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DOWNEY -- The initial court appearance for a 22-year-old La Mirada middle school substitute teacher accused of exchanging sexually graphic images with a 13-year-old student has been postponed until later this month, officials said.
Taylor Welch, who substituted at Arlie F. Hutchinson Middle School in the Norwalk-La Mirada School District was initially scheduled to be arraigned Thursday in Downey Superior Court, according to county booking records.
After he posted $140,000 bail and was released from jail shortly after his arrest, the hearing was re-scheduled for May 22, court officials said.
At the arraignment, formal charges of lewd acts with a child and exchanging sexually graphic content are expected to be read, and Welch will have an opportunity to enter a plea.
According to sheriff's investigators, Welch has taught at the school since September. He has taught at no other schools.
He met the alleged victim, a 13-year-old girl, in the classroom, officials said.
Welch and the girl contacted each other on Facebook in December, ultimately exchanging of sexually explicit material, sheriff's investigators said in a written statement. The pair also was believed to have had inappropriate contact in the classroom after class.
Detectives allege that Welch exchanged sexually graphic photographs, live video feeds and "sexting" messages with the student.
MONTEREY PARK -- A transient and registered sex offender pleaded not guilty Wednesday to charges of exposing himself and molesting a teenage boy at gym, officials said.
Javier DeLeon Madgaleno, 54, was arrested Monday in Rosemead on suspicion of lewd acts with a child, indecent exposure and child annoyance, Monterey Park police officials said in a written statement.
After pleading not guilty, Magdaleno was ordered to return to Alhambra Superior Court May 11 for a preliminary hearing setting, Los Angeles County District Attorney's officials said.
The incident took place at L.A. Fitness, 416 S. Atlantic Blvd., according to Lt. Carrie Mazelin.
"Madgaleno was identified after the victim, a 15-year-old male, reported the incident to the police," the lieutenant said.
Magdaleno is known to frequent L.A. Fitness gyms in Alhambra and Arcadia, as well as a Bally's Fitness in Rosemead, officials said. His primary purpose for the visits is to shower.
According to the state registry of sex offenders, Magdaleno has previous convictions for indecent exposure and child annoyance, though the dates of his convictions were not available.
Gym staff members were "very cooperative" with the police investigation, Mazelin added.
Because of Magdaleno's frequent gym visits, police said they were concerned there may be additional victims. Anyone with information was asked to contact Monterey Park police detectives at 626-307-1236.
PHOTO of Javier Magdaleno courtesy of the Monterey Park Police Department.
WHITTIER -- An El Rancho Unified School District groundskeeper accused of child molestation appeared in court Thursday, officials said.
George Alvarez, 44, is charged with 10 counts of child molestation for allegations of sexually assaulting two young girls in the 1990s. Though the relationship between Alvarez and his alleged victims was not disclosed, they were not students, Deputy District Attorney Nicole Vo said.
At a preliminary hearing in Whittier Superior Court, a judge ruled that there is sufficient evidence to order Alvarez to stand trial on the charges, court officials said.
He is due for an arraignment April 5 in Norwalk Superior court.
Alvarez was jailed Oct. 19 of last year, officials said.
He's accused of molesting one girl while she was 5 or 6 years old, and a second girl who was 12 or 13 at the time of the molestation.
The school district has placed Alvarez on unpaid leaving pending the outcome of the investigation, according to Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources John Lopez.
County booking records indicate Alvarez is being held in lieu of $1 million bail.
EAST LOS ANGELES -- A female Montebello high school Spanish teacher accused of having sex with two underage boys while they were students pleaded not guilty Thursday, authorities said.
Gabriela Cortez, 42, of Montebello is charged with six counts of unlawful sexual intercourse, Los Angeles County District Attorney's officials said in a written statement.
The Roosevelt High School teacher is accused of having sex with two then-16- and 17-year-old students between January of 2009 and November of 2010. The alleged victims are now adults.
She entered her not guilty plea in Los Angeles Superior Court, and was ordered to return April 11 for a preliminary hearing setting, court officials said.
Cortez is free on $140,000 bail, records show.
BALDWIN PARK -- Investigators on Tuesday released a composite of a man wanted for grabbing and groping a 10-year-old girl.
The case stems from a Feb. 23 incident on Wimmer Avenue and Nubia Street.
Baldwin Park police said the girl was walking home from school when the man approached her from behind and covered her mouth with his hand. He then fondled the girl's crotch. She remained clothed.
