Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

WEST COVINA - A child has come forward with claims of sexual abuse against a man already accused of possessing hundreds of images of child porn.

A federal warrant was issued for Matthew Peter Mullen, 39. He was arrested August 8 and initially booked on suspicion of possessing child pornography and possession of obscene images of minors in a sexual manner, according to the West Covina Police Department.

“Later on August 08, 2024, a victim who is a minor was identified. West Covina Police Detectives and Special Agents from HSI contacted the victim and their family. This criminal investigation led to additional allegations of sex acts with a child under 10 years of age against S-Mullen,” according to the West Covina Police Department in a written statement.

The alleged acts were said to have occurred January 1, 2021.

The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office filed multiple felony counts for sex acts with a child under 10 years of age. Mullen was arraigned in West Covina Superior Court August 12 and is being held without bail.

It appears none of the original porn charges were included when Mullen was charged, according to Los Angeles County Superior Court records.

Mullen pleaded not guilty August 12. He is scheduled for an early disposition hearing September 9, according to Los Angeles County Superior Court records.

Assisting with the investigation are the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department and Department of Homeland Security.

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​The arrest record in this article is being redistributed by SGV CityWatch and is protected by constitutional, publishing and other legal rights. Arrest information is public record and was distributed by government sources. The person named in this article has only been arrested on suspicion of the crime(s) listed and is presumed innocent.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

WEST COVINA - One week after a brutal homicide was reported at a bus stop, detectives arrested a suspect.

Kevin Davis, 64, a North Hollywood resident, was found with a stab wound to the chest at a bus stop at California Avenue and West Covina Parkway around 3:47 a.m. Sunday, July 7. Despite efforts to save Davis, he was pronounced deceased at the scene.

Detectives somehow identified Rodney Chapman Jr., 34, as a suspect. He was located in the city of Pomona where he was arrested.

Chapman was charged with first-degree murder along with enhancements for using a weapon during the murder and for having been convicted of five previous felonies dating back to 2010, according to the West Covina Police Department in a written statement.

Chapman is being held without bail at the Twin Towers Correctional Facility in Los Angeles. He is next scheduled for an appearance in West Covina Superior Court, July 29.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

WEST COVINA - The US Marshal Service went to Jurupa Valley and arrested a man Friday accused of lewd and lascivious acts with a child or children.

José de Jesus Barraza, 47, was arrested and is being held in a lieu of $900,000 bail. Barraza was a gymnastics coach and operated out of the community centers in West Covina, according to the West Covina Police Department.

Authorities did not elaborate when the alleged assaults took place, or with how many potential victims.

Barraza is being held in the West Covina jail ahead of scheduled appearance at the West Covina Courthouse August 8.

West Covina detectives believe there may be additional victims that have yet to come forward. Anyone who knows a victim or anyone who may be a victim of Barraza is urged to call the West Covina police Department at 626-939-8500.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

WEST COVINA - A 39-year-old man was taken into custody after an hours-long barricade, accused of domestic violence against his girlfriend.

Brian Miranda resisted arrested and hunkered down inside a unit at The Colony at the Lakes, 301 S. Glendora Ave. The West Covina Police Special Problems Detail ultimately took Miranda in custody, according to the West Covina Police Department.

Officers were sent to the apartment complex around 3:43 a.m. Thursday, July 6, to a report of a disturbance and a man with a gun. Officers encounter a woman who was the apparent victim of domestic battery.

Many streets surrounding of The Colony were blocked during the entire ordeal.

Miranda was booked on suspicion of being a felon, in possession of a firearm, domestic battery, child endangerment, delaying and resisting a peace officer, trespassing and violating his probation, according to the West Covina Police Department.

Miranda is being held without bail in the Inmate Reception Center in Los Angeles, according to Los Angeles County booking records.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

WEST COVINA – A suspect was booked on suspicion of felony domestic battery, forced oral copulation felony evading and resisting arrest in a string of crimes ending with a lengthy barricade.

Raul Sanchez, a 45-year-old West Covina man refused to stop for officers when they attempted to pull him over July 12. He was accused of battery and attempted rape in the 200 block of North Broadmoor Avenue, according to the West Covina Police Department.

Officers were dispatched to the neighborhood around 9:11 p.m.. Officers were told Sanchez was armed with a handgun. Officers located Sanchez as he was driving in the area, but he refused to stop and led police on a pursuit.

The chase scurried along several SoCal freeways, including the I-10, 710 and 105 freeways, and surface streets in West Covina, Whitter and Inglewood.

