'Spy Pen' Porn Case Tops 2012 Stories

People may say they prefer to read happy news, but the numbers don't lie. Stories about weird crime, tragic death and violence were the most-read on Watsonville Patch in 2012.

Here's a recap of the biggest news of the year, judged by how many people clicked through to read the stories.

1. Teacher Suspected of Making Porn With 'Spy Pen' (April 10): Aldrin Jayson "A.J." Nicolas, a Silicon Valley choir teacher, was arrested after teenage girls in his program reportedly found a pen containing a tiny camera in their Pajaro Dunes hotel room. The story went viral, even appearing on the Canadian version of the Huffington Post.
2. Plea Deal Falls Through in 'Spy Pen' Porn Case (July 26): Nicolas is now scheduled for trial in February.
3. Authorities Believe Sierra LaMar is Alive (May 9): Sadly, it looks like the cops had it wrong on this one. Antolin Garcia-Torres, 21, is facing charges of murder, kidnapping and other crimes related to the 15-year-old's disappearance.
4. Police: Brandon Gil Started Deadly Fight: (May 17): The announcement that Brandon Gil, 21, was a gang member and the man who fatally stabbed him will not face charges shocked the community.
5. VIRAL VIDEO: Tanks On Train Explained (Jan. 26): Pick your conspiracy theory because military officials had a tough time articulating where these tanks were heading. The railroad actually knew more.
6. (April 1): This was the first report about Brandon Gil's death.
7. Student Killed in Car Crash Mourned (April 14): Renaissance High student Cynthia Madrigal, 16, died in a two-car collision on San Andreas Road shortly after she left school April 13. 
8. Police: Few Leads In Brandon Gil Slaying (April 3): It would be more than a month before detectives sorted out what happened and made a public statement about the events of that deadly night.
9. Missing Teen Sierra LaMar Spotted at Watsonville Fruit Stand? (March 26): This tip created a lot of hope early in the search for Sierra, but apparently was a false lead. 
10. Renaissance High Student Killed in Afternoon Crash (April 13): The fatal crash that claimed Cynthia Madrgial hit the community hard.

The wildcard: Watsonville Pics & Clips. People loved the chance to post their own photos and click through to see what their neighbors were up to. Among the more than 100 photos you'll find scenic shots of the Monterey Bay and Pinto Lake, adorable baby photos, pet pics and more. Best part? You can add your own shots to the gallery.

What were other big news stories this year in Watsonville? Share your thoughts in the comment section below.