This story was reported for IVNSanDiego.org in August 2020. Gilbert Polanco is described as a man who was “proud of his job” and represented “the best of CDCR.” After working at San Quentin State Prison for three decades, Polanco became infected with COVID-19 and died Aug. 9 — two weeks before his 30th wedding anniversary. He was 55. Polanco is… Read more →
Category: Investigative
Mystery Clouds CA Inmate’s Death; Cellmate’s Past Uncovered
This story was reported for Patch Media on Oct. 17, 2018. It is the recipient of multiple awards for investigative journalism. SAN DIEGO, CA — What remained of inmate James Leonard Acuna’s troubled life was delivered to his family in a box months after his decomposed body was found hidden in a cell at the Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility… Read more →
Hidden Body, Falsified Records: Inmate’s Death Plagues CA Prison
This story was reported for Patch Media on April 25, 2018. It is the recipient of multiple awards for investigative journalism. SAN DIEGO, CA — On a sweltering April afternoon in 2017, James Leonard Acuna spent what may have been the last day of his life playing soccer with fellow inmates at the Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility in Otay… Read more →
Poway Drug Use: Too Much Talk or Not Enough?
This story was reported for Patch Media on Feb. 4, 2011. Depending on whom you ask, the issue of drug abuse—primarily of OxyContin—in Poway and, more specifically, at Poway High School is either a serious problem or one of little significance compared to other communities in the county. Some students at the school maintain that there isn’t a significant problem… Read more →
GLT’s financial missteps show ‘a business in trouble’
This story was reported for the San Diego News Network on May 19, 2010. Mikey Rox, a New York City freelance writer, was owed $600 when he stopped submitting his articles to San Diego’s Gay & Lesbian Times in February 2009. That represented a year’s worth of work. Rox says he tried contacting the magazine’s publisher Michael Portantino and associate… Read more →
Leading gay publication misleads its advertisers
This story was reported for the San Diego News Network on May 11, 2010. One of San Diego’s oldest gay and lesbian print publications has been misleading its advertisers with false circulation numbers and at the same time racking up debt, according to information obtained by San Diego News Network (SDNN.com) and San Diego Gay & Lesbian News (SDGLN.com). In… Read more →
Clinics, HIV services come under county scrutiny
This story was reported for the San Diego News Network on April 29, 2009. Sources gave Hoa Quach exclusive interviews. Allegations of misused federal funds, poor patient treatment, and a case manager pressuring a patient to have sex have prompted the county to investigate the delivery of services at community clinics. The county Compliance Office’s investigation focuses on allegations related… Read more →
San Diego’s COO says violations weren’t made in program
This story was reported for the San Diego News Network on October 16, 2009. I was hoping to have a full story Friday in regards to the memo released by San Diego Chief Operating Officer Jay Goldstone but it looks like officials are still examining it. Let me give readers an update though. Councilmember Donna Frye’s spokesperson said she’ll be… Read more →
Memo makes waves at City Hall as Goldstone fires back
This story was reported for San Diego News Network on October 15, 2009. San Diego City Chief Operating Officer Jay Goldstone released a memo Thursday in response to my story published Monday (“SDNN inquiry prompts investigation into city’s finances.”) I’m working on a complete story for Friday. As I originally reported, Councilmembers Donna Frye and Todd Gloria asked Mayor Jerry… Read more →
SDNN inquiry prompts investigation into city’s finances
This story was reported for San Diego News Network on October 12, 2009. Documents discovered through a Public Records Act request made by the San Diego News Network allege that the city of San Diego spent more than $250,000 on consultancy services offered by Grant Thornton without the City Council’s approval. Last year, the city council approved a memorandum of… Read more →