News

Father Exposes 5 Year-old to High Levels of Methamphetamine Twice: DA Offers 90 Days

MADERA - In his yellow and white striped jail uniform, Wesley Irvine Potter (34) of Madera stood in front of Madera County Superior Court Judge Joseph Soldani Friday morning and learned he would be spending more time in the Madera County Department of Corrections. The step-father of a Madera kindergartener awaits his trial for two felony counts of child endangerment (PC 273a) and one misdemeanor count of domestic violence, his second in four years.

Potter, who is being held in the administrative segregation unit of the jail for his own protection from other inmates, was arrested on Saturday, September 6th for assaulting his girlfriend at their apartment at the 3300 block of Howard Road. According to the Madera Police Department the assault was recorded on video surveillance from the storage facility where their apartment is located. BVN will not released the name of the girlfriend because of the nature of the domestic violence charges of which she is a victim.

Fifteen Charged in Chukchansi Casino Takeover

MADERA - Fifteen people involved in the take over of the Chukchansi Resort & Casino in the Coarsegold area of Madera County last month have been charged with multiple felonies, Madera County District Attorney Michael Keitz announced Friday.

On the evening of October 9th, armed men from the Tex McDonald faction of the Picayune Rancheria of Chukchansi Indians of California, stormed the Madera County casino taking several people into custody. The raid was captured on the casino's video surveillance system. The casino was immediately closed and has remained closed ever since.

School Board Censures Trustee Cogdill For Threats Made to Superintendent

FULL AUDIO OF TUESDAY'S CENSURE ONLINE

BREAKING NEWS - The Madera Unified School Board announced its intent to censure Trustee Lynn Cogdill Tuesday night for unprofessional behavior, cussing out Superintendent Edward Gonzales and threatening to fire him if Cogdill is re-elected.

While Cogdill stated he, as one board member, did not have the power to fire Gonzales, Cogdill did not deny the language he used saying that, everyone cusses and I thought Superintendent Gonzales had a thicker skin.

Man Arrested In Assault Of Twelve Year Old Girl

FRESNO - The Fresno County Sheriff’s Office annonced the arrest of a transient Fresno man wanted in connection with the sexual assault of a twelve year old girl this past Saturday. Luis Angel Ramirez (50) was arrested Monday evening after he turned himself in at the Fresno County Jail.

Early Monday morning, sheriff’s deputies responded to the sex offense call west of the City of Fresno. During the investigation, deputies learned Ramirez, an acquaintance of the victim’s father, had kidnapped the girl from the front yard of her home and took her to a nearby truck which was parked on the property.

Ten Middle School Students Injuried in Golf Cart Accident

FRESNO - Traffic officers from the Fresno Police Department were dispatched to the Granite Ridge Middle School at the Clovis North School Complex Monday morning regarding an injury accident on the campus proper.

Upon arrival, officers found ten injured students, ranging in age from 13 to 14 years, on the campus walkway between two buildings. Clovis Unified School District Police were present as well as several school administrators.

Thirteen Year Old Beaten By Armed Juveniles In Attempt Robbery

FRESNO - The Fresno County Sheriff’s Office is asking for the public’s help in identifying three juveniles who beat and attempted to rob a thirteen year old victim as he walked home from school.

Yesterday evening, at about 6:00pm, the victim was walking in the 4000 block of Union Ave when he was approached by the three male suspects. One of the suspects, his face covered by a red bandana, produced a small handgun and struck the victim in the head.

DA Delays Pike Murder Trial Again For Vacation in Mexico

MODESTO - The murder trial of Brittney Navarra has been delayed once again. The case which has been delayed over and over again by the Madera County District Attorney's Office faced another delay this week while the assistant district attorney travels to Mexico for a family vacation and his daughter's birthday.

Navarra, who is facing murder charges for the January 2008 murder of 18 year old Krista Pike, has been sitting in a Madera County Jail cell for the last six and a half years awaiting her day in court. A day which was delayed for numerous reasons, including the removal of Ed Gill, Madera County Deputy District Attorney, for prosecutorial misconduct and forgery charges. Gill ended up pleading his case down to misdemeanor forgery.