parks at the road's windswept end. A body search completed, Kay is escorted to a prison conference room. He has a few minutes to arrange his papers for the latest in nearly 20 years of confrontations with Charles Milles Manson, mastermind of the peculiarly unforgettable mass murders that badly rattled California in August of 1969.

Los Angeles Police Department detectives hope that audio tapes from more than four decades ago could shed new light on the Charles Manson murder spree. The LAPD has been fighting to review the tapes for months. On Tuesday, a federal judge in Texas has ruled that LAPD can have access to taped conversations between one of Charles Manson 's most fervent followers and his late attorney to see if it can help solve more murders. PHOTOS: The Manson murders   U.S. District Court Judge Richard A. Schell ruled that Charles “Tex” Watson waived his right to attorney-client privilege when he allowed the lawyer to sell the tapes to an author who wrote a book on Watson.

Doris G. Tate, who helped forge the crime victims' movement after her daughter Sharon was murdered by the Charles Manson clan in 1969, died Friday. Tate, 68, died at her Rancho Palos Verdes home Friday morning with family members by her side, said her daughter Patti. Tate was found to have a brain tumor in January. Actress Sharon Tate, then eight months pregnant, was one of seven victims in the Manson cult slayings in August, 1969.