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Lancaster couple found guilty of first-degree murder in death of Anthony Avalos, 10

Published Thu, 13 Feb 2025 12:00:30 GMT

A Los Angeles judge found a Lancaster mother and her boyfriend guilty of first-degree murder Tuesday in the 2018 death of 10-year-old Anthony Avalos.L.A. Superior Court Judge Sam Ohta found Heather Maxine Barron, 33, and Kareem Ernesto Leiva, 37, guilty of one count each of murder and torture for the boy’s death in a non-jury trial after both defendants waived their right to a jury. Anthony Avalos was found unresponsive in his family's Lancaster apartment on June 20, 2018, and died the next morning.Kareem Ernesto Leiva, left, and Heather Maxine Barron appear for their arraignment in a Lancaster courtroom on Oct. 3, 2018. (Credit: KTLA)According to prosecutors, Anthony was tortured for at least five days before he died.Barron and Leiva are also facing two counts of child abuse involving Anthony’s half-siblings. The murder conviction includes the special circumstance allegation of murder involving the infliction of torture. "Today's guilty verdict marks another milestone in ...

Illegal street race turns into police pursuit, ends with crash in San Bernardino County

Published Thu, 13 Feb 2025 12:00:30 GMT

A 19-year-old man was arrested over the weekend after an illegal street racing incident in Victorville turned into a high-speed police pursuit that ended with a crash in Hesperia, authorities announced on Tuesday.  The incident occurred just before 12 a.m. Mar. 3, when deputies with the San Bernardino Sheriff’s Department saw two drivers, both in Dodge Challengers, engaging in a street race at speeds of more than 100 miles per hour on 11th Avenue, near Bear Valley Road in Victorville.  Deputies attempted a traffic stop on one of the vehicles, a 2017 Dodge Challenger occupied by a driver and two passengers.  The driver of that vehicle, now identified as Apple Valley resident David Lemus, failed to yield and sped off at a high rate of speed southbound on 11th Avenue with deputies in pursuit. The pursuit ended when Lemus lost control of the vehicle and crashed into a street sign and a telephone pole near 11th Avenue and Eucalyptus Street in Hesperia, an SBSD news release...

U.S. investigating Tesla over reports of steering wheels falling off while driving

Published Thu, 13 Feb 2025 12:00:30 GMT

U.S. auto safety regulators have opened an investigation into Tesla's Model Y SUV after getting two complaints that the steering wheels can come off while being driven.The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says the probe covers an estimated 120,000 vehicles from the 2023 model year.The agency says in both cases the Model Ys were delivered to customers with a missing bolt that holds the wheel to the steering column. A friction fit held the steering wheels on, but they separated when force was exerted while the SUVs were being driven.The agency says in documents posted on its website Wednesday that both incidents happened while the SUVs had low mileage on them.Messages were left seeking comment from Tesla, which has disbanded its media relations department.In one complaint filed with NHTSA, an owner said he was driving with his family on Route 1 in Woodbridge, New Jersey, when the steering wheel suddenly came off on Jan. 29, five days after the vehicle was purch...

Four suspects allegedly stole over $1 million in goods from Microsoft facilities in California

Published Thu, 13 Feb 2025 12:00:30 GMT

Four suspects were charged for allegedly stealing over $1 million worth of items from Microsoft facilities throughout Southern and Central California.The alleged thefts included tons of Xbox and Acer products that were stolen off cargo trucks departing from Microsft shipping facilities, according to the California Attorney General’s Office.The suspects were identified as Jorge Alberto Soto, Norlan Jose Cruz Montenegro, Jose Daniel Mayen Ortiz and Byron Noe Tercero Cruz, on court documents. Their ages were not released.From February through June 2022, the suspects targeted trucks in multiple counties including Los Angeles, Kern, Tulare and Tehama, officials said.Two suspects were arrested in Northridge on Feb. 2, while two other suspects remain at large, authorities said.Officials say the thieves' mobile devices confirmed they were present during the various cargo thefts.In addition to the stolen merchandise, authorities also seized additional stolen electronics and cash during the i...

Wayward golf balls prompt lawsuit against city of Anaheim

Published Thu, 13 Feb 2025 12:00:30 GMT

A mobile home park is suing the City of Anaheim over a golf course after residents, who have lived nearby for years, started getting pelted with golf balls when the city made changes to the course.  The problem started for residents of the Casa Hermosa Mobile Home Park when the tee box for the 15th hole at the Dad Miller Golf Course was moved closer to their homes.  Residents in that section of the park have plenty of stories of golf balls hitting their properties.  “What happened over here is one came flying and broke my window,” Casa Hermosa resident Heide Thomas told KTLA, as she pointed to her damaged window.  Another resident, George Kezios, pointed out a window he replaced after it was broken by a golf ball, as well as actual holes in his home from other wayward balls. Kezios also said he was struck by a ball.  “Hit it over the fence and then (I) came out and it hit me...right on my shoulder,” he explained. Heide Thomas seen pointing to damage done to ...

