Crime

A 27-year-old man suspected of sexually assaulting a woman in Rancho Mirage pleaded not guilty today to felony charges and authorities sought the public’s help regarding other possible victims of the defendant. Reginald Demond Macon Jr. of Indio was charged with one felony count each of rape by force or fear, oral copulation by use

A 36-year-old man suspected of driving under the influence and causing a fatal crash was charged today with felony charges including murder. Alexander Frank Ortega was also charged with one felony count each of driving under the influence of alcohol causing bodily injury and driving under the influence of alcohol .08% or more causing bodily

A 39-year-old man who broke into his neighbor’s home in Palm Desert was sentenced today to two years of formal probation.    Stephen Eric Cunningham of Palm Desert was convicted Nov. 8 of one felony count each of possession of an assault weapon, possession of a firearm, and vandalism, according to court records. He was

A two-month investigation into drug smuggling throughout the Riverside County correctional system netted nine arrests, with the majority of the suspects in custody today. According to the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department, the probe was initiated in October to ferret out sources of the fentanyl, heroin and methamphetamine being funneled into the county’s five jails.   Sgt.

A 59-year-old man was killed in a two-vehicle collision in Desert Hot Springs, and the man who allegedly drove through a red light and crashed into the victim was arrested, police said today.   The suspect, a 38-year-old man from Arcata, was arrested on suspicion of gross vehicular manslaughter, according to the Desert Hot Springs Police

A 34-year-old man suspected of stabbing three of his family members, one fatally, following a dispute in Indio, must stand trial on murder, a judge ruled today. In addition to the murder charge, Anthony William Piña-German of Indio is charged with two felony counts of attempted murder, according to court records. He also faces sentence-enhancing

A 27-year-old woman who hit a DUI signboard at a checkpoint in Palm Springs while driving under the influence pleaded guilty today to misdemeanor charges and was immediately sentenced to three years probation.   Clarissa Hernandez of Texas was arrested shortly after midnight on Aug. 11 at the intersection of East Tahquitz Canyon Way and North

A U.S. citizen was arrested after border patrol agents found $370,000 worth of cocaine in a vehicle at the Highway 86 checkpoint. The U.S. Customs and Border Protection said the arrest happened on Dec. 9. A black sedan approached the primary inspection area of the checkpoint. “Agents’ suspicions were raised during the inspection and the

Felony charges were filed today against two women and a man suspected of being involved in retail thefts in Riverside County, including a recent one at a La Quinta business, from which $2300 of merchandise was stolen. Khamyra Smith, 19, of Moreno Valley and 18-year-olds Derrick Yanders of Fontana and Chynae Welch of Eastvale were

A La Quinta man was convicted today of attacking several people with rocks, including two sheriff’s deputies, one of whom shot him.    Christopher Curci, 28, was found guilty of two felony counts each of assault with a deadly weapon to cause great bodily injury, assault with a deadly weapon on an officer, and burglary,

A 27-year-old man convicted in connection with the 2020 fatal shooting of a father of four in Cathedral City was sentenced today to 15 years to life in prison. Jose Sanchez-Casas was found guilty Oct. 18 of one felony count each of murder and shooting at a dwelling, according to court records. He was also

A 53-year-old woman who allegedly refused to drop a knife when confronted by law enforcement in Palm Desert, prompting a deputy to shoot her, pleaded not guilty today on felony charges. Kelly Lynette Cronn of Palm Desert was charged with two felony counts of assault with a deadly weapon on a peace officer, according to

Jury deliberations began today in the trial of a La Quinta man suspected of attacking several people with rocks, including two sheriff’s deputies, one of whom shot him. Christopher Curci, 28, is charged with three counts each of attempted murder and assault with a deadly weapon likely to cause great bodily injury, two counts each