Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor SANTA FE SPRINGS - A man and woman were found and arrested in Arcadia April 3 after detectives identified them as suspects in a fatal hit and run crash.
Priscilla Michelle Cornejo, 39, and Johnathon David Cornejo, 33, were booked on suspicion of murder and other charges in the March 22 crash. Priscilla is accused of causing a head-on crash while driving in opposing lanes of the 60 freeway at Crossroads Parkway, killing an 11-year-old girl and severely wounding the girl’s father, according to the California Highway Patrol. Priscilla was driving a black Hyundai Sonata west on the 60 freeway east of the 605 freeway around 4:06 a.m. March 22, her husband following in a black Ford Taurus. Priscilla clipped a tractor trailer, causing it and the semi it was hauling to jackknife. Her Sonata flipped around, according to the CHP. Priscilla allegedly fled the scene by going eastbound in westbound lanes without headlights on. Johnathon U-turned and began following his wife Priscilla who crashed head on into a gray Toyota Corolla occupied by the 11-year-old girl who was killed at the scene. “After the collision, Priscilla Cornejo, abandoned the Hyundai and entered the Ford, being driven by her husband, and fled the scene westbound on State Route 60,” according to the CHP in a written statement. CHP Santa Fe Springs Area investigators took the husband and wife into custody with the help of the CHP Southern Division Warrant Service Team. Priscilla was charged murder, felony hit and run, two counts of driving on the wrong side of the road, reckless driving, filing a false auto theft report and misdemeanor hit and run, according to Los Angeles County booking records. Johnathon was charged with murder and being an accessory after the fact, according to Los Angeles County booking records. The husband and wife are being held in lieu $2 million bail and appeared in the Pomona Courthouse April 5. Both are scheduled back in court April 18. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor LOS ANGELES - The man accused of gunning down an auxiliary bishop for the LA Archdiocese over alleged money issues awaits his day in court.
Carlos Medina, 61, is being held in lieu of $2 million bail. A court date has yet to be set. LA Archdiocese Auxiliary Bishop at David O’Connell was discovered dead from at least one gunshot wound in his bedroom after deputies were called at 1 p.m. to a report of a person not breathing in the 1500 block of Janlu Avenue in Hacienda Heights Saturday, February 18, according to Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna. The Sheriff’s Department was notified Sunday, February 19 at 7 p.m. of a person of interest tied to the murder. Deputies traveled to the city of Torrance where the person of interest lives and after the special enforcement operation, Medina was apprehended. Two firearms and items possibly tying Medina to the murder were confiscated. The firearms will have to be examined to determine if they were used in the Hacienda Heights murder, Luna said at the Monday press conference. A tipster told the Sheriff’s Department that Medina was acting strange, irrational and expressed that O’Connell owed Medina money. Medina is married to O’Connell’s housekeeper, Luna said at the Monday press conference. Investigators did not find any apparent forced entry into the home. Surveillance footage showed a dark-colored compact SUV pull into the bishops driveway and was driven away after a short time. That SUV is driven by Medina’s wife. Before Medina’s arrest, investigators were told that he was possibly in the Central California area. A tipster notified investigators that Medina had returned to his home in Torrance in the 20400 block of Kenwood Avenue. At 2 a.m. on Monday, February 20, deputies arrived to arrest Medina, but he refused to exit. At 8:15 a.m., Medina finally surrendered. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor LOS ANGELES - A man convicted of murdering his neighbor during a dispute in 2019 reportedly killed himself in jail while awaiting his sentence.
Massimo Barbagallo, 49, died from multiple blunt force injuries January 10. His death was ruled suicide, according to the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner. The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office confirmed by email that Barbagallo did die while in custody. He faced 50 years to life in prison. Barbagallo was held in the North County Correctional Facility when he died. He was convicted April 6, 2022 of murder in the July 15, 2019 shooting death of 26-year-old Christian Jonathan Alarcon in what was believed to be a longstanding feud. The shooting happened in the 9400 block of Workman Avenue. First responders found Alarcon wounded on a residential front yard. He died after being hospitalized. Barbagallo was scheduled for sentencing February 23. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor SANTA ANA - A certified nursing assistant was sentenced to life in prison January 13 for committing sex acts on several severely disabled children while filming them.
