FRIDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2011
Volume 11 Issue 18
Santa Monica Daily Press
HOLIDAY HAPPENINGS SEE PAGE 3
We have you covered
THE FESTIVE FEELING ISSUE
Local talent manager for kids charged with child molestation BY KEVIN HERRERA Editor in Chief
DOWNTOWN A talent agent who worked with child actors out of his Santa Monica apartment and once made a living performing at children’s parties was charged Thursday with eight felony counts of sexual abuse involving a boy who was an aspiring singer.
Martin Weiss, 47, of Martin Weiss Management, plead not guilty in Van Nuys Superior Court to three counts of sodomy of a person under 16, two counts each of continuous sexual abuse and lewd acts upon a child and one count of forcible lewd act upon a child. He is being held on $800,000 bail and faces a maximum sentence of 34 years in state prison if convicted on all counts,
according to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office. Phone calls made to Weiss’ office were not returned. The Los Angeles Times reported Weiss’ clients received an e-mail alert Thursday. “It is with a heavy heart and great sadness that I immediately dissolve Martin Weiss Management and release all actors from their contracts,” the e-mail said. “Please do
not try [to] contact me. I will let everyone know what is happening at the proper time. Thank you for being wonderful clients and friends.” The criminal complaint alleges that the crimes occurred between March 2005 and June 2008 and involved a boy who was under the age of 16 at the time. The alleged crimes SEE CHARGES PAGE 7
Hearing takes aim at SMO pollution Pro-airport attendees claim line-up lopsided, unproductive BY ASHLEY ARCHIBALD Daily Press Staff Writer
WEST L.A. A State Senate select committee hearing meant to demonstrate the negative health impacts of jet pollution at Santa Monica Airport turned into a trial of SMO, with community members, politicians and even some scientists lining up against the airport. The hearing was the first in what Sen. Ted Lieu, chair of the Senate Select Committee on Air Quality, promised to be a series of meetings examining various facets of SMO, including the environmental and health impacts and potential mitigation. Lieu plans to use the information to craft legislation in the State Senate to curb what he considers the dangerous emissions from SMO, which he’s targeting because of its proximity to homes. “I presented legislation in 2007 and 2008, but it always died in the Senate,” Lieu said. “I’m now in the senate. I feel pretty good about this. I’m going to try again.” The difference, he hopes, is a number of studies pointing at the deleterious health effects of emissions like those at SMO. Scientists from the South Coast Air Quality Management District, UCLA and Los Angeles Unified School District presented the findings of seven studies looking at the environment around SMO and other airports. Each of the studies made a point, Lieu said. SEE SMO PAGE 9
Ashley Archibald news@smdp.com
DOWN: This week’s windstorm knocked over most of the Christmas trees at a lot located on Santa Monica Boulevard and 14th Street.
High winds lash SoCal; Santa Monica mostly spared ROBERT JABLON Associated Press
CITYWIDE Some of the worst winds in years blasted the region overnight, toppling trees and trucks, knocking out electricity to hundreds of thousands of people and bringing hurricane-force gusts of more
Gary Limjap
than 100 mph to the mountains. The winds downed power lines, darkening streets in parts of Santa Monica and the Westside as commuters made their way into work Thursday. Santa Monica, which experienced winds as high as 35 mph, fared pretty well overall, with just two trees that toppled over.
Seamus D. McDonald
(310) 586-0339 In today’s real estate climate ...
Experience counts! garylimjap@gmail.com www.garylimjap.com
Another two had to be removed due to damage on Thursday, city officials said. Officials advise residents to call the Santa Monica Police Department if they discover fallen trees or power lines. “It was a terrifying ride for me, coming SEE WIND PAGE 8
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