Courtroom round up
By Daphne Kilea 02/23/2012
Blair Stockdill of Ventura pleads insanity
Facing first-degree murder and child abuse charges for nearly a year and a half, Blair Stockdill has changed her plea of “not guilty,” to “not guilty by reason of insanity” and is currently undergoing psychological evaluation.
On Sept.20, 2010, Ventura police responded to a domestic altercation at Stockdill’s residence, finding her in the possession of a knife and her male companion suffering from a knife wound. During the investigation of that disturbance, they discovered the body of Stockdill’s 8-year-old daughter, Alaina, in the bathroom. Alaina was found lying in the empty bathtub, head on a pillow; it was estimated that she had been dead for several days, and later it was determined that she had drowned. Stockdill was arrested and charged with murder, then child abuse.
According to reports, Stockdill had recently gained custody of her daughter, and both the police and Child Protective Services had visited her home prior to her daughter’s death, but found no grounds to take 8-year-old Alaina away from her mother. Stockdill has had a history of mental illness, and in light of her insanity plea, a judge has ordered that her mental status be evaluated by two psychologists. Stockdill may end up in a mental institution for the rest of her life if she is deemed legally insane and found not guilty; if her mental status is not found to be impaired and she is convicted, she faces 29 years to life in prison.
Stockdill is due in court May 9 at 1:30 p.m. in courtroom 12.
Russell Takasugi of Simi Valley — pleads no contest of 34 felonies, more charges made
Former attorney Russell Takasugi, 58, pleaded no contest in October 2011 of 34 felonies and the court found him guilty and he admitted all priors and allegations. He had been indicted on 28 counts of money laundering, plus additional counts of fraud, grand theft and other charges. Takasugi now faces seven new felony charges. He has also been disbarred. On Feb. 2, sentencing in the first case (34 felonies) and arraignment in the second case (seven felonies) were both postponed to allow him time to acquire an attorney.
The first case arose in 2007, when Oscar Muro, Takasugi’s 71-year-old client, died from pancreatic cancer. According to the Ventura County District Attorney, as executor of Muro’s will, Takasugi stalled the probate process for a year and, allegedly, later filed false statements and instruments with the court. At this time, he is accused of embezzling more than $500,000 from Muro’s estate, which he admitted he loaned to himself. As a result of a disputed plea agreement, the judge has imposed a five-year limit on any prison term. In the probate case for Muro’s estate, a judge recently determined that Takasugi must pay more than $1 million in fines and interest.
Takasugi repaid the money and had been free on bail until he was arrested in December for allegedly committing fraud against another client. In the second case, he is accused of forging checks and spending funds that belonged to Hazel McVey, his 79-year-old client, who died in 2002. Takasugi apparently used her accounts freely for at least four years, without acknowledging her death to anyone. If convicted, these charges may result in imprisonment for 16 years.
With a new attorney, Takasugi pleaded not guilty to all seven felony charges at his arraignment on Feb.17. He may possibly file a demurrer, challenging the basis of the case against him or a specific allegation.
Takasugi returns to the Ventura County Superior Court on March 16 at 1:30 p.m., in courtroom 37, for a plea hearing.
(Editor's note: Updated Feb. 23, regarding the reader's comments. According to the court docket and the DA, Takasugi did plead "not guilty" to charges made on the second case on Feb. 17. Takasugi did not plead guilty to the original charges in the first case, but rather "no contest." No contest means that the defendant isn't admitting guilt, however, the judge sees such a plea as a guilty.)
Satnam Singh of Ventura — felony DUI, second-degree murder charge
After two postponed hearings, Satnam Singh, 49, pleaded “not guilty” at his arraignment on Feb.17. He is charged with second-degree murder, felony drunk driving, felony and misdemeanor hit-and-run, as well as two counts of inflicting great bodily injury.
On May 11, 2011, Singh is alleged to have been involved in three separate hit-and-runs in Ventura, with a fatal outcome for the third victim, 20-year-old Nick Haverland. Witnesses reported that Singh, in his Hummer, first struck mother and daughter cyclists, whose injuries included broken bones. He allegedly did not stop but continued driving, rear-ending a pickup at a traffic light and leaving a family of three in the vehicle with minor injuries.
According to reports, Singh continued down Telegraph Road, where he allegedly hit Haverland, who was riding his bike in the bike lane; Haverland died at the scene. A witness called 911 and followed Singh to his home, where police apprehended him in his driveway. He was arrested and charged with felony driving under the influence, felony hit-and-run and vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated.
On the night he was arrested, his blood-alcohol level was reportedly determined to be 0.39 percent, which is nearly five times the legal limit. The charge of vehicular manslaughter was amended to second-degree murder, apparently due to evidence that indicated Singh’s possible conscious disregard for life. If convicted on that charge, he could face a sentence of 15 years to life in prison. Charges of felony DUI with injury and hit-and-run could also be added.
At his Jan. 18 hearing, which resulted in a postponement, the court ordered Singh to apply for representation from the Public Defender’s office; he appeared at his recent arraignment with a new attorney, whom he had hired. Singh is currently free on bail, which was set at $500,000. A bail review is set for Feb.23.
A pre-trial hearing is set for April 20 at 1:30 p.m., courtroom 12.
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Comments
I appreciate the news in keeping the community knowledgeable of these types of occurances. But before we try these people through media, lets get the facts straight. I have been following the Takasugi case through the local media and public data. You really need to report more accurately and watch your words. Mr. Takasugi has NOT been to trial and has NOT been found guilty of any crime. He has entered a plea of "no contest" on the first charges. We will all see what happens at trial. If he is guilty of wrong-doing, I hope that he pays justly. Mr. Takasugi did not enter a plea on the second set of charges on Feb. 17, the case was continued because of his new lawyer. I enjoy your publication and look to you as a news source; so please report accurately.