News

Felony Arrest for Possession of a Stolen Vehicle in Oakhurst

OAKHUST - On February 19, 2018, Madera County Sheriff’s Office received information from Colusa Police Department that a vehicle reported stolen from their jurisdiction was in the Oakhurst area. MCSO Deputies promptly began following leads to the location of the suspect, John Ruano. During the course of the investigation, deputies developed information that Ruano was going to drive the vehicle to a parking lot in Oakhurst.

When Ruano arrived driving the stolen vehicle, Sergeant Rob Blehm, Corporal Hernandez, Deputy Michael Murphy, Deputy Gerald Marin, Deputy Jose Villafan, and Deputy Eric Jackson with K9 partner Gaston were on scene and subsequently surrounded the vehicle. Ruano immediately surrendered and was taken into custody.

Craig Anthoney Fetty Guilty of 2016 Ahwahnee Murder

MADERA - Madera County District Attorney, David A. Linn, announced today that on Wednesday, February 21, 2018, in the Bass Lake Superior Court, Craig Anthony Fetty, 30, of Ahwahnee, was convicted following a jury trial, of one count of murder, one count of first degree burglary, and one count of first degree residential robbery. This is the seventh successful major trial conviction in a row for D.A. Linn’s office.

Fetty was arrested on October 22, 2016, after an investigation by the Madera County Sheriff’s Department into the beating and stabbing of Dennis Dolan. The victim was found unresponsive outside his residence on the 41000 block of Road 600 near Highway 49. The death appeared to be a homicide and detectives were called to the scene.

Madera Tractor Supply Store Supports Local School Garden

MADERA - The Madera Tractor Supply store is supporting Cesar Chaves Elementary School in developing a school garden that will provide students with an enriched, hands-on learning experience.

"The School Garden Program provides kids with an opportunity to use their hands and minds in a way that's not typically available in a traditional classroom setting," said James Weatherill, manager of the Madera Tractor Supply store. "We're hopeful that this garden will not only give students at Cesar Chaves Elementary School a better understanding of where their food comes from, but will also encourage them to continue exploring how the world around them works."

Gang Related 'Senseless Act' Leaves Madera Boy Dead and Father Hospitalized

MADERA – The Madera Police Department is reaching out to the community for information that will lead to the arrest of the individuals involved in a drive by shooting that claimed the life of a nine year old boy and put his father in a local hospital with nonlife-threatening wounds.

Nine year old Leonardo Morales was in a car with his father on Tozar Avenue near Olive Avenue in Madera Sunday night when an unidentified vehicle pulled alongside them and opened fire. Multiple rounds were fired into the victim’s car by the suspect striking the father and son several times.

Stockton Man Pleads Guilty To Sex Trafficking Of A Child

SACRAMENTO - Ricky Lee Richardson, Jr., 41, of Stockton, pleaded guilty today to sex trafficking of a child, United States Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced. According to court documents, in November 2011, Richardson recruited a minor victim to engage in prostitution. Between December 2011 and March 2012, Richardson caused the then 16-year-old victim to engage in prostitution in Stockton and elsewhere in Northern California.

Richardson arranged for photos to be taken of the victim and he posted prostitution advertisements on the internet that contained nude photos of the victim. Richardson drove the victim to motels and gave her false identification cards that she used to rent rooms for the prostitution activity. Richardson took the money that the victim obtained from that activity.

Phone Scammers Using Fake Sheriff’s Office Hotline to Target Citizens for Cash

FRESNO COUNTY - The Fresno County Sheriff’s Office wants to make the public aware of an ongoing scam. We are continuously receiving multiple reports of a person making random phone calls to citizens where he identifies himself as a deputy with the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office or officer with the Fresno Police Department. The incoming number on the citizen’s caller ID may even say Fresno County Sheriff’s Office, but it is not one of our official phone lines. The caller actually spoofs the ID in order to entice the citizen to take the phone call.

In these documented cases, the scammer claims the citizen has failed to report for jury duty so a warrant has been issued for their arrest. The fake deputy / officer tells his target they must pay a certain amount of money in fines to avoid being arrested and taken to jail. In order to pay the fines, the person needs to call a local number that the scammer gives them.

International Agri-Center Kicks Off World Ag Expo w/Photo Gallery

TULARE - International Agri-Center® to hold its 51^st World Ag Expo® farm show kicked off Monday for its three day run . The largest annual agricultural exposition of its kind, World Ag Expo® boasts more than 1,500 exhibitors displaying cutting-edge agricultural technology and equipment on 2.6 million square feet of exhibit space. Over 100,000 people across the country and 71 countries are expected to attend the 51st annual World Ag Expo®.

During it’s three day run, the World Ag Expo® Arena will once again offer daily Equipment Showcases, where exhibitors will perform live demonstrations of their latest products. Seminars will be offered in a variety of categories, including dairy, irrigation, international trade, business and farm management, marketing and media, and general agriculture. These seminars are presented by professionals in the industry and provide attendees with valuable information to improve their operations.