MURRIETA – The girlfriend of professional skateboarder Neil Heddings was sentenced Friday to 25 years to life in state prison for killing his 2-year-old son.
A jury convicted Christine “Pinky” Rams, 27, of second-degree murder and assault in November 2005.
Coroner's officials determined that Marcus Heddings died in November 2002 as a result of several blows to the head.
Neil Heddings, 31, was convicted of involuntary manslaughter and sentenced to six years in state prison for the death. Prosecutors said he failed to protect his son and prevent the death.
Rams, who did not testify at the trial, on Friday spoke of her frustration with the jury's verdict and her attorney before Riverside County Superior Court Judge Mark Cope sentenced her.
“I want to declare my innocence to the court,” said Rams, who had alleged Marcus suffered his injuries while under the supervision of his mother in San Diego.
Thomas Dunn Jr., Rams' attorney, said he would probably appeal the sentence.
– Associated Press
3 people, company to get EPA awards
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency will honor three people and a company for their efforts to promote sustainability in the San Diego-Imperial-Tijuana region.
The agency Monday announced awards for Nicole Rothfleisch, executive director of the Imperial County Farm Bureau in El Centro; Rodolfo Anguiano Gaspar, a community activist in Tijuana; Pfizer La Jolla Laboratories; and country singer Willie Nelson.
Rothfleisch was honored for the bureau's role in helping Imperial County farmers reduce by 50 percent the phosphate-laden soil that washes off 470,000 acres of fields.
Gaspar was recognized for his efforts to improve drinking-water systems and to reduce sewage contamination on the Mexican side of the border.
Pfizer's award was the result of the company's energy efficiency initiative, which is expected to cut natural gas consumption at the La Jolla laboratory by as much as 25 percent this year.
The EPA singled out Nelson for launching a biodiesel outlet at Pearson Ford in San Diego.
– Mike Lee
Ballot argument trimmed by judge
NATIONAL CITY – The city's proposed sales tax increase had its day in court last week after a resident sued the city because its ballot argument was more than 40 words too long.
A San Diego Superior Court judge ruled Friday that the argument could stay on the June ballot, but that the last paragraph must be eliminated.
“It was an error; there's no question about that,” City Attorney George Eiser said. “We didn't dispute that. We used it as an opportunity to fix it in court.”
By law, arguments supporting or opposing a ballot initiative are limited to 300 words. Ballot arguments are printed and distributed in election pamphlets with public funds and sent to voters.
– Tanya Sierra
Roach scholarship fundraiser planned
VALLEY CENTER – A night of dancing, Irish stew and entertainment is planned for Saturday at Bates Nut Farm to raise money for the Ashleigh Roach Memorial Scholarship Foundation.
Ashleigh, 16, was one of two people who died in the Paradise Fire, which began Oct. 26, 2003.
Proceeds from the foundation will be awarded as scholarships to students interested in pursuing dance, sign language, or 4H, which were Ashleigh's passions.
The fundraiser will be from 3 to 9 p.m. at the farm, 15954 Woods Valley Road in Valley Center.
Tickets are $10 per person or $25 per family. The stew will cost $4 and the dessert $1. A variety of prizes will be raffled.
Tickets can be purchased at Video Playhouse, 29115 Valley Center Road; Valley Roadrunner, 29277 Valley Center Road; and the Valley Center Chamber of Commerce, 27818 Valley Center Road.
For more information, go to www.armscholarship.org.
– J. Harry Jones
