A La Quinta man accused of stabbing a Riverside County sheriff’s deputy in a leg during a scuffle in Palm Desert must stand trial on several felony counts, including attempted murder on a peace officer, a judge ruled today. Christian Matthew Choi, 50, was arrested in March 2020 in the area of El Paseo and
Continue Reading
An Ontario man was arrested on suspicion of murder after an unprovoked attack on a family while he was high on mushrooms near Twentynine Palms, authorities announced on Wednesday. The incident was first reported on Tuesday just before 8:00 p.m. on the 3300 block of Bluegrass Avenue in Desert Heights, an unincorporated area of the
Continue Reading
An Oct. 15 trial date was confirmed today for a woman, her parolee father and a third defendant accused of murdering a 29-year-old man in a Cathedral City park four years ago. Rena Lizette Alaniz, 24, of Thousand Palms, Carlos Antonio Ruiz, 44, of La Quinta and Andres Moreno, 22, of Cathedral City are charged
Continue Reading
A 20-year-old Banning man was arrested on suspicion of sexually abusing a child. John Edward Lario was charged with oral copulation and sexual penetration of a child under 10 as well as lewd and lascivious acts with a child under 14. He is scheduled to be arraigned on Sept. 19 at the Banning Justice Center.
Continue Reading
A judge confirmed today the trial date for a probationer accused of gunning down the 24-year-old mother of his children in Desert Hot Springs. Jesse Rico Valenzuela, 32, of Desert Hot Springs, was charged with murder for allegedly killing Amina Duro in November 2020. He was also charged with two felony counts of being a
Continue Reading
Deputies are investigating a homicide after a 71-year-old man was found dead in a home in Yucca Valley over the weekend. The investigation started when deputies responded to a medical assistance call Friday at around 7:00 p.m. on the 55000 block of 29 Palms Highway. Deputies arrived and found the man dead inside the home.
Continue Reading
Three minors were stabbed following an assault involving a group of teenagers Friday night in Palm Desert. The incident was first reported at around 9:45 p.m. when the three victims were dropped off at the Hovley Soccer Park, located along Hovley Lane between Cook Street and Portola Avenue. The stabbings are believed to have happened
Continue Reading
A judge confirmed an upcoming trial date today for a 45-year-old man accused of shooting two Indio bar patrons during an altercation. Jose Gabino Ulloa of La Quinta was arrested last year following an Indio Police Department investigation. At the end of a preliminary hearing in April, Riverside County Superior Court Judge Anthony Villalobos
Continue Reading
Daniel Garcia, who has been found guilty twice for the 2008 murder of Palm Springs art dealer Clifford Lambert has cost Riverside County taxpayers approximately $661,000 since October 2021, according to the Riverside County Executive Office. Despite being found guilty twice, ongoing delays have been made in his sentencing. And that will continue this week,
Continue Reading
The man accused of starting the devasting Line Fire in San Bernardino County has been charged with nine felonies. Get Live Updates on the Line Fire Here Charges against Norco resident Justin Wayne Halstenberg, 34, include multiple counts of arson, including aggravated arson, great bodily injury to a firefighter, and possession of three separate incendiary
Continue Reading
Associated Press SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a bill Thursday bringing back tough criminal penalties targeting large-scale stealing schemes and smash-and-grab robberies that have fueled voter frustration across the state. The new law requires prosecutors to start imposing harsher sentences again for those who damage or destroy property valued at more
Continue Reading
A 22-year-old man who perpetrated multiple holdups in Moreno Valley and Cabazon admitted five counts of armed robbery and other charges prior to the start of his preliminary hearing. Wesley Denzale Hall of Moreno Valley pleaded guilty Tuesday to the robbery counts, as well as two counts of attempted robbery, under a plea agreement with
Continue Reading A Norco man was arrested on suspicion of starting the Line Fire, which has burned more than 34,000 acres as of Tuesday night in San Bernardino County. The suspect, Justin Wayne a 34-year-old, was arrested Tuesday evening in Norco, county jail records show. He initially being held on $80,000 bail at the Central Detention Center,
Continue Reading
The prosecution is slated to rest tomorrow in the trial of a parolee accused of fatally stabbing a convenience store customer during a confrontation in Indio. Vicente Angel Munoz, 32, of La Quinta is charged with murder, a sentence-enhancing allegation of using a deadly weapon in the commission of a felony and parole violations for
Continue Reading
A 23-year-old man pleaded guilty today to multiple charges for giving a fatal dose of fentanyl to his 17-year-old girlfriend in an unincorporated area near Desert Hot Springs two years ago. Michael Garcia entered guilty pleas at the Larson Justice Center in Indio to felony counts of willful child cruelty and giving a minor a
Continue Reading
A 34-year-old man suspected of stabbing a person in downtown Palm Springs Tuesday morning was arrested. The stabbing was reported at around 5:40 a.m. on the 400 block of E Arenas Road, near El Segundo. Police said a man called asking for help but was unable to provide specific details. “Upon arriving at the scene,
Continue Reading
A 31-year-old San Francisco man has been arrested for allegedly stealing and recklessly driving a ride-booking vehicle in Palm Springs. According to the Palm Springs Police Department, a customer used a ride-hailing service for “what they believed to be an intoxicated person” at approximately 4:17 p.m. Monday in downtown Palm Springs. The suspect, later identified
Continue Reading
A probationer accused of gunning down a Mecca man outside his home was acquitted today of first- and second-degree murder counts, and jurors were unable to reach a verdict on a voluntary man slaughtercharge. Gilbert Contreras Martinez Jr., 36, of Coachella, is accused in the 2018 death of 40-year-old Hugo Nunez. Jurors convicted him of
Continue Reading
Police released the photo of the vehicle of a man suspected of following and harassing a student walking to Desert Hot Springs High School Monday morning. The incident happened at around 9:00 a.m. in the area of Via Loreto and Pierson Boulevard. The student told authorities that she was walking to school when she noticed
Continue Reading
Investigations continued today into the origins of social media threats made against a high school campus, possibly in the Banning Unified School District. The online threats to perpetrate an act of violence were spotted late Saturday night and reported to the Banning Police Department, according to Lt. Brandon Smith. “The threat … (was) made against
Continue Reading