-- Deepa Bharath BRIEFLY IN THE NEWS...

-- Deepa Bharath

BRIEFLY IN

THE NEWS

2 arrested in home invasion robbery

Police arrested two people on Tuesday in connection with an armed

home invasion robbery on the Balboa Peninsula on Saturday, officials

said.

Carlos Alfredo Diaz, 31, of Anaheim and Maricela Alejandre, 21, of

Compton were arrested on suspicion of armed robbery. Police said they

forced their way into a home in the 1900 block of East Bay Avenue,

held the residents at gunpoint and took about $60,000 in cash and

jewelry.

The resident who opened the door thought the man and woman were

solicitors, Newport Beach Police Lt. John Klein said. The suspects

then found two others in the house and bound all three residents with

tape, he said.

“After collecting cash and jewelry from the house, the suspects

told the victims they couldn’t do anything for five minutes after

they left,” Klein said. He said both suspects left the house with the

items they collected after which one victim freed his taped hands and

called the police.

Klein said police are not sure if there were more people involved

in the robbery.

“The stolen items have not been located yet and our detectives are

still investigating,” he said.

Diaz and Alejandre are being held in Orange County Jail with bail

set at $50,000.

Convicted molester gets 45 years to life

A 49-year-old former Mesa Verde resident found guilty of five

counts of child molestation in May was sentenced Friday to 45 years

to life in prison.

A jury decided that Melvyn Capenter committed lewd acts with four

girls, all younger than 18, over the course of a year.

Costa Mesa Police became aware of the allegations against

Carpenter in February 2000. He was arrested March 17, 2000, at his home in the 2900 block of Country Club Drive.

Carpenter had not been in police custody for more than two years.

Since the arrest, he had moved from his Mesa Verde home, officials

said.