The girl managed to kick the man in the groin, police said. When the he released his hold, she escaped.
The suspect was described as a skinny Latino in his 30s with a goatee, a light complexion, a mole on his right cheek and black hair. He wore a white shirt and dark brown pants.
Anyone with information is asked to call Detective Diana Larriva or Detective Todd McAvoy at 626-960-1955.
SUSPECT sketch courtesy of the Baldwin Park Police Department.
COVINA - Covina police on Monday released a composite of the man who sexually assaulted a 7-year-old girl outside her home over the weekend.The assault happened at 6:45 p.m. Saturday. Police didn't release the location claiming it is an ongoing case and "for the protection of the family."
Sgt. Ray Marquez said a man walked up to the girl as she was standing on the driveway, covered her mouth and carried her to the side of the house.
The man sexually assaulted the girl while on the side of the garage. Marquez said the girl bit her assailant's hand, broke free and ran.
A neighbor across the street saw the man chasing the girl and yelled at the suspect to leave her alone.
The man left in a 2005 or newer model burgundy Nissan
Potential suspect vehicle (Courtesy Photo)
Read more:http://www.sgvtribune.com/ci_20208113/man-sought-assaulting-7-year-old-covina-girl#ixzz1pdOEslkf
A 5th grade teacher was arrested Monday for alleged sexual misconduct with a child.
Roger Talley, 53, of Upland, was arrested and booked at the West Valley Detention Center on suspicion of one count of lewd acts on a child and on one count of criminal threats, according to a Chino police news release.
Talley, who worked at Walnut Elementary in the Chino Valley Unified School District, had been the focus of a two-week investigation, officials said.
During that time. Chino police detectives spoke with current and former students of the suspect, who was placed on leave from the school district on Feb. 10, according to the news release.
Anyone with information about the incident can call police Detective Ted Olden at 909-464-0745.
- Staff report
LOS ANGELES--Many school teachers across the nation are trained to pick up on clues of child abuse and neglect, but most are not trained to spot the signs of classroom pedophiles, leaving a gray area that could help teacher molesters operate undetected on campuses.
Experts say better training of school teachers and administrators in red-flag behavior could aid in catching molesters, pointing to the case of a former Los Angeles third-grade teacher who is charged with feeding some two dozen students semen-laced cookies, and blindfolding and gagging them over a five-year period.
"There are clear and consistent patterns of behavior. If you know what they are, they jump right out at you," said Diane Cranley, founder of Talk About Abuse to Liberate Kids based in Laguna Niguel, Calif. "But there's no awareness."
Only a fraction of the nation's 3 million educators are involved in any sexual misconduct with children. Although no national statistics are kept, a 2007 Associated Press investigation found 2,500 cases nationwide over five years where educators were punished for sexual abuse.
But that number is believed to be only a sliver of all sexual misconduct incidents.
...FULL STORY from the Associated Press
EAST LOS ANGELES -- Prosecutors Wednesday charged an East Los Angeles soccer coach with molesting a 15-year-old player as detectives investigate allegations made by a second teenager against the longtime coach, authorities said.
Javier Arrioja, 48, of East Los Angeles pleaded not guilty Wednesday to four counts of lewd acts on a minor and one count of sending harmful matter, Los Angeles County District Attorney's and court officials said.
The alleged molestations took place between May and November of 2011.
He was arrested without incident Feb. 17 at his home in the 100 block of Townsend Avenue in East Los Angeles, Sgt. Peter Hahn of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Special Victims Bureau said.
"The lewd acts were alleged to have occurred in the suspect's car in Obregon Park in East Los Angeles, and in the coach's home in East Los Angeles," the sergeant added.
Arrioja coaches soccer for a private soccer club called, "Missioneros," for boys under 17, according to investigators.
"He has coached boys and girls soccer teams in the Los Angeles area for over 15 years," Hahn said.
The investigation revealed a second possible victim, a 14-year-old boy, "who reported similar lewd acts committed by the suspect," Hahn said. "The second case is still under investigation."
According to county booking records, Arrioja was being held without bail due to a hold placed on him by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and was next scheduled to appear in East Los Angeles Superior Court for a preliminary hearing March 5.
"Sheriff's Special Victims Bureau detectives believe it is possible there are additional victims and urge anyone who may have been a victim to contact investigators," Hahn said. Anyone with information is asked to contact Special Victims Bureau detectives by calling 877-710-5273 or sending an e-mail to specialvictims@lasd.org.
