Crime

A former Riverside County Sheriff’s Correctional Deputy could face five years in prison after pleading guilty to extorting female inmates on home detention as part of an extortion scheme. Christian Phillip Heidecker, 32, of Menifee agreed to a five-year prison sentence on Friday after pleading guilty to five counts of extortion, four counts of witness

A multi-convicted DUI offender accused of killing an off-duty Riverside County sheriff’s deputy and his 19-year-old daughter in a driving-under-the-influence wreck north of San Jacinto must stand trial on two counts of second-degree murder and other charges, a judge ruled today. Scott Brandon Bales, 48, of Moreno Valley allegedly caused the 2022 collision that claimed

A 23-year-old schizophrenic and chronic marijuana user who fatally shot a young man and woman as they watched a movie at a Corona theater was sentenced today to life in prison without the possibility of parole.    Joseph Jimenez was declared sane at the conclusion of a bench trial in December, clearing the way for

A 43-year-old man who allegedly injured someone during a robbery in Palm Desert pleaded not guilty today to felony charges.    Carlos Quilon of Palm Desert was charged with one felony count each of assault on a person causing great bodily injury, robbery, burglary, assault with a deadly weapon to cause great bodily injury, dissuading

Felony charges are expected tomorrow against a 43-year-old man who allegedly injured someone during a robbery in Palm Desert. The suspect, a Palm Desert resident, was arrested Wednesday morning on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon, home invasion robbery, victim intimidation and committing a felony while out on bail, according to Sgt. Daniel Milbrandt

A 27-year-old man who was convicted of a fatal shooting in Desert Hot Springs almost three years ago, is set to be sentenced next month. Michael Leslie Goehner was convicted Feb. 6 of one felony count each of murder and discharging a firearm, and two felony counts each of shooting at a vehicle or dwelling

Jury selection got underway Tuesday for the retrial of a convicted felon involved in a street racing crash in Rancho Mirage that killed an 81-year-old woman. Wade Klinton Wheeler, 41, of Rancho Mirage was driving the car that smashed into Barbara Schmitz’s sedan, fatally injuring her and severely injuring her husband, Gerald Schmitz, over a

Investigators identified the driver suspected of being involved in a hit-and-run crash that killed a teenager last month. Troy Dean Reynolds, 57, of Yucca Valley is believed to have been behind the wheel in a crash that killed Joshua Alexander Sanchez Barreras, 16, in Yucca Valley on the night of Jan. 26. Deputies found Barreras

A Morongo Valley man died from injuries suffered in a shooting Thursday night in Joshua Tree. The violence was reported at 11:35 p.m. along the 4700 block of Avenue La Manana just north of downtown Joshua Tree. Authorities said deputies responded to the area for reports of shots fired and found Richard Andrade, 52, suffering

Two men were arrested after deputies found more than 50 firearms, narcotics, explosives, and a clandestine drug lab in Joshua Tree. The arrests took place Wednesday at around 10:45 a.m. on the 60000 Block of Post Road. The Morongo Basin Station Multi-Enforcement Team investigated suspected sales of narcotics in the area. Deputies served the search

A heavy police presence was reported in the Ruth Hardy Park area of Palm Springs Thursday night as officers searched for a burglary suspect. Details on the crime remain limited, but viewers told News Channel 3 at around 7:00 p.m. that a police helicopter was circling the area telling residents to stay indoors. Police said

Two men were shot by an assailant who attempted to rob them in a Banning park, from which he fled, his whereabouts unknown today.    The attack happened about 11:35 p.m. Wednesday at Repplier Park, near the intersection of George Street and North San Gorgonio Avenue, according to the Banning Police Department. The agency said

A 25-year-old man suspected of carjacking and threatening to shoot someone who gave him a ride while he was out of custody in a separate vehicle theft case is due back in court in late February. Alexis Israel Lizarraga of Mecca pleaded not guilty Feb. 2 to one felony count each of carjacking, taking a