Novato has been terrorized by 50 separate, small, suspected arson fires in the last three days, most of which have been in garbage cans or on small, four-square-foot patches of grass or brush. They've been concentrated in two distinct parts of the city, and the rapidity and proliferation of the incidents calls to mind the recent cat-and-mouse chase around Los Angeles for that suspected carsonist — albeit on a Marin-County scale with far less damage and far less actual drama. more ›

The suburbs are getting gruesome this week as we learn the tale of Evelyn Smith of Novato, who might have possibly murdered her husband Dale (age 75) and buried him under some brick pavers in her yard. A neighbor, Rebecca Smith (no relation) called police after she became concerned after not seeing Dale puttering around the yard for several months. She asked Evelyn, with whom she says she always got along "swimmingly," about Dale's wherabouts but always got unsatisfying answers, like that he was off on a fishing trip that never seemed to end. "It just got to the point that I couldn't not think about it," she tells the Marin IJ, so she had to call the cops. They asked to search the property, and ended up finding a body buried there, who's presumed to be Dale. Evelyn has not been placed under arrest, but has hired lawyers. more ›

The son of dead, famed San Francisco pornographer Jim Mitchell -- he himself a murderer, convicted of fratricide and sentenced to having his story portrayed by the vile Charlie Sheen -- will be in court today. James Raphael Mitchell, 27, if you recall, (allegedly) beat to death Danielle Keller, 29, the mother of his one-year-old daughter. Then, in yet another brilliant move, he kidnapped his daughter and tried to flee. Anyway, the troubled, combative soul is due in court today. Will he eventually beat this mess? Probably. Because he comes form money and has a semi-famous name, and they get everything. (No offense, Peter Getty.) But the victim's mother, Claudia Stevens, hopes otherwise, saying, "His father always bailed him out of every piece of trouble he ever got into. Now that Daddy's gone, there's no one to bail him out...I do not think all the money in the world is going to set him free." He'll be arraigned at 1:30 p.m. today. more ›

Driving while drunk is a crime that should, arguably, in a perfect world, be punishable by public beheading. In addition to taking the life of an innocent driver and the lives of many, you ruin a perfectly good automobile and cause even more cumbersome gridlock. And that's not right. Take, for example, Edward Schaefer, a 43-year-old Novato man, who made headlines this week after striking and killing a 9-year-old girl on his motorcycle. After researching "decades' worth of public records," NBC Bay Area uncovered Schaefer's checkered driving record. Check it out: "1990, Marin County - DUI, 6 months in jail, 3 years probation, license suspended 4 years; 1990, Marin County - DUI, 44 days in jail, 3 years probation; 1991, Marin County - DUI, 26 days in jail; 1995, Marin County - DUI, 4 months in jail, 2 years probation, license suspended 3 years, $2,000 fine, ignition device 1 year; 1999, Sonoma County - Alcohol-related Reckless Driving, 30 days in jail. 2 years probation; and 2004, Nevada - DUI." What's more, NBC goes on to report that "Schaefer faced the same Marin County judge in his first four cases." And no one noticed a pattern?! Jesus. Anyway, Schaefer is due back in court on June 19. more ›

Dr. Horace Bixby Newhard, 78, was ordered yesterday to stand trial for allegedly penetrating a 60-year-old patient during a gynecological exam, who had been a patient of Newhard's for several decades. During an office visit in 2007, after Newhard had sent the office staff home, the victim said she felt three very rapid thrusts in her genital region. She also said he "pulled on" her nipples during a breast exam, and at the conclusion of the office visit, Newhard embraced her and kissed her, put his hand on her butt, and pushed her into him. In court, Newhard never denied the allegations, telling the victim he was sorry he made her uncomfortable. "It was my exuberance. I've always liked you." Newhard has pleaded not guilty, and although his medical license remains active, he is required to have a third-party chaperone present while examining women. Perhaps it's time to retire? more ›

animation or isn't it?" type of filmmaking. more ›