News :: Crime

Feds get second guilty plea in state AIDS fraud scheme

Feds get second guilty plea in state AIDS fraud scheme

  • by John Ferrannini
  • Nov 3, 2021

Two Sacramento women will be sentenced early next year for their roles in a scheme that defrauded the California Office of AIDS $2.7 million.

SFPD: Naked man damaged iconic Castro Theatre sign

SFPD: Naked man damaged iconic Castro Theatre sign

  • by John Ferrannini
  • Sep 1, 2021

An eyewitness claimed that a crowd was supportive of a man stripping on the Castro Theatre during happy hour Tuesday — until he started damaging its iconic marquee.

Rickleffs sentenced 50-to-life for 1st degree murder

Rickleffs sentenced 50-to-life for 1st degree murder

  • by John Ferrannini
  • Aug 3, 2021

James Rickleffs, a San Francisco man found guilty over two years ago in the 2012 murder of a gay hair stylist, was sentenced to 50 years-to-life in state prison August 3.

South Bay trans woman's family calls accused killer's plea delay a setback

South Bay trans woman's family calls accused killer's plea delay a setback

  • by John Ferrannini
  • Jul 28, 2021

For the second time in two months, a plea has been pushed back in the case of a Union City man charged with murdering a San Jose transgender woman with whom he'd been romantically involved.

SF LGBTQs targets of racist rant, burglary

SF LGBTQs targets of racist rant, burglary

  • by John Ferrannini
  • Jul 26, 2021

A gay couple of which one of the men is Asian American and a same-sex female couple in San Francisco were recently the victims of a racist rant caught on video and a robbery, respectively, in two separate incidents.

Union city man formally charged in killing of South Bay trans woman

Union city man formally charged in killing of South Bay trans woman

  • by John Ferrannini
  • Apr 29, 2021

A Union City man will enter a plea June 15 on a charge that he murdered a transgender woman he'd been romantically involved with last week in Milpitas.

Union City man to be arraigned in killing of trans woman

Union City man to be arraigned in killing of trans woman

  • by John Ferrannini
  • Apr 28, 2021

A Union City man will be arraigned April 29 on charges he murdered a transgender woman last week in Milpitas.

Additional child sexual assault charges filed against Sebastopol's gay former mayor

Additional child sexual assault charges filed against Sebastopol's gay former mayor

  • by Sari Staver
  • Apr 16, 2021

The gay former Sebastopol mayor who was arrested on charges of sexual assault of a minor is now free on $620,00 bail following a hearing April 15, when the Sonoma County District Attorney's office added four additional counts to the initial charges.

Gay former Sebastopol mayor arrested on sexual assault of a minor charges

Gay former Sebastopol mayor arrested on sexual assault of a minor charges

  • by Sari Staver
  • Apr 12, 2021

A gay man who's the former mayor of Sebastopol and a longtime executive in the cannabis industry has been arrested and charged with five felonies and one misdemeanor related to sexual assault on a minor.

Almena sentenced to 12 years for Ghost Ship fire

Almena sentenced to 12 years for Ghost Ship fire

  • by Ed Walsh
  • Mar 8, 2021

Ghost Ship master tenant Derick Almena heard emotional testimony before his sentencing Monday from some of the families of the 36 people killed in the Oakland warehouse fire more than four years ago.

Updated: Suspect in Castro fire in custody

Updated: Suspect in Castro fire in custody

  • by John Ferrannini
  • Mar 5, 2021

A naked man being sought by San Francisco police after a fire was allegedly set at a residence adjacent to the intersection at 18th and Eureka streets in the Castro neighborhood Friday afternoon has been arrested, police said.

Police, family searching for missing SF gay man

Police, family searching for missing SF gay man

  • by John Ferrannini
  • Feb 11, 2021

San Francisco Police are seeking the public's help finding a gay man who went missing early last month seemingly without a trace.

Marketing director at North Bay LGBTQ retirement community sexually assaulted youth, police say

Marketing director at North Bay LGBTQ retirement community sexually assaulted youth, police say

  • by John Ferrannini
  • Feb 3, 2021

A gay man who had been senior marketing director at the nation's first LGBTQ retirement community has been arrested on suspicion of sexual assault of a juvenile.

Almena pleads guilty in Ghost Ship fire, avoiding 2nd trial

Almena pleads guilty in Ghost Ship fire, avoiding 2nd trial

  • by Ed Walsh
  • Jan 22, 2021

Ghost Ship master tenant Derick Almena pleaded guilty Friday (January 22) to 36 counts of involuntary manslaughter in connection with the Oakland warehouse fire that killed 36 people, including three who identified as transgender, on December 2, 2016.