A MAN WHO ONCE WORKED AS A COUNSELOR'S AIDE FOR APTOS HIGH SCHOOL PLEADED INNOCENT TO 4 COUNTS OF LEWD ACTS WITH CHILDREN UNDER THE AGE OF 10 . 47-YEAR-OLD STEVEN MARTINEZ WAS AT ONE TIME PASTOR OF THE NOW CLOSED NEW JERUSALEM CHURCH IN WATSONVILLE. SEVERAL WOMEN CAME FORWARD TO SAY THAT MARTINEZ MOLESTED THEM IN THE MID-1990S. MARTINEZ MET ONE OF HIS ACCUSERS AT APTOS HIGH SCHOOL. HE WAS RELEASED ON BAIL, BUT SHOULD BE BACK IN COURT IN FEBRUARY.

AN ARMED ROBBERY TOOK PLACE AT THE AZTECA MARKET IN WATSONVILLE TUESDAY MORNING. THE ROBBER WAS DESCRIBED AS A TALL AND THIN HISPANIC MAN WHO WAS BETWEEN 20 AND 25-YEARS-OLD. HE ENTERED THE STORE DURING BUSINESS HOURS, DISPLAYED A SMALL HANDGUN, AND DEMANDED MONEY FROM THE CLERK. ANOTHER EMPLOYEE FOLLOWED THE ROBBER AS HE RAN OFF WITH AN UNDISCLOSED AMOUNT OF MONEY. HE LOST THE SUSPECT AT CAREY AND SOUTH GREEN VALLEY ROAD. THE ROBBER WAS FILMED ON THE STORE'S VIDEO SURVEILLANCE CAMERA, AND POLICE ARE USING THE IMAGE TO HELP IN IDENTIFYING THE THIEF.

THE WETLANDS OF WATSONVILLE NATURE CENTER IS REOPENING THIS WEEKEND. THE 1,000-SQUARE FOOT NATURE CENTER INCLUDES NEW EXHIBITS WHICH WERE SET UP IN THE PAST FEW MONTHS. MURALS AT THE CENTER SHOW THE SLOUGHS, OHLONE INDIANS, AND AGRICULTURAL LANDSCAPES, AS WELL AS HOMES AND SHOPS. THERE ARE ALSO HANDS-ON ACTIVITIES FOR KIDS AND PARENTS. THE CENTER IS LOCATED AT 30 HARKINS SLOUGH ROAD, BEHIND RAMSAY PARK. IT WILL BE OPEN FROM 11 A.M. TO 4 P.M. SATURDAYS AND SUNDAYS IN JANUARY AND FEBRUARY. AFTER JANUARY 18TH THE CENTER WILL ALSO OPEN FROM 1:30 TO 4 P.M ON TUESDAYS.

A ROYAL OAKS WOMAN HAS BEEN SENTENCED TO 5 YEARS PROBATION, AND A SUSPENDED 6 YEAR PRISON TERM. THAT AFTER 28 YEAR-OLD JESSAMY BRICE FACED 7 YEARS IN PRISON, FOR STABBING A FELLOW TRANSIENT IN THE NECK (IN APTOS VILLAGE LAST JUNE). BRICE, WHO HAS NO HISTORY OF VIOLENCE, REPORTEDLY SUFFERS FROM A DISORDER SIMILAR TO SCHIZOPHRENIA. BRICE, WHO GRADUATED FROM WATSONVILLE HIGH SCHOOL, WILL ATTEND A LOS ANGELES AREA DRUG ADDICTION, AND MENTAL ILLNESS TREATMENT PROGRAM.