Mountain View News Saturday, February 7, 2026 
SUPERVISOR BARGER ANNOUNCES $10K REWARDMountain View News Saturday, February 7, 2026 
SUPERVISOR BARGER ANNOUNCES $10K REWARD
NEWS BRIEFS 

SAN MARINO MURDER CHARGES FILED 

A man was ordered last week to stand trial on murder and arson 
charges stemming from his wife's death at their San Marino home, 
with the judge ordering him to be taken into custody without bail.

 Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Shelly Torrealba 
rejected a defense motion to dismiss the charges against Yoon 
``Kevin'' Lai stemming from his wife's Jan. 6, 2025, death, and allowed 
Deputy District Attorney Alexander Bott to add two special 
circumstance allegations -- murder for financial gain and murder 
while lying in wait -- that required Lai to be held without bail.

 The District Attorney's Office is expected to decide later whether 
to seek the death penalty for Lai, who could otherwise face a 
potential life prison term without the possibility of parole if convicted 
as charged.

 Lai, 62, was led out of the downtown Los Angeles courtroom after 
being handcuffed. He had been freed on $2.25 million bond 
less than a week after his first court appearance on the charges 
stemming from the death of his 56-year-old wife, Irene Gaw-Lai,
a doctor with whom he had twin teenage sons.

 At Lai's first court appearance last year, Assistant Head DeputyDistrict Attorney Habib Balian told a judge that authorities are alleging 
that Lai beat his wife to death and then tried to cover it upby setting the house on fire.

 The prosecutor said the two had experienced ``some marital 
discord,'' telling the judge that cellular site data and surveillance 
video suggests the defendant was at the home shortly before the 
blaze.

 Lai's attorney, James Tedford, countered that the county medicalexaminer's office has listed the woman's cause of death as ``undetermined.'' 
The defense lawyer -- who said his client has been in 
``full cooperation with law enforcement'' -- said there were electrical 
issues at the home, saying that ``more than likely we have 
an electrical fire.''

 In testimony last Monday, a sheriff 's arson investigator who 
reviewed the evidence testified that he concluded ``someone intentionally 
set this fire'' and noted that was also the conclusion of 
the original investigator who was among three people who were 
killed in an explosion last year. 

Lai's attorney asked the judge to dismiss the charges, saying he 
did not believe they had been proven. He argued that he didn't 
think the testimony was sufficient to ``rule out an electrical fire.''

 Bott countered that Lai's wife had filed for divorce in 2024 and 
the defendant was aware of what a divorce would cost him financially, 
with the prosecutor calling it a ``financially motivated 
murder'' by the ``only person who could have started'' two fires 
that were confined to the den in the family's home.

 After a nearly two-day hearing, the judge said she found ``sufficient 
cause'' to believe that Lai had committed the crimes.

 Jocelyn Gaw testified Monday that her younger sister had filed 
twice for divorce and had accused her husband of having an affair, 
and had not withdrawn her divorce petition despite her husband 
agreeing to revoke a prenuptial agreement that was one of 
the conditions if the two were to reconcile. She said she is now the 
guardian of the couple's two sons.

 The couple's next-door neighbor, Caroline ``Connie'' Chappell 
Morris, testified that she initially observed what she thought was 
steam and later determined was a small stream of brown smoke 
coming from a portion of the house after she returned from the 
park, where she had been walking with a friend. She said she 
saw Lai ``peering out the door'' and heard him ask, ``What's going 
on?''

 ``I say to him, `Your house is on fire' and pointed to the back ...,''
she testified. She said Lai questioned where his wife was since 
her car was still there and she was supposed to pick up their sons, 
telling the judge that he eventually said he had to leave and pick 
them up while his wife was still missing. She said he subsequently 
returned without his sons, who showed up later.

 In a statement released shortly after the case was filed, DistrictAttorney Nathan Hochman said, ``The violent death of Dr. 
Irene Gaw-Lai is heartbreaking and deeply disturbing. She was 
not only a respected physician and business leader, but a mother 
who deserved safety and dignity in her home. We will not rest 
until the person responsible for this senseless tragedy is held fully 
accountable.'' 

SCOTTISH SINGER AND 
SONGWRITER 
JIM MALCOLM, WILL 
PLAY A CONCERT ON 
FEB.14 IN PASADENA 

After performing with Pasadena Folk Music Society for 
more than twenty years, both with Old Blind Dogs and solo,
Jim is extremely fond of our organization and the wonderful 
spirit of our audiences, and he’s delighted to be comingback. 

As both singer and songwriter, Jim Malcolm is one of the 
most distinctive voices in Scottish music, “one of the finest 
singing voices in Scotland in any style”. He has a huge repertoire 
of songs from the Scottish tradition and is a noted 
interpreter of Robert Burns. These old songs are complemented 
by his own original and award-¬winning songs, 
which are at once completely modern and accessible, yet 
an authentic addition to the canon of Scottish music. Jim’s 
between-¬song wit has developed to an art form all of its 
own and is not to be missed! 

This concert will begin at 7:30 p.m. at Knox Presbyterian 
Church, 225 S. Hill Ave. in Pasadena. Available through 
Eventbrite, advance tickets with fees are $33.85 for adults 
and $12.51 for Caltech students and younger students 
through high school. 

The event is organized by volunteers of the Pasadena Folk 
Music Society, which has been presenting fine music at affordable 
prices for four decades. 

For more information, see https://pasadenafolkmusicsociety.
org/events 

FOLLOWING VANDALISM AT PASADENA JEWISH 

TEMPLE AND CENTER 

Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger announced today 
that Los Angeles County is now offering a $10,000 reward for information 
leading to the arrest and conviction of the individual or 
individuals responsible for the recent vandalism at the Pasadena 
Jewish Temple and Center. 

