A former U.S. Customs and Border Patrol agent was sentenced Monday for possessing child porn and selling border patrol equipment on eBay, the U.S. Attorney's office announced. 

Rodolfo Zuniga will serve 37 months in prison, followed by five years of supervised release following his sentencing. 

Zuniga was a border patrol agent until last July. While working at the Imperial Beach Border Patrol  Station, he took four sets of night vision goggles and one GPS unit. He later sold the equipment on eBay, prosecutors said. 

After recovering the GPS unit, agents served a search warrant at Zuniga's apartment in Chula Vista. There, they found over 300 images of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct on his computer and external hard drive. 

About a month later, Zuniga resigned from U.S. Customs and Border Protection. 

He must now register as a sex offender and pay about $9,900 in restitution to the U.S. government, in addition to his time served. 

An Encinitas school was broken into on Sunday night, according to police.

Ocean Knoll Elementary is the fourth North County school broken into during the last two weeks. Authorities believe that the incidents could be related.

Burglars broke an outside locked gate of the school and crashed a window, according to deputies. The suspects then entered the classroom and stole five iPads.

School employees said they were surprised it was robbed as there are multiple security measures in place.

“The campus is lit at night, every classroom has a security burglar alarm,” said school facilities director Gerry Devitt.

Officials believe the burglars were attempting to steal iPads, similar to three earlier incidents.

Last week, Skyline Elementary in Solana Beach was robbed when burglars stole 24 laptops worth $36,000. Prior to that, iPads had been stolen from Ada Harris Elementary School and Cardiff Elementary School during the holiday break.

Jan Caldwell with the sheriff's department said thieves have been stealing Apple products, such as iMacs and iPads, from schools. She said at least a dozen schools have been hit since Thanksgiving, in Carlsbad, Poway, Lakeside, Solana Beach and Encinitas.

"We think probably more than $200,000 in product has been stolen at this point," Caldwell said.

While the sheriff's department said the incidents have been similar, it's too early to say whether they're connected.

Officials said that Ocean Knoll Elementary is adding patrols to its security this week and is working with the sheriff’s department. No students were injured during any of the incidents.

Anyone with information is asked to call the sheriff's department.

The Philadelphia man who admitted to calling in a fake report about explosives on a Dallas-Fort Worth-bound airplane that caused the plane to be diverted back to Philadelphia International Airport will write an apology letter to every person on that plane.

Kenneth Smith Jr., 26, pleaded guilty Monday to malicious false information about an explosive, and false information and hoaxes, according to a press release from the U.S. Attorney’s Eastern District of Pennsylvania Office.

Smith admitted he made the call to Philly Airport Police on the morning of Sept. 6 knowing that the information about Christopher Shell boarding a plane for Dallas with liquid explosives on him was false.

Smith, a pizza cook, faces up to 15 years in prison, up to $500,000 in fines and restitution when he is sentenced April 16. He already agreed to pay restitution and write an apology letter to every passenger who was on Flight 1267 when it was delayed. He also agreed to reimburse the emergency response costs, prosecutors said.

Flight 1267 was turned around shortly after taking off from Philadelphia International Airport. Sixty-nine passengers and five crew members were on the plane. In a strange twist, the incident happened on Shell's 29th birthday.

Smith’s reasoning for the hoax, according to federal prosecutors, was to “avenge” a woman who was at the time identified as Shell’s ex-girlfriend and Smith’s current girlfriend. Reportedly Shell had posted a compromising photo of the woman on Facebook.

Shell was removed from the airplane in handcuffs. He later wound up making it to Dallas where we was arrested on two outstanding warrants, police said. NBC Dallas spoke to Shell in October about the plane hoax and how it derailed his career.

• Shell Arrested on Outstanding Warrant in Dallas
• Reaction to the Airplane Hoax Fast Enough?
• Hoax Victim in Awe
• Airport Hoax Victim Had No Idea He'd Been Targeted
• Timeline of Hoax Events

A family of four in Imperial Beach was transported to the hospital with carbon monoxide poisoning Monday afternoon, fire department authorities said.

The patients complained of flu-like symptoms just after noon in the 900 block of Cypress Avenue Monday.

Officials with the San Diego Fire Department tested the carbon monoxide levels in the house and found an excessive amount of the gas. They determined the four patients were suffering from carbon monoxide poisoning. 

