Mountain Views News          Saturday, November 16, 2013

A4

Mountain Views-News Saturday, November 16, 2013 


Yoga 
Instructor 
Convicted 
of Sexual 
Battery

CHIEF 

INVOLVED 

IN PREVIOUS 
OFFICER-
INVOLVED 
SHOOTINGS

Webster’s Future Uncertain

By Dean Lee

 After 87 years in Altadena, 
the longtime Webster’s 
property has been sold to 
a Beverly Hills developer, 
with that, Webster’s Fine 
Stationary will also close in 
January after a family dispute 
over selling and renovating 
the property—which may 
include bringing Starbucks 
Coffee to the city.

 The Webster’s complex 2450 
N. Lake Avenue was sold to 
Greenbridge Investment 
Partners. Plans for the 
location include replacing 
the façade with a retro style 
architecture and adding an 
eatery and a coffee place 
such as Starbucks.

 The Altadena Community 
Arts Center and the Daz-E 
Thrift Shop are also available. 

 “This is such a blow, instead 
of working with the family 
to keep the corporation 
going, he [founder, William 
B. Webster] just decided 
to chuck it all and take the 
money and run.”

 Webster’s stationary store 
co-owner, Lori Webster 
said they received a letter 
a few weeks ago saying 
Webster’s as a corporation 
was disbanding. Although, 
they did not get an eviction 
notice, she said the building 
had been sold and their last 
day would be Jan. 7. 

 Lori Webster explained 
that, 50 years ago, the family 
incorporated the business so 
the family would have equal 
shares. Over time William 
Webster acquired a majority 
of the shares she said. He 
now makes all decisions and 
sold the property. Scott and 
Lori Webster bought the 
stationery department in 
2007 after he retired.

 She said they are not sure 
if moving is an option 
although they have been 
offered another location in 
Pasadena at Washington 
Boulevard and Hill Street at 
a much higher rent. 

 Webster’s opened in 1926 
as a pharmacy to write 
prescriptions for alcohol 
during prohibition.

 A jury Wednesday found 
a Pasadena yoga instructor 
and owner of Yoga Kingdom 
Sanctuary guilty of four counts 
of sexual battery by fraudulent 
representation City Prosecutor 
Michele Beal Bagneris 
announced Thursday. The 
conviction requires he register 
as a sex offender for life she 
said. 

 “We are grateful that the 
jury has sent a strong message 
that sex crimes will not be 
tolerated,” Bagneris said. “If 
other victims step forward, 
our office will pursue these 
matters and seek justice for the 
victims.”

 Naader Shagagi, 56, was 
convicted of committing the 
sexual crimes at his 553 S. 
Lake Avenue yoga studio. He 
was convicted under sexual 
battery. The jury could not 
reach a unanimous verdict 
on two other sexual battery 
charges Bagneris said.

 The case was based on 
complaints from three young 
female yoga students who were 
assaulted by Shagagi during 
so-called private “healing” 
sessions. Evidence provided 
by Deputy City Prosecutor 
Joon Kim showed the victims 
were told that his intimate 
touching would help “heal” the 
victims.

 Other fraudulent 
representations that the 
defendant made to the victims 
included that he was a “healer” 
who had cured others of 
breast cancer and that he was 
a “messenger of gods” who 
could communicate with gods.

 One of Yoga Kingdom 
Sanctuary’s brochures 
advertised “Curative Yoga” 
that could cure “any ailments.” 
The victims were convinced 
to participate in multiple 
private “healing” sessions 
with Shagagi during which 
he repeatedly groped and 
touched them according to a 
released statement.

 Bagneris said victims of sex 
crimes need to know “they are 
not alone and that the police 
and prosecutors are here to 
help them.”

 Video uploaded to YouTube 
Wednesday shows that Pasadena 
Police Chief Phillip Sanchez has 
been personally involved with 
at least five officer-involved 
shootings before being hired to 
lead the city’s police force.

 In the 23 minute deposition 
video Sanchez is questioned 
by attorney Caree Harper 
who represented the family of 
19-year-old Kendrec McDade, 
shot by police March 24, 2012. 
Sanchez is asked about his 
record with previous officer-
involved shootings, his stand 
on public oversight of the police 
department and if the McDade 
shooting incident could have 
been handled differently.

 “You felt you could have been 
objective having been involved 
in ‘waistband shootings’ yourself 
as the officer, that you could 
objectively, either, disciplined 
these officers or exonerate these 
officers,” Harper asks, at the 
beginning of the video, about 
disciplining officers Matthew 
Griffin and Jeffrey Newlen, the 
officers who shot McDade. “You 
feel that you could have done 
that anyway.”

 Sanchez indirectly admits, 
by answering “yes” to his 
involvement in five officer-
involved shootings. According 
to a statement by Lt. Tracey 
Ibarra, the shootings all took 
place before 2000. She also said 
Sanchez was honored for saving 
lives. 

 Numerous city officials have 
now said they were unaware 
of Sanchez involvement in the 
shootings, including Pasadena 
Mayor Bill Bogaard.

