Latest news with #OrangeCountyDistrictAttorney'sOffice
Toronto Sun
02-06-2025
- Toronto Sun
Therapist accused of molesting autistic boy after child's father walks in on sick act
Salvador Armando Arriaga, an in-home behavioural therapist charged with molesting autistic boy during session in boy's Garden Grove, California, home. Orange County District Attorney's Office An in-home behavioural therapist in California has been charged with molesting an autistic boy. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account Salvador Armando Arriaga, 32, pleaded not guilty to molesting an autistic child at a home located about 55 kilometres southeast of Los Angeles, in Garden Grove, according to the Orange County District Attorney's Office. The alleged incident took place during a Sept. 18, 2024 therapy session in the boy's bedroom. Arriaga, who was employed by Behaviorial Health Works in Anaheim, had provided therapy to the boy on previous occasions while the boy's father stayed in the living room with another child. 'The father became concerned when he no longer heard any conversation coming from the room and went to check on his son,' the DA's office said in a news release. The therapist and boy were not in the room but in a walk-in closet where the dad 'found his son with his pants down and the boy's therapist on his knees with his head near his son's lap.' This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Arriaga allegedly tried to escape through a bedroom window when the dad confronted him, before running out the door. The boy's father immediately called police. RECOMMENDED VIDEO Prosecutors allege that Arriaga changed his shirt and returned to the home while officers were still there. Investigators gathered evidence, including DNA, leading to Arriaga being formally charged with one felony count of committing a lewd act on a child under 14, along with an enhancement alleging he entered the child's home with the intent to commit the crime, KTLA reported. Read More He is currently being held on $1 million bail and faces 25 years to life in prison if convicted. The investigation is ongoing. Toronto Maple Leafs Olympics Toronto Raptors World Toronto Maple Leafs
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Behavioral therapist accused of molesting autistic child during in-home session
A behavioral therapist has been charged with sexually assaulting an autistic boy during an in-home therapy session in Garden Grove last year, and authorities are urging anyone with additional information or possible victims to come forward. Salvador Armando Arriaga, 32, was arrested and charged with one felony count of committing a lewd act on a child under 14, along with an enhancement alleging he entered the child's home with the intent to commit the crime. If convicted, he faces up to 25 years to life in prison, the Orange County District Attorney's Office said. At the time of the alleged abuse, Arriaga was working for Behavioral Health Works, an Anaheim-based company that provides behavioral therapy services to children with autism and other developmental disabilities. On Sept. 18, 2024, he was conducting a session in the boy's home, a client whose home he'd visited previously. Prosecutors allege the session took place in the child's bedroom while the boy's father remained in the living room caring for another child. When the father noticed the room had gone quiet, he entered and found no one in sight. After opening the closet door, he allegedly found his son with his pants down and Arriaga kneeling 'with his head near his son's lap.' The father confronted Arriaga, who tried to flee the scene through a window before running out the door. The victim's father called the Garden Grove Police Department who arrived on scene shortly after. While officers were at the home, Arriaga returned and was wearing another shirt. He was detained on suspicion of lewd acts on a child, officials said. Over the following months, investigators continued gathering evidence, including DNA, which led to Arriaga being formally charged and arrested on a warrant. He remains in custody with bail set at $1 million. The investigation remains ongoing and anyone with information about Arriaga or other potential victims is urged to contact Garden Grove Police Detective Sindy Orozco by email, or by calling 714-741-5872. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Toronto Sun
22-05-2025
- Toronto Sun
California cop accused of partying at music fest while faking head injury
