Monthly Archives: February 2015

Three convicted of Pasadena shotgun slaying stemming from robbery attempt

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PASADENA >> A jury convicted three men of murder and other crimes Friday for the 2013 shotgun slaying of a Pasadena man in an attempted robbery during a marijuana transaction, authorities said.
Gang members Peter Parra, 37, of Pasadena, Kevin Jessie Cabrera, 27, of north Hollywood and Raymond Frank Conchas, 26, of Covina each face life in prison without the possibility of parole when they return to Los Angeles Superior Court for sentencing April 17, Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office spokesman Ricardo Santiago said in a written statement.
A jury found each of the three men guilty of first-degree murder, attempted robbery and conspiracy to a commit a crime for the Jan. 15, 2013, slaying of 21-year-old Zane Goldstein at Maple Avenue and Chester Street in Pasadena, officials said.
“The jury also found true the special circumstance allegation that the murder was committed during a robbery and allegations that a shotgun was used and the crime was for the benefit of a gang,” Santiago said.
The victim was riding in a car with his then-24-year-old brother when the shooting occurred.
Prior to the fatal attack, the brothers had arranged to meet the suspects in an alleyway to by a small amount of marijuana, which police described as less than an ounce.
“When the victim arrived, the defendants attempted to rob him and shot him in the head with a shotgun as he tried to escape near Maple Street and Chester Avenue,” Santiago said. Goldstein’s brother escaped serious injury.
A fourth suspect in the slaying, 21-year-old Michael Piepoli, received a sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole in November after being convicted of the killing, officials said. And a fifth defendant, 20-year-old Ward Lacey, is scheduled to go on trial for the killing in Feb. 23.

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ROP teacher at Gladstone High School in Covina accused of sex with student

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Police arrested a female Regional Occupational Program teacher Thursday on suspicion of having sex with a male Gladstone High School student, officials announced Friday afternoon.
East San Gabriel Valley ROP teacher Eddee Kovacs Kolos, 50, of Sierra Madre turned herself in to police about 4 p.m. Thursday, according to Sierra Madre police officials and Los Angeles County booking records.
(Detectives) interviewed her. At the conclusion of their interview, they determined there was enough evidence for an arrest,” Sierra Madre Police Chief Larry Giannone said.
Police booked her on suspicion of having sexual intercourse with a minor, .
The allegation came to light about noon, when a 16-year-old Gladstone High School student reported the encounter to a school officials, the chief said.
Kolos posted $20,000 bail and was released from custody Thursday night, records show. She could not be reached for comment Friday.
Representatives of the East San Gabriel Valley ROP also could not be reached for comment after hours Friday.
Giannone said the alleged misconduct occurred within recent months, but declined to provide a specific time-frame.
It was unclear what subject Kolos taught through the ROP program.
Covina police initially investigated the allegation, but turned the case over to their counterparts in Sierra Madre after determining the alleged crime took place in that city.
Giannone declined to say exactly where the alleged molestation occurred.
“The cooperation of the Azusa Unified School District, the Covina Police Department, and the quick work of Sierra Madre Police Department detectives were instrumental in bringing this case to a quick conclusion and the arrest of the suspect within four hours of school authorities being notified,” Giannone said.
Upon learning of the alleged misconduct, the district immediately notified authorities, and also contacted ROP officials to have the teacher removed from campus and placed on administrative leave pending the investigation, Azusa Unified School District Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources Corey James said in a written statement.
“Azusa Unified takes very seriously any allegation about inappropriate relations between a student and teacher, regardless of whether they are an AUSD employee.  While this teacher was not a direct employee, AUSD holds this individual and all other guests on our campus to the same high standards to which we hold our own teachers,” James said.
“Our students’ safety is our first priority,” James said. “We are cooperating with law enforcement to facilitate a speedy resolution to this issue.  On behalf of our student, AUSD will call for immediate prosecution to the full extent of the law.  In the meantime, we are providing counseling for our student.”
Kolos was scheduled to appear for arraignment in Pasadena Superior Court on April 3, officials said.

PHOTO of Eddee Kolos, 50, of Sierra Madre, courtesy of the Sierra Madre Police Department

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Covina police jail La Puente man in alleged $100,000 employment scam

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COVINA >> Police jailed a La Puente man Thursday on suspicion of bilking about 30 victims out of an estimated $100,000 by posing as a utlity representative offering to help them get a job with the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, officials said.
James Raymond Zulaica, 37, is accused of grand theft and identity theft for his alleged scam, which has been ongoing since July, Covina police Sgt. Gregg Peterson said in a written statement.
Calling himself, “Jimmy Rojas,” Zulaica has been falsely claiming to work for the LADWP, Peterson said. He told his victims that for a fee, he could help them get jobs at the utility.
“The fees he charged each individual victim ranged from $1,300 to $15,000. The total losses of all victims are estimated to be approximately $100,000.”
Police arrested Zulaica early Thursday while carrying out a search warrant at his La Puente home.
According to county booking records, Zulaica was being held in lieu of $45,000 bail pending a scheduled arraignment Tuesday in West Covina Superior Court.
Police are seeking additional victims of the alleged con, and asked anyone with information to contact Covina police detectives at 626-384-5615.

PHOTO of suspect James Zulaica courtesy of the Covina Police Department.

