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Crime

RivCo man accused of killing girlfriend in 2001 then fleeing to Mexico arraigned on murder charges

A convicted domestic abuser who allegedly killed his live-in girlfriend more than 20 years ago and then fled to Mexico, where he was apprehended earlier this year and returned to the United States, pleaded not guilty today to murder and other charges.   Lorenzo Castellanos, 72, is accused of fatally stabbing Maria Robles in 2001. Along

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Hestrin, Bianco, and other law enforcement officials to call for changes in state law for public safety

Riverside County District Attorney Mike Hestrin, Sheriff Chad Bianco and other law enforcement officials will gather tomorrow to call for changes in state law to bolster public safety, mainly by undoing the effects of a decade-old legislative act that shifted many former state responsibilities onto counties. The officials will specifically address ongoing impacts of Assembly

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Courting Injustice: Why are so many local court cases being dismissed?

Since October, more than 1,700 court cases have been dismissed in Riverside County. These dismissals include cases involving child sexual assault, attempted murder, DUIs, and domestic violence. This is due to a backlog caused by the pandemic. Riverside Superior Court officials cited a lack of available judicial resources and courtroom space as they reinstated defendants’

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Man gets 11 years in prison For DUI hit-and-run that killed ex-local high school athlete

A 43-year-old man who killed a 23-year-old former high school and college football player in a hit-and-run crash in Desert Hot Springs has pleaded guilty to DUI gross vehicular manslaughter and was sentenced to 11 years in state prison. Jose Roberto Tafoya-Flores pleaded guilty Tuesday at the Larson Justice Center in Indio to one felony

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