A SEASIDE MAN WAS CONVICTED OF KIDNAPPING AND RAPING HIS WIFE AMONG OTHER CRIMES. AUTHORITIES SAY SATURNINO VASQUEZ TOOK HIS WIFE AGAINST HER WILL IN NOVEMBER OF 2003. AT A HOME UNDER CONSTRUCTION,HE BEAT, TRIED TO STRANGLE, AND FINALLY RAPED HIS WIFE. THEY HAD BEEN MARRIED FOR 9 YEARS. THE 37-YEAR-OLD WAS FOUND GUILTY OF ONE COUNT OF KIDNAPPING FOR THE PURPOSE OF RAPE, TWO COUNTS OF FORCIBLE SPOUSAL RAPE, TWO COUNTS OF FORCIBLE ORAL COPULATION, ONE COUNT OF BURGLARY, DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF ALCOHOL, CORPORAL INJURY TO A SPOUSE, AND DRIVING ON A SUSPENDED LICENSE. VASQUEZ IS SCHEDULED TO BE SENTENCED ON APRIL 28th.

2 SCOTTS VALLEY MEN WERE ARRESTED ON SATURDAY FOR SEVERAL DRUG RELATED CHARGES. FATHER AND SON STEPHEN AND AARON DOVANNO WERE FOUND IN POSSESSION OF MARIJUANA, A SUBSTANCE SUSPECTED TO BE L.S.D. AND MUSHROOMS FOR SALE. THEY WERE ALSO IN POSSESSION OF SEVERAL FIREARMS. IT WAS ALSO SUSPECTED THAT 20 YEAR OLD AARON DOVANNO WAS TRYING TO CONVERT UNPROCESSED MARIJUANA INTO HASH. BOTH MEN WERE TAKEN TO THE SANTA CRUZ COUNTY JAIL WHERE THEY WERE BOOKED FOR SEVERAL CHARGES EACH.

ELECTED LATINO OFFICIALS HELD A NEWS CONFERENCE IN SALINAS TODAY, AND GAVE NOTICE THEY PLAN TO WORK TOWARD LEGALIZING UNDOCUMENTED WORKERS. THE GROUP INCLUDED ASSEMBLYMAN SIMON SALINAS, AND MONTEREY COUNTY SUPERVISOR FERNANDO ARMENTA, AMONG 18 OTHERS. THEY ARE BACKING THE AG JOBS BILL IN CONGRESS AIMED AT GIVING FARM WORKERS LEGAL STATUS AFTER THREE TO SIX YEARS. IT WOULD ALLOW THE WORKERS ACCESS TO HEALTH AND CHILD CARE, HOUSING AND EDUCATION PROGRAMS. ONCE LEGAL, WORKERS WOULD ALSO BE ALLOWED TO GO BACK AND VISIT THEIR FAMILIES IN MEXICO. THE GROUP SAID THEY WOULD PUSH CITY AND STATE GOVERNMENT TO ISSUE RESOLUTIONS OF SUPPORT FOR THE FEDERAL AG JOBS BILL.

IN A SURPRISE MOVE, THE OWNER OF A SANTA CRUZ HOTEL HAS PULLED RENOVATION PLANS OFF THE TABLE. THE FIRM THAT OWNS THE COAST SANTA CRUZ HOTEL WITHDREW OR CONFRONTATION IN THE RENOVATIONS. THE PLANS INCLUDED EXPANDING THE NUMBER OF HOTEL ROOMS, CONFERENCE SPACE AND A NEW SEVERAL STORY PARKING STRUCTURE HAS BEEN A CONTENTIOUS ISSUE SINCE APPROVAL BY THE SANTA CRUZ CITY COUNCIL IN FEBRUARY. PLANS FOR LESS DRAMATIC RENOVATIONS FOR THE HOTEL ARE STILL BEING PLANNED.