Former California police officer Nicole Brown is facing 15 felony counts of fraud. Photo by @WestminsterPDCA / X A former police officer in California faces numerous felony charges after authorities accused her of faking a head injury. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account The Orange County District Attorney's Office said in a statement on Tuesday that 39-year-old Nicole Brown, formerly of the Westminster Police Department, is accused of stealing more than $600,000 in fraudulent workers' compensation payments. Prosecutors allege she was caught dancing and drinking at the Stagecoach country music festival, skiing, running long distance races, and going to Disneyland while claiming to be disabled due to a head injury she claimed she suffered while placing a suspect in handcuffs. Brown is charged with nine felony counts of making a fraudulent statement to obtain compensation, six felony counts of making a fraudulent insurance benefit claim, and one felony enhancement of committing an aggravated white collar crime over $100,000. Your noon-hour look at what's happening in Toronto and beyond. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Meet Officer Nicole Brown 🚔 Officer Brown's advice to women and young girls is 'Reflect, accept and learn from all situations. A person's differences can be utilized to accomplish tasks and challenges that at one time seemed impossible.'#IWD2021 #womenshistorymonth #WPD47 — Westminster Police Department (CA) (@WestminsterPDCA) April 1, 2021 If convicted of all charges, she faces up to 22 years in state prison. In addition, the former cop's 57-year-old stepfather Peter Gregory Schuman is also charged with two felonies for allegedly conspiring with his stepdaughter to orchestrate the fraudulent workers' compensation scheme. Authorities said Schuman is a licensed attorney who practices workers' compensation defence on behalf of insurance companies. He faces a maximum sentence of eight years in state prison if convicted on both charges. Brown was employed as a police officer with the Westminster Police Department on March 21, 2022, when she suffered 'a minor abrasion to her forehead' while trying to arrest an uncooperative suspect, the DA's office said. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'She complained to her watch commander that she had a headache and was feeling dizzy, but an emergency room doctor who examined her that same day released her back to work without restrictions,' authorities said. However, after calling in sick for several shifts, Brown was diagnosed with severe concussion syndrome and placed on Total Temporary Disability nine days later. While not on the job, police said Brown cost the city of Westminster more than $600,000, which covered her full salary and medical expenses. She complained of 'headaches, dizziness, sensitivity to light and noise, problems processing thoughts and words, and an inability to work on the computer or do any screentime.' Read More This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Despite reporting those symptoms, Brown was seen by several people who knew she was off work on disability as she was dancing and drinking at the Stagecoach Music Festival on April 23, 2023, the district attorney alleged. Her alleged attendance at the music festival was reported to the police department, who forwarded the case to the district attorney for an investigation into potential workers' compensation fraud. Investigators allege Brown, while on disability, attended a soccer conference in San Diego, ran in two 5K races, went snowboarding and/or skiing, attended baseball games, played golf, went to Disneyland, and took online courses with a local university. Toronto Maple Leafs Tennis Editorial Cartoons World Sports
USA Today
22-05-2025
- USA Today
Bench warrant issued for alleged serial cat killer in California
Bench warrant issued for alleged serial cat killer in California Alejandro Oliveros Acosta is accused of luring over 20 cats with food, and then beating them to death, according to the Orange County District Attorney's Office. Show Caption Hide Caption 4 teens cited in fatal stomping of coyote in Chicago Four teenagers have been cited with killing a coyote in Chicago. Fox - 32 Chicago A man whom officials suspect of killing up to 20 cats in a Southern California neighborhood was a no-show during his arraignment hearing this week and is now considered at-large. Alejandro Oliveros Acosta, 46, was arrested April 23 and charged with two felony counts of cruelty to animals, one felony count of grand theft of a companion animal and one misdemeanor count of possession of a controlled substance, according to the Orange County District Attorney's Office. Acosta, a Santa Ana resident, had been free on $40,0000 bond and was set to appear in court on May 21 but did not appear for the hearing, Kimberly Edds, a spokesperson for the prosecutor's office, confirmed to USA TODAY. The charges stem from a string of cases in the nearby cities of Santa Ana and Westminster, including one involving a woman's stolen cat, Edds said. The cases also involve a police investigation into reports of nearly two dozen dead and severely injured cats being found in the vicinity of where Acosta lived. The cities are about 10 miles apart. A stolen Bengal Lynx cat named Clubber Investigators looking into the stolen cats reported