Local News

Jury Finds Fresno Man Guilty on 6 Counts of Drug and Sex Trafficking Offenses

FRESNO - On Thursday, a federal jury found Filiberto “Beto” Chavez, 37, of Fresno, guilty of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine, distribution of methamphetamine, possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, conspiracy to engage in interstate travel for prostitution and two counts of use of a facility of interstate commerce to promote prostitution, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced.

U.S. Attorney Scott stated: “This verdict is the result of law enforcement partners at the federal, state and local level working as one to pursue criminal gangs and their associates. We will continue to work tirelessly together to protect our communities and to hold accountable those who threaten our safety.”

Jury Finds Atwater Inmates Guilty of Attempting to Kill a Correctional Officer and Assault on a Correctional Officer

FRESNO - On Tuesday, after a four-day trial, a federal jury found Jonathan Mota, 37, guilty of attempting to kill a federal officer and found Dominic Adams, 27, guilty of assault on a federal officer, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced. According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, on October 6, 2017, Mota, Adams and four other inmates brutally attacked a Federal Bureau of Prisons officer who was a teacher working at the federal penitentiary in Atwater. The officer was repeatedly stabbed with homemade knives and kicked and beaten by the inmates.

According to court documents, on the day of the attack, Mota and Eric Chiago, 28, entered the copy room where the officer was making copies and repeatedly stabbed him. William Roe Acevedo, 33; Michael Martin, 30; Joey Thomas, 26; and Adams stationed themselves outside the room. When the victim was able to free himself and escape down the hallway, the six defendants tackled him and wrestled him to the floor where they repeatedly kicked, punched and stabbed him. Adams and Thomas also assaulted an officer who was responding to the attack.

Suspect Named in Fatal Shooting of Former Merced County DA's Son

ATWATER - After nearly eight weeks of investigation the Atwater Police Department has identified its prime suspect in the homicide of the former Merced Couny District Attorney’s son Ethan Morse. Surveillance cameras captured video the suspect Dagoberto Franco Penaloza (26) near the crime scene the day of the murder.

Atwater Detectives say he did not attempt to make a quick getaway. In fact, Atwater's police chief thinks he may have actually passed him. "He did walk out of the area, and he walked through town. If we'd had a better description, I might have caught him," said police chief Michael Salvador. "He walked right by my position as I was driving to the homicide scene."

Methhead Kills Family Puppy: Locked Up in Jail With NO Bail

MADERA - On May 6^th, 2019 at about 8:45 pm officers from the Madera Police Department were dispatched to the 800 block of South D Street regarding a large pool of blood located in a family’s driveway. When the officers arrived and contacted the residents of the property they were informed a cousin to the family, identified as Ambrocio Hernandez, was standing near their fence line when they arrived home.

Hernandez was not allowed at the property due to his extensive drug use and aggressive demeanor. After Hernandez was told to leave the property (which he did), law enforcement was contacted regarding the blood found on scene. Officers investigated the scene and followed the blood trail to a garbage can. Inside the garbage can they found the family dog, deceased, with extensive blunt force trauma. It was believed Hernandez may have killed the animal and an investigation was started to attempt to locate him.

Former Madera Resident Fred Gleason (82) Dies in Tragic Merced County Traffic Accident

HILMAR – A former Madera resident was killed in Merced County in a collision with a big rig just south of Hilmar on Highway 165. Fred Gleason (82), now a resident of Stevinson was driving a 2008 Lexus sedan when the driver of a big rig hauling milk pulled into an intersection at Crane Avenue where the two vehicles collided.

Gleason’s identity was confirmed by Deputy Daryl Allen with the Merced County Sheriff-Coroner’s Office. The crash happened Saturday March 2, 2019 around 6:40 p.m. The driver of the 2013 Peterbilt big rig truck was identified by the California Highway Patrol as Aurelio Barajas-Zapien (43) of Turlock.