The family, which consisted of two children and two adults, was treated at the UCSD Medical Center. 

“CO poisoning is a real serious thing,” said SDPD Capt. John French. “It can’t be detected unless you have a detector in your house. So this is a good time to make sure you have a detector and it’s working.”

SDG&E is working to determine the source of the excessive carbon monoxide levels. French would not elaborate further on how the carbon monoxide levels got to such a dangerous level. 

On Tuesday, Imperial Beach's fire inspector Tom Santos said the source of the carbon monoxide was a tankless water heater. 

According to the Centers for Disease Control, carbon monoxide is an odorless, colorless gas that can cause sudden illness and death. Symptoms of poisoning include headache, dizziness, weakness, nausea, vomiting, chest pain, and confusion. 

This story was originally published on Monday January 14.  

New York City subway trains are entering stations more slowly after the transit workers union put out advisory signs instructing drivers to take greater caution — but the transit authority says the move throws off subway schedules and is counterproductive to straphanger safety.

The union says having trains enter stations more slowly helps train operators stop if someone suddenly jumps or gets pushed onto the tracks. 

According to the union, the normal speed for trains to enter the station is 30 or 40 miles per hour. But after the union released advisories over the weekend, trains are entering stations closer to 10 miles per hour. 

The safety initiative comes in the wake of two recent incidents in which people were killed by trains after being pushed onto the tracks — one in Queens, in what is being investigated as a hate crime, and another in midtown Manhattan.

"They should come in slowly, at least tap on the brakes and ease their way in," said one straphanger. "Coming into the station, it's safety first." 

But the city's Metropolitan Transit Authority doesn't approve of the slowdown, saying it throws off the existing schedules and that there are other ways to make the system safer. 

"Some of the actions they are recommending, if implemented, could result in even more hazardous conditions due to overcrowding on platforms and on board trains," an MTA spokesman said in a statement.

When it comes to affecting their own schedules, straphangers seem reluctant to support the union's initiative.

"I think they should get me to work on time. So if you slow down and I'm late, I've got a problem with that," said another subway rider. 

Denver Broncos offensive coordinator Mike McCoy is said to be working on a deal with San Diego Chargers to take the vacant head coaching job.

At 40, McCoy is the same age as Chargers GM Tom Telesco and is the youngest of the Chargers coaching candidates.

Here's what experts around the nation and Chargers fans have to say about the reports.

San Diego County experienced an increase in violent and property crime rates in 2012, according to new data from the FBI.

The figures compare crime in cities from the first six months of the years. In the first six months of 2012, the number of violent crimes increased 1.9 percent, compared to the first six months of 2011. 

The slight spike comes after a decrease from 2010 to 2011. During that time though, murders increased. That number appears to have gone back down though. In 2012, San Diego actually experienced a decrease in murder. 

An increase in aggravated assault and robbery offenses led to the overall increase in violent crime, according to the FBI's San Diego field office. 

The most startling increase of all the cities was in Carlsbad, where the violent crime rate increased 73 percent. There were 45 aggravated assaults and 11 forcible rapes reported. 

In Escondido, the violent crime rate increased 33 percent and property crime increased 19 percent in the first six months of 2012.

The City of San Diego's violent crime rate increased by 9.5 percent. There were 155 aggravated assaults and 42 rapes in the first six months of 2012.

Several cities saw a decrease in violent crime, though. El Cajon, for instance, experienced a decreased crime rate of 24 percent. Chula Vista's violent crime rate decreased 16 percent. 

The increase follows a nationwide trend in violent crime. The western regions of the U.S. saw a 3.1 increase in violent crime. The Midwest saw a 2.5 percent increase, the South saw a 1.1 increase and the Northeast experienced a 1.1 increase as well in violent crime. 

San Diegans braced for more chilly temperatures along with strong and potentially damaging winds Monday according to the National Weather Service.

A high wind warning was in effect from 7 p.m. Monday evening until 2 p.m. Tuesday forecasting north to northeast winds inland that were expected to intensify over the desert.

While residents in Ramona and Santa Ysabel to the south will see local gusts of 50 to 60 mph, some parts of the Inland Empire may see gusts in excess of 65 mph according to the NWS.

Drivers should watch for broken tree limbs and downed power lines.

