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 - Authorities announced the arrest of a man sought in the double slaying of two brothers at the West Covina apartment complex.

Michael Antonio Mariano Junior was arrested Tuesday, March 21 at an apartment complex in Corona. He was arrested days after the arrest of his sister, Lorraine Fisher, who was booked on suspicion of being an accessory after the fact, according to the West Covina Police Department.

Mariano is accused of gunning down Maliki Faust, 22, and Majarion Faust, 19, in the carport of an apartment complex November 2, 2022.

The murdered men are cousins of Mariano.

The men were found shot in the 3400 block of South Sentous Avenue after police were called at 10:45 p.m. One man was declared dead at the scene, the second victim died at a hospital according to Lt. Travis Tibbetts of the West Covina Police Department.

According to Los Angeles county booking records, Mariano was originally arrested November 3, 2022 at 11:52 a.m. and was held in lieu of $4 million bail. He was then released the same day at 9:42 pm. Booking records show that he was held for detention only. It is not publicly clear why investigators originally deemed that he be released.

The March 21 arrest was made with the help of the US Marshal Service Pacific Southwest Regional Fugitive Task Force.

Mariano is currently being held without bail ahead of a scheduled appearance in West Covina court Thursday, March 23.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

WEST COVINA - A 40-year-old parolee wanted on an assault with a deadly weapons charge died after allegedly revealing a weapon while attempting to escape, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department said.

The unidentified suspect was spotted sitting in a vehicle by a West Covina Police officer assigned to the US Marshal Service Pacific Southwest Region Task Force in the 700 block of North Sunset Avenue, the Sheriff’s Department said.

The shooting occurred just after 12:30 p.m.

“The suspect was struck multiple times in the upper torso and was subsequently pronounced deceased at the scene,” the Sheriff’s Department said in a written statement.

A weapon was recovered at the scene.

The US Marshal Service Pacific Southwest Region Task Force’s role to apprehend violent criminals, the Sheriff’s Department said.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

WEST COVINA – A man was shot and killed in a police shooting, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department said Monday afternoon.

The shooting took place in the 700 block of North Sunset Avenue November 22. The suspect died at the scene. No deputies were injured, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.

The U.S. Marshal Service may be involved in the events that led to the police shooting, according to Los Angeles County Sheriff’s radio traffic.

No other details are available.