Susan Golding and Larry Lucchino, Moores and Lucchino were holding numerous private meetings with then-Mayor Susan Golding.

David Westerfield at death-penalty hearing. "You're going to know that I failed this test, because we're not working to get David...to the point where David passes the test .... That's not your goal."

David Westerfield betrays himself

PR: When I ask you this question about Danielle, your blood pressure goes crazy. That's 25 seconds from here to here.... And the next question, it does the same thing as previously.... DW: Well, look at this one right here. What was that question? PR: Okay, that's...good. I'm glad you pointed that out, 'cause you can see that. 'Cause that is the other question about Danielle. And you can see what happens to your blood pressure now. DW: I didn't even know her name was Danielle.

By Joe Deegan, Jan. 23, 2003 Read full article

“If Moores goes down, the ballpark goes down.”

The John Moores exemption

Valerie Stallings's guilty plea in late January to two state misdemeanors for not reporting gifts from Padres owner John Moores resulted in her resignation from the city council and a $10,000 fine. And yet the revelations of Moores’s four-year gift-bounty to Stallings have some San Diegans in disbelief — fuming, really — as to why Stallings took the fall and Moores was exonerated .

By Tom Larson, Apr. 12, 2001 Read full article

Nicholas Braemer, Bugarin's partner, was convicted in 1983 of Medi-Cal fraud and placed on probation again in 1995, this time for a botched abortion in 1987.

Bertha Bugarin heads to jail

The former employee said that she saw Bugarin perform “four or five abortions,” and that Bugarin “didn’t keep any records when she did abortions.” The former employee said that there were no licensed doctors or nurses in the facility at the time Bugarin did the procedures. Bugarin called herself “Doctor Bertha.”

By Tom Larson, Feb. 18, 2009 Read full article

San Diego’s underbelly was teeming with about 170 massage parlors. An intense battle against them had been underway since the mid-1970s.

San Diego's massage parlor kingpin

Bruce Compton owned two large massage parlors and was beginning to move into the more sophisticated outcall and "escort" business. One massage parlor was the Pink Paradise, near University and Hamilton Street, and the other was Executive Sweet, on Midway south of Sports Arena Boulevard. Compton, like other smart owners, knew that this particular massage jig was up; his real interest was in one lucrative aspect of the prostitution trade: credit card processing.

By Neal Matthews, Sept. 22, 1988 Read full article

Mickey Cohen, Frank Bompensiero (inset photo); Alley off Lamont St., south of Grand Ave. where Bompensiero was shot and killed.

Photo by Sandy Huffaker, Jr.

How Frank Bompensiero met his fate

"Bomp kicked the door shut, Mirabile wrapped his arms around Borgia just as Jimmy dropped the garrote over his head, handing the other end of the rope to Bompensiero. Within ten seconds, Borgia was sinking to his knees. Mirabile released him and he fell on his face, with Jimmy and Bompensiero dropping to the floor with him, lying beside him and holding the rope firm, squeezing out the last breath of life.”

By Judith Moore, Feb. 11, 1999 Read full article

Pine Valley. Ries and Rodriguez decided that they’d place Kriss under a tree, then use Cline’s wagon to ship the body back to town.

Horse rustler escapes justice

The herd plowed through an area thick with tall brush. Visibility was so limited, the deputies devised a plan: Ries and Rodriguez would circle in front and turn the herd around. As they rode, however, Kriss spotted a man and ordered him to stop. They exchanged words in English. Kriss drew his pistol, fired, and missed. The man moved away, then shot at Kriss. Missed. Kriss fired. Missed. The man rode behind a tree, took careful aim, fired, and galloped away.

By Jeff Smith, June 8, 2000 Read full article