Even in typically warmer parts of San Diego such as Balboa Park, residents were adapting to the cold temperatures.  According to the Associated Press, zookeepers at the San Diego Zoo offered extra heat and shelter for some animals.

Get Area Low Temps

Patchy frost may return before 10 a.m. Tuesday.

To protect your plants from frost, use a thin covering like a bed sheet or a piece of burlap according to Fausto Palafox with Mission Hills Nursery. Most nurseries and home centers sell protective covering he said. Don’t cover your plants with plastic since it can actually trap in the cold he advises.

Palafox also recommends watering your plants during the day when the sun is out. It will provide a bit of insulation.

Ed. Note: An earlier version of this article included information from the Associated Press about what the zoo was doing to keep its polar bears warm. The AP has since updated their reporting to include the correction. 
 

Crews began major repairs for Balboa Park’s historic lily pond damaged five months ago in a massive water gun battle.

The first step was to remove all the marine life from the pond that sits in front of the Botanical Building in the heart of the city’s park. On Tuesday, workers were removing all the other material from the pond so it could be cleaned and inspected.

The pond’s plumbing will need to be repaired, along with cracks in the concrete, and the basin will need to be re-sealed.

The costly damage occurred August 12 when hundreds of people responded to a social media invitation for a midnight, flash mob-style water fight.

Participants jumped into the pond damaging the plumbing and destroying lily boxes and plants.

Since August, the community has come together to help "Friends Of Balboa Park" raise money to make permanent repairs.

Friends of Balboa Park said the community contributed more than $100,000 in cash, materials and labor to restore the iconic pond.

The 5 Freeway was closed near Elysian Park for about four hours early Tuesday after a fiery big rig crash that damaged a freeway divider.

Traffic Page

The freeway was closed in both directions from Stadium Way to Fletcher Drive at about 3:30 a.m. Northbound lanes reopened at about 7:30 a.m., and the southbound side reopened a few minutes later, but traffic was backed up for miles in both directions during the morning commute.

"If you have an alternate route to get to work, take the alternate route," said CHP Sgt. Mike Alvarez.

The truck slammed through a concrete freeway divider, which caused a fuel spill and fire. Pieces of the divider were scattered on the road.

A tow vehicle arrived at the crash site at about 5:30 a.m. The burned cab was loaded onto a flatbed trailer. Another big rig towed the burned trailer from the location.

No injuries were reported in the crash.

 

Someone bought a winning Mega Millions lottery ticket in San Diego four months ago that’s worth $170,827.

Lottery officials said the winning ticket, purchased at Escape Snack Bar at 32nd Street Naval Base, has not been turned in for the prize.

The ticket matched five of six numbers for the draw on Sept. 14. The winning numbers were 40, 21, 51, 16 and 17, missing only the Mega number of 20.

Winners have 180 days from the date of the draw to claim prizes.

This ticket will expire at the close of business March 13, 2013 and the unclaimed funds will be transferred to California schools.

Visit the California Lottery’s MEGA Millions site for more information.
 

San Diego police are looking for a man in the attempted kidnapping of a woman in San Ysidro Monday.

A man driving an older model van with Baja California plates pulled alongside the woman who was walking near Tequila Way and Dairy Mart Road around 10 p.m.

The woman told police the man tried to pull her inside of the vehicle.

The victim fought back and escaped to a nearby fast food restaurant where she called police.

The van is described as blue with a gray stripe down the side.

Anyone with information is encouraged to call San Diego police (619) 531-2000 or (858) 484-3154.
 

A person at El Camino High School was diagnosed with tuberculosis, making it the first case of this year, according to the County Health and Human Services Agency.

The person may have exposed students and staff between Oct. 6 and Dec. 21 last year. It is unclear if the individual is a student or employee at El Camino HS.

This is the first case of TB reported in the county, according to HHSA. Last year there were more than 230 cases in the county, which the county said is not uncommon.

“Tuberculosis usually requires many hours of close, indoor contact to spread to others, so most people who are exposed in classrooms do not get infected or develop the disease,” said public health officer Dr. Wilma Wooten.

Symptoms of TB includes persistent cough, fever, night sweats and unexplained weight loss. It can be treated and cured with medication, according to HHSA.

“Symptoms of active TB include persistent cough, fever, night sweats and unexplained weight loss.”

