News

League of Women Voters Seeks to Protect California Voter Data Against Federal Overreach

SANTA ANA – Yesterday, the League of Women Voters of California (LWVC) filed a motion in federal court to intervene in USA v. Weber, the U.S. Department of Justice’s case against the California Secretary of State, to protect the data of all California voters and prevent misuse of that data, which could harm California communities.

“Californians have a right to privacy and a right to vote free from intimidation or misuse of their personal information,” said Helen Hutchison, interim executive director of the League of Women Voters of California. “This attempt by the federal government to access detailed voter data puts those rights at risk. We are standing up for every Californian to ensure that sensitive voter information stays protected and that our elections remain safe and secure.”

Sheriff Detectives Arrest Suspect for Metal Theft, Meth Possession

FRESNO - Fresno County Sheriff's detectives with the Ag Task Force have arrested 35-year-old Salvador Silva Valdovinos of Huron. He has been booked into the Fresno County Jail on numerous charges, including grand theft and possession of narcotics. His bail is set at $32,500.

Over the past two weeks, several copper wire thefts have been reported at a facility in western Fresno County. Ag Task Force detectives were assigned to the investigation and identified a vehicle involved in the crimes. Detectives located the gray 2024 Ford Ranger pickup truck and contacted the driver, Salvador Silva Valdovinos, at a mini-storage facility in Lemoore.

California Home Sales Rebound in September with Modest Monthly and Annual Gains

SACRAMENTO - California home sales rebounded in September, increasing modestly on both a monthly and yearly basis, the CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS^® (C.A.R.) said today.

Closed escrow sales of existing, single-family detached homes in California totaled a seasonally adjusted annualized rate of 277,410 in September, according to information collected by C.A.R. from more than 90 local REALTOR^®associations and MLSs statewide. The statewide annualized sales figure represents the total number of homes that would be sold during 2025 if sales maintained the September pace throughout the year. It is adjusted to account for seasonal factors that typically influence home sales.

Fresno County Sheriff's Detectives Identify Kerman Homicide Suspect

KERMAN - Homicide detectives with the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office have obtained a murder arrest warrant for 53-year-old Salvador Rizo Pacheco of Kerman. He is described as 5’8”, 265 lbs. Detectives are actively searching for him and are requesting the public’s help to find him.

Around 10:00 pm on Saturday, October 4th, sheriff’s deputies responded to a report of an injured person. Deputies arrived at a home on the 3300 block of S. Congress Ave. in Kerman, where a wedding celebration was taking place. The victim was found to have severe injuries and was transported to Community Regional Medical Center, where he later died. He was identified as 63-year-old Martin Tovar Zalazar of Kerman.

Chowchilla Police Officer Dies in On-Duty Traffic Crash.

CHOWCHILLA - Late Friday evening, the Merced Communications Center of the California Highway Patrol received a call of a two-vehicle traffic collision involving a police vehicle on State Route 152 at Road 13. CHP Madera Area officers responded to the scene to investigate and found a Chowchilla Police vehicle and a Freightliner truck pulling doubles loaded with tomatos, involved in a fatal collision.

A 36-year-old man from Firebaugh was driving a Freightliner, traveling southbound on Road 13, traversing the intersection at SR-152. An on-duty Chowchilla Police Officer was driving a marked Chowchilla Police Department patrol vehicle (a Ford Explorer) eastbound on SR-152, in the number one lane, approaching the intersection at Road 13. As the Freightliner attempted to cross the eastbound lanes of the intersection, the front of the patrol vehicle struck the right side of the Freightliner’s rear trailer.

Colorado Man Pleads Guilty to Aiming a Laser Pointer at Fresno County Sheriff’s Helicopter

FRESNO - Martin Joseph Avila, 66, of Longmont, Colorado, pleaded guilty today to aiming a laser pointer at a Fresno County Sheriff’s Office helicopter, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced.

According to court documents, on May 28, 2024, Avila aimed the beam of a dangerously bright laser pointer at a Fresno County Sheriff’s Office helicopter while the aircraft was on routine patrol. The laser pointer’s total output power of laser light was 92.8 milliwatts (mW), which is more than 18 times more powerful than what is legally permissible for a laser pointer.

Former Sanger Police Officer Sentenced to Five Consecutive Life Sentences for Sexually Assaulting Women While on Duty

FRESNO - Former Sanger Police Department Officer J. DeShawn Torrence, 41, was sentenced today by visiting U.S. District Judge Todd W. Robinson to five consecutive life sentences for sexually assaulting four women whom he encountered during the course of his official duties. After a two-and-a-half-week trial in January 2025, a federal jury in the Eastern District of California convicted Torrence of eight counts of deprivation of constitutional rights under color of law. The jury found that five of the counts involved kidnapping, aggravated sexual abuse, or attempted aggravated sexual abuse.

“The defendant’s conduct was premeditated and depraved. He repeatedly abused his official authority to exploit women who expected the police to protect them,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “While no prison sentence can undo the extraordinary pain and suffering the defendant caused these women, today’s sentence of five consecutive life sentences holds the defendant accountable for his heinous conduct and sends a clear message that the Justice Department will aggressively prosecute those who violate the constitutional rights of the people they are sworn to protect.”