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As education officials and growth experts predict an increasing need for more schools in South County, one developer that has tried to build a new private high school in Morgan Hill for several years was recently shot down, again, by a local land use authority.   

Stolen vehicleA thief or thieves stole a black 2002 Cadillac Escalade from the 100 block of Cochrane Road. The crime was reported 7:12 a.m. June 7.Someone stole a Volvo SUV from the 17400 block of Calle Mazatan. The driver of the rented vehicle left the keys inside the vehicle and the doors unlocked before it was stolen. The crime was reported 1:28 a.m. June 8.A thief or thieves stole a black Ford Explorer from San Pedro Avenue. The theft was reported 1:19 p.m. June 11.Grand theftSomeone stole a television from a room at Executive Inn & Suites. The crime was reported 12:21 p.m. June 4.Traffic accidentSomeone drove a vehicle into a tree for an unknown reason near Cochrane Road and DePaul Drive. The driver complained to paramedics that he had pain in his chest, but refused medical treatment. The accident was reported 3:21 p.m. June 10.BurglaryA resident of Tilton Avenue came home to find a house window broken and the home rummaged. The crime was reported 10:39 a.m. June 7.A thief or thieves broke into a home on the 17800 block of Crest Avenue by entering through a ground-floor bedroom window. Among the stolen items was jewelry. The crime was reported 6:19 p.m. June 6.VandalismSomeone threw eggs at a home on Black Walnut Court. The crime was reported 7:28 p.m. June 7.FraudSomeone stole a tax refund check from a residence on the zero block of West Edmundson Avenue, and cashed the check by forging the owner’s name. The crime was reported 7:51 p.m. June 7.Auto burglarySomeone smashed the window of a Chevrolet Equinox and stole a purse. The vehicle was parked on the 17000 block of Walnut Grove Drive. The crime was reported 2:36 p.m. June 4.All subjects are innocent until proven guilty. Information is compiled from public records.

The preliminary hearing for two suspects accused of murdering Morgan Hill resident Cody Flores in 2015 was delayed until late this summer.Spencer Smith and Chase Benoit—both 21-year-old Morgan Hill residents at the time of their arrest—will head back to court Sept. 19 so the judge can set a new preliminary hearing date, according to Santa Clara County Deputy District Attorney David Pandori. The preliminary hearing—a common criminal court procedure in which a judge determines if there is enough evidence for the defendants to face trial—was originally scheduled for June 6, but was delayed.Smith and Benoit are accused of stabbing Flores to death in a field in east Morgan Hill May 31, 2015, according to authorities. Both suspects were arrested shortly after Flores’ death, and have remained in custody on a murder charge since then.The stabbing incident happened in an empty field near the intersection of Diana Avenue and Ringel Drive, according to police.The suspects pleaded not guilty at a previous hearing.The D.A.’s office and Sheriff’s investigators have revealed few details about the late-night stabbing incident and the suspects’ possible motive. The court file on the case, which is held at the Hall of Justice in San Jose, does not contain police reports or other narrative of the incident.The file does include a judge’s order sealing police reports, witness information and other information related to the investigation from public view. A June 3, 2015 application by Sheriff’s Sgt. Julian Quinonez to deny defense attorneys’ request for witness information says, in part, “It is..my belief and experience that violent homicide suspects and their associates are known to intimidate, threaten and possibly harm witnesses. Additionally, the ongoing investigation may reveal additional crimes and witnesses.”The Sept. 19 hearing will take place at the Hall of Justice.

A Live Oak High School student suffered major injuries after he collided with a vehicle while riding a skateboard in east Morgan Hill the morning of June 10, according to police.About 8:15 a.m., the 15-year-old skateboarder was riding east on East Main Avenue toward Condit, according to Morgan Hill Police Sgt. Carlos Guerrero. As he skated downhill from the U.S. 101 overpass on East Main Avenue, he crashed into a vehicle that was traveling north on Condit Road through the intersection.The skater allegedly failed to stop at a red light on East Main Avenue, Guerrero said. Other vehicles at the intersection were stopped at the signal in both the eastbound and westbound lanes on East Main.Police added that witnesses said the teen was traveling “full speed” as he skated down the hill.The teen, who police declined to identify because he is a juvenile, was flown to San Jose Regional Medical Center with major injuries, Guerrero said. He underwent surgery, and Guerrero declined to comment further on his condition other than to clarify that the teen remains alive.The teen was not wearing a helmet at the time of the collision.The vehicle involved in the accident received significant damages, but the motorist was not injured.

