SACRAMENTO - On Tuesday, after a four-day trial, a federal jury found Robert S. Turchin, 68, of Salinas, guilty of one count of conspiracy to commit bribery and identity fraud and three counts of identity fraud, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced. “This prosecution of a California state employee for bribery resulting in grave danger to public safety is very troubling,” U.S. Attorney Scott stated. ”It is alarming to think that unqualified persons were licensed to operate big rigs and buses on our public roadways. We will continue to do everything we can to root out public corruption at any level, and hold those in positions of trust accountable for their greed.”
According to evidence presented at trial, Turchin was an employee at the Salinas field office for the Department of Motor Vehicles, including between 2012 and 2015. Turchin was responsible for conducting tests for applicants for commercial licenses to operate 18-wheel tractor-trailers and commercial buses.
Four MUSD Admins Out at District For Stupid Choices
MADERA – Usually when you hear of incidents in public schools involving alcohol it is involving an under-aged student that makes a stupid choice. Madera Police are currently investigating an incident at Madera Unified’s Parkwood Elementary School in which the ‘stupid choices’ were made by the administrators who had been put in charge of the students.
Four administrators from three local elementary schools are now looking for jobs and one administrator is being reassigned back to the classroom following a World Cup Soccer party held on Parkwood Elementary School’s campus where alcohol flowed freely between administrators from Parkwood, Sierra Vista and Caesar Chavez Elementary schools. Those are the facts of the case; the mystery is why five Madera Unified administrators would risk their careers?
Central Unified School District Board of Trustees Announces a New Superintendent
FRESNO - Cesar Granda, the President of the Central Unified School District Board of Trustees, announced the appointment of Andrew G. Alvarado as the district’s new superintendent effective July 1, 2018. The Central Unified Board of Trustees enlisted Jack Kelejian, Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources, to advertise and conduct a statewide search for the new superintendent. The Board interviewed several candidates and determined Mr. Alvarado would fit the needs of the students and community of Central Unified.
Mr. Alvarado has been the superintendent of the Golden Valley Unified School District in Madera County for the past seven years and prior to that, served as assistant superintendent, high school principal and high school vice principal prior to his promotion to the District Office. During Mr. Alvarado’s tenure as assistant superintendent, he guided the District in the area of Educational Services, specifically, curriculum, instruction and assessment, all while focusing on teaching, learning and student achievement. As a result of Mr. Alvarado’s educational leadership, the District has experienced tremendous gains in all of these areas through his direct involvement with staff and students.
Chowchilla Homicide Suspect in Custody Thanks to Madera PD
CHOWCHILLA - On Monday June 25, 2018 at approximately 11:15pm, officers of the Chowchilla Police Department responded to a stabbing in the 1100 block of Humboldt Ave. Upon arrival officers contacted the victim who was identified as, 39 year old, Chowchilla Resident, Leeshawn Sykes.
It was discovered that Sykes had a stab wound, to his lower right chest area. Officers immediately began providing first aid and Sykes was transported to the closest area Trauma Center in Fresno, CA. by paramedics. At approximately 1:30 am, the Chowchilla Police Department was advised by medical staff, that Leeshawn Sykes had succumbed to his injury.
Merced Man Arrested After Advertising Illegal Fireworks on Craigslist
MERCED - On Wednesday the Merced Police Department’s Disruptive Area Response Team (DART) officers responded to a Craigslist advertisement selling illegal fireworks. DART officers met with Christopher Hamby in a hardware store parking lot in the city of Merced.
Officers arrested Christopher Hamby (22) of Turlock, Ca. Hamby was arrested for selling illegal fireworks, possession of illegal fireworks and advertisement of illegal fireworks. Hamby was booked and released at the Merced County Jail.
California Consumer Privacy Act Qualifies For November Ballot
SACRAMENTO - According to numbers certified by county registrars, the California Consumer Privacy Act has qualified for the November 2018 ballot. Simultaneously, a bill supported by Californians for Consumer Privacy with similar privacy protections is advancing through the California Legislature.
"We are thrilled that the California Consumer Privacy Act has qualified for the November ballot, and grateful to California voters for showing their support for fundamental privacy rights for consumers," said Alastair Mactaggart, Chief Proponent of the California Consumer Privacy Act and Chairman of Californians for Consumer Privacy. "California now has two opportunities to empower consumers to take back control of our personal information: one sits before the California Legislature, and the other can now appear on the ballot. We look forward to either the Legislature's successful passage of AB 375 this week or continuing our initiative campaign through November. We're heartened by the momentum behind these endeavors, and the protections that both efforts seek to provide for consumers and our children."
Law Enforcement Agencies Collaborate to Take Down Major Methamphetamine Suppliers - Seven Federal Defendants Indicted
FRESNO - An eight-month operation by the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has netted numerous arrests and seizures. This announcement was made by U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott, Fresno County Sheriff Margaret Mims, Drug Enforcement Administration Special Agent in Charge Chris Nielsen, and FBI Special Agent in Charge Sean Ragan.
In November 2017, a Fresno County Sheriff’s deputy on patrol made a traffic stop in the area of Fresno Street and Ashlan Avenue. The driver, 55-year-old David Stuard of Fresno, was arrested and booked into the Fresno County Jail after the deputy searched his vehicle and found approximately one pound of methamphetamine, along with heroin and prescription pills.
