East Valley News: Suspected Drug Labs Raided; Molester of Autistic Child Sentenced

Editor's note: These are Police/Fire stories from areas around the East San Fernando Valley not covered by Patch. Check North Hollywood-Toluca Lake Patch, Studio City Patch and Sherman Oaks Patch for new in those areas.

North Hills

A 30-year-old man was sentenced today to 20 years in prison for molesting an autistic child he was hired to care for.

Jeremy Shawn Stockton, an in-home caregiver formerly employed by the Wellspring agency, was charged in April 2011 with 14 counts related to the sexual abuse of an autistic child between March 1, 2008, and March 26, 2011.

He pleaded guilty last month to one count each of committing a lewd act on a child and oral copulation of a person under 14.

Wellspring, which is based in North Hills, specializes in behavioral intervention for children with autism.

Van Nuys

Federal and local authorities seized more than 160 pounds of methamphetamine and arrested a Mexican man suspected of serving as a runner for a drug-trafficking ring, officials said today.

Alan Tamayo-Montoya, 25, was taken into custody Wednesday night and booked on suspicion of possession of methamphetamine for sale, according to Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials.

Tamayo-Montoya was held on $2 million bail, and was expected to be arraigned Monday in criminal court in Los Angeles.

Investigators found "large-scale" drug labs at homes in Van Nuys and Pomona after they detained Tamayo-Montoya in a Van Nuys mall parking lot, according to ICE.

"Drug making operations like this are a major public safety menace," said Claude Arnold, special agent in charge for ICE's Homeland Security Investigations Los Angeles.

"First, stockpiling volatile chemicals in residential areas is a disaster waiting to happen," Arnold said. "Then, there's the threat posed by the meth itself. We've all seen how quickly this drug can destroy lives once users become caught in its powerful grip."