Local News

MADERA - Madera County District Attorney, David A. Linn, announced that he had received correspondence from the California Board of Parole Hearings concerning the non-violent parole review process for Ms. Alice Waterman.  The Board has denied her release.  Waterman was originally convicted of seven counts of Penal Code Section 451(c) Arson, and one count of Conspiracy to Commit Arson; and originally received a total sentence in excess of ten years. 

Although Ms. Waterman is now up for parole under the recently passed Proposition 57 requirements, the Board found that, “She was personally armed with a deadly weapon (Fire).”  The Board further found that Ms. Waterman held the community in terror for a number of weeks and jeopardized the lives of fire personnel and homeowners who repeatedly dealt with the ongoing string of arsons.  Numerous individuals were affected by the inmate’s callous decision to set various fires and wreck havoc on the community.  The Board ultimately determined that Ms. Waterman does pose an unreasonable risk of violence to the community and denied her release.

LAS VEGAS - MGM Resorts International, the global entertainment organization, announced today that it will provide donations through the MGM Resorts Foundation in the amount of $3 million to fund humanitarian assistance to victims of the Las Vegas shooting, along with organizations who provide support to those who are first on the scene to assist in traumatic events.

"There are simply no words to express our grief and outrage over this senseless and horrific attack on our community," said Jim Murren, Chairman and CEO of MGM Resorts.  "Yet in this devastating time, we are inspired. From the heroic stories of victims on the ground who placed the safety of strangers and loved ones before themselves, to the incredible bravery of first responders who rushed in when others were rushing out and who surely lessened the damage, to the knowledge of so many good and incomplete works done by those we lost – we are collectively drawing strength and faith to meet the difficult days ahead. With this donation, we hope to make a difference to those who were harmed and those who are left behind.  We also wish to recognize the awesome contributions of first responders, not just here in Las Vegas but around the United States, who give so completely of themselves when disaster strikes.  On behalf of our Las Vegas community, I wish to say thank you to our global community who remind us from moment to moment that we are not alone."

HURON - Shortly after 9:00 pm on Sunday, Huron Police officers responded to a call of suspicious activity at an apartment complex located on the northeast corner of S. Lassen and W. Tornado Avenues in Huron. Officers were given information that three armed men were at the property. Once officers contacted the group, something occurred which caused an officer to fire their gun. One suspect was struck, one suspect ran away and the third suspect was detained.

The 18 year old man who was shot was transported by helicopter to Community Regional Medical Center in Fresno for treatment. He is listed in stable condition. The suspect immediately detained is a 14 year old boy. The third suspect who ran away, is a 16 year old boy. Deputies found him a short time later inside an apartment unit. All suspects have ties to a street gang.

FRESNO - Fresno County Sheriff’s detectives have arrested 64 year old Peter Samhammer of Clovis. He has been booked into the Fresno County Jail on four felony counts of child abuse. On Thursday afternoon, the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office received a report that students had suffered injuries during P.E. class at Herndon Barstow Elementary in Fresno.

Deputies responded to the school to investigate. Deputies learned that P.E. teacher, Peter Samhammer, had used a jump rope to discipline several children while holding class out on the playground. Samhammer placed the jump rope around their necks and tightened it briefly, before letting go. The rope left red marks on the kids’ neck and shoulder areas. The victims are in the 9 - 11 year old age range.