Crime

A jury was seated today and testimony got underway in the trial of a 28-year-old Coachella Valley man accused of fatally stabbing his girlfriend during a frenzied attack possibly stemming from drug use. Christian Alejandro Pacheco is charged with murder, arson, assault with a deadly weapon, animal cruelty and a sentence-enhancing allegation of using a

A 34-year-old woman who fatally struck a bicyclist in Desert Hot Springs and fled the scene pleaded guilty and was remanded to 180 days in custody and sentenced to two years probation. Yesenia Bibriesca pleaded guilty at the Larson Justice Center in Indio Monday to one felony count of hit-and-run causing death, according to court

A 38-year-old man was behind bars today on suspicion of having approximately 900 feet of stolen cable for its copper wire, authorities said. The Desert Hot Springs resident was arrested Monday on suspicion of being in possession of stolen property, according to deputy Michael Shacklett of the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department. Shacklett said that deputies

A 22-year-old man accused of gunning down two people and seriously wounding a third person in Banning pleaded not guilty today to two counts of first-degree murder and other charges. Dorian Alexander Francisco of Banning was arrested in December following the alleged attack in the 3300 block of Ramsey Street, just west of Sunset Avenue.

A 20-year-old man is recovering in the hospital after being shot over the weekend in Cathedral City, police confirmed on Monday. The shooting was reported on Saturday, March 18 at around 11:30 p.m. in the 33300 block of Pueblo Trail. Police told News Channel 3 officers located the victim with a gunshot wound to the

A Highland man suspected in multiple grand theft incidents from two businesses in La Quinta pleaded not guilty to felony charges today. Huy Nhat Pham, 34, was charged with two felony counts each of burglary and of grand theft over $950, as well as one misdemeanor count each of being in possession of drug paraphernalia,

A Whitewater man who threatened to kill his ex-girlfriend and led law enforcement officers on a chase along Interstate 10, leveling a handgun at his pursuers, was bound for state prison today to serve a seven-year, four-month sentence.    Jairo Santiago Chaides, 37, pleaded guilty Thursday to exhibiting a firearm at a peace officer, being

A 23-year-old man suspected of possessing cocaine, hallucinogens and a short-barrel AR-15 rifle in Desert Hot Springs pleaded not guilty to felony charges today. Arthur Eugene Uribe Jr. of Desert Hot Springs was charged with one felony count each of being in possession of controlled substances while armed, possessing a short-barreled rifle, and two counts

An Indio man was accused of trying to carjack two victims in Cabazon Wednesday. In one incident, investigators said he took off with a victim’s vehicle, which was later located. Investigators with the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department said the initial incident was reported Wednesday around 5:00 a.m. Authorities said the suspect, Kegan Matthew Nelson, 28,

A 35-year-old convicted felon suspected of shooting at an occupied vehicle in Mecca pleaded not guilty to felony charges today. Joseph Marco Federico Jr. of Mecca was charged with two felony counts of assault with a semi-automatic firearm and one felony count each of being a convicted felon and narcotic addict in possession of a

A 34-year-old felon was behind bars today for allegedly committing an armed robbery at a marijuana dispensary in Coachella earlier this year. The Cathedral City resident was arrested Tuesday afternoon on suspicion of robbery, assault with a deadly weapon, possession of a short-barreled shotgun, being a felon in possession of ammunition, and being in possession

A 35-year-old man was behind bars today on suspicion of attempted murder for allegedly shooting at an occupied vehicle in Mecca earlier this month. The Mecca resident was arrested Tuesday evening, also on suspicion being a felon in possession of a loaded firearm, according to Sgt. David Aldrich of the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department.   

A 64-year-old woman who was fatally struck, allegedly by a Palm Desert High School teacher and football coach, was identified today. The Riverside County coroner’s office identified her as Nancy Valdes of Palm Desert. The crash was reported at 6:09 p.m. March 4 at Calliandra Street and Alamo Drive, according to the Riverside County Fire

A Coachella man accused of threatening to bomb the 2021 Desert X art exhibition had his case dismissed today after completing his misdemeanor diversion program. Phillip Matthew Carrillo, 33, was charged with one misdemeanor count of falsely reporting a bomb, according to court records.    “The court granted misdemeanor diversion back in September, over the

Jury selection began today for the trial of a 28-year-old Coachella Valley man accused of fatally stabbing his girlfriend during a frenzied attack possibly stemming from drug use, dumping her remains in a Thermal cemetery, then setting her residence ablaze.   Christian Alejandro Pacheco is charged with murder, arson, assault with a deadly weapon, animal cruelty