Local News

United States Reaches $900,000 Settlement for Damages Caused by Forest Fire in Kern County

FRESNO - Southern California Edison has paid $900,000 to resolve the United States’ claim for damages resulting from a 2014 wildfire that burned more than 4,392 acres, including Forest Service lands in Kern County, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced today.

The fire, known as the “Way Fire,” ignited on August 18, 2014, in the community of Wofford Heights in Kern County. The United States alleges that the fire ignited when, as a result of SoCal Edison’s negligence, an insulator broke free from its pin on the cross arm of a SoCal Edison power pole, allowing the conductor to come into contact with another conductor.

Five Defendants Plead Guilty to Conspiracy to Rob Chase Bank in Modesto

FRESNO - Robert Zavala Jr., 24, and Moises Garcia DeLeon, 27, both of Soledad, pleaded guilty today to conspiracy to commit armed bank robbery, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced.

On Nov. 16, 2018, six Monterey County men were arrested as they were preparing to rob a bank in Modesto. Zavala and Garcia DeLeon are the fourth and fifth defendants to plead guilty to in this case. Soledad residents Victor Bravo, 24; Enrique Lopez, 28; and Cesar Lemus, 21, all previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit armed bank robbery. Charges are pending against co‑defendant Jesus Robledo.

Income Tax Preparer Pleads Guilty to Preparing and Filing False Tax Returns

FRESNO - Chris Donell Smith, 56, of Stockton, pleaded guilty today to aiding and assisting in the preparation of false tax returns, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced.

According to court documents, Smith owned and operated New Covenant Tax & Accounting, a tax preparation business in Modesto. Between 2012 and 2015, Smith prepared income tax returns that reported false items and dollar amounts for a number of his clients without their knowledge or consent. He falsified charitable contributions, unreimbursed employee expenses, and capital losses and wage income on some of his clients’ tax returns.

Chevron Powers Innovation with $450,000 Gift to Fresno State STEM

FRESNO - Thanks to generous support from Chevron, several Fresno State programs will benefit, improving STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) education for current and future students.

“Chevron is proud to continue our support of Fresno State in these endeavors, which benefit not only students but the entire community and region,” said Megan Lopez, Chevron’s public affairs representative. “We are committed to raising the quality of life for underserved students from Fresno-area communities.”

Kern Valley State Prison Officials Investigating Inmate Death as a Homicide

DELANO ― Kern Valley State Prison (KVSP) officials are investigating the death of Noah Rutherford, 50, as a homicide after he died from injuries he sustained on November 29, 2019, attack by his cellmate in KVSP’s Short-Term Restricted Housing Unit. He was transported to an outside hospital on that day and succumbed to his injuries on Feb. 2 at 7:10 p.m.

Rutherford was admitted from Los Angeles County on Jan. 4, 2018, to serve a 30-year sentence for 18 counts of lewd or lascivious acts with a minor under 14 with force/violence/fear.