During today’s Board of Supervisors meeting, Supervisor Barger 
read in a motion to establish the reward. The motion received 
unanimous approval, reflecting the Board’s shared commitment to 
ensuring accountability for acts that threaten public safety and target 
faith communities. 

“This was a deeply disturbing act targeting a Jewish community that 
is still working to heal and rebuild,” said Supervisor Kathryn Barger. 
“By establishing this reward, we are sending a clear message that intimidation will not be tolerated in Los Angeles County. 
I urge anyone with information—no matter how small it may seem—to come forward so those responsible can be held accountable. 
This community deserves answers and justice.” 

Supervisor Kathryn Barger stands alongside Pasadena Jewish Temple and Center congregants and community members during 
a commemoration of the Eaton Fire held last week. (Photo credit: Michael Owen Baker/LA County) 

The Pasadena Jewish Temple and Center, which was destroyed during the Eaton Fire in January 2025, was further traumatized 
this past weekend by vandalism and antisemitic graffiti. The Los Angeles County Sheriff ’s Department is leading the 
investigation and has confirmed it is being treated as a potential hate crime. 

Supervisor Barger has condemned the vandalism and pledged to closely monitor the investigation while standing ready to 
support both the affected community and law enforcement. The establishment of this reward builds on that commitment by 
encouraging members of the public to share information that could assist investigators. 

Anyone with information related to this crime is urged to contact the Los Angeles County Sheriff ’s Department Altadena 
Station at (626) 798-1131. Tips may also be provided directly to the Sheriff ’s Department Major Crimes Bureau-Hate Crimes 
Task Force by contacting Detective Hodaya Doherty at hhdohert@lasd.org or calling the tip line at (562) 946-7893. Information 
can also be submitted anonymously through the Los Angeles Regional Crime Stoppers Hotline at (800) 222-TIPS (8477). 


The newly installed “Altadena Forever” banner displayed on Lake Avenue. (Photo credit: Los Angeles County Public Works) 

Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger today spotlighted the unveiling of a new banner spanning Lake Avenue, com-
missioned by the Community Coalition for Altadena Recovery, as a powerful symbol of resilience. 

The banner was designed by a local teenager who lost his home in the fire, transforming personal loss into a message of hope 
for the entire community. 

“I am incredibly pleased and proud to see our community continue to rise together in the wake of the Eaton Fire,” said Su-
pervisor Kathryn Barger. “This banner is a reflection of the strength and creativity that define this community. It’s a reminder 
that even in the hardest moments, hope and unity shine through.” 

The banner was installed today by Los Angeles County Public Works on Lake Avenue, between Morada Place and Alameda 
Street. Its display serves as both a tribute to those impacted by the wildfire and a visible sign of the community’s determina-
tion to move forward together. 


ARCADIA AUDIT CONFIRMS STRONG FISCAL POSITION 

ARCADIA, CA – Independentauditors have completed theirannual review of Arcadia’s Fiscal 
Year 2024-25 financial results, 
reporting a positive endingresult of $4.6 million, significantlyoutperforming initial projections. 

By September 2024, the approvalof five labor association agreements 
resulted in a projecteddeficit of $2.2 million. However, 
by June 2025, updated forecasts 
indicated that a balanced budget 
was the most likely outcome. 
Consistent with prior years, actual 
results proved significantlymore favorable than initial projections, 
which were supportedby stronger revenues, disciplined 
spending, and routinetiming and supply chain delaysfor certain capital projects. 

Arcadia’s positive financial results 
were driven by favorableperformance on both the revenue 
and expenditure sides of thebudget. On the revenue side, 
tax collections exceeded projections 
by $1.6 million, led by 

higher collections on sales, utilities, 
property, and hotel stays.
The fiscal year also reflects increased 
investment income, 
which contributed an additional 
$1.3 million to the budget. Further 
revenue growth came from 
fees, fines, and charges for services, 
including approximately$150,000 for code enforcement 
activity, $150,000 for engineeringservices, $300,000 in grant funds, 
and $400,000 in reimbursements 
related to Fire Department StrikeTeam deployments. 

Budget savings were largely the 
result of normal capital projectscheduling and supply chaindelays, lower-than-anticipatedpersonnel costs, and the deferral 
of a voluntary contribution 
to help stabilize employee pension 
costs. Capital and equipment 
spending totaled about 
$2.5 million less than projected,
with most of those costs beingcarried forward into the current 
fiscal year. Following the favorable 
results of the audit, the Citywill proceed with transferring the 

$1.0 million previously set asideto help smooth pension costs. 

Although the labor contracts 
initially signaled a challengingbudget year, higher revenuegrowth and disciplined spending 
helped Arcadia turn a multimillion-
dollar deficit into a $4.6 
million surplus. “Our employeesare the foundation of Arcadia’s 
success, and the City Council 
ensured that our labor agreements 
reflect their vital contributions 
to the community,” said 
City Manager Dominic Lazzaretto. 
“Their foresight to invest in ourworkforce contributes to Arcadia’s 
long-term vitality, helping 
our community remain a placewhere people want to live, work, 
and play.” 

Arcadia’s FY2024-25 financial 
audit will be posted to the City’swebsite at ArcadiaCA.gov in the 
coming weeks. Any questionsabout the audit can be directed 
to the Administrative Services 
Department at (626) 574-5424. 

Mountain Views News 80 W Sierra Madre Blvd. No. 327 Sierra Madre, Ca. 91024 Office: 626.355.2737 Fax: 626.609.3285 Email: editor@mtnviewsnews.com Website: www.mtnviewsnews.com