Marine from Chico dies while training at Twentynine Palms

A U.S. Marine from Chico in Northern California has died during training at the base at Twentynine Palms, the Marine Corps announced Wednesday.

Private 1st Class Casey Holmes, 21, died Monday during training at the Marine Corps Air-Ground Combat Center.

Holmes was assigned to the Hawaii-based 3rd Battalion 3rd Regiment. His death was under investigation, the Marine Corps said.

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-- Tony Perry in San Diego

11 alleged illegal immigrants rescued from boat off Point Loma

Eight women and three men, all suspected illegal immigrants, were rescued in a boat adrift off San Diego's Point Loma after one of the women made a 911 emergency call.

One of the women is pregnant, authorities said.

The Coast Guard and Border Patrol responded to the call, which occurred at 2 a.m. Tuesday. The boat, whose motor had failed, was found three hours later about three miles from shore.

The 11 were taken into custody

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Deputy U.S. marshal shoots man after confrontation in San Diego

San Diego police are investigating a shooting in which a deputy U.S. marshal wounded a man who appeared to be reaching for a weapon after a confrontation near the man's home, authorities said.

The deputy was returning to his unmarked vehicle after an investigation at the home in the Clairemont Mesa neighborhood when the man confronted him and "asked why he was bothering his family and threatened to kill the deputy," said police Lt. Jorge Duran.

The man twice rammed the deputy's vehicle with his vehicle, Duran said. When the deputy drew his weapon and ordered the man to show his hands, he "refused and instead reached underneath the driver's seat," he said.

The deputy fired several rounds. The man, who was not identified, was taken to a local hospital with wounds described as not life-threatening. The deputy is described only as a five-year veteran of the marshals service.

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Earthquake: More than 50 aftershocks from California desert temblor

There have been more than 50 aftershocks from a sharp earthquake that struck the Southern California desert Monday.

Although the U.S. Geological Survey initially reported three separate strong quakes, officials told The Times there was one 4.7 temblor that sensors initially counted as three quakes. All the aftershocks were significantly smaller, and no damage was been reported.

“It was a pretty good shake up here,” said Capt. Daniel Heiser of the Riverside County Fire Department.

He said firefighters had not received any reports of damage but they are driving through the community to assess the damage firsthand. The temblor occurred at 9:55 a.m.

People reported feeling the quake as away as Canoga Park, 130 miles from the epicenter, and Sequoia National Park, 250 miles away. Two people in Tijuana also reported to the USGS that they felt it.

The epicenter was about seven and a half miles underground and was about 16 miles southwest of Palm Desert. Dozens of aftershocks have been listed for the area.

The next-largest quake in that area was a 5.6 in 1980, according to the USGS website.

In Los Angeles, police officials said there were no reports of damage.

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Image: Map shows area where quake struck. Credit: U.S. Geological Survey

5.2 earthquake shakes Southern California

This post has been updated. See below for details.

A  magnitude 5.2 earthquake struck Monday morning in the Riverside County desert, the U.S. Geological Survey reported. It was the second earthquake in the Anza area Monday. [Updated at 10:59 a.m., March 11: The quake has been downgraded to 4.7 magnitude.]

The most recent temblor occurred at 9:55 a.m. and was felt at least as far away as downtown Los Angeles. Anza is about 30 miles east of Temecula.

There were no immediate reports of damage.

The U.S. Geological Survey noted several aftershocks.

[Updated at 10:32 a.m., March 11: The temblor was centered about 23 miles from Palm Springs and 64 miles from San Diego.

“It was a pretty good shake up here.” Capt. Daniel Heiser of the  Riverside County Fire Department. 

The Los Angeles Fire Department was assessing the situation but reported no immediate damage.]

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Image: Map shows area where quake struck. Credit: U.S. Geological Survey 

San Diego man mourned after sailboat-race death

Crew members are mourning the death of a San Diego man killed over the weekend during a sailing race co-sponsored by the Newport Harbor Yacht Club.

Craig Thomas Williams, 36, was one of six crew members aboard the Uncontrollable Urge, a 32-foot vessel participating in the fourth annual Islands Race that began Friday in Long Beach and ended Saturday in San Diego.

The sailboat issued a distress call around 9 p.m. Friday after its rudder failed and the craft drifted toward the rocky shoreline of San Clemente Island, authorities said. Coast Guard officials said the Uncontrollable Urge was in small-craft-advisory weather, with 8-foot swells and 10-knot winds.

Initially, the crew turned down a rescue attempt by the Coast Guard or other boats in the race, but as waves pushed the craft closer to the island, the sailors were forced to abandon ship, officials said

Williams was found unresponsive in the water by Coast Guard rescue personnel. "He was recovered from the water and death was confirmed without medical intervention," the San Diego County medical examiner said.

