pedroza was sending inappropriate text messages to the young female. three-month long investigation revealed several crimes. >> reporter: pedro swraw was charged with two misdemeanors and two felonies including molestation. he worked as an acting instructor and taught improve classes at the downtown ballet school in walnut creek. he was fired months ago when they learned he was under investigation. parents at the ballet school were shocked to learn about the charges. >> as a teacher i think one of the main goals is to protect the children. it is very scary to me. >> reporter: tonight we learned pedroza spent years working with kids. he was at the cheer academy and a swim teacher at la-petit in san bruno. he hasn't worked there in years and they haven't mentioned possible crimes. but walnut creak police say they are looking for information from more possible victims. pedroza has posted bail, and we stopped by his family's san bruno home and we found his car parked outside, but no one ever answered the door. walnut creek police are telling them to talk w

pedroza was sending inappropriate text messages to the young female. the three-month long investigation revealed several crimes. >> reporter: pedro swraw was charged with two misdemeanors and two felonies including molestation. he worked as an acting instructor and taught improve classes at the downtown ballet school in walnut creek. he was fired months ago when they learned he was under investigation. parents at the ballet school were shocked to learn about the charges. >> as a teacher i think one of the main goals is to protect the children. it is very scary to me. >> reporter: tonight we learned pedroza spent years working with kids. he was at the cheer academy and a swim teacher at la-petit in san bruno. he hasn't worked there in years and they haven't mentioned possible crimes. but walnut creak police say they are looking for information from more possible victims. pedroza has posted bail, and we stopped by his family's san bruno home and we found his car parked outside, but no one ever answered the door. walnut creek police are telling them to ta

pedroza was fired from his job there in november. he also previously worked at a ballet school in walnut creek. police are currently investigating if there are any other victims involved. a gilroy man has been arrested in connection with a marijuana bust. sheriff's say, when they served a search warrant yesterday-- tri tran had about 70- pounds of processed marijuana. and 468 marijuana plants in his home. the total street value for the seized marijuana is approximately 608 -thousand- dollars. the national park service now warning visitors to beware. thieves are now preying on visitors. at some of the bay area's most scenic points. kron4's terisa estacio shows us where. with it's breath taking views - visitors often pack the parking lot here at battery spencer - but in the last few months, thieves have zeroed in crowds, preying on those simple here to take in the sights. this is kevin cockery with the national park service. >> we have seen an increase. people get distracted and leave behind valuables. and sure enough, i found expensiv

pedroza was sending inappropriate text messages to the young female. a three-month long investigation revealed several crimes. >> he was charged with two misdemeanors and two felonies including child molestation. he's worked there as an accounting instructor and worked as a clerk and taught improv classes at the downtown ballet school in walnut creek. he was fired a month ago when they learned he was under investigation. parents at the ballet school were shocked to learn about the charges. >> as a teacher one of their main goals is to protect the children so that it is very scary to me. >> tonight we learned that pedroza spent years working with kids. we confirmed he was a coach here rebels elite cheer academy in south san francisco, and he was a swim teacher in san bruno. he hasn't worked at either place in years and police have not mentioned any connection to possible crimes on the peninsula, but walnut creek police do say they are looking for information from more possible victims. pedroza has already posted bail so we stopped which his family home.

pedroza was sending inappropriate text messages to the young female. a three-month long investigation revealed several times. >> he was charged with two misdemeanors and two felonies including child molestation. he's worked there as an accounting instructor and worked as a clerk and caught in prof classes at the downtown ballet school in walnut creek. he was fired a month ago when they learned he was under investigation. parents were shocked to learn about the charges. >> as a teacher one of their main goals is to protect the children so that it is very scary to me. >> tonight we learned that pedroza spent years working with kids. we confirmed he was a coach here in south san francisco and he was a swim teacher in san bruno. he hasn't worked at either place in years and police have not mentioned any connection to possible crimes on the peninsula, but walnut creek police do say they are looking for information from more possible victims. pedroza has already posted bail so we stopped which his family home. we found his car parked outside but no one ever

police in pleasant hill began investigating 27-year-old jason pedroza of san bruno. he turned himself in yesterday. police believe the alleged crimes happened while he was working with the center repertory company. the company says he was fired from his job in november, pedroza also worked at a walnut creek ballet school and police are urging anyone who might have had contact with pedroza to contact them. >>> the list of suspects is growing, a fifth person now has been charged in the high-profile killing of a south bay millionaire. 32-year-old katrina marie fritz was arraigned on murder and robbery charges yesterday. detectives claim she is a prostitute who the victim often hired. kumra was killed in a home invasion last november. fritz's brother is one of the three men charged in the case. another suspect prostitute, raven dixon has already been charged as an accessory. >>> on the peninsula today a gun buy-back event spear-headed by two bay area fathers is taking place this morning on the peninsula. menlo park protect our children has raised $30,000 for the event. p

