NORTH BERGEN, N.J.–A 75-year-old New Jersey man has been arrested and charged with sexually assaulting a 9-year-old girl, police said. According to authorities, Renee Munoz of North Bergen was arrested Friday after an investigation determined he engaged in inappropriate sexual conduct with the minor. The alleged sexual assault happened at the home of the victim’s friend on Feb. 16, police said. The 9-year-old told her mother of the assault, which prompted her to immediately call Cliffside Park Police.

Glendale, Arizona – Samuel Navarrette-Mendia, a 35-year-old Glendale man was jailed after he allegedly choked his 6-year-old daughter with a pair of pliers because he caught her reading a book. According to Glendale police, employees at the child’s school contacted police after discovering red welts on the little girl’s neck.

SANTA ANA, CA — A 20-year-old man was sentenced to 25 years to life in prison for the murder of his girlfriend’s 9-month-old son. Alexander Barnes was convicted in November of second-degree murder and felony child abuse resulting in the death of Isaiah Prim-Ortiz. Prosecutors contend Barnes was babysitting Isaiah for the first time and became angry because the baby wouldn’t stop crying. They say Barnes repeatedly smashed the baby’s head against a wall, fracturing the his skull and killing him.

Child sexual abuse cases can be very difficult to prove largely because cases where definite, objective evidence exists are the exception. The first indicators of sexual abuse may not be physical signs, but behavior changes or abnormalities. Unfortunately, because it is usually so difficult to accept that sexual abuse may be occurring, the adult may misinterpret the signals and feel that the child is merely being disobedient or insolent. The reaction to the disclosure of abuse then becomes disbelief and rejection to the child’s statements.

A U.S. citizen convicted of child molestation has been turned over to U.S. authorities after being captured in Canada after a decade on the run. Veronique Lalime, a spokeswoman for Canada Border Services Agency, said Thursday that Steven Dyer was transferred to the custody of U.S. officials on Wednesday. He was picked up by border service agents at Montreal’s airport a day earlier.

LOS ANGELES– A soccer coach in East Los Angeles faces charges of sexually assaulting two teenage players, and investigators say there may be more victims. Javier Arrioja, 48, allegedly molested one of the victims, a 15-year-old boy, four times between May and November 2011, the Los Angeles County district attorney’s office said. The case began after the boy told deputies that Arrioja had touched him inappropriately.

MONTEBELLO — Montebello Police confirm that a female teacher at Roosevelt High has been arrested for allegedly having sex with two boys while they were her students. The teacher has been identified as 42-year-old Gabriela Cortez. She was arrested yesterday and booked at the Montebello City Jail.

The step father of an 11-year-old girl kept her chained to her bed for five weeks, investigators say. Michael Gilman is charged with false imprisonment and endangering the welfare of a child after he allegedly shackled his step-daughter to the bed by her ankle. Gilman, of Sharp County, Arkansas, used a dog leash and, at times, a short chain to restrain the girl while the girl’s mother was out of town, court documents state.

A four-year-old boy was abused to death by his grandmother, authorities say. Gabriel Trujillo was found unconscious on Valentine’s Day at the Commerce City, Colorado home of his grandmother. Doris Becky Trujillo. Trujillo, 60, had had custody of Gabriel and his older sisters Krista and Monique since last year.

ETOWAH COUNTY, AL — A grandmother and stepmother are charged with murder in the death of a nine-year-old girl who authorities say died after being forced to run for 3 hours. The running was apparently a punishment for eating a forbidden candy bar and lying about it. Savannah Hardin died Monday from severe dehydration and low sodium levels, a condition common in marathon runners, according to Natalie Barton, Etowah County, Alabama Public Information Officer.

SOUTH LOS ANGELES — A special education teacher at Crenshaw High School has resigned amid allegations of inappropriate contact with a child. School officials admit the teacher is under investigation, but are not releasing details about the probe. Los Angeles police confirmed their detectives are running the investigation.

LOS ANGELES — The Los Angeles Unified School District sex abuse scandal continues to grow, as new allegations surface involving a former substitute teacher. The Los Angeles Times reports that George Hernandez, 45, was investigated on three separate occasions for sexual misconduct involving young students. Hernandez was a frequent substitute teacher for five years in the LAUSD.

BREMERTON, WA– A 8-year old girl is in critical condition after being shot and wounded in a third grade classroom. The shooting occurred around 1:30 p.m. at Armin Jahr Elementary School, near Seattle. Authorities say the 8-year old girl was shot in the stomach. She was airlifted to a hospital in Seattle in critical condition. Police say a 9-year old classmate is being detained in connection with the shooting.

SOUTHFIELD, MI — An alleged murder for hire plot has been foiled in Eastpointe. The suspects are Deon Taylor of Eastpointe and Kenisha Faison of Detroit. They’re accused of plotting to kill a 31-year-old Eastpointe woman and her two children — ages nine and 12. Deon Taylor and Kenisha Faison of Eastpointe and Kenisha Faison of Detroit. They’re accused of plotting to kill a 31-year-old Eastpointe woman and her two children — ages nine and 12.