In continuing coverage, the death of former local Assemblymember Brian Nestande was back in the headlines on Tuesday. News Channel 3 is confirming with the Riverside County Sheriff’s Office that all fentanyl deaths are investigated as a homicide. As we reported back in May 2024, an autopsy report confirms the former state assembly member died of
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INDIO, Calif. (KESQ) – A Palm Desert man was sentenced to prison for supplying a lethal dose of fentanyl to a 30-year-old man in 2022. Gregory Michael Gauto, 39, was convicted of voluntary manslaughter Thursday and immediately sentenced to six years, The case dates back to Sept. 26, 2022, when deputies responded to a report
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SANTA ANA, Calif. (KESQ) – Fentanyl-related deaths saw a five-year low in Orange County, authorities said today. There were 407 fentanyl-related deaths in the county last year, down from 613 in 2023. Sheriff’s officials say the trend is continuing this year so far. According to the Orange County Health Care Agency, there were 20
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MURRIETA (CNS) – A 21-year-old man accused of providing a fatal dose of fentanyl to a Murrieta resident will be tried in federal court, instead of state court, after he was indicted for the offenses by a federal grand jury, prosecutors confirmed today. Miguel Angel Gonzalez was arrested last year following an investigation by the
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RIVERSIDE, Calif. (KESQ) – A convicted drug dealer who supplied a deadly dose of fentanyl to a 30-year-old Temecula man was convicted today of murder. It is the second fentanyl-related murder conviction in Riverside County. After deliberating less than a day, a Riverside jury on Wednesday found Quinn Aaron McKellips, 39, of Winchester guilty in
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COACHELLA VALLEY, Calif. (KESQ) – A tragic case in Desert Hot Springs is shining a spotlight on the growing danger of fentanyl — not just for users, but for the most vulnerable: children. An I-Team investigation has uncovered two separate cases in the last two years where children under the age of four died from
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SAN DIEGO, Calif. (KESQ) – The U.S. Border Patrol San Diego Sector today announced an increase in drug smuggling attempts using car batteries. Over the past couple months, border officers have intercepted multiple loads of drugs concealed under the hood of vehicles inside the battery, according to the agency. “As we continue to gain
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By Rob McMillan Click here for updates on this story RANCHO CUCAMONGA, California (KABC) — A Rancho Cucamonga woman is fighting for justice after her 10-year-old son Nathanial died from exposure to fentanyl. Not only does Marcy Castro think the person who did it should be charged with murder, but she’s advocating for tougher punishments
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SAN DIEGO, Calif. (KESQ) – An indictment was unsealed today charging multiple alleged leaders of the Sinaloa Cartel with narco-terrorism and material support of terrorism, in what was described as the first indictment returned in the nation levying terrorism charges against the cartel’s leadership. The indictment follows an executive order issued by President Donald Trump
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THERMAL, Calif. (KESQ) – Two adults were transported to the hospital after being exposed to what was originally believed to be fentanyl, but later determined not to be, at Desert Mirage High School, authorities said. The incident was reported just after 1 p.m. The Riverside County Sheriff’s Office was called to assist CAL FIRE, who
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It’s a deadly crisis gripping communities across the nation, and the Coachella Valley is no exception. Tuesday is National Fentanyl Awareness Day, and the DEA is teaming up with local agencies to raise awareness about the dangers of fentanyl and the staggering impact it’s having on families. Fentanyl is now considered the greatest drug threat
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PALM DESERT, Calif. (KESQ) – As festival season kicks off, College of the Desert is stepping up efforts to prevent overdose deaths by providing free safety kits equipped with Narcan and Fentanyl test strips to students. The initiative started earlier this year. Carlos Maldonado, Interim Dean of Students Support Services, said the goal is simple:
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LOS ANGELES, Calif. (KESQ) – In a move to combat substance use, the City Council today called for a new pilot program for the distribution of naloxone, an opioid reversal medication, in South Los Angeles neighborhoods. In a 10-0 vote, council members instructed the chief legislative analyst to report on the resources such a
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BOISE, Idaho (KESQ) – A Riverside County man convicted of a fentanyl overdose death in Idaho was sentenced to 13 years in federal prison, authorities announced. Brian Arthur Goodale, 56, of Lake Elsinore pled guilty to distributing fentanyl. In addition to his prison sentence, he was ordered to pay restitution to the family of the
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At least one child tested positive for fentanyl after ingesting “mystery” pills found in a classroom at a Victorville childcare facility. The incident happened Tuesday at the La Petite Academy. “La Petite staff located/collected the pills and immediately notified law enforcement. The responding deputy recognized the blue pills with “M30” imprinted on them as possible
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A Rancho Cucamonga woman was arrested after a 10-year-old child died from fentanyl and xylazine toxicity, authorities said. The incident happened in December 2024 in Rancho Cucamonga. According to the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department, deputies responded to a 911 call regarding an unresponsive, 10-year-old child. Despite life-saving efforts, the child was later pronounced dead.
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MORENO VALLEY, Calif. (KESQ) – The Riverside County Sheriff’s Office is continuing the crackdown on illegal drugs, including fentanyl, from entering the county’s jail system. In December 2024, the Riverside County Sheriff’s Office, Gang Intelligence Unit and Corrections Central Investigations Unit opened an investigation into inmates and members of the public smuggling narcotics into the
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NOTE in this same story on Wednesday, there was no mention of an objection from the District Attorney’s Office because confirmation of last week’s proceedings by the agency DID NOT include any reference to an objection on the record. The D.A.’s office, however, NOW SAYS the prosecution did in fact make one. The story below
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A former active-duty lance corporal in the U.S. Marine Corps pleaded guilty today in downtown Los Angeles to a felony drug offense for his actions involving a 2020 fentanyl transaction that resulted in the death of another U.S. Marine. Anthony Ruben Whisenant, 24, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court to the use of a
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A 42-year-old Palm Desert woman accused of selling fentanyl that led to a man’s death must stand trial on a felony count of murder, a judge ruled Wednesday. Tiffany Wright is due back in court on Feb. 5. Wright was arrested on May 3, 2022 by personnel from the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department’s Overdose
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