Alhambra: February 2012 Archives

ALHAMBRA -- A crash involving a bus and three other cars brought the westbound 10 Freeway to a screeching halt Friday afternoon.

The crash was reported about 11:45 a.m. on the freeway just west of Atlantic Avenue, according to California Highway Patrol logs.

Initial reports from the scene indicated passengers on a Foothill Transit bus were injured, as well as occupants of three other vehicles involved in the crash.

All westbound lanes of the 10 Freeway were shut down for about 40 minutes as crews cleared the disabled vehicles from the roadway, CHP logs show.

The two right-hand lanes of the freeway were re-opened at 12:20 p.m., and all westbound lanes were back in operation by 1:45 p.m.

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.

MONTEREY PARK -- An Alhambra woman who went missing in Alhambra Friday was found dead at a Monterey Park motel Saturday in what was initially believed to be a suicide, authorities said.

Alhambra police sought the public's help Saturday in finding 44-year-old Benita Nunez after she left home and didn't return shortly after 6 p.m. Friday.

Family members told investigators they were worried because Nunez was distraught and possibly suicidal, Alhambra police Lt. Jennifer Wiese said.

Nunez's body was discovered about noon Saturday inside a room at the Garfield Inn in the 2200 block of South Garfield Avenue in Monterey Park, Los Angeles County Department of Coroner Lt. Cheryl MacWillie said.

The death was initially reported as an apparent suicide, however an autopsy was pending, she said.

Those dealing with suicidal feelings are encouraged to call the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health's 24-hour suicide prevention hotline at 800-854-7771.

ALHAMBRA -- Police asked the public's help Saturday in finding a missing Alhambra woman who they fear may be suicidal, authorities said.

Benita Lydia Nunez, 44, left her home in the 700 block of South Stoneman Avenue about 6:30 p.m. Friday and has not been seen since, Alhambra police Lt. Jennifer Wiese said.

She was believed to be depressed and potentially suicidal, and family members were worried about her, police said.

Nunez is about 5-feet 4-inches tall, 140 pounds, with black hair and brown eyes, Wiese said. She was last seen driving a black, 1992 Nissan Sentra.

Anyone with information is asked to call Alhambra police at 626--570-5151.

PHOTO of Benita Nunez courtesy of the Alhambra Police Department.

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

ALHAMBRA -- A woman with Down syndrome who went missing Tuesday is safely back at home with her family, police said Wednesday.

Worried family members reported about 10:30 a.m. Tuesday that Chi Kim Truong, 51, had wandered away from home in the 600 block of Meridian Avenue and disappeared, Alhambra police Lt. Elliot Kase said.

Shortly before 7 p.m., police issued an alert to the public with Truong's photo in an attempt to locate her.

A patrol officer spotted Truong about 7:45 p.m., standing at the corner of Atlantic Boulevard and Commonwealth Avenue, Kase said. The intersection is about a mile from her home.

"We don't know where she was, but we're happy to say she's unharmed," he said. Truong was reunited with her family.

Police will try to figure out where Truong went during the nine hours she was missing to give them an idea where to look should she ever go missing again, Kase added.