News

Atwater Man Threatens His Own Life After Brandishing Handgun

ATWATER - Early Friday afternoon officers from the Atwater Police Department responded to the area of Ralston Park, on Third Street near Elm Avenue, to a report of a male who had just brandished a handgun at the reporting party.

Officers located the reporting party and his girlfriend who told them that a Hispanic male had just pointed a semiautomatic pistol at them at Ralston Park, threatened to shoot the female and then fled the area on foot. As other officers began searching the area, they called out over the police radio that he had located the subject running through an alley near Drakeley Avenue and Third Street and that the subject was carrying a handgun.

New Supermarket Sets Sights on Northeast Madera

MADERA - Vallarta Supermarkets, a well-known food retailer in the Central and Southern California Hispanic markets, has submitted plans to the City’s Planning Department for review as they plan to expand their 50-store chain empire to the City of Madera.

The new store will be located at 1467 Country Club Drive, most recently a Fallas Paredes Discount Store (previously Mervyn's). The company is working with development services staff to finalize plans that entail an $11+ million dollar remodel of the property. The remodel includes a Santa Barbara mission-style façade improvement with dual entrances to the west side of the building.

Bakersfield Resident Indicted for Illegal Possession of a Sawed-Off Shotgun

FRESNO - A federal indictment was unsealed today that charges Jesus “Shotgun” Paniagua, 37, of Bakersfield, with being a felon in possession of a firearm and failing to register a firearm in the National Firearms Registry, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced.

On Dec. 19, 2019, a federal grand jury returned the two-count indictment. According to court documents, on Oct. 4, Paniagua, a previously convicted felon, was found in possession of an unregistered 20 gauge shotgun that was less than 26 inches long in violation of federal law.

Nearly All Current DACA Recipients Able to Renew Protections Thanks to Court Order

SACRAMENTO – California Attorney General Xavier Becerra today announced that more than 648,000 Dreamers have been able to renew their Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) protections since California secured a preliminary injunction in January 2018. In the two years that have passed since the Trump Administration’s efforts to rescind DACA were blocked nationwide, nearly all current DACA recipients have been able to renew their protections. The data on DACA renewals is published as part of a quarterly report federal immigration authorities are required to file because of the preliminary injunction.

“DACA is an American success story; Dreamers are teachers, healthcare providers, neighbors, leaders, and so much more,” said Attorney General Becerra. “Their heart and tenacity in the face of a concerted effort to rip them from the only home they know is an inspiration. But, it will take all of us working together in our communities and our courts to win the day.”

Special Circumstances Murder Filed Against Gang Members in Fresno County Superior Court for Killings at a Football Watch Party in November

FRESNO - Criminal charges have been filed against multiple Mongolian Boys Society gang members in both the Fresno County Superior Court and in the United States District Court related to the murders of four (4) victims and the attempted murders of twelve (12) victims at a Sunday Night football watch party on the evening of November 17, 2019, the Fresno County District Attorney’s Office and the United States Attorney’s Office have announced.

The Federal Felony Complaint filed in U.S. District Court today alleges that Fresno residents Pao Vang, 30; Jhovanny Delgado, 19; and Johnny Xiong, 25, conspired to commit murder in aid of racketeering, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1959(a)(5).

Fresno Couple Indicted for Armed Robberies in Fresno

FRESNO - A federal grand jury returned a 10-count indictment today against two Fresno residents, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced. Felipe Barajas, 25, was charged with interfering with commerce by robbery, brandishing a firearm in the commission of a violent crime, felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition, and possession of an unregistered firearm. Brittney Manzo, 24, is charged with two counts of interference with commerce by robbery.

According to court documents, between Oct. 30 and Nov. 21, 2019, Barajas robbed at gunpoint three commercial establishments in Fresno, and attempted to take money from one other. On Nov. 21, Manzo drove the vehicle in which Felipe Barajas fled after two of the incidents. Manzo led police on a pursuit and ultimately both she and Felipe Barajas were apprehended after the vehicle crashed and both attempted to run away.

Federal Firearm Charge Brought Against Fresno Man Involved in Hit-and-Run

FRESNO - A federal grand jury returned a one-count indictment today against Mario Alberto Rangel, 28, of Fresno, charging him with unlawfully possessing a firearm after being convicted of a felony crime, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced.

According to court documents, on Oct. 22, 2019, law enforcement officers attempted to stop Rangel for a traffic violation, but he failed to yield and fled in the vehicle at a high rate of speed. Out of concern for public safety, the officers ceased their pursuit but continued to drive in the direction that the vehicle had last been seen.