Local News

Woman Faces State Prison for Double Fatal DUI Collision

MADERA - On September 7, 2018, at approximately 10:43 a.m., Sasha Marie Watson was driving a vehicle with passengers including her mother, Heidi Lynn Vanzeyl, and two minor children. While driving westbound on SR-145, the defendant drove into the oncoming lane of traffic to pass another vehicle.

She attempted to pass a second vehicle while remaining in the oncoming lane of traffic as the center dividing line changed to a double-yellow line. As the defendant crested the top of a hill, she collided with a vehicle being properly driven eastbound by Karrie Lynn Petersen. Ms. Petersen and Ms. Vanzeyl were killed in the crash. The two minor passengers and the defendant were all injured by the crash.

Amy Chavoya Convicted of Murder & Torture

MADERA - A Madera County jury convicted Amy Chavoya last week of first degree murder of her adopted daughter, Mariah, as well as torture of Mariah and her brother Christopher. She faces life in the state prison as a result of her convictions.

The defendant was charged with five counts: first degree murder of Mariah, torture of Mariah, torture of her brother Christopher, as well as two counts of felony child abuse. The abuse and torture of Christopher occurred between July 1, 2010 and March 25, 2015. The abuse and torture of Mariah occurred between July 1, 2010 and October 10, 2014, the day that the defendant murdered her.

Local Assemblyman Introduces Legislation to Strengthen California’s Firefighting Mutual Aid System

SACRAMENTO - Assemblymember Adam C. Gray (D-Merced) has introduced Assembly Bill 3198 to establish a grant program for local fire departments participating in California’s firefighting mutual aid system.

For nearly seven decades, fire departments have been part of a “neighbor helping neighbor” system of mutual aid. Under the California Fire Service and Rescue Emergency Mutual Aid System, local jurisdictions experiencing an emergency incident likely to exceed, or have exceeded, their ability to control it may request the outside assistance of other jurisdictions.

Mexican National Pleads Guilty to Drug Conspiracy in Madera

FRESNO - Francisco Alcantar-Miranda, aka Paquin, 31, of Mexico, pleaded guilty today to conspiring to manufacture, to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine, cocaine, heroin, and marijuana, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced. According to the plea agreement, Alcantar assisted in manufacturing methamphetamine and storing large quantities of other drugs at an unoccupied house in Madera.

At the end of Jan. 2019, detectives executed a search warrant at the house and found Alcantar with co‑defendants Oscar Rene Marrot-Garcia, 27, of Chowchilla, and Jose Monge-Ponce, 31, of Mexico. The detectives also found over 10 pounds of methamphetamine, 1 pound of heroin, 1 pound of cocaine, and 25 pounds of marijuana. As part of the plea agreement, Alcantar will forfeit a handgun and approximately $18,000 in cash, which was found during the search of the house.

Sailor from Lemoore Charged with Child Sexual Exploitation Offenses

FRESNO - A federal grand jury returned a two-count indictment today against Christopher Jeorge Millican, 26, of Lemoore, charging him with one count of sexual exploitation of children and one count of receipt of child pornography, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced.

According to court documents, on July 27, 2018, a parent contacted Snapchat and reported that someone, later identified as Millican, had been “flirting” with an 11-year-old girl and soliciting pictures of and location information for the child. Snapchat reviewed Millican’s account and discovered that he had been soliciting several minors for sexually explicit content.