Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor REGION - The suspect whom prosecutors allege stabbed and killed a rider on the Gold Line as it left the Azusa downtown station towards Irwindale pleaded guilty to the crime. 52-year-old Peter Muñoz of Commerce pleaded guilty January 8 to one felony count of first-degree murder in the death of Xuezhong Bao, 62. Muñoz was immediately sentenced to 26 years to life in state prison, according to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office. Muñoz also admitted to using a knife during the commission of the crime, prosecutors said. The stabbing occurred November 27, 2018 as the East Los Angeles-bound train left the Azusa Downtown Station towards Irwindale. Muñoz was arrested as he exited the train in Duarte, prosecutors said. Deputies with the Sheriff’s Transit Services Bureau, which patrols Los Angeles County Metro lines and Metrolink, received a 9-1-1 transfer call from Irwindale Police at 11:30 a.m. initially describing an attack on either the platform or westbound train in Irwindale, according to Deputy Ramon Montenegro. The train continued westbound and stopped at the Duarte/City of Hope Station, where the suspect and victim were met by deputies.
A passenger, who wished to not be identified, was at the Duarte Station awaiting an eastbound train and witnessed riders fleeing from the passenger car where the victim lay lifeless, deputies taking the suspect into custody, a crime scene in progress. “[I] Was waiting for the train to go to citrus, the E/B train arrived people ran off when deputies got there the ones on the train pointed out the suspect. They arrested him,” said the passenger in a Facebook message to SGV CityWatch. “When fire got there, they started CPR for 15 min. Then stopped. The deputies put up crime tape so I left,” The passenger said. Bao died at the scene from a wound to the upper torso. The knife was recovered, deputies said. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor REGION - The FBI announced the extradition and arrest of a man sought in a shooting that claimed his spouse’s life and their unborn child. Octavio Curiel-Martinez, 37, was extradited from Mexico to the U.S. January 3 and arrested by Los Angeles County Sheriff’s deputies. He awaits prosecution by the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office, according to a joint statement issued by the FBI Los Angeles Field Office. Curiel-Martinez, a Mexican national, was originally arrested by Mexican police on unrelated charges May 17, 2019 in Bolanos, Jalisco, Mexico -- right where investigators believed he fled after they say he killed his estranged wife, Ana Maria Nunez, 37, and their unborn child. The county DA formally requested Curiel-Martinez’s extradition and a provisional arrest warrant was issued by the Mexican government May 23, 2019. Family of Nunez went to her El Monte home August 29, 2018 to check on her welfare hours after Curiel-Martinez allegedly fired upon, but failed to injure a family member. Nunez was found with multiple gunshot wounds, investigators said. Nunez and her unborn child later died at a hospital. The coroner listed her cause of death as multiple gunshot wounds of the torso.
The shooting took place in the 2700 block of Leafdale Avenue in El Monte. The estranged couple share additional children who were not home when the shooting took place, investigators said. Curiel-Martinez was charged in Los Angeles County Superior Court with two counts of murder, attempted murder, two counts of assault with a firearm, shooting at an inhabited dwelling or occupied car, two counts of corporal injury to a spouse, assault by means likely to produce great bodily injury, two counts of felony child endangerment and six counts of misdemeanor child endangerment, the FBI said. A state warrant was issued for Curiel-Martinez’s arrest September 5, 2018. The U.S. District Court for the Central District of California issued a federal arrest warrant March 15, 2019 and he was federally charged with unlawful flight to avoid prosecution, the FBI said. The arrest and extradition was the work of the Policía Federal Ministerial, Fiscalia General de la Republica, Instituto Nacional de Migracion, the FBI’s Legal Attaché in Mexico City, Los Angeles County Sheriff’s detectives, the El Monte Police Department and the FBI’s Los Angeles Field Office. The extradition was handled by prosecutors with the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office and the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of International Affairs. “Curiel-Martinez’s extradition was sponsored by the U.S. government’s “Project Welcome Home,” which provides funding for the transportation of FBI fugitives to the United States, where the repatriation by the host country occurs through deportation or extradition,” the FBI said. A $10,000 reward was offered for information leading to the arrest and prosecution of Curiel-Martinez, but it is unclear if anyone will claim the reward. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor REGION - A man accused of scamming eight people out of more than $100,000 after feigning injury in traffic collisions faced a judge Monday. Arcadia man Richard Henry Solis, 57, was charged with two felony counts of grand theft from an elder and six misdemeanor counts of petty theft from an elder, according to Ricardo Santiago of the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office. Deputy District Attorney Melanie Drew alleges Solis scammed victims, who range in age from 65 to 91 years old, in the Pasadena area from September 2018 to October 2019.