pedroza worked at a ballet school. police are urging anyone who might have had contact with pedroza to contact them. >> seven years gone, part of a lifetime stolen by a criminal justice system that wrongly convicted ronald. the man walked out of jail and in a a new life, one that sees him as innocent and sees him as free. jodi hernandez is live in dublin. jodi, so emotional for him especially for his mom. >> reporter: very emotional, jessica. the mother and son hugged and sobbed in the courtroom as the judge ordered ross' release this morning, then late this afternoon ronald ross walked out of the jail feeling the freedom of sunshine on his shoulders at last. that's how ronald ross says it felt to walk out of jail a free man after spending nearly seven years behind bars for a crime he didn't commit. ross has been released. how does freedom feel? >> oh, it feels great. man, it feels great. i mean, it's a blessing. it's a blessing. i was blessed by god. >> reporter: he was wrongfully convicted of attempted murder of a sh

jason pedroza worked for a ballet company.edroza appeared in court this morning but he did not enter a plea. >>> the california judge association is endorsing a plan to lower the number of members of the jury. that would save the state more than $5 million a year. some defense lawyers are against the change. saying that smaller jurors are less likely to convict. >> in south africa, pistorious was released today. greg palcock is reporting on the case that grabbed so much attention. >> yes we are relieved that the fact that oscar got bail today. but at the same time, we are in mourning for the death of reeva with her family are. >> they've been granted bond at pretrial. we're looking forward to seeing the case when the time comes. >> reporter: pistorius was arrested in the shooting death of his girlfriend reeva steamcamp. but pistorious says the shooting was an accident thinking he was shooting an intruder. with testimony and evidence presented throughout the process. just yesterday the orangal lead detective on the case hillton

jason pedroza worked for a ballet company.za appeared in court this morning but he did not enter a plea. >>> the california judge association is endorsing a plan to lower the number of members of the jury. that would save the state more than $5 million a year. some defense lawyers are against the change. saying that smaller jurors are less likely to convict. >> in south africa, pistorious was released today. greg palcock is reporting on the case that grabbed so much attention. >> yes we are relieved that the fact that oscar got bail today. but at the same time, we are in mourning for the death of reeva with her family are. >> they've been granted bond at pretrial. we're looking forward to seeing the case when the time comes. >> reporter: pistorius was arrested in the shooting death of his girlfriend reeva steamcamp. but pistorious says the shooting was an accident thinking he was shooting an intruder. with testimony and evidence presented throughout the process. just yesterday the orangal lead detective on the case hillton bot

jason pedroza was arraigned in a martinez courtroom this morning.ing charged on multiple accounts including -- child molestation and sexual battery. pleasant hill police say they began investigating pedroza after receiving information that he had allegedly engaged in sex acts with underage girls. police say pedroza also worked at a ballet school on north main street in walnut creek. >> we're always tracking neighborhood crime. here's a kron-4 crime tracker in the east bay. there have been a series of burglaries in fremont. five in the last week and a half. i'll show you where and when they're happening. the burglaries are all within a few blocks of arroyo agua calientepark. feb 12th - prarie dog lane. feb 14 - parkmeador drive. feb 18 - parkmeadow dr feb 20 - ponca ct. feb 21 - paseo padre pkwy new at six. national park visitors will encounter fewer rangers. find locked restrooms and closed visitor centers. those are just a few things visitors will see if. the across-the-board cuts are enacted by sequestration. a national park service memo listed it

according to pleasant hill police, pedroza was an actor and instructor at a local theater group withina costa including the lesure center and ballet center. he facing child molestation and sexual battery. >>> it could mean some of the big changes for some of the most treasured sites here in the bay area. john sasaki is live now in san francisco with the steps national park officials are getting ready to make if officials don't act soon. >> reporter: that's the ferry that takes people out to alcatraz. thousands of people visit there every day. but after march 1st, those who go there will see a less well kept facility. bag pipes wailed in the golden gate area in san francisco. a nice complement and nice weather near the golden gate bridge. >> it was beautiful. it's scenic. >> reporter: but storm clouds are forming over all national parks because of the impending sequester. if it happens the parks would see an immediate 5% cut. >> that would come down to $1.4 million for the golden gate national recreational area. fort point national historic site. >> reporter: that would meanless mainten