HHSA is working with the Oceanside Unified School District to notify those who were potentially exposed.  Free testing for those who may have been exposed will take place on Jan. 29 and Feb 26 at the school at 400 Rancho del Oro Dr.

A house fire injured two firefighters on Tuesday, according to officials.

The incident happened shortly after noon at a one-story home on 8334 Poinciana Dr. San Diego Fire Department and Heartland Fire have had firefighters work to extinguish the blaze.

No one in the home was injured.

Check back for updates on this story.

Three reasons why San Diego Chargers’ fans should be excited until proven otherwise with the new head coach, Mike McCoy.

1. Young But Proven

McCoy and Tom Telesco, the team’s new general manager, are both only 40 years old.

During his last four years as the Broncos’ offensive coordinator McCoy has had three quarterbacks: Kyle Orton, Tim Tebow and Peyton Manning.

Those three have very different styles to say the least, but McCoy managed to make two playoff appearances, one with a rookie QB who many said would never have success in the NFL, and the second with a future Hall-of-Fame QB coming off multiple neck surgeries.

What had worked for Tebow would absolutely not work for Manning.

McCoy not only managed to make the adjustments, but he created an offense that meshed well enough for back-to-back playoff appearances.

2. Broncos' Loss:

As a Chargers’ fan you have to be excited anytime the Broncos lose a weapon. And McCoy absolutely was one of head coach John Fox’s best weapons.

In 2012 the Broncos’ scored the second most points and the fourth most yards in the league. The Chargers were 20th and 31st respectively.

3. No Ripple Effect:

Since McCoy is a young offensive coordinator the chances he will keep coaches like defensive coordinator John Pagano are high.

Pagano and others have kept this organization afloat in the midst of unreached potential. So the probability of them staying is a good thing.

Here’s your recap:

He’s a young coach, has fresh ideas, but has proven that he knows how to adapt to personnel packages and bring out the best in his quarterbacks.

McCoy brings all the “potential” to turn this franchise into a playoff, even Super Bowl caliber team again.

But potential isn’t a ring and now Telesco, McCoy, and the rest of the Chargers’ franchise have the off-season to figure out how to turn that potential into actuality.
 

All Nippon Airways is grounding its fleet of 787 aircraft after a Tokyo-bound Dreamliner made an emergency landing in southern Japan Wednesday after smoke appeared in the cockpit and instruments indicated a battery error, Reuters reported.

NSK, the state news agency, reported that all 137 passengers aboard the flight were safely evacuated via emergency chutes.

The emergency landing was the latest in a string of problems beleaguering Boeing's new 787 Dreamliner superjet and comes after the Federal Aviation Administration announced its intention to review the plane's design, manufacture and assembly.

The plane — Boeing's first to use rechargeable lithium ion batteries and to be constructed with lightweight composite materials — has been involved in several emergencies in just the last two weeks.

Last Monday, an electrical fire ignited in a Japan Airlines flight that had no passengers on board. A day later, a fuel leak on another of that airline's 787s forced the cancellation of take-off in Boston. And just a day after that, Japan's All Nippon Airways said it was forced to cancel a 787 flight of its own due to brake problems.

San Diego Zoo Global, the organization working to save endangered animals, has announced a partnership to build a new facility in New Orleans.

The new project, dubbed The Alliance for Sustainable Wildlife, will work with more than two dozen endangered and threatened mammal and bird species and will be run in partnership with the Audubon Nature Institute.

San Diego Zoo Global operates three facilities including the San Diego Zoo, the San Diego Zoo Safari Park, and the San Diego Zoo Institute for Conservation Research.

This isn’t the organization's first project extending beyond San Diego. There are programs in dozens of countries along with the Frozen Zoo, Native Seed Gene Bank, the San Clemente Loggerhead Shrike Breeding Facility and the Desert Tortoise Conservation Center among others.

The organization’s most visible efforts are its giant panda program. Staff members have helped increase the number of pandas at China’s Wolong Breeding Center from 25 to more than 100.

The most recent panda cub born in San Diego, Xiao Liwu, is the sixth cub born to Bai Yun who arrived in San Diego in 1996.

The Alliance hopes to help species like okapis, bongos and Masai giraffes that are considered threatened.

The center’s construction is slated to begin before the end of the year with the center’s breeding program to start in 2014.