FONTANA, Calif.

High school teacher, students suspected in brutal hazing

Police said Monday they have arrested a masonry teacher and four students as they investigate allegations of brutal hazing at a summer school in Southern California.

Three boys were attacked in separate incidents in the classroom of teacher Emmanuel De La Rosa at A.B. Miller High School, Fontana police Sgt. Robert Morris said. One 18-year-old student – Fernando Salgado – is being investigated for child cruelty, assault with intent to commit mayhem or rape and attempted sodomy.

De La Rosa, 27, may have directed the students to carry out one of the assaults, Morris said.

“They would assault the other kids to basically maintain order in the classroom on their own,” Morris said. “The teacher at some point became aware of the situation, and knew about what was occurring and in one incident may have actually directed them to do it.”

One victim suffered minor injuries.

De La Rosa was arrested Saturday for investigation of child cruelty and has been placed on administrative leave. Three other students arrested were minors.

De La Rosa, who was released Sunday, could not be immediately reached for comment. Nor could Salgado, who is being held on $100,000 bail.

ABILENE, Texas

Texas woman gets electric bill for whopping $1.4 million

A lot of people gripe when they get high summertime electric bills. But Kristin Harriger’s bill was nearly $1.4 million.

The Abilene, Texas, woman immediately called her provider, Potentia Energy. She quickly learned that her bill was an error.

The utility provider also excused a $66,000 late fee listed on the bill.

Potentia told the Abilene Reporter-News it had flagged the bill and had marked it to be held, but the bill mistakenly got sent out.

STATE COLLEGE, Pa.

Attorney: Sandusky still maintains he is innocent

One of Jerry Sandusky’s attorneys said the former Penn State assistant coach is maintaining his innocence from inside the confines of the Centre County, Pa., jail.

On Monday, Karl Rominger visited Sandusky, who was convicted Friday night on 45 of 48 counts and taken to the jail to await sentencing.

He’s not allowed visits from family and friends, except for his attorneys, until a doctor performs a psychological evaluation.

That should happen sometime this week, said Denise Elbell, the county’s acting administrator for the jail. She said Sandusky remains on suicide watch as a precautionary measure.

“We’re doing everything according to the same way we do with anyone else,” Elbell said.

Rominger said Sandusky is doing well but wants to be taken off suicide watch. He told a Harrisburg, Pa., radio station Monday that there’s “absolutely zero” chance Sandusky would commit suicide.

After Sandusky was convicted, an evaluation of him was ordered to see if he is a sexually violent predator. He will have to go before the state Sexual Offender Assessment Board.

KANSAS CITY, Mo.

Girl who was found in closet faces long road to recovery

A severely malnourished 10-year-old Kansas City girl who was found locked in a closet remained hospitalized Monday and likely faces an extended recovery after an initial “failure to thrive” diagnosis, experts said.

Police found the 32-pound girl Friday after responding to a call from a child abuse hotline. She was taken to Children’s Mercy Hospital on Friday and remained there Monday, said Mike Mansur, spokesman for the Jackson County prosecutor’s office. He said the child’s condition hasn’t been released.

“The next few months of her life are going to be pretty critical to her recovery,” said Ann Thomas, a vice president at The Children’s Place, a Kansas City nonprofit that is not involved in this case but treats children who have experienced trauma.

The child’s 29-year-old mother appeared in Jackson County court Monday. She was shackled at the wrists and quietly listened as a judge read the felony charges against her – assault, child abuse and endangering the welfare of a child.

The judge also entered a not guilty plea for the woman, who was ordered held on $200,000 cash bond. She requested a public defender for her next court appearance, scheduled for July 12.

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