this man, 27 year-old jason pedroza. turned himself into authorities friday.tigators say, that some of his alleged crimes may have taken place in walnut creek where he worked at a ballet school. >> and former san mateo county probation chief has pleaded not guilty to child pornography charges. stuart forrest who you see here is accused of having child porn in his possession. forrest reed tired from his job in december, after allegations of for the thsurfaced that he hd pornography. he posted bail friday and is due back in court in april. >> more trouble for a infamous san jose woman who once tried to extort money from a wendy's restaurant, by placing a severe human figure in a bowl of chili. anna ayala is now facing new charges. she is accused of lying to police. police say, that she lied about her son being shot in the foot outside of their home. they say, that she concocted an elaborate story about two assailants, in order to protect her son, who is a convicted felon. if convicted, she could return to prison for up to four years. she previously served four y

this man. 27-year old jason pedroza. turned himself into authorities today. authorities say, some of his alleged crimes may have happened in walnut creek. where he worked at a ballet school. >> new tonight at 8-- a former san mateo county probation chief. pleaded not guilty today to child pornography charges. stuart forrest. who you see here. is accused of having child porn y in his possession. forrest retired from this job in december, after allegations surfaced that he had child pornography. he posted bail today. and will be back in court in april. >> a san jose woman. who once tried to extort money from a wendy's restaurant by placing a human finger in a bowl of chili. is in trouble again. anna ayala is now facing new charges. accused of lying to police. police say anna ayala lied about how her son, guadalupe reyes, was shot in the foot outside their alviso home earlier this month. they say ayala concoced an elaborate story about two assailants in order to protect her son-- a convicted felon-- who admitted to shooting himself. if convicted, ayala could go

pedroza was an actor, he also worked at a ballet school. no word yet on how he knew the victims. >>> we have new information tonight about that crane that  collapsed yesterday underneath the new eastern span of the bay bridge. our consumer editor tom vacar is live on treasure island with what he has learned and the work that has now been temporarily stopped. tom-- >> reporter: well frank, i want you to take a look because this is something we did not know yesterday. when that steel and crane collapsed, the bridge did not escape unscathed. what we didn't know yesterday was that when the steel and crane collapsed the bridge did not escape unscathed. >> there was some cosmetic damage, there was no damage to the integrity of the bridge. >> reporter: investigators are studying the collapsed steel. >> the various parties that will be part of the investigation will be looking at both the crane and the piece of scaffolding that was involved in this incident as part of their ongoingen investigation. >> reporter: by midday, the crane destroyed was

pedroza appeared in court yesterday morning, but did not enter a plea. >>> santa clara sheriffs deputieswas found inside the home was arrested on drug charges. >>> three northern california cities have made the list of the top 10 most miserable cities in the nation. modesto came in at number 5 on the list published by forbes. vallejo is number 6, while stockton is ranked 8th. detroit was named the most miserable decide. forbes analyzed unemployment, violent crime and traffic when compiling the rankings. >>> on monday, the menlo park planning commission will consider a proposal to expand facebook's facility. the social media giant wants to build a second campus near bayfront expressway. nearly 3000 facebook employees would work at that location. last month, the menlo park city council agreed to a deal in which facebook would pay the city $1.5 million. >>> a prison hospital in san joaquin county needs to fill 150 jobs, mostly hiring medical personnel. but administrative, foodservice and custodial positions are also available. the state has spent $900 million building that massive facility.

police are urging anyone who might have had contact with pedroza to contact them. >>> the city of sanme 900 street lights. crews will work along camden avenue, blossom hill and tulle road where the lights were shut off four years ago because of budget cuts. the city council approved a plan to turn them back on, should take about three months to get that work done. >>> coming up on "today in the bay," it was an ugly day at the ball park, between two colleges, why? we'll talk about that plus all the day's news and the forecast on "today in the bay." >>> nice energy to wake us up on a damp morning. we're back on this saturday morning, february 23, 2013. a lot of friend out here with us. and a lot of birthdays. 8, 10, 16. a good day to celebrate a birthday. good month for birthdays, right? >> i think it's a great month for a birthday. if yours happens to be on the 26th, you hit the jackpot. >> wow. everybody -- we -- >> what, tuesday? what are you talking about? >> i'm erica hill alongside lester holt, soon-to-be birthday girl jenna wolfe, and dylan dreyer. >>> still to this hour, oscar c