Sanchez returned to the 200 block of North Broadmoor and collided with the rear of a parked vehicle. Officers boxed in Sanchez who attempted to free the jammed vehicle by accelerating in reverse, kicking up sparks and smoke.

“The suspect made threats that he had a gun and was not giving up. The suspect refused to exit the vehicle and West Covina SWAT team was deployed. The suspect was taken into custody at approximately 2:25 am after the deployment of chemical agents and a police K9,” according to the West Covina Police Department in a written statement.

Sanchez was booked at the West Covina Jail and is being held in lieu of $100,000 bail.

“The suspect did not possess a gun on his person when he was taken into custody. It is not known yet if there is a gun in the vehicle. The vehicle was towed and taken back to the police station and will be searched by detectives in the near future,” according to the West Covina Police Department in a written statement.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

WEST COVINA - A 71-year-old man remains in critical condition after a possible road rage confrontation led to an assault June 29.

Walter Mauricio Madrid, 29, was arrested the day of the alleged assault, according to Los Angeles County booking records. He was booked on suspicion of battery/aggravated assault, according to the West Covina Police Department.

Just before 6:30 p.m. June 29, the victim, an Avocado Heights resident, and Madrid May have gotten into a road rage incident near Sunset Avenue and Plaza Drive. The incident ended with a physical confrontation at Evanwood Avenue and Merced Avenue where the victim was knocked unconscious, according to the West Covina Police Department.

As of July 7, the victim was still in critical condition.

Madrid posted $30,000 bond the day of the assault, according to Los Angeles County booking records.

Anyone with information that can help this investigation is urged to call West Covina Police Detective Silva at 626-939-8539.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

WEST COVINA - Police have just announced the arrest of a man accused of sexually battering a 17-year-old girl May 21.

Manuel Avila, 25, was recently arrested by West Covina detectives with assistance from the Covina Police Department. Avila was booked on suspicion of sexual battery and is being held in the West Covina jail in lieu of $25,000 bail.

The West Covina Police Department issued a public statement for assistance in identifying the suspect June 1. Avila was arrested two days later, according to Los Angeles County booking records.

Avila was panhandling in the 200 block of N. Citrus Ave. when he came in contact with a 17-year-old girl. During the contact, Avila allegedly sexually battered the girl then fled the location, according to the west Covina Police Department.

Avila is scheduled for an appearance in the West Covina courthouse Tuesday, June 7.

WEST COVINA - A Molestation investigation led to the early-morning arrest of a suspect Thursday.

Benjamin Gutierrez, 57, was taken into custody March 24 by West Covina police detectives and the U.S. Marshal Service Pacific Southwest Region Fugitive Task Force. Gutierrez was booked on suspicion of lewd acts on a child under 14 years of age, according to the West Covina Police Department.

Gutierrez was arrested at 6:37 a.m. and booked at 7:52 a.m. He is being held in lieu of $30p,000 bail ahead scheduled for an appearance in Pomona Superior Court March 28,according to Los Angeles County booking records.

Gutierrez also previously lived in Los Angeles.

Detectives seek additional victims. Anyone with information on this suspect is urged to call West Covina Police Detective Pruitt at 626-939-8522.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

WEST COVINA - Investigators are continuing to search for a man accused of stabbing his brother during a fight outside of a restaurant February 12.

The incident occurred outside of El Pescador, 1125 West Covina Parkway, around 8:23 p.m., according to Lt. Tim Rodgers of the West Covina Police Department in a Sunday-morning interview.

As of Monday, the suspect remains at-large.

Injuries are considered not life-threatening after the victim was cut on one of his wrists, Rodgers told SGV CityWatch.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

WEST COVINA - A stabbing victim is in critical condition Friday after an early-morning attack and a suspect is in custody, the West Covina Police Department said.

Valinda man Peter Jacobo, 43, was arrested after a suspect search. He is being held in lieu of $1 million bail and was booked on suspicion of attempted murder and assault with a deadly weapon, according to the West Covina Police Department.

The stabbing occurred in the the 100 block of South Glendora Avenue December 31. Officers were called to the scene at 2:07 a.m. Officers arrived alongside paramedics and tended to the victim, according to the West Covina Police Department.

Investigators are looking for additional witnesses to the crime.

Witnesses are urged to call the West Covina Police Department Tip-line at 626-939-8688. You may remain anonymous. Information can also be provided anonymously by calling LA Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), through the P3Tips mobile app, or lacrimestoppers.org.