Pot smoking toddler video leads to arrest

The parents of a 23-month-old child have been jailed after they were seen on a video giving what authorities say was a marijuana pipe to their toddler.

Melanie Felicia Soliz, 20, and Blake James Hightower, 24, both of Hesperia, were arrested for investigation of cruelty to a child, the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department said in a news release. The toddler was taken by child protective services.

Investigators are still trying to determine whether the pipe was lit at the time it was given to the child.

Both Soliz, who is more than six months pregnant, and Hightower have medical marijuana cards, the department said.

The Sheriff’s Department received a call just after 8 a.m. Saturday from someone claiming to have evidence of a crime. That person provided a video of the parents giving the pot pipe to the child, the department said.

A deputy located and questioned Soliz and arrested her. She was booked into the West Valley Detention Center in Rancho Cucamonga.

Hightower surrendered later at the Hesperia Police Department and was booked at the Victor Valley Jail, the department said. He was later transferred to the West Valley Detention Center.

Bail was set at $100,000 for each of them, the department said. They are scheduled to appear for a court hearing today in Victorville.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

By STEVEN BARRIE
The Press-Enterprise

Chino Hills teacher arrested after report of sex with student

A 30-year-old band teacher at Chino Hills High School was arrested on suspicion of having sex with a 16-year-old female student, the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department said in a news release.

Justin Wallin, an employee of the Chino Unified School District, was arrested and booked Thursday at the West Valley Detention Center on suspicion of unlawful sexual intercourse, oral copulation and sexual penetration with a foreign object, the sheriff’s department said.

Sheriff’s Deputy M.J. Higgins and Chino Hills police Detective Kathy Oros investigated the girl’s report Wednesday that she was sexually involved with her band teacher. Her parents discovered sexually explicit text messages on her cell phone sent by Wallin, police said, and after reviewing their phone bill discovered more than 8,000 more text messages from him to the girl’s phone. Police said they engaged in various sex acts in Chino Hills and Chino.

Detectives said they are concerned there may be other victims and ask that anyone with information call Oros at 909-364-2061 at the Chino Hills Police Department or their local law enforcement agency.

By DAYNA STRAEHLEY
The Press-Enterprise

Teen arrested as murder suspect

Saturday, May 22, 2010

Fontana police arrested an 18-year-old man in connection with the death of his pregnant girlfriend, police said.

Police have not yet found the body of Anyssia Katherine Escamilla, 17, of Bloomington, who disappeared May 11. Her boyfriend, Jesus Francisco Avitia, was arrested about 1:30 p.m. Friday and is being held at West Valley Detention Center on suspicion of murder, police said.

Escamilla’s parents reported her missing when she didn’t return home from school. When the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department began investigating, Avitia told them Escamilla was dead and had died in Fontana, police said. The investigation is continuing.

–Leslie Parrilla

The Press-Enterprise