News

Warrant Issued For Samuel Browning Jr.

MODESTO - A warrant has been issued for the arrest of Samuel Browning Jr. for failure to appear in the Britney Navara case. Stanislaus County Superior Court Judge Marie Sovey Silveira issued the warrant just after 1pm in her Modesto court. This is not the first time Silveira has had to threaten Browning with a warrant.

A warrant is also being prepared for the arrest of Browning's mother, Vicki Browning, also for failure to appear. Mrs. Browning complained about appearing in court today because she said she was supervising kids showing animals at the Madera District Fair.

Fresno Man Arrested for Attempted Murder in Madera

MADERA COUNTY – A Fresno man sits behind bars for attempted murder in Madera, accused of stabbing a Madera man and almost killing him. Jesse Galindo, Jr., age 20, is accused of stabbing a man at a residence located near Melba Drive and Avenue 17 early Monday morning.

The victim, who was taken to an area hospital, is expected to recover from his injuries. Deputies report that he suffered at least two puncture wounds – one of which just barely missed his main artery. The incident happened sometime after 4 AM.

Chowchilla Man Convicted of Felony Domestic Violence

MADERA - A Madera County Superior Court jury found Victor Alexander Smith, 38, of Chowchilla, guilty of felony domestic violence and two counts of misdemeanor resisting arrest Friday afternoon, according to Michael R. Keitz, District Attorney for Madera County.

On the evening of February 14, 2013, Valentine’s Day, a twelve year old boy called 911 and reported that his mother’s boyfriend was assaulting her. Chowchilla Police Department officers arrived to find the boy and a visibly shaken female victim with injuries to her face and arms.

Escapee Captured After Three Hours on the Run

MADERA - An inmate housed in the Madera County Department of Corrections escaped from custody early Wednesday evening. For the next three hours law enforcement agencies all around Madera County tracked down the escapee until he was re-captured three hours later near Madera County's Court House Park in the city of Madera.

Bryan Parry King (47), who was reportedly working in the facility’s kitchen area, went to take the trash out, then jumped the fence. His last direction of travel was on Olive Avenue. Bryan King’s last known residence is in Coarsegold.

Board of Sups to Appoint Miller to Fill Hall's Abandoned Auditors Term

MADERA - At Tuesday's meeting of the Madera County Board of Supervisors, Oakhurst CPA Todd Miller will be unanimously appointed to the position of Madera County Auditor/Controller. Miller will be the fourth auditor since 2008 and the first to be selected by the voters of Madera since former auditor Robert Dewall. Dewall was first elected in 1987.

In an article published by the Sierra Star on Friday, county administrative officer Eric Fleming stated that he would advise the board to select current auditor office number two, Karl Noyes to the interim auditor position. The only problem is Noyes doesn't want the job. Following her landslide loss to Miller last Tuesday, former appointed auditor Marcia Hall cleaned out her desk and quit, leaving another void in an out-of-control office.

Madera County Voters Reject Marcia Hall as Auditor - So She Quits Six Months Before Term Ends

***CONFIRMED***
MADERA COUNTY AUDITOR MARCIA HALL CLEANED OUT DESK AND EMAILED STAFF & BOARD OF SUPS "YOU DON'T DESERVE HIM, MAYBE YOU DIDN'T DESERVE ME EITHER."
***CONFIRMED***

MADERA - It's Miller Time in Madera County as Merced CPA Marcia Hall gets smacked in the nose with the football of truth; the voters did not want her as the Madera County Auditor. When the first absentee ballots were counted Tuesday night, Oakhurst CPA Todd Miller was leading the race by double digits and all night long his percentages never changed.

While the vote is still unofficial until it has been certified by Madera County Clerk Rebecca Martinez, Miller crushed Hall with 8087 votes to the appointed auditors 6155 or 56.6% to 43%. Even though four out of five of the Madera County Board of Supervisors, the Sierra Star and Madera Tribune supported her candidacy, the voters saw through all the smoke and mirrors and chose the most qualified candidate.

New Hostile Work Environment Claim Against Madera County

MADERA COUNTY - The existence of an investigation regarding harassment in the Madera County administration office has come to light but will not be discussed by the Madera County Board of Supervisors until after the June 3rd elections.

The county-commissioned report published by the Bickmore Risk Services of Sacramento was investigated by attorney Melissa McDonald. The Bickmore firm operates one of the nation’s largest independent risk management, pool management and actuarial consulting firms with a focus on public entities, such as municipalities, counties, and special districts.