Solis claimed the victims had injured him with their vehicles and asked for money for medical expenses or that he would steal their belongings, Santiago said. Solis was previously convicted of seven counts of first-degree burglary in 2006 and 2009. If convicted as charged, Solis faces a possible maximum sentence of 16 years in state prison, Santiago said. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor REGION - The man accused of capital murder in the slaying of his estranged girlfriend entered a plea October 10. Robert Anthony Camou, 27, pleaded not guilty in the death of Amanda Custer, 31, who disappeared July 29. She was last seen being placed in the rear hatch of a Toyota Prius outside a Monrovia home. Blood was found inside the home. Custer has not been seen or heard from since. Camou faces a count of murder with a special circumstance allegation of killing a witness and an allegation that he was out on bail when he committed the crime. He is also charged with one felony count each of first-degree burglary, person present; injuring a girlfriend; and assault by means of force likely to produce great bodily injury. The charges also include one misdemeanor count of battery, according to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office.
Deputy District Attorney Melanie Drew alleges while Camou was out on bail for a previous assault, Camou killed Custer on or around July 29. Camou was out on bail connected to an April 22 assault in which Camou allegedly battered his girlfriend, strangled her and threatened her with a stun gun, Drew said. Custer fled to a nearby home where Camou chased her into and battered a male resident who tried to stop him. If convicted as charged, Camou faces life in prison without parole or death. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor LOS ANGELES - The 29-year-old woman accused of molesting a 16-year-old boy beginning three years ago pleaded no contest October 2. Jessica Marie Esparza was sentenced to five years probation and one year in county jail after pleading no contest to unlawful sexual intercourse and oral copulation with a person under 18, according to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office. Esparza was credited with 300 days served while in custody. Esparza is originally charged with one count each of unlawful sexual intercourse, sodomy of a person under 18, sexual penetration of a person under 18 and two counts of oral copulation with a person under 18, authorities said.
The alleged acts are believed to have occurred from March 2016 to October 2017. Esparza was a part-time Azusa Unified staff member and served as an assistant baseball coach. Administrators were made aware of the allegations Friday, May 3. They then notified Azusa Police officers around 2:20 p.m. the same day. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor REGION - A man accused of beating to death a married couple in their hillside estate almost five years to go and stealing the wife’s cell phone was convicted in the crimes. Luke Fabela, 27, was found guilty of two counts of first-degree murder and two counts of first-degree residential burglary. Jurors also found true the special circumstance allegations of multiple murders and murder during the commission of burglary, according to Greg Risling of the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office.
Husband and wife a Shirley Isom, 75, and Armie “Troy” Isom, 89, were both found in their home on Roughrider Road December 26, 2014. Shirley died of blunt force trauma and multiple stab wounds in the home. Armie died later at a hospital. Fabela was already in jail in an unrelated vehicle theft case in San Bernardino. DNA evidence collected from Fabela linked him to the La Verne murder scene. Fabela is scheduled to be sentenced August 30 when he faces the possibility of life in prison without parole, Risling said. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor LOS ANGELES - A church volunteer jailed on accusations of sexually assaulting a girl and molesting her sister was officially charged Tuesday. Chee Lim Chook, also known as Desmond Chook, faces two felony counts each of oral copulation of a person under 18, sexual penetration of a person under 18 and distributing or showing pornography to a minor as well as one count of unlawful sexual intercourse, according to Ricardo Santiago of the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office. Chook also faces a misdemeanor count of child molesting. He is scheduled to be arraigned May 8. One victim was 16 when the alleged abuse took place on or between November 2016 to November 2018 at the church she was a member of, River of Life Community Church, 20430 Yellow Brick Rd.