Tips can also be left anonymously be calling L.A. Crimestoppers at 800-222-8477.
PHOTO of Javier Arriojo courtesy of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department
MONTEBELLO -- Montebello police arrested a female Roosevelt High School Spanish teacher from Montebello late Wednesday on suspicion of carrying on sexual relationships with two boys while they were her students, authorities said.
Gabriela Cortez, 42, of Montebello was arrested about 6 p.m. Wednesday and booked on suspicion of unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor, according to Montebello police officials and county booking records.
Both of the victims are now adults, police said. Cortez teaches at Roosevelt High School in East Los Angeles, which is operated by the Los Angeles Unified School District.
The relationships took place between 2008 and 2010, Montebello police Lt. Luis Lopez said, while the victims were between the ages of 16 and 17.
Both former students were believed to have been involved in "long-term" relationships with the teacher, Lopez added.
One of the men came forward Feb. 15 and reported the alleged misconduct, launching an investigation, the lieutenant said.
"It appears that the first victim, it was on his mind," Lopez said. It was not immediately clear of the arrest of six other LAUSD teachers in the past month on suspicion of molesting students played a role in his decision to come forward.
Police informed the school of the investigation the day the allegations were made, and the district "took immediate action," removing Cortez from contact with students.
Detectives were able to corroborate the information provided by the first victim, Lopez said, and the investigation further revealed a second young man who also is believed to have been involved in a sexual relationship with Cortez.
School officials first learned of the first student's allegation from his family on the evening of Feb. 14, said Patrick Sinclair, spokesman for the Partnership for Los Angeles Schools -- a coalition of 22 LAUSD schools and the City of Los Angeles designed to turn around low-performing campuses. Roosevelt High is part of the Partnership for Los Angeles Schools.
Officials were prepared to place her on administrative leave the following day, "but she called in sick," Sinclair said.
When she returned to work Thursday, she was immediately placed on administrative leave, "pending the investigation," he added.
Once police arrested Cortez Wednesday evening, "Then we moved in full force to inform the entire school community as to what's going on," Sinclair said.
Parents received recorded phone calls regarding the arrest in both English and Spanish, he said, and students were sent home with bilingual letters Thursday afternoon.
A parent meeting will be held later this week, Sinclair said.
"All of the students from her classes have been pulled out and talked to," Sinclair said. Counseling was offered as well, he said.
She has taught at Roosevelt High School since 1994, Sinclair said, and began her teaching career with the LAUSD in 1988 at Soto Street Elementary School.
According to county booking records, Cortez was released from jail Wednesday night after posting $140,000 bail.
She could not be reached for comment Thursday.
She was scheduled to appear March 22 for an arraignment in East Los Angeles Superior Court, officials added.
There was no indication that other victims were involved, Lopez said, "However, it's always a possibility."
Anyone with information regarding this investigation is asked to call Montebello police Detective Andrade at 323-887-1255.
PHOTO of Gabriela Cortez courtesy of the Montebello Police Department.
LOS ANGELES -- A Los Angeles County sheriff's deputy has been arrested for investigation of committing lewd acts on a child.
Police say Deputy Oscar Rodriguez, a 10-year department veteran, was taken into custody Thursday.
He was immediately relieved of duty pending the outcome of criminal and administrative investigations.
Police say the alleged acts were committed while Rodriguez was off duty.
Rodriguez was assigned to the sheriff's Marina del Rey station.
He's being held on $100,000 bail.
- From the Associated Press
LOS ANGELES -- A court hearing for the second of two Miramonte Elementary School teachers, and Alhambra resident, accused of molesting a student was postponed for two months Thursday.
Martin Springer, 49, was scheduled to appear in Los Angeles Superior Court for a hearing to set a date for a preliminary hearing, however the hearing was continued until April 16, Los Angeles County District Attorney's officials said.
He was arrested Feb. 3 after two girls came forward with allegation he had touched them inappropriately in the classroom. The allegations came on the heels of the arrest of fellow teacher Mark Berndt, who is accused of sexually abusing more than 20 of his students.
Berndt is being held in lieu of $23 million bail pending his arraignment Tuesday in Los Angeles Superior Court, according to county booking records.
Prosecutors ultimately elected to file charges in connection with only one of the girls' allegations, citing a lack of evidence for the other girl's statements.
Springer entered a not guilty plea to three counts of committing lewd acts on a child Feb. 7, and was released from jail after posting $300,000 bail Feb. 10, officials said.
