Crime

The defense rested today in the trial of an unlicensed driver accused of killing a Tour de Palm Springs bicyclist and severely injuring another when he lost control of his car while high on drugs, speeding to get around the competitors in Indio Hills.    Ronnie Ramon Huerta Jr., 26, of Desert Hot Springs, is

The prosecution rested today in the trial of an unlicensed driver accused of killing a Tour de Palm Springs bicyclist and severely injuring another when he lost control of his car while high on drugs, speeding to get around the competitors in Indio Hills.   Ronnie Ramon Huerta Jr., 26, of Desert Hot Springs, is charged

A 48-year-old former U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent from Riverside who sexually assaulted two women was sentenced today to life in federal prison. John Jacob Olivas was convicted in December of three counts of deprivation of rights under color of law. During a hearing at U.S. District Court in Riverside Monday, Judge Jesus Bernal

A 28-year-old Coachella Valley man who fatally stabbed his girlfriend during a frenzied attack was sane at the time of the crime, a jury ruled today, setting the stage for his sentencing next month. The same Riverside jury that convicted Christian Alejandro Pacheco of the murder of 30-year-old Elilia Valdez Garcia of Thermal deliberated just

A 37-year-old woman suspected of fatally shooting her husband in their Coachella home must stand trial on murder and other charges, a judge ruled today. Cindy Gicela Parra of Coachella was charged with one felony count each of murder, assault with a deadly weapon to cause great bodily harm and inflicting corporal injury on a

Felony charges were filed today against a 31-year-old felon suspected of firing a gunshot inside a Desert Hot Springs home and having an explosive device. Sean Daniel Bejarano of Desert Hot Springs faces one felony count each of attempted murder, assault with an assault weapon, being a convicted felon and narcotic addict in possession of

A 25-year-old woman who drove under the influence and assaulted an officer in Palm Springs pleaded guilty to misdemeanor charges today and was immediately sentenced to just under five years of probation.    Melinda Leigh Haley of Desert Hot Springs pleaded guilty Wednesday to three misdemeanor counts of assault against an officer and one misdemeanor

A person was robbed at gunpoint at the Flying J Travel Center in Thousand Palms Tuesday afternoon. Authorities said the victim was then forced to drive the suspects to Desert Hot Springs, where they stole more property. The incident was reported at 12:24 p.m. A spokesperson for the Riverside County Sheriff’s Dept. said deputies were

A jury was seated today in the trial of an unlicensed driver accused of killing a Tour de Palm Springs bicyclist and severely injuring another when he lost control of his car while high on drugs, speeding to get around the competitors in Indio Hills.   Ronnie Ramon Huerta Jr., 26, of Desert Hot Springs, is

A 22-year-old felon convicted in Riverside County was killed at Soledad State Prison in Salinas, state officials said today.    Jaime Brugada was fatally assaulted sometime between 9 p.m. and 10 p.m. Tuesday at the medium-security all-male facility, according to the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. The agency said in a statement that Brugada

A 33-year-old man suspected of breaking into a woman’s apartment in Palm Springs to sexually assault her pleaded not guilty to six felony charges today.   Fernando Javier Hernandez of Coachella was charged with one felony count each of assault with intent to commit rape, attempted rape by force or fear, assault on a person causing