Steve Jackson Rodriguez, 38, a Pomona resident, previously pleaded guilty September 2022 to two counts of obtaining custody of a minor for purposes of producing child pornography, five counts of production of child pornography and one count of enticement of a minor to engage in criminal sexual activity, according to the Justice Department. Rodriguez was arrested August 21, 2021. Rodriguez committed what US District Judge John Holcomb called “unspeakable acts” from January 2016 to May 2020, producing images and videos with four children at an Inland Empire group home where he was employed at the time. Three of the children are severely disabled, according to the Justice Department. One of his victims was just 6 years old when he started the abuse. He began recording the acts two years later. A restitution hearing is scheduled for March 10. Rodriguez sent the explicit images and video to two of his co-workers. In a separate trial, Azusa man Cyr Dino Banguguilan, 36, and 23-year-old Baldwin Park man Miguel Bocardo were found guilty of one count each of receipt of child pornography and possession of child pornography, according to the Justice Departmentl Both co-workers are scheduled for a February 24 sentencing and face anywhere from five to 20 years in federal prison, according to the Justice Department. The investigation was spearheaded by the Homeland Security Investigations as part of the Los Angeles Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. Assisting were the United States Postal Inspection Service, FBI, Baldwin Park Police Department, Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, Los Angeles Police Department, Pomona Police Department and Burbank Police Department. Assistant United States Attorneys Scott M. Lara and Catharine A. Richmond of the Violent and Organized Crime Section are prosecuting this case. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor NORWALK - The suspect caught by employees as he assaulted a girl in a supermarket restroom pleaded no contest October 17.
Steven Magdaleno, 39, entered his plea, which is the same as a guilty plea, to one count of assault with further intent to commit a serious sex crime, according to Los Angeles County booking records. Magdaleno also faced one count of false imprisonment, escape from home detention and providing false identification to police, according to Los Angeles County booking records. Magdaleno faces eight years in state prison if convicted as charged. The incident unfolded inside a Stater Bros., 14212 Mullberry Dr., around 2 p.m. Sunday, September 18. The suspect followed the girl into a bathroom, locked the door and attempted to sexually assault her. The girl screamed, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. “Store employees accessed the bathroom and subsequently detained the suspect pending the arrival of deputies. The victim was medically treated at a local hospital. The suspect was arrested and booked at Norwalk Sheriff’s Station,” according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. “Based on the nature of the offense, detectives believe there may be additional unidentified victims. Detectives are seeking the public’s help in identifying any such victims,” according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. Anyone with information on this incident is urged to call the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, Special Victims Bureau toll free tip line at 877-710-5273 or by email at specialvictimsbureau@lasd.org. Remain anonymous by calling LA Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222 TIPS (8477), through the P3Tips mobile app, or lacrimestoppers.org. Magdaleno is scheduled to appear in court October 28 for sentencing. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor ONTARIO – A second suspected shooter was arrested in connection with a shooting that unfolded in the parking lot of Colony High School, the Ontario Police Department said.
The second suspect, 25-year-old Everett Johnson, was found in Covina and taken into custody October 14. Two days prior, Lawrence Langston was found and arrested in Pasadena, according to the Ontario Police Department. Both suspects are from Pasadena. The victim was treated for life-threatening injuries. A handgun was seized during Johnson’s arrest. Two handguns were seized during Langston’s arrest. Both suspects were booked on suspicion of murder and taken to the West Valley Detention Center, according to the Ontario Police Department. The shooting occurred October 1 just after 10:45 a.m. None of the suspects, nor the victim, have any connection to Ontario or Colony High School, according to the Ontario Police Department. Anyone with information that can help the investigation is urged to call the Ontario Police Department at 909-986-6711, Ontario Police Officer Jordan Bell at 909-408-1019. Remain anonymous by calling We-TIP at 78-CRIME, or online at www.wetip.com. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor SANTA FE SPRINGS – Authorities announced September 30 charges against a driver accused of fleeing the scene of a crash from last year.