The alleged crimes took place between April and June of 2009, when the victim was about 7 years old, officials said.
If convicted as charged, Springer could face up to 12 years in prison.
LOS ANGELES -- One of two teachers accused of sexual misconduct at Miramonte Elementary School in South Los Angeles -- an Alhambra man -- was released from jail Friday after posting bond, authorities said.
Martin Springer, 49, was arrested one week ago after two girls came forward with allegations that he touched them inappropriately in the classroom, Los Angeles County Sheriff's officials said.
Prosecutors have charged Springer with three counts of committing lewd acts on a child in connection with one of the girls' allegations, Los Angeles County District Attorney's officials said, while they declined to file charges based on the other girl's claims.
Springer posted $300,000 bail about 2 a.m. Friday and was released from the Los Angeles jail facility where he was being housed, sheriff's Capt. Mike Parker said.
"He was fitted with a court ordered ankle monitoring device before his release," the captain said.
The victim was about 7 years old when the alleged molestation took place in April, May and June of 2009, according to sheriff's and D.A.'s officials.
Springer pleaded not guilty to the charges Tuesday in Los Angeles Superior Court. He's due back in court for a hearing Feb. 16.
If convicted as charged, Springer could face up to 12 years in prison.
The allegation against Springer came forward in the wake of the high-profile arrest of another Miramonte Elementary School teacher, 61-year-old Mark Berndt, earlier in the week on suspicion of sexually abusing 23 of his students.
Berndt remains jailed in lieu of $23 million pending his Feb. 21 arraignment, according to county booking records.
SOUTH LOS ANGELES -- Investigators arrested a second school teacher at Miramonte Elementary School, an Alhambra man, Friday on suspicion of child molestation, authorities said.
Detectives from the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Special Victims Unit arrested Martin Springer, 49, about 10 a.m. as he was exiting a Los Angeles Unified School District building at 107th Street and Western in South Los Angeles, sheriff's Capt. Mike Parker said in a written statement.
"The allegations involve two girls who were allegedly fondled in the classroom at Miramonte school by suspect Springer," Parker said. "They were approximately 7-years old at the time of the incidents, which were alleged to have occurred during the past three years."
Springer was being held in lieu of $2 million bail at the Inmate Reception Center in Los Angeles pending his arraignment, which was scheduled Tuesday in Los Angeles Superior Court, according to county booking records.
Springer's arrest stemmed indirectly from Monday's arrest of another teacher at Miramonte Elementary School, 61-year-old Mark Berndt.
Berndt is being held in lieu of $23 million bail pending his Feb. 21 arraignment on 23 counts of child molestation.
He's accused of taping the eyes and mouths of students, placing cockroaches on their faces and spoon-feeding them a substance authorities have said had been identified as Berndt's semen.
Berndt's arrest came after a photo shop employee became concerned and notified authorities while developing Berndt's pictures, investigators said.
"As a result of recent requests from the sheriff's department for members of the public to contact us with any information regarding possible criminal activity at Miramonte school, we received new information (Thursday) morning. That information led investigators to (Springer)."
Springer was interviewed by investigators Wednesday and subsequently suspended from his teaching duties, Parker said. he had been under surveillance by deputies since Thursday, Parker said.
He was arrested by detectives exiting a school building at 107th Street and Western in South Los Angeles, officials added.
No one answered one phone phone numbers listed in public records as belonging to Springer Friday afternoon. A second phone number associated with him was disconnected.
And the investigation continues, Parker said.
"Sheriff's Special Victims Bureau investigators are seeking the help of the public to identify possible additional victims during the suspect's tenure at Miramonte Elementary School," he said.
Additionally, Parker said, "Sheriff (Lee) Baca understands the public's concern about this and has dedicated the necessary resources to thoroughly investigate all the information that we have received and will receive."
Anyone with information was asked to contact Special Victims Unit detectives at 877-710-5273, or tips can be left anonymously be calling L.A. Crimestoppers at 800-222-8477.
PHOTO of Martin Springer courtesy of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department
CONTRIBUTORS
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| Frank Girardot, Metro Editor for the San Gabriel Valley Newspapers, brings you behind the yellow tape with takes on true crime, cold cases and more. This is also your forum to discuss crime, its impact on your neighborhood and how we cover it. Have any questions or tips? You can leave a comment here or e-mail Frank. |
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Brian Day is the crime reporter for the San Gabriel Valley Newspaper group. E-mail Brian. |
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