FREE
Motorist who ran over, killed man on Riverside street convicted of murder
Sanity retrial of Palm Desert woman who attacked sister, mom gets underway
PG 02
PG 27
VISIT CORONANEWSPRESS.COM
M O N D AY, S E P T E M B E R 25- O C T O B E R 01, 2023
Riverside County Continuum of Care receives HUD grant to support homeless youth By Staff
V O L U M E 7,
Sheriff’s deputy charged for alleged sex extortion; another deputy posts bail after drug arrest
A
Housing Workforce Solutions staff members and 2nd District Supervisor Karen Spiegel ceremoniously receive a HUD grant for homeless youth services. | Photo courtesy of Riverside County
T
he Riverside County Continuum of Care has received a nearly $7.5 million federal grant to support homeless young adults, county officials announced Wednesday. The Continuum of Care’s grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development is part of the federal agency’s Youth Homelessness Demonstration Program. “This landmark allocation ... marks the firstever award granted to our community, and third largest award in the nation, specifically aimed at supporting homeless transitional aged youth between the ages of 18 and 24,” according to the county’s announcement. “The YHDP award, represents a significant milestone in our ongoing efforts to address youth homelessness,” 2nd District Supervisor Karen Spiegel said in a statement. “This funding will not only strengthen our existing programs but also provide us with the
resources to develop new initiatives that will have a lasting impact on the lives of homeless transitional aged youth in Riverside County. This award further reinforces our commitment to ensuring that no young person in our community is left without a safe and supportive environment to thrive in.” Officials said 15 young people who are formerly homeless and currently members of the Continuum of Care Youth Action Board “will play a pivotal role in coordinating and implementing the HUD YHDP grant.” The inclusion of Youth Action Board members aims to ensure that the programs and initiatives funded through the grant are effectively tailored to the specific needs of the county’s “homeless transitional aged youth,” whose “lived experiences and unique perspectives” will help shape policy. “We are thrilled to receive the HUD YHDP
award, which will enable us to further enhance our efforts in supporting homeless transitional aged youth in Riverside County,” Monique Guerra, Continuum of Care homeless youth coordinator, said in a statement. “We are grateful for this recognition and look forward to working alongside our dedicated Youth Action Board to create lasting change in the lives of our community’s most vulnerable youth.” County officials noted the Continuum of Care’s HUD grant highlights the steady work of community partners, local government agencies and nonprofits. “Their collective efforts have made this achievement possible and will continue to drive our mission of ending homelessness among transitional aged youth,” according to the county’s announcement. Officials also pointed to Guerra’s 202 appointment as coordinator for homeless youth services
“Through her invaluable expertise and contributions, she has successfully formalized processes to guide youth through our comprehensive system of services,” according to the county. “This strategic approach empowers them to transition from homelessness to secure housing and provides essential linkages to vital resources such as workforce development and behavioral health support.” The Continuum of Care has made progress in its mission to reduce and prevent homelessness, logging a notable decrease of 27% observed for the first time this year, according to the county. “However, the HUD YHDP award presents an extraordinary opportunity for us to propel our efforts even further,” officials said. “By leveraging this grant, we will be able to expedite the process of getting individuals into housing, thereby reducing the length of time spent in homelessness.”
N O. 139
By City News Service
Riverside County sheriff’s correctional deputy accused of engaging in sex acts with female inmates on home detention as part of an extortion scheme was charged Wednesday with nearly 20 felony offenses. Christian Phillip Heidecker, 32, of Menifee, was arrested Sept. 15 following an investigation by the sheriff’s department. Heidecker is charged with three counts each of being a detention officer engaging in sex while on duty and witness intimidation, as well as four counts each of attempted penetration with a foreign object, extortion and a public official seeking bribes. The defendant, who is being held in lieu of $1 million bail at the Benoit Detention Center in Indio, was slated to make his initial court appearance Wednesday afternoon at the Banning Justice Center. According to sheriff’s Sgt. Steve Brosche, last month, investigators were tipped off to alleged criminal behavior on the part of Heidecker, who was then assigned to the Alternative Sentencing Program, working out of the Coordinated Custody Management Unit in Banning. The program enables inmates to serve time on home confinement, in lieu of jail, wearing ankle monitors to track See Sex extortion Page 28
Felon who killed his aunt, wounded man during banquet convicted of murder
A
By City News Service
fter deliberating one day, a jury Tuesday convicted a 33-year-old felon of murder and other charges for fatally shooting his aunt and seriously wounding an acquaintance during a dispute at a family banquet in Riverside. Abraham David Bonilla killed 39-year-old Beatrice Romo of Beaumont and shot her friend, identified in court documents only as “Tommy,” at the Elks Lodge on Brockton Avenue in 2018. Jurors received the case Tuesday morning following closing arguments in the roughly weeklong trial Monday. The panel notified Riverside County Superior Court Judge Sam Shouka Tuesday afternoon that unanimous verdicts had been reached on all counts. Along with murder, Bonilla was found guilty of attempted murder, being a felon in possession of a firearm, See Murder Page 27