A MONTEREY COUNTY JURY FOUND A MANAGER AT NATIVIDAD MEDICAL CENTER GUILTY OF 4 MISDEMEANOR COUNTS. BILLY JOE COLLINS WAS CONVICTED TUESDAY, AND IS EXPECTED TO LOSE HIS JOB OVER VIOLATIONS OF STATE CONFLICT OF INTEREST LAWS. THE 54-YEAR-OLD FACILITIES MANAGER GETS OVER 91 THOUSAND DOLLARS ANNUALLY, AND HAS BEEN PUT ON UNPAID ADMINISTRATIVE LEAVE SINCE SEPTEMBER. BECAUSE THE CHARGES AGAINST COLLINS WERE MISDEMEANORS, INSTEAD OF FELONIES, HE WON'T BE DOING JAIL TIME. HIS SENTENCING IS SCHEDULED FOR MARCH 25TH.

A MEMORIAL SERVICE WILL BE HELD TOMORROW FOR ANDREW JULIAN TIBBITS, WHO DIED ALONG WITH 4 FRIENDS IN SATURDAY?S EARLY MORNING CRASH IN PRUNEDALE. 19 YEAR-OLD ?DREW? TIBBITS IS SURVIVED BY HIS PARENTS, AND BROTHER, AS WELL AS NUMEROUS OTHER FAMILY MEMBERS. THE SERVICE WILL BEGIN AT 10 A.M. TOMORROW AT MEHL?S COLONIAL CHAPEL IN WATSONVILLE. CONTRIBUTIONS ARE PREFERRED TO A FUND THAT HAS BEEN SET UP IN THE 5 TEENS? HONOR. IT?S CALLED TAMMY AND THE LOST BOYZ TRUST FUND, AND CHECKS CAN BE MAILED TO THE WASHINGTON MUTUAL BANK ON MAIN STREET IN WATSONVILLE.

STATE SENATOR JEFF DENHAM ONCE AGAIN INTRODUCED LEGISLATION TO REQUIRE BLOOD ALCOHOL TESTS IN FATAL VEHICLE ACCIDENTS. THIS YEAR, THE MEASURE IS COSPONSORED BY THE CALIFORNIA STATE SHERIFF'S ASSOCIATION. SENATE BILL 176 WILL REQUIRE THAT DRIVERS THAT HAVE CAUSED A VEHICLE ACCIDENT, RESULTING IN A FATALITY, TAKE A BLOOD ALCOHOL CONTENT TEST. IT WOULD ALSO EXTEND CURRENT LAW TO REQUIRE THE SUSPENSION OF A PERSON'S DRIVER'S LICENSE, IF THE TEST IS REFUSED.

A MONTEREY COUNTY MAN WAS ARRESTED ON DRUG CHARGES YESTERDAY. THAT AFTER MORE THAN 30 GRAMS OF METHAMPHETAMINE WAS FOUND IN A WHEEL WELL OF HIS VEHICLE, AND 28 MORE GRAMS WERE FOUND IN HIS HOME. 39 YEAR-OLD MARINA RESIDENT HARVEY GOMES WAS BOOKED INTO MONTEREY COUNTY JAIL ON CHARGES OF TRANSPORTING (AND BEING IN POSSESSION OF) CRYSTALLIZED METH FOR SALE.