Local News

Madera Man Arrest on Felony Charges of Animal Cruelty.

MADERA COUNTY - On June 9, 2019, around 1:45pm, the Madera County Sheriff’s Office received a call to assist California Department of Fish and Wildlife on an animal abuse call. Deputy Ian Roth met Game Warden Watkins of CA Dept. of Fish & Wildlife at a residence in the 10000 block of Avenue 14 in Madera County. Game Warden Watkins informed Deputy Roth that during a routine patrol of the San Joaquin River that day, he had observed a horse, believed to be deceased, lying in tall weeds near a dirt road in the area.

Game Warden Watkins drove Deputy Roth to the location of the horse, who was found lying on its side, unable to move despite attempts to lift its head upon hearing the two men approach. The horse’s condition was immediately recognized as dire- the frame of the horse, along with its hips, legs, ribs and spine, were visible. The horse was covered in flies in every orifice, including its mouth and nose. The horse had labored breathing and was looking around out of desperation.

Madera South Class of 2019 Steps into Their Future

MADERA - The Madera South High School Class of 2019 takes its final bow as high school seniors last Thursday evening. The weather couldn't have been any better as the class of over 580 students received their diplomas in front of a sold out Memorial Stadium.

Following graduations the former Stallions returned to the gyms of their old school for Sober Graduation party sponsored by the California Highway Patrol and the senior class where over $10,000 in prizes were given away as well as a car from GT Auto Sales of Madera.

Mexican National Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for Marijuana Cultivation in Wilderness Area in the Sequoia National Forest

FRESNO - Felipe Angeles Valdez-Colima (Valdez), 36, of Michoacán, Mexico was sentenced today to 10 years in prison for conspiring to manufacture, distribute, and possess with intent to distribute marijuana in the Kiavah Wilderness area of the Sequoia National Forest, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced.

U.S. District Judge Dale A. Drozd ordered Valdez to pay $7,620 in restitution to the U.S. Forest Service for the damage he caused to the National Forest.

Tulare County Man Charged with Unlawfully Possessing a Machinegun and Cocaine

FRESNO - A federal grand jury returned a three-count indictment on Thursday against Francisco Fernandez, 26, of Earlimart, charging him with possessing cocaine for distribution, unlawfully possessing a machinegun, and possession of an unregistered firearm, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced.

According to court documents, on April 19, 2019, agents searched Fernandez’s residence and storage unit and found cocaine, several assault rifles, a Glock pistol that was converted into a machinegun, and several auto sears. An auto sear is a part that is used to convert a semi‑automatic pistol into a fully automatic machinegun. Fernandez is prohibited from possessing firearms because he is an unlawful user of cocaine.

Aryan Brotherhood Members and Associates Charged with Racketeering for Directing Murders and Other Violent Crimes from Inside California Prisons

SACRAMENTO - Sixteen members and associates of a prison-based gang have been charged after a long-running investigation into drug trafficking and murders inside and outside of California’s prisons. Assistant Attorney General Brian A. Benczkowski of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott, and Special Agent in Charge Chris Nielsen of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) made the announcement.

According to a criminal complaint unsealed today, nine defendants have been arrested on federal racketeering and other charges for extensive, organized criminal activity from within California’s most secure prisons. The allegations include murders, drug trafficking and other violent crimes. The complaint charges California State Prison inmates Ronald Yandell, 56; Daniel “Danny” Troxell, 66; William Sylvester, 51; Travis Burhop, 46; Brant Daniel, 44; Donald Mazza, 48, Pat Brady, 48; Michael Torres, 55; and Jason Corbett, 47. At the outset of this investigation, Yandell, Troxell, Sylvester, Burhop, Torres and Corbett were all serving life sentences for murder.