The driver fled the November 26, 2021 crash at Colima Road and Lambert Road in unincorporated South Whittier, but was caught. Darrell Maurice Jewett, 34, was detained, but later released pending additional investigation, according to the California Highway Patrol, Santa Fe Springs Office. The Santa Fe Springs Area Criminal Investigations Unit filed charges of murder, felony driving under the influence, felony hit and run and gross vehicular manslaughter, according to the CHP. The driver of a 2012 maroon Nissan Altima struck a blue 2020 Honda Accord after allegedly running a red light around 5:30 a.m. The collision caused both vehicles to strike a nearby business. Jewett was arraigned at the Bellflower Courthouse September 30 and is being held without bail. He is scheduled for an appearance in the Norwalk Courthouse October 25, according to Los Angeles County booking information. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor WHITTIER - Stater Bros. employees and customers rushed to save a 16-year-old girl after a man locked himself inside a bathroom with her and tried to assault her.
The incident unfolded inside a Stater Bros., 14212 Mullberry Dr., around 2 p.m. Sunday, September 18. The suspect followed the girl into a bathroom, locked the door and attempted to sexually assault her. The girl screamed, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. “Store employees accessed the bathroom and subsequently detained the suspect pending the arrival of deputies. The victim was medically treated at a local hospital. The suspect was arrested and booked at Norwalk Sheriff’s Station,” according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. Steven Daniel Magdaleno, 39, is being held without bail, according to Los Angeles County booking records. He is facing one felony count each of assault to commit rape, attempting to escape custody and false imprisonment by violence, as well as a misdemeanor count of providing false identification to a peace officer, according to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office. “Based on the nature of the offense, detectives believe there may be additional unidentified victims. Detectives are seeking the public’s help in identifying any such victims,” according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. Anyone with information on this incident is urged to call the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, Special Victims Bureau toll free tip line at 877-710-5273 or by email at specialvictimsbureau@lasd.org. Remain anonymous 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 REGION – The U.S. Marshals Service is offering a $5,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of a man who shot and wounded a police officer August 10.
Jose Ortega, 25, wounded an officer assigned to the Los Angeles Interagency Metropolitan Police Apprehension Crime Task Force in La Puente, according to the U.S. Marshal Service. Undercover officers with L.A. IMPACT were confronted by the suspects they were surveilling and a shooting occurred. The wounded officer received injuries considered not life-threatening, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. One suspect involved in the shooting was arrested, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. Ortega is a Hispanic man with black hair, brown eyes, stands 6 feet 1 inches tall and weighs 290 pounds. He is considered armed and dangerous. Anyone who knows Ortega’s whereabouts is urged to call the U.S. Marshals Service at 1-877-WANTED2 (926-8332). Remain anonymous by using the U.S. Marshals Tips app, the P3Tips mobile app, or 1-800-222-TIPS (8477). Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor REGION – A Whittier man was arrested by FBI agents and detectives from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department August 23 after they identified him as going on a bank robbery spree.
Richard Martinez was caught as he was leaving his home in the 10600 block of Reichling Lane around 2 p.m. Martinez is accused of robbing banks in City of Industry, Santa Fe Springs and Whittier, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. The three robberies occurred over a three-hour period and featured a demand note and similar suspect and vehicle description: a late-model Chevrolet Camaro convertible. “A search warrant was served at Suspect/Martinez’ residence and numerous items of evidence were recovered, including a loaded pistol gripped shotgun, a loaded 9MM handgun with an extended magazine, and a demand note,” according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department in a written statement. Investigators are trying to determine if Martinez is involved in other bank robberies. Martinez was booked on suspicion of robbery and was additionally booked on suspicion of being an ex-felon in possession of two firearms. He is being held in lieu $50,000 bail and is scheduled to appear at the West Covina Court House August 25. |
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