Charges Against 3 in 1978 Murder Dropped
Citing credibility problems with a key witness, prosecutors Wednesday dropped charges against three men--including an elementary school teacher--who had been accused of the murder of an alleged North Hollywood drug dealer 12 years ago.
Two weeks after the case was filed, the Los Angeles County district attorney’s office dismissed murder, kidnaping, robbery and burglary charges against Jose Aleman, 40, a teacher at Serena Elementary School in East Los Angeles, Daniel Ceniceros and George Jesse Rodriguez. The three were accused of the 1978 killing of Don White, 28, an alleged drug dealer, in a dispute over cocaine.
The district attorney’s office said a witness came forward recently with new evidence and the three arrested on Dec. 12. But prosecutors came to doubt the witness’s credibility and could not find other witnesses.
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
