This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Crime & Safety

Status of Two of City's Highest Profile Cases

Ever wonder what happened to Adam Hall, who was charged with murder and DUI in the deadly collision that took Mara Steves' life or where the case stands with "hockey mom," a.k.a. Kathia Davis?

and are two names most residents in Laguna Niguel are familiar with. Both made news in 2011; he was charged with murder and DUI in a deadly collision, and the other for suspicion of seducing two of her son's former hockey teammates. 

While it has been a while, both cases are still very much alive.

Hall, 27, of Placentia, was arrested on May 24, 2011 in connection with the death of community activist Mara  Feb. 13 while trying to rescue a dog that had been running in traffic.

Find out what's happening in Laguna Niguel-Dana Pointwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Hall's pretrial or trial was held on Friday, March 23. Hall plead not guilty on March 6. After months of postponments and a , a jury trial for Hall is now set for Sept. 4.

Orange County Sheriff's Department deputies arrested Hall in a phone booth at a Walgreens in Yorba Linda. He has been in jail ever since.

Find out what's happening in Laguna Niguel-Dana Pointwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The good Samaritan's death made national news and earned a nod from which presented her husband, John, daughter Hannah and son Jonathan with a posthumous certificate in her name called The Compassionate Action Award.

Hall, who had two prior convictions for driving under the influence, has been charged with murder in the drug-induced crash, the Orange County District Attorney's office said. (After his second conviction, authorities warned Hall he could face a murder rap if he killed someone while driving under the influence.)

He was also charged with one felony count of driving under the influence causing bodily injury. If convicted, Hall faces a maximum 21 years to life in state prison.

On the , according to authorities, Hall had a virtual pharmacy of drugs coursing through his veins. Driving north on Moulton Parkway in a Ford sport utility vehicle, he allegedly sailed through a red light at Nueva Vista Drive and rammed a Toyota SUV passing legally through the intersection.

Hockey Mom Status

Davis plead not guilty in court on March 19, a pre trial will be held on April 30 to decide the date of her trial.

The 44, year-old was  on suspicion of seducing two of her son's former teammates. She is facing charges of unlawful intercourse and .

If convicted, Davis faces a maximum 12 years and eight months in state prison. She was freed on $100,000 bail in December after pleading not guilty.

According to prosecutors, in 2005 or early 2006, Davis allegedly plied one of her son's 13-year-old teammates with alcohol during a sleepover, then kissed and masturbated the boy after her son and daughter fell asleep on the floor nearby.

In 2010 and 2011, Davis allegedly had intercourse four times with another of her son's hockey friends, a 16-year-old boy. Alcohol was also involved in those encounters, prosecutors allege.

She was arrested after the second boy spilled details to his mother, who then notified authorities.

Davis is charged with two felony counts of lewd acts on a child under 14, four felony counts of unlawful sexual intercourse, and a sentencing enhancement for substantial sexual conduct with a child, the D.A.'s office said.

As to why these cases seem to be taking so long, there is a reason.

"Criminal cases can often take months, and in some cases years, to resolve because courts tend to accommodate defense requests to postpone court dates in preparation for trial. We feel as frustrated as the victims and their families in these types of cases because they have to wait so long for justice. The Orange County District Attorney’s Office will continue to advocate for speedy trials," said Orange County District Attorney's office spokesperson Farrah Emami.

Download the movie

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?

To request removal of your name from an arrest report, submit these required items to arrestreports@patch.com.