EDUCATION High school hacker gets hands-on lesson...

EDUCATION

High school hacker gets hands-on lesson in the law

A 17-year-old Corona del Mar High School junior was arrested at

the school Monday in connection with grades changed in the school’s

computer system.

The boy, unidentified by police because of his age, faces felony

charges in connection with grades of seven students that were

changed. The district suspended him and more arrests in the case may

come, police said.

* Students at UC Irvine will see a little relief after next year,

thanks to a multi-year deal struck between the governor and state

universities.

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger last week announced a long-term growth

plan for the universities, following years of cuts. Schools still

face a tight budget for the 2004-05 year, but the plan promises money

to limit fee increases and allow for more students in the systems.

-- Marisa O’Neil

COSTA MESA

Money loss expected after new deal with governor

The city is expecting to lose about $2 million each year for the

next two fiscal years, as a result of an agreement between Gov.

Arnold Schwarzenegger and the League of California Cities. The cities

agreed to this because in exchange Schwarzenegger said he would help

fundraise and campaign for a November ballot initiative that would

make it more difficult for the legislature to take and use local

government funds, an initiative the league supports.

* Doug Hansen and Janie Walker are the two residents selected by

Coca-Cola to be torchbearers in the first global Olympic torch relay

next month. Both were selected because they are inspirational to

those around them -- Hansen for his devoted support of his daughter,

Angel, who was born with multiple birth defects and Walker for her

resilience in recovering from two severe injuries.

-- Deirdre Newman

POLITICS

Toll road agencies’ merger stalled indefinitely

A toll roads merger local officials have been mulling for two

years was scrapped Thursday in favor of a plan created by Orange

County Supervisor Bill Campbell, who proposed the financially healthy

Foothill and Eastern toll roads lend $1 billion to bail out the

faltering San Joaquin Hills toll road. The Foothill and Eastern toll

roads also would pay $120 million to the San Joaquin Hills toll road

to compensate for taking some of its fare-paying traffic when the

Foothill South extension opens in four or five years.

Campbell, who is on the governing board of the Foothill and

Eastern toll roads, said his plan is a better choice than the merger,

which included a $3.9 billion bond sale and would have required a

supermajority of board members to approve it. But independent

financial advisor Mark Young said he couldn’t recommend Campbell’s

plan to board members because the kind of bonds it would require

wouldn’t be marketable and projected toll road revenues won’t be

enough to meet the proposed obligations.

-- Alicia Robinson

PUBLIC SAFETY AND COURTS

Judge denies request

to raise Haidl’s bail

Superior Court Judge Francisco Briseno refused to increase bail on

Wednesday for the 18-year-old son of an Orange County Assistant

Sheriff, who along with two other teenagers is accused of gang-raping

an unconscious 16-year-old girl in his father’s Corona del Mar home.

The judge denied Deputy Dist. Atty. Dan Hess’ motion, which said

Greg Haidl is a flight risk and that his bail be increased from

$100,000 by an unspecified amount. The motion also contains a list of

incidents involving Haidl, including trespassing and possession of

marijuana.

But Briseno ruled on Wednesday that there was no reason to

increase Haidl’s bail because no charges have been filed against him

in any of the alleged incidents.

The motion came days after Haidl and two other men were reportedly

stopped by Orange County Sheriff’s deputies after they illegally

entered a private walkway in a Dana Point condo complex and removed a

railing so they could skateboard there.

* Jurors will continue deliberations on Monday in the trial of

James Lee Crummel, the man accused of kidnapping, molesting and

murdering a 13-year-old boy more than 25 years ago.

The 60-year-old man, already serving a life sentence for sexually

abusing a teenager in his Newport Crest condo, will face the death

penalty if found guilty of murdering Jamey Trotter, who was last seen

walking on Harbor Boulevard to take a bus to Gisler Middle School.

There was no trace of Jamey until his dental records and braces

were matched with the remains that Crummel led police to in Riverside

County.

Jurors began deliberations Wednesday afternoon.

-- Deepa Bharath