Local News

Bicyclist Beaten and Robbed; Public’s Help Needed to Solve Case

FRESNO - Just before 6:30 am on Sunday, April, 15th, a man in his early 60s was riding his bicycle north along Friant Road. Shortly after passing Sumner Peck Ranch Winery, the man noticed a light-colored, older model compact SUV on the shoulder of the road with its hood up and rear hatch open. Two man were standing near the vehicle.

As the bicyclist attempted to pass by, one of the men rushed toward him. He later woke up to medical personnel and citizens helping treat his injuries, which included a wound to his head, a fractured arm and collarbone. The man’s bike and wallet were gone, which held his badge identifying him as a retired officer with the California Highway Patrol. The man was taken to the hospital and is currently listed in stable condition. There is no information to show that this rider was specifically targeted.

Madera "Man" Arrested After Assaulting School Prinicpal

MADERA – Madera Police officer’s responded to Cesar Chavez Elementary School Thursday regarding a battery on a school official. The altercation occurred when a parent, identified by police as Gregory Smith (27), was escorting his child across campus. The school's principal was trying to bring Smith and the student to the school's office to talk when she was assaulted.

After the incident, Smith left school grounds. Madera Police attempted to contact Smith at an apartment complex on Wood Street in Madera and observed him leaving in a vehicle. Officers initiated a traffic stop on the vehicle just outside the complex.

Rocklin Man Sentenced for Mortgage Fraud Scheme

SACRAMENTO - Aleksandr Kovalev, 54, of Rocklin, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Morrison C. England Jr. to three years and 10 months in prison for wire fraud involving financial institutions, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced. According to court documents, Kovalev was in the business of developing, building and selling real property in Sacramento, Fairfield, and Stockton.

As the real estate market began to weaken, Kovalev offered to make incentive payments to purchasers, through “down payment assistance” or by making other payments to the buyers to be used in whatever manner the buyers wanted. Most of the payments to the buyers were out of escrow and were often paid through intermediaries, originating in Kovalev’s bank account.

Chico Man Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison for Filming his Sexual Abuse of a Child

SACRAMENTO - Nathan Alexander Drury, 39, of Chico, was sentenced today by Senior U.S. District Judge Garland E. Burrell Jr. to 15 years in prison for production of child pornography, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced. According to court documents, between January 1, 2012, and December 1, 2014, Drury filmed images of a child engaged in sexually explicit conduct, including a 47-second video of a nude child who was under the age of 12. That video that Drury produced shows Drury sexually abusing the child.

“Homeland Security Investigations will do whatever it takes to investigate these people who are a scourge to society and prey on innocent children,” said Ryan L. Spradlin, Special Agent in Charge for HSI in Northern California and Northern Nevada. “This type of crime is way too prevalent; but let this serve as a warning for any of those engaged in this illicit and egregious activity – the investigators of the federal government will hold you responsible for your actions.”

Manfredi Report on Water Rates Released to Madera City Council

MADERA - The following is provided to complement and offer additional background regarding the Saturday, April 7, 2018 headline of the Madera Tribune: “Water rates should stay high (Manfredi says years of low rates have created problems)”. Because I understand that sometimes deadlines and limited space constrains the press from providing extensive reporting on complex matter, I am providing addition details included in my Wednesday, April 4th City Council presentation.

Because the impetus for my review was partially initiated as the result of criticism of City of Madera’s Water Rates and related complaints that total Management & Administrative Overhead “Cost Allocation” to Enterprise Funds such as Water Rates were excessive, my review focused on the actual categories or “cost centers” that constitute the City’s Total Water Services Cost Expenditures.