A gang member convicted in the killing of a 22-year-old Indio man more than eight years ago was sentenced to life in prison today, following previous life sentences for four co-defendants. Miguel Cavazos, 44, of Indio, was previously found guilty of first- degree murder in October. He was identified as a potential participant in the
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A former Riverside County Superior Court clerk who admitted mishandling privileged information connected to a criminal case had the charge reduced from a felony to a misdemeanor today. Thousand Palms residents Michelle Valdez, 59, and Angela Franz, 48, both pleaded guilty to a felony conspiracy-related count in a plea agreement with the Riverside County District
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Three people were arrested for allegedly soliciting prostitution in two separate raids in Temecula, authorities said today. On Nov. 6, deputies conducted an investigation of a business in the 31300 block of Temecula Parkway regarding alleged acts of prostitution, according to the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department. The sheriff’s CORE team coordinated with the Special Enforcement
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Authorities seized about $2.9 million worth of psilocybin mushrooms and a handful of firearms after serving a search warrant at a residence in Lake Elsinore, sheriff’s officials said. According to the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department, deputies responded to a call from a business regarding a suspicious package in August 2024. Authorities identified a 43-year-old man
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One person was taken to the hospital after suffering stab wounds Thursday morning in Mecca. The incident was first reported at around 7:49 a.m. on the 91000 block of 6th Street. According to the Riverside County Sheriff’s Office, deputies were called out to the area after a report of an assault with a deadly weapon.
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A 42-year-old man suspected of multiple window-smash burglaries throughout the Coachella Valley earlier this year pleaded guilty to almost half of the charges against him today. Charles Emmanuel Cobb of Indio entered guilty pleas Wednesday to eight felony counts each of burglary and vandalism at the Larson Justice Center in Indio, according to court records.
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A pair was arrested on suspicion of burglary in Twentynine Palms Friday night Authorities said a 60-year-old man and 45-year-old woman were arrested on the 82000 Block of Twentynine Palms Highway in Wonder Valley. Deputies were originally called for a domestic disturbance and found the pair burglary a victims home, according to the San Bernardino County
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A 46-year-old Indio man was sentenced to three years in prison today after pleading guilty to a burglary charge in connection with a break-in at a Palm Springs business. Duane Blunt entered a guilty plea on Friday to a felony count of burglary at the Larson Justice Center in Indio, according to case records. A
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A Thousand Palms man accused of stealing a purse in La Quinta and other similar thefts remains behind bars today after pleading guilty to a felony robbery charge. Eddie Ramirez, 40, was arrested in September 2022 on suspicion of robbery and multiple outstanding warrants, according to the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department. The defendant entered the
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A state grant is providing new security measures for local businesses targeted by retail theft. The State Budget Act of 2022 provided funding to California police and sheriff departments, probation departments to support law enforcement in preventing organized retail and motor vehicle theft. Now, Palm Spring businesses can cash in on the assistance by applying
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Update 11/21/24 The coroner’s office identified the man found dead as Zachary Sandoval Roberts, 31, of Coachella Original Report 11/19/24 The Riverside County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a homicide after the body of a man was found in a Coachella ranch Tuesday afternoon. The body was first reported to deputies at around 12:30 p.m. on
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A man who carried out a string of commercial burglaries in Rancho Mirage was sentenced to two years in prison after entering guilty pleas to multiple charges, authorities said today. Thousand Palms resident Kenneth Cook, 48, pleaded guilty to six felony counts of burglary Wednesday at the Larson Justice Center in Indio, according to case
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A 31-year-old Desert Hot Springs man was arrested on suspicion of sexually assaulting a minor in the High Desert, investigators announced on Thursday. According to the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department, on October 20, deputies began their investigation into unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor that occurred in Yucca Valley. Through the investigation, deputies determined
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More than four decades after it happened, the identity of the man who sexually assaulted and killed a 17-year-old Beaumont girl was confirmed through DNA evidence, authorities alleged today. Lewis Randolph “Randy” Williamson, now deceased, is believed to be the person responsible for the rape and murder of Esther Gonzalez in the winter of 1979,
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A 36-year-old Thermal man who repeatedly sexually molested a young girl over a period of years was convicted today of nearly a dozen felony charges. A Riverside jury deliberated just over a day before finding Alfonso Gonzalez Meraz guilty of four counts each of forcible lewd acts on a child and sexual assault of
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A Thermal man convicted of multiple charges after molesting a young girl several times and then trying to intimidate her and her mother into changing their stories to spare him from prosecution was sentenced to 10 years in prison today. Elit Barroso Miranda, 41, was previously found guilty of two counts of lewd acts on
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A person was found with gunshot wounds Tuesday morning in Indio, police confirmed. The person was spotted at around 10:45 a.m. on the 44400 block of Palm Street near Valencia Avenue, according to Ben Guitron, spokesperson for the Indio Police Department. The victim was rushed to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Guitron said they remain
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Opening statements were completed and testimony got underway 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, 25, of Thousand Palms, Carlos Antonio Ruiz, 45, of La Quinta, and Andres Moreno, 23, of Cathedral City are
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Longtime Desert Hot Springs Councilmember Russell Betts has been charged by the Riverside County District Attorney’s office. Betts has been charged with felony vandalism and misdemeanor false imprisonment, according to the criminal complaint, filed on Nov. 4. RIF2405660, Betts, Complaint_RedactedDownload According to an arrest declaration, the incident happened on the morning of Aug. 4 at
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A Riverside County Sheriff’s deputy was arrested on suspicion of distributing child pornography. Richard Anthony Rodriguez, 42, was arrested on November 6 in Menifee during a joint operation between the Montclair Police Department and the Riverside County District Attorney’s office, a detective sergeant with MPD confirmed. According to the sergeant, in September, police were notified
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