Bookmaking Case Against Truant Officer Dropped

SOUTH EL MONTE — A misdemeanor bookmaking charge was dismissed against a South El Monte High School truant officer who ran a football pool.

Robert Bigler, 49, pleaded no contest in September and was facing up to a year in jail. But prosecutors allowed him to withdraw his plea and let the case be dismissed Friday, authorities said.

Investigators had believed Bigler, of Temple City, was involved in professional bookmaking at the time of his arrest in February. After further review, they discovered he was running a small office football pool that involved less than $1,000. Although Bigler took bets at the campus, students were not involved, officials said.