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Deputy shoots at suspect near Azusa

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AZUSA >> A deputy shot at a suspect at Lario San Gabriel River Trail Park in Azusa Thursday, though it was unknown if the suspect was struck by the gunfire, authorities said.
The incident unfolded about 2:10 p.m. at the park, 15701 Foothill Blvd., just east of Azusa, Deputy Tina Schrader of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Information Bureau said in a written statement.
Sheriff’s Park Bureau Mounted Patrol deputies approached a man regarding county code violations in the park when he became “combative,” she said.
“The suspect injured one of the deputies with his vehicle in an attempt to flee the scene,” Schrader said. “Fearing for his partner’s life, another deputy shot one round from his weapon at the suspect in an attempt to stop the assault.
“It is unknown if the suspect was struck by gunfire,” the deputy said. “The suspect’s vehicle was struck on the passenger side mirror and possibly the passenger side window.”
Officials said the suspect was last seen driving east on Foothill Boulevard.
The injured deputy was taken to a hospital for treatment of “non-life-threatening” injuries, Schrader said. Further details regarding the nature of the injuries were not available.
The suspect fled the scene going eastbound on Foothill Boulevard and out of view.
Deputies described the suspect as a white or Latino man, between 25 and 30 years old, about 6 feet tall and 200 pounds, with a muscular build. He wore a gray shirt. His car was a white, mid-2000s, two-door Acura with tinted windows.
Anyone with information was asked to contact Parks Bureau Detectives at 661-294-3544. Tips may also be submitted anonymously to L.A. Regional Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477.

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Fire scorches Pasadena home

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PASADENA >> A fire scorched a Pasadena home Thursday, causing an estimated $300,000 worth of damage, officials said.
Three residents, including an elderly woman, were at home when the fire broke out about 1:30 p.m. at the split-level house in the 1700 block of Kaweah Drive, Pasadena Fire Department spokeswoman Lisa Derderian said. But they got out of the home uninjured before firefighters arrived.
About 40 firefighters from the Pasadena, South Pasadena and Glendale fire departments extinguished the stubborn fire in about 45 minutes, she said. The fire had worked it’s way well into the walls of the home.
It sparked on the bottom floor of the split-level home, Derderian said. The cause was determined to be a malfunctioning forced-air heating unit.
No other structures were damaged.
Officials estimated the blaze caused about $200,000 worth of damage to the home, and another $100,000 worth of damage to its contents, Derderian said.
Red Cross officials responded to the scene to help the displaced residents find temporary housing.

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UPDATED: Missing 11-year-old Pasadena girl found safe

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PASADENA >> An 11-year-old girl reported missing Thursday afternoon returned home safe hours later, police said.
The girl was reported missing after she vanished about 6 p.m., Pasadena police officials said in a written statement. She had last been seen walking in the 800 block North El Molino Avenue.
After reaching out to the public for help in finding the girl, she returned home unharmed Thursday evening, police said.

 

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UPDATED: Mentally ill Glendora man who went missing in West Covina found safe in Norwalk

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WEST COVINA >> A mentally ill Glendora man who went missing in West Covina Tuesday turned up safe in Norwalk early Friday, officials said.
The 57-year-old man walked away from Doctor’s Hospital of West Covina Tuesday after exiting the facility for a cigarette, according to West Covina police officials and the man’s sister.
Isidoro “Izzy” Limon, 57, was found safe in Norwalk Friday morning and was being returned to the facility where he lives in Glendora, West Covina police Lt. Dave Lee said.

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UPDATED: Missing 82-year-old Azusa woman returns home unharmed

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AZUSA >> An 82-year-old Azusa woman who went missing Thursday morning returned home Thursday night, authorities said.
Worried family members reported the woman missing about 10:30 a.m. after she walked away from her home in the 800 block of East Foothill Boulevard. She suffers from medical problems and requires medication, according to Azusa police Sgt. Andy Sutcliffe.
But police announced the missing woman returned home Thursday night.
“She was unharmed, healthy and in good spirits,” Azusa police reported on their Twitter account.

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Police investigating death of man in Whittier home

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WHITTIER >> Police checking on the welfare of a senior citizen found him dead inside his home Thursday afternoon, officials said.
Officers responded to the 13600 block of Putnam Street about 2 p.m. after someone asked them to check on the resident, Whittier police Officer Bradley White said.
“Upon arrival, officers discovered a male, (approximately 60-years-old, deceased,” White said.
The investigation was ongoing, however there were no overt signs of foul play, White said.

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Glendora egg donation company owner guilty of fraud

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LOS ANGELES >> The owner of a Glendora egg donation and surrogacy company pleaded guilty Thursday to wire fraud for misappropriating clients money for her own personal gain, officials said.
Allison Layton, a 38-year-old former Glendora resident now living in Utah, entered the guilty plea in federal court in Los Angeles, U.S. Department of Justice spokesman Thom Mrozek said in a written statement. She also sometimes uses the name Allison Jarvie.
Would-be parents paid tens of thousands of dollars to Layton for the services of Miracles Egg Donation between AUgust of 2008 and January of 2012, Mrozek said. But instead of setting the money aside for costs related to the services, Layton spent the money herself and used it to cover unpaid costs of other clients.
As a result, Egg donors, surrogates, attorneys and others were not paid for all of the services they provided, Mrozek said.
“More than 40 victims lost more than $270,000,” he said.
Layton faces up to 20 years in federal prison when she returns to court for sentencing May 28.

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