![California Supreme Court cites 2021 law making it more difficult to prove gang enhancements, which is what made the killer eligible for capital punishment. California Supreme Court cites 2021 law making it more difficult to prove gang enhancements, which is what made the killer eligible for capital punishment.](https://www.sbsun.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/OCR-L-LAMB-0713-01.jpg?w=117)
![Tony Saavedra. (Photo by Paul Bersebach, Orange County Register)](https://www.sbsun.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/OCR-L-Tony-01.jpg?w=85)
Tony Saavedra
Tony Saavedra is an investigative reporter specializing in legal affairs for the Orange County Register. His work has been recognized by the National Headliner Club, the Associated Press Sports Editors, the California Newspaper Publishers Association, the Orange County Trial Lawyers Association and the Orange County Press Club. His stories have led to the closure of a chain of badly-run group homes, the end of a state program that placed criminals in inappropriate public jobs and the creation of a civilian oversight office for the Orange County Sheriff's Department, among other things. Saavedra has covered the Los Angeles riots, the O.J. Simpson case, the downfall of Orange County Sheriff-turned felon Michael S. Carona and the use of unauthorized drugs by Olympian Carl Lewis. Saavedra has worked as a journalist since 1979 and has held positions at several Southern California newspapers before arriving at the Orange County Register in 1990. He graduated from California State University, Fullerton, in 1981 with a bachelor of arts in communication.
All Stories
![California Supreme Court cites 2021 law making it more difficult to prove gang enhancements, which is what made the killer eligible for capital punishment. California Supreme Court cites 2021 law making it more difficult to prove gang enhancements, which is what made the killer eligible for capital punishment.](https://www.sbsun.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/OCR-L-LAMB-0713-01.jpg?w=117)
![Assessor Claude Parrish contends developers should pay millions in taxes that would wipe out subsidized rents for thousands of middle-class apartment dwellers. Assessor Claude Parrish contends developers should pay millions in taxes that would wipe out subsidized rents for thousands of middle-class apartment dwellers.](https://www.sbsun.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/OCR-L-WORKFORCE-JG-02.jpg?w=125)
OC workforce housing program endangered by war between county assessor, developers
![More than a dozen people with ties to Southern California have been convicted for their roles in the Capitol siege, including some on obstruction charges. More than a dozen people with ties to Southern California have been convicted for their roles in the Capitol siege, including some on obstruction charges.](https://www.sbsun.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/OCR-Z-SCOTUS-JAN6-0629-01.jpg?w=132)
SoCal Jan. 6 rioters charged with obstruction hopeful under U.S. Supreme Court ruling
![Now-retired Officer Alfredo Gutierrez had an eye ailment when he hit 24-year-old Cezannie Mount in the early morning darkness in 2019. Now-retired Officer Alfredo Gutierrez had an eye ailment when he hit 24-year-old Cezannie Mount in the early morning darkness in 2019.](https://www.sbsun.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/LPT-L-CHP-CHARGE-030-16x9-1.jpg?w=140)
Jury sets damages at $40 million in death of Long Beach pedestrian struck by CHP officer
![California is shifting to police interrogation training based on empathy and honesty rather than deceptive and psychologically manipulative techniques seen in this video. California is shifting to police interrogation training based on empathy and honesty rather than deceptive and psychologically manipulative techniques seen in this video.](https://www.sbsun.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/SBS-L-FALSECONFESSION-0522-06.jpg?w=140)
Fontana’s widely condemned interrogation helps fuel efforts to stop police from lying
![Ebrahim Baytieh, now an Orange County judge, said he regrets using an informant in the case against Paul Gentile Smith. Ebrahim Baytieh, now an Orange County judge, said he regrets using an informant in the case against Paul Gentile Smith.](https://www.sbsun.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/OCR-L-BAYTIEH-0611-07.jpg?w=132)
Ex-OC prosecutor testifies he doesn’t know why evidence wasn’t disclosed in murder case
![A city statement said police detectives had reason to believe Thomas Perez Jr. had killed his father and that they did not engage in unlawful activity. A city statement said police detectives had reason to believe Thomas Perez Jr. had killed his father and that they did not engage in unlawful activity.](https://www.sbsun.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/SBS-L-FALSECONFESSION-0522-05.jpg?w=140)
Fontana denies wrongdoing in 2018 police interrogation characterized as ‘psychological torture’
![Detectives grilled Thomas Perez Jr. for 17 hours, deprived him of medications and threatened to have his dog killed if he didn't confess to killing his father, who was actually alive. Detectives grilled Thomas Perez Jr. for 17 hours, deprived him of medications and threatened to have his dog killed if he didn't confess to killing his father, who was actually alive.](https://www.sbsun.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/SBS-L-FALSECONFESSION-0522-06.jpg?w=140)
Fontana pays nearly $900,000 for ‘psychological torture’ inflicted by police to get false confession
![Supporters say Johnny Martinez, who has spent decades in prison, is a brilliant and caring man, but prosecutors call him "murderous." Supporters say Johnny Martinez, who has spent decades in prison, is a brilliant and caring man, but prosecutors call him "murderous."](https://www.sbsun.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/OCR-L-MEXICANMAFIA-0519-01.jpg?w=140)
Prosecutors fight bail release for reputed Mexican Mafia chief in OC
![Counties have created programs to dispatch behavioral health workers with police, but one expert says the efforts are "nowhere near enough." Counties have created programs to dispatch behavioral health workers with police, but one expert says the efforts are "nowhere near enough."](https://www.sbsun.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/SBS-L-AVCLAIM-0329-01.jpg?w=140)