Los Angeles: February 2012 Archives
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
LOS ANGELES -- Authorities say $100 million worth of PCP and nearly $400,000 in cash has been seized at multiple locations in Los Angeles and Culver City.
The seizure is reportedly being described as a major bust of a national drug-trafficking organization that was distributing to Texas, New York, Washington D.C. and other cities.
The huge cache of PCP totals roughly 10 million individual doses, which in the Los Angeles area sell for between $10 and $20 each
The drug was found at two storage facilities and several other locations. Two assault weapons were also seized.
Two suspects were arrested Wednesday at a UPS store in Culver City where they were allegedly trying to ship narcotics.
The bust was announced by the Los Angeles Interagency Metropolitan Police Apprehension Crime Task Force.
- From the Associated Press
Defense officials scrambled to F-16 fighter jets to intercept a single-engine airplane that violated a temporary flight restriction over Los Angeles related to President Barack Obama, authorities said.
The Cessna 182 was intercepted by the fighter jets, which were dispatched from March Air Reserve Base in Riverside, shortly after 11 a.m., North American Aerospace Defense Command officials said in a written statement.
"After intercepting the aircraft, the F-16s followed it until it landed without incident at approximately (11:30 a.m.), where the plane was met by local law enforcement," the statement said.
NORAD is responsible for safeguarding airspace over the U.S. and Canada to prevent potential air attacks.
At least one news agency reported the plane was found to be carrying a significant amount of marijuana, however that could not be confirmed Thursday afternoon.
- The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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.
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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