Santa Maria man allegedly buried 5-year-old boy

SANTA MARIA, Calif. (AP) - A Santa Maria man has been arrested for allegedly burying a 5-year-old boy alive at the beach, resulting in the child's death. San Luis Obispo County sheriff's Sgt. Sandy Leber says 24-year-old Juan Francisco Nunez is in custody Tuesday in lieu of $1 million bail. Sheriff's officials say the boy had been playing with family and friends, including Nunez, at Pismo State Beach early Friday evening. Officials arrested Nunez at the beach on suspicion of assault resulting in the death of a child after he allegedly covered the boy's face with sand after burying him up to his neck. The boy choked on the sand. He was transported by ambulance to Arroyo Grande Community Hospital where he died... [read full story]