The five other crew members were rescued, hoisted aboard an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter that had been dispatched from the Coast Guard's San Diego station.

Death during sailboat race leaves yacht club in mourning

A San Diego man died over the weekend during a sailing race co-sponsored by the Newport Harbor Yacht Club, officials said.

Craig Thomas Williams, 36, was one of six crew members aboard the Uncontrollable Urge, a 32-foot vessel participating in the fourth annual Islands Race that began Friday in Long Beach and ended Saturday in San Diego.

The sailboat had issued a mayday call around 9 p.m. Friday as its rudder failed and the craft drifted toward the rocky shoreline of San Clemente Island. Initially the sailors turned down a rescue attempt by the Coast Guard or other boats in the race, but as waves pushed the craft closer to the island, the sailors were forced to abandon ship.

Williams was found unresponsive in the water by Coast Guard rescue personnel. "He was recovered from the water and death was confirmed without medical intervention," the San Diego County medical examiner said.

Five other crew members were rescued. The survivors were hoisted aboard the MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter which had been dispatched from the Coast Guard's San Diego station.

Coast Guard officials said the Uncontrollable Urge was in small-craft advisory weather containing 8-foot swells and 10-knot winds.

The Islands Race route is 139 nautical miles and rounds both San Clemente and Catalina islands. The San Diego Yacht Club co-sponsors the race with the Newport Harbor Yacht Club.

The Uncontrollable Urge, owned and skippered by James Gilmore, was from the Silver Gate Yacht Club in San Diego, according to the San Diego Yacht Club's website.

San Diego man killed in sailboat accident off San Clemente Island

Craig Thomas Williams, 36, of San Diego, was killed in the crash of a 32-foot sailboat onto the rocky shoreline of San Clemente Island, the San Diego County medical examiner said Saturday.

Williams was found unresponsive in the water by Coast Guard rescue personnel. "He was recovered from the water and death was confirmed without medical intervention," the medical examiner said.

Four other crew members were rescued. Their boat, the Uncontrollable Urge, was taking part in the Islands Race hosted by the Newport Harbor Yacht Club and San Diego Yacht Club.

The sailboat had issued a mayday call about 9:30 p.m. Friday as the boat's rudder failed and the craft began drifting toward the rocky shore of the island. Initially the sailors declined assistance from the Coast Guard and other boaters.

But about 11 p.m., as the sailors attempted to anchor the vessel, its anchor would not catch, and the vessel drifted even closer to shore. The Coast Guard dispatched a helicopter from San Diego and the cutter Edisto was diverted to the scene.

Finally, the sailboat entered the surf line and was broken apart by waves, forcing the crew to abandon the vessel. Six sailors were hoisted into the MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter and taken to a hospital, where one man was pronounced dead, the Coast Guard said.

The accident occurred amid 8-foot swells and 10-knot winds.

--Tony Perry in San Diego

One dead, five rescued in San Clemente Island sailboat accident

One person is dead and five others were rescued after a sailboat accident at San Clemente Island during a sailing contest called the Islands Race, the Coast Guard said Saturday.

The 30-foot sailboat Uncontrollable Urge issued a mayday call about 9:30 p.m. Friday as the boat's rudder failed and the craft began drifting toward the rocky shore of the island. Initially the sailors declined assistance from the Coast Guard and other boaters.

But about 11 p.m., as the sailors attempted to anchor the vessel, its anchor would not catch and the vessel drifted even closer to shore. The Coast Guard dispatched a helicopter from San Diego and the cutter Edisto was diverted to the scene.

Finally, the sailboat entered the surf line and was broken apart by waves, forcing the crew to abandon the vessel. Six sailors were hoisted into the MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter and taken to a hospital where one man was pronounced dead, the Coast Guard said.

The accident occurred amid eight-foot swells and 10-knot winds.

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Video credit: U.S. Coast Guard

Former official with San Diego County Indian tribe admits embezzling $57,000

A former official with the La Posta Band of Mission Indians in San Diego County pleaded guilty in federal court Friday to embezzling $57,000 from the tribe.

Troy Teague,  38, of El Cajon, was executive  director of the La Posta Gaming Commission from 2006 to 2011, responsible for maintaining the commission's financial records and making payments on commission credit cards and a checking account.

Although he knew that he could not use commission funds for personal expenses, he used a credit card and the checking account to pay for membership in a gun club, Home Depot charges, car audio/video components, vacation expenses, restaurant bills, car rentals and entertaining at a comedy club, according to federal prosecutors.

Teague faces a possible five years in prison when sentenced. He pleaded guilty guilty to embezzlement and theft. The tribe's casino, near the community of Boulevard, closed last year.

--Tony Perry in San Diego