Crime

A 2025 trial date was confirmed today for a 32-year-old man accused in a fatal shooting in Cathedral City. Along with a murder charge, Jose Ernesto Martinez of Desert Hot Springs is facing sentence-enhancing allegations including discharging a firearm causing great bodily injury and using a weapon in commission of a crime. Martinez’s trial was

One of two former Riverside County Superior Court clerks indicted for mishandling privileged information connected to a criminal case pleaded guilty today to conspiracy to commit a crime. Michelle Valdez, 59, of Thousand Palms admitted the felony count in a plea agreement with the Riverside County District Attorney’s Office. No charges were dismissed. The admission

A suspect accused of taking part in a robbery with five others at a Palm Desert business last year pleaded guilty to multiple charges today. Mason Barron, 22 — a Southern Californian, whose city of residence was not provided — entered guilty pleas to four felony counts of robbery, two felony counts of burglary, and

A woman suspected along with a man and two juveniles of robbing a jewelry store at the Palm Desert mall was convicted today, while the man was found not guilty of the same charge. Cleopatra Tredai Jones, 26, of Los Angeles was found guilty of a felony count of robbery Friday at the Larson Justice

A Thermal man accused of molesting a young girl several times and then trying to intimidate her and her mother into changing their stories to spare him from criminal prosecution was convicted of multiple charges today. Elit Barroso Miranda, 41, was found guilty of two counts of lewd acts on a child, 11 counts of violating

A 44-year-old man suspected of fatally shooting a man in Desert Hot Springs must stand trial for murder, a judge ruled today.    In addition to murder, case records indicated that Oscar Ernesto Canas was also held to answer for a felony count of assault with a gun on Thursday at the Larson Justice Center

The last of four suspects in a stabbing at a Desert Hot Springs hotel more than three years ago was sentenced today after pleading guilty to multiple charges. Jaime Eduardo Reynaga, 39, entered guilty pleas to felony counts of assault causing great bodily injury and first-degree burglary in July.    John Hall of the Riverside

A 36-year-old man was convicted of murder and attempted murder after stabbing his family members, one fatally, following a dispute in Indio. Anthony William Piña-German of Indio was convicted of second-degree murder, the District Attorney’s Office confirmed. He was also found guilty of one count of attempted murder with premeditation and deliberation and the use

A gang member was convicted today for the killing of a 22-year-old Indio man more than eight years ago, following previous convictions for four co-defendants. Miguel Cavazos, 44, of Indio, was found guilty of first-degree murder. He was identified as a potential participant in the killing of Adrian Valdez following an Indio police investigation that

A judge ruled that a 19-year-old Indio resident suspected of fatally shooting a man in an apartment in his hometown must stand trial for murder. Jacob Matthew Alvin Vargas was also held to answer on Tuesday for one felony count each of burglary and being a convicted felon and narcotic addict in possession of a

Jury selection was scheduled to begin today in the trial of a 36-year-old man suspected of stabbing three of his family members, one fatally, following a dispute in Indio. In addition to a murder charge, Anthony William Piña-German of Indio was charged in November 2022 with two felony counts of attempted murder, according to case