Crime

A former CEO of a La Quinta-based communications company pleaded guilty today to fraud connected to the procurement of about $5 million in loans approved based on bogus asset statements, resulting in a $3.4 million loss to a Northern California bank. Richard Loren Lewis, 67, of La Quinta admitted charges of bank fraud and making

A 34-year-old Coachella man suspected of stealing a utility truck and possessing illegal drugs was released from custody today. The man was arrested Thursday and booked into the Benoit Detention Center in Indio on suspicion of grand theft auto, possession of controlled substances and possession of drug paraphernalia. He was released on his own recognizance

A 42-year-old man accused of holding up a Banning bank by pretending to have a gun concealed under his shirt was charged today with robbery. Aaron Sterling Gefrerer of Cathedral City was arrested Saturday following a Banning Police Department investigation, with assistance from neighboring agencies. Aaron Sterling Gefrerer (Courtesy of Banning PD) Gefrerer is being

Two men suspected of being involved in a 2017 shooting that killed a Banning man have been arrested and charged with murder. On May 3, 2021, Jose Verdusco Jr. and Samuel Vasquez both of Banning were arrested for the murder of Henry Steven Waters Jr, 20. Banning Police found Waters with multiple gunshot wounds around

A dozen felony charges were filed today against a suspected serial burglar accused of perpetrating residential break-ins scattered across two Coachella Valley cities. Teddy Kaiser Hartwell of Palm Springs, who was arrested last Friday, is scheduled to make his initial court appearance Wednesday afternoon on 12 counts of burglary. The 35-year-old felon is being held

Police announced that they have arrested a suspect in connection with a bank robbery Monday afternoon in Indio. The Wells Fargo on the 40200 block of Monroe Street in Indio was robbed on Monday at 1:43 p.m. Police said a man simulated having a weapon under his clothing and fled the scene with an undisclosed

A 42-year-old man accused of robbing a US Bank branch in Banning was in custody today on $35,000 bail. The suspect was arrested Saturday and booked into the Smith Correctional Facility in Banning on suspicion of robbery. Police say the suspect allegedly entered the bank at 300 S. Highland Springs Blvd. about 10:40 a.m. Saturday

Police are on the lookout for a suspect who robbed a bank in Indio Monday afternoon. The robbery happened at 1:43 p.m. at the Wells Fargo on the 40200 block of Monroe Street. Ben Guitron of the Indio Police Department said a male adult walked into the bank. The specifics of the robbery are still

The Riverside County Sheriff’s Department continues to investigate the murder of a 25-year-old man. The incident began at around 11:50 p.m. when deputies responded to reports of an assault with a deadly weapon at the 84900 block of Bagdad Avenue in Coachella. Residents at the Coachella Valley Apartments told News Channel 3’s Shelby Nelson they

A man is behind bars and is accused of several burglaries in Palm Desert and Rancho Mirage. On Thursday, sheriff’s deputies responded to a burglary in the 40 block of Via Las Flores in Rancho Mirage. The homeowner stated while in his kitchen, he noticed a man with a flashlight inside his home.The man then

A May 14 trial date was set today for one of four men granted a retrial on charges stemming from the 2008 financially motivated killing of a Palm Springs retiree in which they were previously convicted. Daniel Carlos Garcia, 38, and three others were granted a retrial last year following allegations that the judge who

A Pinyon Pines man was sentenced today to 143 years to life in state prison for molesting a child over the course of more than eight years. An Indio jury deliberated two days last December before finding Stanford James Stelle III, 42, guilty of 13 felonies: six counts of aggravated sexual assault of a child,

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — With little notice, California on Saturday is increasing early release credits for 76,000 inmates, including violent and repeat felons, as it further trims the population of what once was the nation’s largest state correctional system. More than 63,000 inmates convicted of violent crimes will be eligible for good behavior credits that

A May 27 trial date was set today to determine whether a man accused of severely injuring a 7-year-old Desert Hot Springs boy in a random attack last summer is mentally competent. Daniel Birch Poulsen, 33, was arrested last July after allegedly attacking Gavin Ludwick in the middle of the street in the 9600 block

An unlicensed bail agent accused of gunning down a knife-wielding fugitive in front of Palm Springs police officers made his initial court appearance today, but did not enter a plea. Fabian Hector Herrera, 36, was arrested Friday on suspicion of shooting 33-year-old David Spann at 1:50 a.m. that day at a residence in the 100

A Murrieta jury deadlocked today on attempted murder and assault with a gun charges in the trial of an admitted gang member accused in a 2017 Cathedral City bar shooting that left a man severely injured, though they convicted him of felony criminal street gang activity. Jurors deliberated nearly four days in the trial of

UPDATE: Fabian Herrera, 36, has been formally charged with murder in the killing of 33-year-old David Spann. The Riverside District Attorney announced the charges Wednesday. If convicted, Herrera could face 50 years to life in prison. The murder charge came with a sentencing enhancement alleging Herrera intentionally discharged a firearm and caused great bodily injury.

An hours-long standoff at a home in Coachella ended without an arrest after the suspect was not located. The standoff took place throughout Wednesday afternoon. Sheriff’s SWAT and patrol units surrounded a home on the 86000 block of Avenue 50 where they believe an armed wanted suspect is barricaded inside. Authorities said they have made

A woman from Arizona has been arrested and charged with murder in connection with the death of a 27-year-old found at an Indio motel last month. Carla Flores, 30, of Arizona was arrested on Monday in El Centro. Flores is accused in the death of Ashley Brito, 27, of Thousand Palms. Brito was found dead