| For Immediate Release Case # 07HF1539July 31, 2007 |
Contact:
Susan Kang Schroeder Farrah Emami |
NEWPORT BEACH MAN TO BE ARRAIGNED FOR MURDERING STORE CLERK WHILE OUT ON BAIL FOR TWO SEPARATE VIOLENT CRIMES
NEWPORT BEACH – A Newport Beach man will be arraigned today on charges of murdering a liquor store clerk while he was out on bail for two separate criminal cases. Weston Scott Kruger, 28, is charged in the most recent case with special circumstance felony murder committed during the commission of a robbery, and faces two sentencing enhancements for crime-bail-crime. The term “crime-bail-crime” indicates that the defendant committed a crime while out on bail for a separate offense.
If convicted on these charges, Kruger faces a maximum sentence of life without the possibility of parole. He is being held without bail and is scheduled to be arraigned today, Tuesday, July 31, 2007 at 1:30 p.m. in Department H-2, Harbor Justice Center, Newport Beach.
Homicide Case (Case # 07HF1539)
On July 28, 2007, Kruger is accused of attempting to purchase cigarettes at the Sportsman Liquor Store at 2615 Newport Boulevard. While standing at the counter, the defendant was confronted by the store clerk, Hao Huynh, who could see that Kruger was hiding a magazine under his shirt. The defendant is accused of stealing the magazine and leaving the store, and the clerk followed him outside to try and stop Kruger. Kruger is accused of violently knocking the clerk to the ground and fleeing the scene. The victim’s head hit the ground with such force that he died the following day at Hoag Hospital. Huynh and his wife had owned and worked together at the liquor store since 1992. Kruger was out on bail on this date for an unrelated domestic violence case and residential burglary.
Domestic Violence Case (Case #06HF1684)
On August 25, 2006, Kruger’s live-in girlfriend, Jane Doe, was sitting on a futon when the defendant became angry during an argument. He is accused of kicking the leg on the couch, breaking it, and causing the victim to tip over. He is accused of putting his foot on her neck and pushing down. When the victim was able to get up, Kruger is accused of pushing Jane Doe’s face into a bowl of moist dog food. He is accused of grabbing a metal pole while the victim was on the ground, swinging at Jane Doe, and hitting her on the arm as she attempted to protect herself.
Kruger was charged September 19, 2006, with felony domestic battery with corporal injury, felony aggravated assault.