Digest Digest (January 21, 2005)

Former Stanford official killed by train

A former Stanford University official was killed by a Caltrain Tuesday in Menlo Park. Robert Pringle, 54, a former university vice president, died after being struck by a train near Encinal Avenue shortly after noon.

"At this point, it appears it was suicide," said Caltrain spokesperson Jayme Kunz. She said the engineer did not see Pringle, who may have been hiding and jumped into the train as it passed.

The San Mateo County coroner has not ruled on whether Pringle's death was a suicide. That ruling may not be made until four to six weeks from now, a coroner's official said.

Pringle served as associate vice president in the university's Office of Development from December 1997 to November 2002. He was married to Maggie Pringle, daughter of Leonard Ely, longtime Palo Alto philanthropist.

Pringle received a bachelor's degree from Stanford in 1972 and later received a MBA from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University.

There will a memorial service for Pringle at 3 p.m. Monday, Jan. 24, at Stanford's Memorial Church.

-- Don Kazak

Police issue warning to dog owners

Palo Alto police have issued a warning for dog owners to take caution while hiking in Arastradero Preserve because a mountain lion there "is paying some attention" to domestic dogs.

A flier posted at the preserve states that a lion "has been seen in the preserve intently observing and at times following at a distance, people walking dogs. Dog owners are encouraged to be vigilant and aware of their surroundings at all times."

-- Don Kazak

Salesman jailed for embezzlement

A former salesman convicted of embezzling funds from his former Menlo Park employer was sentenced Tuesday to 90 days in jail and three years of probation.

Mark Cameron Hunter-Reay, 45, was also ordered to pay full restitution of the $21,390 taken from the company, Sound Perfection. Superior Court Judge Steven Dylina also forbid Hunter-Reay from taking employment that puts him in a role of financial responsibility, said San Mateo County Deputy District Attorney Stephanie Arthur.

On Nov. 15, a jury convicted Hunter-Reay of one count of felony embezzlement for crimes that took place sometime around June of the year 2000.

According to the prosecution, Hunter-Reay embezzled the money by pilfering a portion of sales profits after failing to submit the total sale to the company. Hunter-Reay's behavior was discovered after he was terminated from his sales position and the company looked through his records, Arthur said.

-- Bay City News Service

Three cited for selling alcohol to minors

Palo Alto police arrested three store clerks Monday for selling alcohol to minors. The operation of using minors as decoys is part of an 18-month effort that began in September and is funded by a grant from the state Alcoholic Beverage Control agency.

The volunteer minors were accompanied by undercover police officers. The three store clerks who were arrested are: Evelyn Dela Cruz, 44, of Modesto, for allegedly selling alcohol to a minor at Whole Foods, 744 Emerson St.; Eloy T. Pacheco, 29, of Mountain View, for allegedly selling alcohol to a minor at A-1 Liquor, 3866 El Camino Real; and Tae Hoon Kim, 32, of Hayward, for allegedly selling alcohol to a minor at Century Liquor, 3163 Middlefield Road.

The three were arrested and released on citation.

The volunteer minors attempted to buy alcohol in 17 stores.

First 'Amend for Arnold' meeting Sunday

Founders of Amend for Arnold -- alternately known as AmendUs.org -- will be holding their first Bay Area meeting this Sunday, Jan. 23, at 3 p.m. at 3525 Alameda de las Pulgas in Menlo Park.

The group's goal is to pass a U.S. Constitutional Amendment that would allow naturalized citizens, such as Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, to hold the office of President of the United States. Last fall, they gained public attention by running TV advertisements supporting their cause. The introductory meeting will acquaint volunteers with the organization and one another, said founder Lissa Morgenthaler-Jones.

Morgenthaler-Jones, a former mutual fund manager, was a volunteer and donor for both Schwarzenegger's Proposition 49 campaign and his 2003 gubernatorial campaign. Co-founder Dave Jones, husband of Morgenthaler-Jones, also volunteered for Schwartzenegger's campaign, as did Mimi Chen, who worked as a spokesperson.

For information, see www.AmendUs.org or call 650-839-1400.
-- Jocelyn Dong

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