A Morgan Hill gym owner accused of sexual battery appeared in court June 10, but his hearing was delayed until July 29 at South County Courthouse.David Wolfsmith, 49, was out of custody in lieu of $325,000 bail when he appeared June 10. At a previous hearing, the judge increased his bail from $100,000 after prosecutors added more charges to his case since his arrest.At the June 10 hearing, Wolfsmith waived his right to a speedy trial. Superior Court Judge Jacqueline Duong scheduled a hearing July 29 for his next court appearance.Wolfsmith is charged a total of 13 counts, including multiple felony counts of sexual battery by fraud, one count of lewd and lascivious act on a child younger than 14 and misdemeanor annoying or molesting a child. The charges are related to a total of seven female victims, two of whom are minors, according to authorities.Morgan Hill Police arrested Wolfsmith April 11, after an investigation that began in February.Wolfsmith and his wife Julia Wolfsmith are owners of Wolfpak Training Center in downtown Morgan Hill. He is a personal trainer who has coached a number of triathletes.

A Superior Court judge scheduled a hearing on a series of motions filed by former San Francisco 49er Dana Stubblefield, who is accused of raping a disabled woman at his Morgan Hill home.Stubblefield appeared at South County Courthouse in Morgan Hill June 10. After meeting behind closed doors with Stubblefield’s attorneys and prosecutors, Judge Jacqueline Duong set a hearing for June 24 on Stubblefield’s motion to compel Santa Clara County District Attorney Jeff Rosen’s office to recuse itself from the case.At the June 24 hearing, the judge will also hear a defense motion to reconsider a protective order that currently prohibits Stubblefield from contacting his alleged victim. Stubblefield filed that motion June 10, just before the latest hearing.Stubblefield, 45, is charged with five felony counts related to the alleged rape. He is accused of assaulting the woman, 31 at the time, on April 9, 2015. Stubblefield has denied the allegations.Investigators said Stubblefield asked the woman to come to his home to interview for a babysitter job. He initially contacted the woman through the website sittercity.com, and asked her to visit his home the next day for a job interview.After a brief interview, the woman left, according to authorities. But Stubblefield called her back and offered to pay for her time. When she returned, he carried the woman to a room, raped her, forced her to perform oral sex and then gave her $80, according to police reports.The woman drove straight to the Morgan Hill police station from Stubblefield’s home to report the incident, according to authorities.After a year-long investigation, Morgan Hill police arrested Stubblefield May 2.In a statement after he made bail May 3, Stubblefield denied all the charges against him. He said he had consensual sex with the woman he is accused of raping.On June 24, the court will also hear a motion filed by Stubblefield seeking the results of a background check performed by the agency that listed his alleged victim as a babysitter for hire.Stubblefield’s attorney Gary Winuk said after the hearing that the defendant wants the California Attorney General’s Office to replace Rosen’s office as the prosecuting agency in the case in order to gain a better chance for a fair trial. He criticized the DA’s office for sending press releases to the media following Stubblefield’s arrest, claiming that he “unconscionably assaulted” the woman.Stubblefield is charged with one count each of rape by force, violence, duress, menace or fear; rape of a victim incapable of giving consent; oral copulation by force, violence, duress, menace or fear; oral copulation with a person incapable of giving legal consent; and false imprisonment.

Live Oak Girls Basketball Coach Mike Kiefer said he immediately noticed a freshman Amy Gunther and was impressed by her arrogance and her confidence she was ready to play varsity basketball.

Downtown residents and motorists are cautioned not to park or drive on the streets during the evening and early morning hours for three days next week, as the city will complete the neighborhood’s roadway resurfacing project.Work will take place from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. June 13-15. Portions of downtown streets will be closed to all traffic. Vehicles and trailers will be prohibited from parking on the street. Graham Contractors warns that any vehicles parked on the street when construction is scheduled will be towed.Residents and businesses on the streets to be resurfaced are also cautioned not to water their lawns on the days that construction is scheduled, “as this may cause a permanent unsightly appearance on the street in front of your home,” reads a notice from Graham Contractors delivered to downtown businesses. The oil from the fresh new roadway surface could track stains into driveways, sidewalks and even onto carpets inside downtown homes.Temporary “No Parking” signs will be posted along the streets before construction begins.All work will take place from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m.The street resurfacing project is a final step in City Hall’s downtown infrastructure improvement plan, which began more than a year ago. This plan also included utility undergrounding on downtown streets, parking improvements, Third Street and Fourth Street resurfacing and Monterey Road median improvements.

Firefighters from CalFire, the Morgan Hill Fire Department and South Santa Clara County Fire District raised $22,740.90 for the Muscular Dystrophy Association with their annual “Fill the Boot” fundraiser.