Chook is also accused of molesting the girl’s sister on or between February 2018 and February 2019. Chook is described as a family friend of the victims, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. Allegations srufaced February 21, 2019. “The victim stated that the suspect would have sex with her at the church as well as provide her with pornography to watch,” the Sheriff’s Department said. Chook faces a possible maximum sentence of seven years in state prison if convicted as charged Santiago said. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor LOS ANGELES - A judge sentenced an Azusa man for the 2016 attempted murder of his then girlfriend after he convinced her to meet him to talk about their relationship. Jason Scott Gustin, 21, will spend 22 years to life in state prison for the slashing the girl three years ago. Gustin was convicted by a jury October 9, 2018 and found guilty of attempted murder and mayhem. Gustin was also found guilty of personally inflicting great bodily injury under circumstances of domestic abuse. He also used a knife during the attack, according to Ricardo Santiago of the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office. The attack occurred August 22, 2016, five days after the breakup, near Arcadia as Gustin convinced his former girlfriend, who was 16 at the time, to meet to talk about the end of their relationship.
As Gustin and the girl sat in his car, he slashed the girl’s throat and attempted to choke her. As she attempted an escape, Gustin slashed the back of her neck, slashed an arm and produced a deep cut the entire length of her right thigh. The girl escaped and ran one-quarter mile to a nearby convalescent home where she took refuge. Gustin chased the girl and attempted to enter the building, but was locked out by a nurse, according to witness testimony. Gustin was arrested after fleeing to his mother’s workplace. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor WEST COVINA - April 8 will likely be the last pretrial hearing for a Glendora man accused of sexual battery and molesting a 17-year-old girl. It has been six months since suspect Patrick Adam Nelson, 40, was arraigned on charges of child molesting and sexual battery. Superior Court Judge Robert Serna said at the March 8 pretrial hearing that both sides will either reach a deal, or a jury trial date will be set. Talks between the prosecution and defense fell through previously. The victim and her parents allege Nelson, their neighbor, has been harassing them by pointing a surveillance camera at their home, revving his truck loudly, driving the truck recklessly up and down the street and throwing loud parties, Deputy District Attorney Mari Henderson said at the February 6 pretrial hearing. Serna ordered Nelson, a no-show at prior pretrial hearings, to appear March 8 based on the harassment allegations. Upon his entering the courtroom, SGV CityWatch recognized that Nelson is the son of Glendora Mayor Pro Tem Judy Nelson. Patrick has been active in the Glendora community as a member of Friends of Rotary and has managed Mrs. Nelson’s Library Services in Pomona. Based on the allegations, additional felony charges against Nelson were considered prior to the March 8 hearing, but will no longer be pursued, Henderson said.
There were 13 addition witness interviews conducted by Glendora Police that as of March 8 had not been turned over to the defense, said Stephanie Johnson, the lawyer representing Nelson. Johnson claims the victim’s parents have not been so innocent and have been harassing Nelson. A book Nelson gave the family was returned to him: torn and tossed in the bed of his truck, someone from the victim’s family called his home phone and also harassingly called out the name of Nelson’s dog while he was dog walking, Johnson said. Both Nelson and the victim’s family have known each other for a long time. Serna reminded Nelson of the protective order placed against him. Johnson has yet to return phone calls requesting an interview. Attempts to reach Deputy District Attorney Henderson and Mayor Pro Tem Judy Nelson were unsuccessful. Nelson allegedly fondled his 17-year-old neighbor’s breasts and rear while giving her a back rub July 8, 2018, according to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office. Nelson was arrested August 3, 2018. He pleaded not guilty September 17 to two misdemeanor counts of child molesting and sexual battery. If sentenced as charged, Nelson faces a possible maximum sentence of one year in jail. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor REGION - Detectives presented the case against Taquesta Graham, mother of slain 9-year-old Trinity Jones, to the County DA and additionally booked the mother on suspicion of murder Monday. Graham, extradited from Texas March 14 after being caught trying to flee into Mexico, was held by Texas authorities on an outstanding warrant until Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Homicide detectives brought her to the Sheriff’s Norwalk Station to be booked on her warrant.
Graham was questioned in her daughter’s death. The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office is reviewing the case and is expected to file charges Wednesday, March 20. Graham’s arraignment is scheduled to take place Wednesday. |
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