 Harper asks if Sanchez is against 
a police civilian oversight 
committee, to which he replies, 
“No, not necessarily,” She then 
rephrases the question, asking 
about a panel, other than the 
city’s Public Safety Committee.

 “You’ve come out against 
civilian oversight for reviewing 
police misconduct and 
shootings, or have you been 
misquoted multiple times in the 
press,” she accuses.

 Sanchez then clarifies his 
position saying that oversight 
currently exists, “through 
the Pasadena Police (sic) 
Safety Committee, which 
is a subcommittee of four 
councilmembers.” 

 According to the city’s website, 
no specific police committee 
exists, only the Public Safety 
Committee, to which, Sanchez 
may be speak of.

 The video ends with Harper 
questioning Sanchez about 
tactics used by Griffin and 
Newlen. She asks if anything 
could have been done different 
in approaching McDade.

 “They could have done a couple 
of things,” he said. “They could 
have honked the horn, they 
could have ‘voice controlled,’ 
they could have used the air horn 
that’s on the car, they could have 
used the siren at some point.” 
In October, the city 
council rejected a request by 
Councilmember John Kennedy 
to establishing a citizen 
oversight committee for the 
police department.

Pasadena Police Chief Phillip 


PCC Hosts 
Million Meals 
Marathon 
Food Drive

Bogaard Steps Down as 
League of Cities President

Webster’s Fine Stationary Owners Scott and Lori Webster

Earth Quake Early Warning 
System Funding Sought

 Pasadena City College will host 
its 1st annual Million Meals 
Marathon in partnership with 
the Los Angeles Food Bank, 
and the Pasadena Humane 
Society. The food drive 
will take place on Saturday, 
November 23, 2013 at 11:00am 
to Sunday, November 24, 2013 
at 11:00am. Donations of non-
perishable (unexpired) food 
and pet food will be collected 
during this 24-hour period.

 The Los Angeles Food Bank 
estimates that over 1.7 million 
people (400,000 of them 
children) experience hunger 
in Los Angeles County. PCC 
has set a goal to collect 2,000 
pounds of food in support of 
needy families. The goal of 
collecting over 2,000 pounds 
of food will stock the Humane 
Society Food Bank for 2 to 3 
months.

 Research has shown that 
families who experience 
financial hardship and own 
pets are at times forced to 
choose between feeding 
themselves or their pets. The 
PCC million meals marathon 
food drive will also collect 
donations of pet food.

 The million meals marathon 
food drive will be held in 
Lot 1 located at the corner of 
Hill Avenue and Colorado 
Boulevard, 1570 E. Colorado 
Boulevard. For additional 
information, contact 626-585-
3378.

 
The League of California Cities 
held its final 2013 Board of 
Directors meeting Nov. 7–8 in 
Newport Beach, where the focus 
was on setting the organization’s 
strategic goals for the coming 
year. The officers and directors 
also discussed the culmination 
of the 2013 legislative session 
Sacramento as well as federal 
issues affecting cities. Mayor 
Bill Bogaard participated in the 
meeting as Past President of the 
board.

 Mayor Bogaard recently 
completed his service as 
President of Board of Directors 
for the League of California 
Cities, having begun serving 
as a Board member six years 
ago. The League is a statewide 
association founded in 1898 
to advocate on behalf of 
California’s cities at the state 
and federal levels and to provide 
education, training and best 
practices for city officials.

 “California cities are facing 
challenges even as we come 
out of the Great Recession. 
The League of California 
Cities Board of Directors 
plays a critical role in shaping 
statewide policies that affect 
local governments and being 
at this table is an opportunity 
to represent the City of 
Pasadena. The issues before us 
are some of the most critical 
to our community and I value 
the League’s ongoing efforts 
on behalf of all cities,” Mayor 
Bogaard said.

 In the course of the two-day 
meeting, the League’s officers 
and directors met with other 
members of the League’s 
leadership who represent the 
organization’s professional 
departments, policy 
committees, regional divisions, 
and diversity caucuses. 

 League Executive Director 
Chris McKenzie noted the 
hard work and important roles 
of the Board and other League 
leaders, saying “It is a powerful 
thing for an organization like 
ours to come together and 
strategically identify how to be 
most effective in our advocacy 
for local control and authority.”

 “The process we went 
through this week establishes a 
substantial agenda for 2014 that 
will be accomplished through 
engagement of city officials 
from throughout California. 
The League has been a voice for 
California cities for 115 years 
because the cities of this great 
state are extremely committed,” 
McKenzie said.

 Congressman Adam Schiff, 
joined representative Judy 
Chu, and others, last week, 
to urge the White House’s 
Director of the Office of 
Management and Budget, 
Sylvia Mathews Burwell, 
to provide the highest 
possible funding level for 
the Earthquake Hazard 
Program and the Global 
Seismic Network in their 
2015 budget request. 

