Grigoryan was arrested July 18 in Mexico City after allegedly hitting Sandoval on July 10 with his mother’s Mercedes-Benz as she jaywalked across South Glendale Avenue just south of East Windsor Road.
Prosecutors argued that the murder charge was appropriate because they said Grigoryan had a poor driving record, was speeding and fled the country.
Grigoryan also faces one count of involuntary manslaughter and one count of leaving the scene of an accident. All the charges are felonies.
Prosecutors have submitted about 1,000 CDs of data into evidence last year.
Deputy Dist. Atty. Casey Higgins offered Grigoryan a plea of 12 years in prison, but Grigoryan has not accepted the offer.
Local projects face cutbacks
By the end of December, a balanced state budget was nowhere in site, with local groups fretting about the premonition of diminished cash flow and the possibility of further delays to state-funded projects.
State Controller John Chiang already warned that the state may run out of cash in February if lawmakers do not agree on a balanced budget — likely a mix of tax hikes and program cuts. But Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger already nixed one possibility Dec. 19, days after California’s top fiscal board voted to freeze billions of dollars in funds for state highway, school and other infrastructure projects.
The Glendale Unified School District faces the possibility of delaying large-scale projects due to the spending freeze. Meanwhile, local agencies that rely on funds, such as pharmacists, hospitals and the city’s Public Works Department, could also be affected if legislators do not hammer out a compromise soon.
Revitalization moves north
In 2008, the Americana at Brand heralded a new commercial age complete with gilded statues, glitzy shops and a high volume of consumers that proved to be a boon for the southern section of downtown Glendale.
Look for the revitalization to move north in 2009, as a slew of new shops and eateries are slated to make their debut along the portion officials have dubbed Mid-Brand. Real estate officials said a national chain, without revealing which one, will likely move into the space that the Salvation Army Family Store had occupied, and Panera Bread is slated to make its debut at 300 N. Brand Blvd. by summer.
