DJ Kingsley, top right, speaks to families gathered for Connecticut Against Violence's rally and community forum held at the Ralphola Taylor Community Health Center in Bridgeport, Conn. on Friday February 3, 2012.

Connecticut Against Violence, an anti-violence group founded last September by Bridgeport Lt. David Daniels and DJ Kingsley Osei, will host the second in a series of community forums from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 10 at the South End Community Center at 650 Park Avenue in Bridgeport. The topic of the forum is “The real truth about gun violence.”

Youth and parents are encouraged to attend. Food and live music will be provided.

CAV uses hip-hop music to inspire youths to make positive life choices. Learn more about the group here.

Click here to read about the group’s first community forum last Friday at the Ralphola Taylor Community Health Center.

Nereida Gonzalez, the victim’s ex-wife, said boarded up homes like the one where Gonzalez lived and died are hubs of violence.

She said the city should demolish these abandoned structures instead of looking the other way as they become centers for criminal activity.

“I want the mayor in Bridgeport to do something with these houses,” said Nereida Gonzalez. “These houses are dangerous.”

She added, “When I came here with (Gonzalez), this was a place to raise a kid. Not now. Not with these houses bringing in criminals. If I see the mayor I will tell him myself. The houses need to come down.”

Marion Perreira and her son, William Perreira, appeared in court Monday on civil charges filed against them by the Town of Stratford. The case was continued to March 19.

The town is suing Marion Perreira for ownership of the four cats seized from her home. The cats were seized because the Perreiras violated a signed agreement with the town by failing to provide required veterinary care to five cats in their possession, according to Town Attorney Tim Bishop.

Marion Perreira owns and cared for the animals, but William Perreira lives in the home and co-signed the agreement.

The town is seeking custody of the  cats or nearly $6,000 in fees to cover expenses the town has paid for animal care.

In addition to the civil suit, Marion and William Perreira have each been charged with several counts of animal cruelty.

The Perreiras are fighting the charges.

Read more about civil and criminal charges against the Perreira family here.

No further information is available.

Steve Ganias, 69, of Wallingford, was sentenced to 24 months in federal prison Thursday for evading payment of more than $160,000 in federal income taxes.

A jury found Ganias guilty of two counts of tax evasion last April.

Ganias operated Taxes International in Wallingford and provided accounting, bookkeeping and tax preparation services for numerous individuals and small business clients, according to evidence disclosed during the trail.

Before establishing Taxes International in 1986, Ganias served as an IRS auditor and International Examiner forFortune 1000 companies in Connecticut and their foreign subsidiaries.

In 1998, Ganias and Taxes International began providing services to Industrial Property Management, Inc. IPS was responsible for security and maintenance at the Stratford Army Engine Plant under a contract with the U.S. Army. 

Between 1999 and 2003, Ganias earned annual fees in excess of $100,000 from IPM, as well as income from other clients.  But rather than reporting the income he earned from IPM and other clients on his federal income tax returns, he recorded significant amounts in his own books as non-income, claiming it was petty cash that he deposited into the bank or that it was an owner’s infusion of capital into his business.

Between 1999 and 2003, Ganias reported less than half  his taxable income, underpaying his tax liability by approximately $164,351. 

A judge Thursday ordered Ganias to pay $69,842 in restitution for underpaying his taxes for in 2002 and 2003.

Dennis Tajiri, 23, of Courtland Avenue was treated at Bridgeport Hospital about 8 a.m. on Dec. 31 for a head injury and a wound on his right knee.

Tajiri, who does not speak English, told police through a translator that he and the suspect got into an argument while drinking in the early morning hours of Dec. 31 at a Lenox Avenue apartment. He told police the suspect smashed a bottle over his head and stabbed him in the leg with a glass shard.

Police charged Diego Becerra, 29, of Stamford with second-degree assault after finding broken glass on the floor of the apartment and flecks of the same glass in Tajiri’s hair.

Police said Becerra told officers investigating the incident that he didn’t remember what happened.

“We are holding a Xmas benefit for one of our beloved friends who was struck and seriously injured by a car over the Thanksgiving weekend. Tasha Walker is a wonderful person and a single mom of 3. She has a long road to recovery and will be in the hospital for quite some time and we’d like everyone to help us show her some love and help us raise some money so that her children can at least have a good Christmas as their mom recovers as she will be out of work. Anyone who knows Tasha knows how good of a woman,mother and friend she is and its times like these where we can all come together and show her how much she means to us as well. DJ Amani will be hosting along with us,drink specials all night and we will be charging just a $5 cover at the door and all proceeds will go to the family. There will also be a collection box at the bar for those of you who would like to donate more. So come down and join us Saturday Dec 17th and please pass this invite along,the more we have the better. For those of you who cant make it but would still like to help you can send a check made out to – Tasha Walker c/o Glenn Everlith 255 Franklin Ave Stratford,Ct. 06614″

Read more about the hit and run incident here.

Daniel Mills, 32, was pulled over by State Police about 9:30 p.m., while heading north near Exit 33. He left his car and started running, State Police said. Stratford Police were called in to assist in the chase.

Once caught, Mills was charged with possession of narcotics, sale of drugs and possession of drug paraphernalia, as well as interfering with officers, disobeying officers, reckless driving and failure to display license plates.

Held on $250,000 bond, Mills appeared Tuesday in Bridgeport Superior Court.

When police arrived on scene they found Aja Barksdale, 19, lying in the street, according to police.

Barksdale was transported to Norwalk Hospital with serious, but non-life threatening, injuries, police said.

Police said their preliminary investigation shows an 18-year-old Westport resident struck Barksdale as she attempted to cross the street.

Speeding does not appear to be a factor in the crash, police said. It was dark and raining at the time of the crash.

The incident is under investigation by the Westport Police Department.