Man wanted for two stabbings, killing teenager in Los Angeles

Published Thu, 13 Feb 2025 12:00:30 GMT

Police are searching for a suspect in two stabbings, one of which left a teenager dead in El Sereno last Friday.Officers received reports of an assault with a deadly weapon on the 4500 block of Valley Boulevard around 3:55 p.m., according to the Los Angeles Police Department.When police arrived, they found a 17-year-old male victim suffering from stab wounds, said LAPD.Paramedics performed life-saving measures, but the teenager was pronounced dead at the scene.Footage released by LAPD shows the fatal stabbing was caught on surveillance camera.“The suspect drove to the location, exited his vehicle and approached the victim standing on the sidewalk,” authorities said. “The suspect produced a large knife and stabbed the victim multiple times" in the back."Suspect's vehicle in a photo from the Los Angeles Police Department. Suspect wanted for two stabbings — one that resulted in the death of a 17-year-old boy in Los Angeles on March, 3, 2023. (LAPD)Suspect wanted for two stabbings — one...

Fatal San Pedro hit-and-run captured on camera; driver still at large

Published Thu, 13 Feb 2025 12:00:30 GMT

Warning: graphic videoNewly released video captures the moment a 51-year-old cyclist was struck and killed by a hit-and-run driver in San Pedro last weekend.  The incident, according to police, occurred while the cyclist, identified as Oscar Montoya, was riding northbound on Pacific Avenue, south of Channel Street, at around 12:40 a.m. Saturday when a light-colored vehicle, possibly a Toyota Scion, traveling in the same direction rear-ended him.  Graphic video of the incident shows the force of the collision knocked Montoya into the air, onto the vehicle’s roof before being thrown back onto the street. The driver of the vehicle slows to a stop for a few brief moments before fleeing and failing to help the cyclist.  Oscar Montoya, 51, killed by a hit-and-run driver in San Pedro on Saturday, Mar. 4, 2023. A Good Samaritan tried to help, but paramedics with the Los Angeles Fire Department pronounced the 51-year-old dead at the scene.  Joshua Montoya, the victim’s son, de...

Burbank High School sexual assault suspect arrested 

Published Thu, 13 Feb 2025 12:00:30 GMT

A suspect in a series of sexual assaults that took place on the campus of Burbank High School has been arrested. Patrick Nazarian, a 22-year-old from Glendale, was arrested and booked for kidnapping and sexual assault, after three female students reported being “inappropriately touched” by Nazarian. Burbank Police responded to Burbank High School around 9 a.m. on Monday morning, where a 14-year-old victim told officers that she was “approached by a man she did not know” while using the restroom on campus. According to police, the man sexually assaulted the victim and then a short struggle ensued, after which the suspect fled the bathroom before being apprehended by school employees. Investigators also spoke with another 14-year-old girl and a 17-year-old girl who said they were also “inappropriately touched” by the suspect. Authorities were able to determine that Nazarian gained access to the campus through an unlocked door in the student parking lot. Nazari...

Big Bear Lake digs out from winter storms

Published Thu, 13 Feb 2025 12:00:30 GMT

Thanks to around-the-clock work from local and statewide agencies, Big Bear Lake says it's getting ready to welcome back visitors to the popular travel hotspot.Representatives for Big Bear Lake say town roads are actively being cleared, businesses are being restocked and the city is getting ready for guests who are looking for the "best snow Southern California has ever seen."Big Bear Lake is located in the mountains of San Bernardino County, which bore the brunt of the recent historic winter storm and addition snow that fell in the days after. Newly plowed roads in Big Bear Lake welcome visitors as San Bernardino County recovers from a historic winter storm. (Visit Big Bear)Many roadways were impassible due to dense snow and dangerous driving conditions, including many local highways that act as the artery to San Bernardino County's unique mountain communities.On Monday, Caltrans reopened Highways 18 and 330, restoring access to critical resources for residents of those mountain co...

The 2023 Academy Awards: everything you need to know

Published Thu, 13 Feb 2025 12:00:30 GMT

Hollywood is gearing up for the 95th Academy Awards, where “Everything Everywhere All at Once” comes in as the lead nominee and the film industry hopes to move past “the slap” of last year’s ceremony. Here’s everything you need to know about the 2023 Oscars, including when they are, how to watch pre-Oscars coverage and the live network broadcast.WHEN ARE THE OSCARS?The Oscars will be held Sunday, March 12, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. The ceremony is set to begin at 6 p.m. PST and be broadcast live on ABC. Before the network broadcast, watch KTLA's live, star-studded red carpet show, Live From the Oscars, hosted by Jessica Holmes and Sam Rubin, starting a 1 p.m. Live From the Oscars will also stream live on KTLA.com and KTLA+. Live From the Oscars airs Sunday, March 12 at 1 p.m. on KTLA 5.CAN YOU STREAM THE OSCARS?The broadcast can be streamed with a subscription to Hulu Live TV, YouTubeTV, AT&T TV and Fubo TV. Some of these services offer brief free trials. You can also...