LOS ANGELES – The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office formally charged two people August 23 in a scheme to bilk more than $1 million from a voter-approved bond measure for the Bassett Unified School District.

Former Bassett Unified School District Superintendent Alejandro Rojas and Del Terra CEO Luis Rojas were charged at the Foltz Criminal Justice Center with 12 counts of money laundering and one count each of soliciting a bribe and grand theft by embezzlement. Alejandro Rojas was additionally charged with three counts of perjury and one count of conflict of interest, according to the DA’s Office.

“Between April 2015 and September 2016, Alex Rojas allegedly approved more than $1 million in Del Terra invoices for work that was never done,” according to the DA’s Office in a written statement.

The $30 million bond measure was earmarked for construction and program management services at the district.

Alex Rojas served as the district superintendent between April 2014 and May 2017. Luis Rojas was CEO of Del Terra, which had been hired to oversee school district construction projects, according to the DA’s Office.
 
“Illegally diverting voter-approved bond money from schools not only deprives our children of already scarce resources but also diminishes the public’s trust in and support for our educational institutions,” according to Los Angeles County District Attorney Gascón in a written statement. “Rooting out public corruption is a priority for my office and will help us to maintain our community’s faith in a government that fairly and honestly serves all of its constituents.”

Arraignment is scheduled for October 26.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

BASSETT - A assault with a deadly weapon suspect was “persuaded” to surrender after barricading himself inside a motel room Memorial Day.

Deputies with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Industry Station responded to the motel in the 13700 block of Valley Boulevard. The suspect was sought by the Sheriff’s East Los Angeles Station.

Surrounding home were evacuated.

The Sheriff’s Special Enforcement Bureau took over the scene and the Sheriff’s Crisis Negotiation Team worked to get the suspect to surrender, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.

At 1:51 p.m., the Sheriff’s Department reported “after many verbal attempts by LASD Crisis Negotiations Team members, the suspect was persuaded to surrender. SEB deputies successfully took the suspects into custody without further incident.”

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

BASSETT - One driver was struck in the leg by gunfire from a reportedly unknown suspect Friday.

The driver wound up in the 700 block of Big Dalton Avenue. Deputies were called to the scene around 7:06 p.m. January 14. He reportedly heard as many as three gunshots, according to Lt. Kearney of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Industry Station.

“He was in his vehicle driving southbound on Puente approaching Amar, heard two to three gunshots and realized he had been shot in his upper left thigh,” Kearney told SGV CityWatch.

The driver ended up at his family’s home on Big Dalton and the family called deputies, Kearney told SGV CityWatch.

No bullet casings were located at Amar and Puente. Gang graffiti, however, was seen and documented, according to deputies at the scene.

The driver, who is reportedly from a local gang, has since been hospitalized.

No suspect or vehicle description was obtained.

Detectives with the Sheriff’s Operation Safe Streets bureau have been called and will take over the investigation.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

BASSETT - A stolen vehicle suspect was caught November 12 after fleeing to Pacoima.

Deputies discovered the vehicle was stolen at Baldwin Park Boulevard and Amar Road around 12:45 a.m. The suspect fled to the freeways, but the California Highway Patrol took over the pursuit, according to Sgt. Geary of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Industry Station.

Once the CHP took over, Industry deputies left the pursuit.

Geary was not sure of the make and model of the vehicle, nor when and where it was stolen.

The CHP could not be reached for suspect booking information.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

BASSETT - A bicyclist is recovering Sunday after being shot by an unknown suspect in a sedan Saturday night.

After asking the bicyclist where he was from, the unknown suspect opened fire twice in the 500 block of Millbury Avenue May 15. The victim was shot in the left foot and the dark-colored sedan fled the scene, according to Lt. James Long of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Industry Station.

The shooting was reported around 7:07 p.m.

The victim was found near the intersection of Millbury Avenue and Pritchard Street. He was uncooperative with deputies. He would not provide a suspect description, Long told SGV CityWatch.

“Cameras in the area showed a sedan,” Long told SGV CityWatch.

The victim was treated at Queen of the Valley Hospital in West Covina and was last listed in stable condition.

The vehicle was seen being driven northbound towards Temple Avenue, Long told SGV CityWatch.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

BASSETT - A 41-year-old woman was also wounded by gunfire in a crime that left a man dead Tuesday.

Deputies with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Information Bureau initially stated that only one victim, a man, was found at the scene of the crime in the 13000 block of Valley Boulevard, February 23. A 51-year-old man was taken to an area hospital where he later died.

It was also initially stated that the man died at the scene, but that apparently was incorrectly stated by deputies.

The woman’s injuries do not appear to be life-threatening, deputies said.

There is no suspect information.

Anyone with information on this shooting is urged to call the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Homicide Bureau at 323-890-5500. Information can be provided anonymously by calling LA Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS(8477), through the P3Tips mobile app, or lacrimestoppers.org.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

BASSETT - A man died at the scene of a shooting in the 13000 block of Valley Boulevard in Bassett early Tuesday.

Few details are available this morning. Deputies responded to the scene near Temple Avenue around 1:09 a.m. February 23.

It is not yet publicly clear if deputies have a suspect description, or if a suspect is even being sought.

Anyone with information on this shooting is urged to call the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Homicide Bureau at 323-890-5500. Information can be provided anonymously by calling LA Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS(8477), through the P3Tips mobile app, or lacrimestoppers.org.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

LOS ANGELES - A suspect remains at-large in the killing of a man at a public park in La Puente one week ago.

Christopher Perez, 23, was identified as the man found wounded by gunfire at Bassett Park, 501 N. Vineland Ave., around 11:20 p.m. December 11.

Perez, a Baldwin Park man, died at the scene from multiple gunshot wounds, homicide investigators said, although coroner investigators have yet to provide exam results yet.

Anyone with information on this shooting is urged to call the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Homicide Bureau at 323-890-5500 Informational can be provided anonymously by calling LA Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), through the P3Tips mobile app, or lacrimestoppers.org.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

LOS ANGELES - Authorities identified a man recently who died at a public park December 11 after being shot.

23-year-old Christopher Perez of Baldwin Park was identified by the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner.

Perez was found suffering several gunshot wounds at Bassett Park, 510 N. Vineland Ave., before 11:30 p.m. Friday.

Since then, it is unclear if homicide detectives have developed a suspect identity or a motive.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

BASSETT - A man suffering from several gunshot wounds died at a public park Friday night, homicide detectives said.

The unidentified man died at Bassett park, 510 N. Vineland Ave., December 11. Deputies from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Industry Station responded to a call of gunshots in the area and found a Hispanic man gravely wounded, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Information Bureau.

Deputies responded to the shooting call around 11:20 p.m.

There is no suspect description publicly available.

Anyone with information on this shooting is urged to call the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Homicide Bureau at 323-890-5500. Information can be provided anonymously by calling LA Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), through the P3Tips mobile app, or lacrimestoppers.org.