News

FRESNO -  Johnny Sanchez, 22, of Modesto, was sentenced today by Chief U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. O’Neill to 11 years and eight months in prison for stealing 50 firearms from a Fresno gun store last year, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced. Co‑defendant Nathan Creel, 22, also of Modesto, pleaded guilty today to conspiring with Sanchez and three others in connection with the burglary of the firearms store.

According to court documents, on October 20, 2017, Sanchez, Creel, and co-defendants James Britt, David Avina, and Luis Galvan broke into the Fresno firearms store by cutting a chain and lock with bolt cutters and prying open the door. The defendants stole 50 firearms, including numerous foreign and domestic rifles. After the theft, the defendants sold most of the firearms to others.

MADERA – The Madera County Elections Department is headed to court over the Madera Unified School District Area 5 election between Steve Duncan and Lucy Salazar. Thursday morning Madera County Clerk Rebecca Martinez will ask Judge James Oakley to extend the deadline to certify that election from December 6^th, 2018 to at least six months from now.

On November 26^th, 2018 Attorney Michael Linden from Lozano Smith Attorneys at Law, Madera County’s contracted County Counsel, said in a letter to both candidates that Ms. Martinez does not feel she can certify the election at this time because of an error in the mail ballot merging process that allowed voters outside of the MUSD Area 5 boundaries to improperly vote in this elections.

CARUTHERS - Property crimes detectives with the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office are working to identify and arrest the suspect(s) responsible for a recent string of armed robberies in the Caruthers / Laton area. Three robberies have occurred at different businesses during a five day span.

Shortly after 11:00 pm on November 14th, a masked man walked inside the Valero gas station at 2459 W. Tahoe Ave. in Caruthers and immediately pointed a black handgun at the clerks behind the counter. The suspect demanded the employees hand over all of the store’s money. They gave him cash from the register and he then fled out the door. The entire robbery took 45 seconds. The suspect is described as being approximately 5’8” – 6’0” with an average build. He was wearing a black sweatshirt with a zebra print on the hood, white gloves, a white mask and black sneakers. He appears to be left-handed.

SACRAMENTO - A federal jury found Benjamin Macias, 40, of Sacramento, guilty today of conspiracy to distribute cocaine, distribution of cocaine, possession with intent to distribute cocaine, and being a felon in possession of a firearm, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced. According to court documents, in 2014 and 2015, Macias supplied Sergio Ambriz, 29, of Sacramento, with cocaine. On four occasions, Ambriz sold this cocaine to an undercover agent in Sacramento and El Dorado Counties.

Agents planned to arrest Macias and Ambriz at a fifth transaction on June 9, 2015. Shortly before they could do so, Macias sped away from the scene at about 90 miles per hour. Agents searched Macias’s car after they apprehended him. In the glove compartment, they found a Ruger 9 mm pistol loaded with hollow-tipped bullets; they also found more than 1 pound of cocaine in the trunk. On the same day, agents searched Macias’s Sacramento home and found ammunition, a 35-round magazine, and more cocaine.

WASHINGTON  - The American Farm Bureau Federation's 33rd annual survey of classic items found on the Thanksgiving Day dinner table indicates the average cost of this year's feast for 10 is $48.90, or less than $5.00 per person. This is a 22-cent decrease from last year's average of $49.12.

"Since 2015, the average cost of Thanksgiving dinner has declined steadily and is now at the lowest level since 2010," said AFBF Chief Economist Dr. John Newton.

New Voting System Leads to Improved Strong Voter Turnout

MADERA -  The Madera County Elections Department is continuing to process ballots and is calling the midterm turnout an overwhelming success. With just over 1,500 ballots remaining to be counted, Madera County turnout is already at 65%, over 13% higher than the last midterm election in 2014. 

According to data provided on the Registrar’s website, 65% turnout will make this midterm turnout higher than any midterm in the last 20 years, as far back as online records go. “My hope has always been to increase turnout,” explained Madera County Registrar Rebecca Martinez.  “Implementing the Voter’s Choice Act and making the voting process more convenient, more accessible, and more efficient has proven to yield the results we were hoping for. All Madera County voters should be proud; I know that I am proud of them!”