a male Bengal Lynx named Clubber was taken on March 21 from outside a home in the Westminster neighborhood. "There is video of him, with what appears to be cat food, and he is seen luring the cat to him and taking it," Edds said about Acosta. According to Edds, the cat was returned to the owner about one week later. Additional details about the case were not provided, but KTLA-TV reported that police received a tip that the 10-month-old cat was found safe at a Santa Ana home and returned to its owner. Alleged serial cat killer on the run The second case, under investigation by the Santa Ana Police Department, involved reports of dead and injured cats, officials said they believe Acosta is responsible for. "Between November and April, police investigated seven different reports of dead or severely injured cats in the vicinity of where (Acosta) lived," Edds said. In late April, investigators identified Acosta as a suspect in both cases, and following an interview with him at the Santa Ana police station, they found probable cause to arrest him, Edds said. Police arrested Acosta on April 24, and shortly after the arrest, officials said he posted a $40,000 bond. When Acosta failed to appear for arraignment, Superior Court Judge Stephen J. McGreevy issued a bench warrant for his arrest and raised his bond to $50,000, Santa Ana police Officer Natalie Garcia told USA TODAY. Officials told USA TODAY that Acosta remains at large as of May 22. 'Jet fuel all over': Small plane crashes into San Diego neighborhood, fatalities reported Police seek more information about Alejandro Acosta It was not immediately known whether Acosta had obtained legal counsel as of May 22. The cases remain under investigation, police and prosecutors said. Anyone with information is asked to call Santa Ana police at 714-245-8049 or Westminster police at Natalie Neysa Alund is a senior reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at nalund@ and follow her on X @nataliealund.
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Yahoo
Alleged Serial Cat Killer Charged with Animal Cruelty by Luring Cats to Their Death with Food
A California man described as a serial cat killer has been charged Alejandro Acosta Oliveros was charged with felony animal cruelty and felony theft of a companion animal The 46-year-old was arrested following accusations that he had killed over 12 cats at his home in Santa AnaA man from California has been charged with luring and killing cats. On Tuesday, May 20, the Orange County District Attorney's Office confirmed in a press release that Alejandro Acosta Oliveros was charged with felony animal cruelty and felony theft of a companion animal. PEOPLE previously reported in April that the 46-year-old was arrested following allegations that he had killed over 12 cats at his home in Santa Ana. 'A Santa Ana man accused of luring cats with cat food in order to kidnap the animals to stomp them and beat them to death has been charged with felony animal cruelty along with felony theft of a companion animal for stealing a Bengal Lynx from a Westminster home,' the release by the Orange County DA read on Tuesday. 'He is also accused of having methamphetamine on him when he was booked into jail.' PEOPLE has contacted the Orange County District Attorney's Office, the Santa Ana Police Department and the Westminster Police Department for further comment. Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up for for breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases. Per the DA's release, Oliveros faces 'a maximum sentence of four years and four months if convicted of two counts of felony animal cruelty, one felony count of theft of a companion animal, and an additional one year in custody if convicted of one misdemeanor count of possession of a controlled substance.' As a result of Oliveros' alleged danger to the public, prosecutors are requesting his bail be raised to $100,000 from the fixed $20,000 bail. 'Additional evidence will be reviewed to determine whether additional criminal charges can be proven beyond a reasonable doubt,' the release continued. Authorities say the Santa Ana Police Department's animal control had received reports of dead or injured cats 'near the area of W. Wilshire Avenue and S. Clara Street' since November 2024. Police then received seven more reports between November and April, 'including animals suffering from broken backs and bloody faces, all in the vicinity of W. Wilshire Avenue and S. Clara Street.' Oliveros was also captured on CCTV, in different incidents, luring cats with food before picking up the animals and 'driving away in a white Toyota Tacoma pickup truck.' The investigation is still ongoing. People with information are advised to contact the Santa Ana and Westminster Police Departments. The suspect is set to appear for his initial arraignment at the Central Justice Center on Wednesday, May 21. Read the original article on People
