ICYMI: Birther Judge Banished, Missing Child Mystery, and Zombies

In case you missed it, here's a look at some of the top stories in the county this week, Oct. 13-19:

Carlsbad Patch

A former administrator of an elite college prep school was arrested Thursday and charged with molesting students at Army and Navy Academy in Carlsbad. Jeffery S. Barton, 56, of Oceanside, resigned his position as administrator of the military boarding school in June when a former student, now an adult, reported allegations of past sexual conduct. Barton faces 16 felony counts and is expected to be arraigned Tuesday.

Encinitas Patch

The Encinitas Fire Department has a new chief. John Canavan replaces Scott Henry, who retired after serving the the city for more than 30 years. He comes from the Poway Fire Department, where he served as Administration Chief and Fire Marshal. He lives in Poway, and is a Little League, and active in the school district. 

La Jolla Patch

To the surprise of many, former San Diego Mayor Bob Filner pleaded guilty Tuesday to one felony count of false imprisonment by violence and two misdemeanor counts of battery. Filner was quickly booked and released from jail—all in about an hour and a half early Saturday morning. As part of the plea bargain Filner agreed to, he avoids jail time and is on probation for three years. He is barred from seeking or holding office ever again, and must undergo mental health treatment.

Coronado Patch 

The average price of a gallon of self-serve regular gasoline in San Diego County this week dropped to its lowest amount since Jan. 31, falling a half-cent to $3.82, according to the Automobile Club of Southern California.

Imperial Beach Patch

A trip to the commissary is about to get bigger as a pilot program gets rolled out to test club-style shopping at Naval Outlying Landing Field Imperial Beach (NOLF IB). Commissary Plus is scheduled to open Oct. 24. Locals have mixed reactions in the comments on the story. Some with access to the commissary welcome the changes, and others worry that the new model will take away from local businesses without contributing sales tax to Imperial Beach. 

Ramona Patch

Judge Gary Kreep was boycotted by prosecutors and reassigned traffic court, according to a report in UT San Diego. Kreep, a Ramona resident elected to a Superior Court seat in 2012, was working from the downtown San Diego courthouse, but was assigned to the small claims and traffic court in Kearny Mesa in September. 

The judge, who heads up the conservative U.S. Justice Foundation, was denied a U.S. Supreme Court hearing last year on his birth certificate case against President Obama.  

Santee Patch

A 12-year-old boy missing from Santee was found late Tuesday night miles from home by a Harbor Police officer. Eric Alexander Cheyssial was discovered asleep on a sidewalk near Lindberg Field about 11 p.m. by Officer Robert Glenn.  

The big mystery seems to be what happened between the time Eric was last seen at 2 p.m. in Santee, and when he was found. Authorities have not said how or why Eric traveled so far on his own. 

La Mesa Patch