 Over the past several years, 
some in Congress and the 
Administration have targeted 
the National Earthquake 
Hazards Reduction Program 
for budget cuts — including 
to the early warning system 
still being developed by 
scientists in Southern 
California. For prototypes 
like the U.S. Geological 
Survey’s “Shake Alert,” which 
was partially designed by the 
USGS in Pasadena, budget 
constraints have slowed its 
implementation. Such an 
early warning system would 
be enormously helpful in 
providing residents and first 
responders with advance 
notice that could help avert 
major infrastructure damage 
by shutting down mechanical 
systems like mass transit and 
elevators and save lives in the 
event of a major earthquake.

 In the letter, the Members 
write: “As you work with 
the United States Geological 
Survey (USGS) to craft 
its fiscal year 2015 budget 
request, we urge you to 
support the Earthquake 
Hazards Program and the 
Global Seismic Network at 
the highest possible level.”

 “Every few months, we are 
reminded about Los Angeles’ 
and California’s vulnerability 
with tremors and small 
earthquakes rattling our 
homes and businesses. It 
is critical that the United 
States maintains its vigilance 
and expertise in earthquake 
preparedness, and I am 
hopeful that when the House 
and Senate meet to work out 
the appropriations bills, we 
will be able to secure funding 
for this vital program,” said 
Rep. Adam Schiff, who 
led the letter to the White 
House. “When we consider 
the lives that would be 
spared if we have just a little 
bit of warning before the 
next big one, it’s a very small 
but prudent investment.”

Pet of the 
Week

 
Debbie is a one-year-old, 
gray and white pit bull. She 
can be a bit shy at first, but 
she warms up quickly. She’d 
be very thankful to find a 
loving home this holiday 
season. 

 Debbie’s adoption fee 
is $125, which includes 
her spay surgery, a 
microchip, the first set of 
vaccinations, as well as 
a free follow-up health 
check at a participating vet. 
New adopters will receive 
complimentary health and 
wellness exam from VCA 
Animal Hospitals, as well 
as a goody bag filled with 
information on how to 
care for your pet. Ask an 
adoptions counselor for 
more information during 
your visit. 

 Call the Pasadena 
Humane Society & SPCA at 
626.792.7151 to ask about 
A340216, or visit at 361 S. 
Raymond Ave. in Pasadena. 
Adoption hours are 11-4 
Sunday, 9-5 Tuesday –
Friday, 9-4 Saturday. Pets 
may not be available for 
adoption and cannot be 
held for potential adopters 
from phone calls or email. 
Directions and photos of all 
pets can be found at www.
pasadenahumane.org. 

Learn How to Produce 
Your Own TV Show

One City, 
One Story to 
Be Revealed

 In anticipation of Pasadena 
Media opening new studios at 
150 S. Los Robles Ave, they are 
offering free television-training 
programs for producers. Plan 
to attend an orientation to 
discover the right classes for 
you. Producers’ Training 
teaches how to produce shows 
for The Arroyo Channel. Studio 
Production/Equipment training 
is also offered to volunteer 
crewmembers. In addition, 
on-going training will soon be 
available in citizen journalism 
and digital film groups. Call the 
office (626) 794-8585 or go to 
PASADENAMEDIA.ORG and 
explore what Pasadena Media 
has to offer.


Colorado Street Bridge 
Centennial Exhibition

 Pasadena Public Library’s 
12th One City, One Story 
selection will be announced 
on Thursday, November 21 at 
6:30 p.m. on the front steps 
of Pasadena’s Central Library, 
285 E. Walnut St.

During the presentation, 
Mayor Bill Bogaard and 
Jan Sanders, director of the 
Pasadena Public Library 
system, will announce the 
book selection and unveil a 
poster size version of the book 
cover.

 A 14-member community 
committee chose the novel. 
Last year’s selection was “The 
Age of Miracles” by Karen 
Thompson Walker.

Pasadena’s annual community 
reading celebration is designed 
to broaden and deepen an 
appreciation of reading and 
literature in the community, 
engage participants in 
dialogue and bring Pasadenans 
together by promoting greater 
understanding of differing 
points of view.


Class Offerings 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm Nightly

Producer Training

Monday Nov. 18 at 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm 

Studio Camera

Tuesday, Nov. 19 at 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm

Audio Training

Wednesday, Nov. 20 at 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm

Character Generator

Thursday Nov.21 at 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm 

Closed for Thanksgiving

Thursday Nov. 28 through Sunday Dec. 1 

Citizen Journalism coming soon

Digital Film Group coming soon

 All are invited to celebrate 
the centennial of the fabled 
Colorado Street Bridge—
an architectural gem and 
celebrity darling of films and 
TV—at a reception at the 
Pasadena Museum of History 
Saturday, December 7, 12:00 
to 4:00 pm with the American 
Society of Civil Engineers, 
Los Angeles Section. Meet 
photographer Tavo Olmos, 
who was contracted by 
the City of Pasadena to 
document the 1991-1993 
restoration of the Colorado 
Street Bridge. His recent 
book, available for purchase 
and signing, features select 
views of the deconstruction 
and reconstruction. Free 
admission to the centennial 
exhibition and light 
refreshments will be offered.