News

Pedro Montoyaof of Madera Convicted of Sexual Abuse of Children

MADERA – Madera County District Attorney, David A. Linn, announced that Pedro Montoya, of Madera, was convicted by a Madera Superior Court jury on June 29, 2017, of five counts of sexual abuse against children, along with the finding of “true” that the defendant committed the acts against multiple victims.

District Attorney Linn commended the Madera Police Department (Detective Brent Cederquist) for their thorough investigation of this case. Linn also commended the young victims who bravely disclosed the abuse that they suffered; and expressed thanks to the Victim’s Services / Community Action Partnership Advocates who supported the children throughout the court process. The case was tried by Senior Deputy District Attorney, Traci Wise.

Todd Lile Named the Superintendent for Madera Unified School District

MADERA - Interim Superintendent Todd Lile has been named the Superintendent of Madera Unified School District. Mr. Lile was Interim Superintendent for four months before being officially named the new Superintendent. Superintendent Lile is the first Superintendent of the district to be a Madera native.

Superintendent Lile attended elementary, middle and high school in Madera Unified. Upon graduation from Madera Unified in 1992, Mr. Lile was admitted to California State University, Fresno where he graduated in 1996 with a Bachelor's in History.

Madera Woman Found Dead in West-side Apartment Complex

MADERA - Early Monday morning the Madera Police Department received a call of possible shots fired and a female down at the apartments located at 701 N. Granada in the City of Madera.

When officers arrived at the scene, they located one victim identified as 37 yr. old Latisha Logan, who was suffering from an apparent gun shot. Paramedics arrived and the victim was pronounced deceased at the scene.

Sheriff's Investigate Death in County Jail

FRESNO - On the night of June 24th, Fresno County Sheriff’s correctional officers were performing routine checks of inmates in the jail when they noticed a man who was unresponsive inside his cell.

Officers entered the cell and immediately requested medical attention for 21 year old Augustin Angel Chavez. He was transported to Community Regional Medical Center where he later died.

Madera Unified wins a $1.7 Million Grant for the California Learning Communities for School Success Program

MADERA - Madera Unified School District won a $1.7 Million grant for the California Learning Communities for School Success Program (LCSSP). The grant will be used throughout the next three years, 2017-2020, to help improve student outcomes. The California Learning Communities for School Success Program (LCSSP) provides funds to local education agencies to support programs aimed at improving student outcomes by reducing truancy and supporting students who are at risk of dropping out of school or are victims of crime.

The LCSSP program was developed after California voters passed Proposition 47 in November 2014 and Assembly Bill 1014 and Senate Bill 527 in 2017. Madera Unified will use the funding from the grant to implement a district-wide Multi-Tiered System of Supports framework that will focus on the expansion and integration of the Restorative Justice (RJ) Program with the district’s existing Positive Behavioral Intervention and Supports (PBIS) Program.

Truck Driver Dies in Fiery Explosion on Hwy 99

ATWATER - One man is dead following a fiery explosion on Freeway 99 in Atwater. The unidentified truck driver lost control of his tanker-truck which contained over 9000 gallons of gasoline as he exited the freeway.

The Applegate exit on the south-bound side of Freeway 99 is a sharp 45 degree right-hand turn, which the driver failed to negotiate. The truck turned over onto it's side emptying the 9000 gallons of fuel on to the roadway threatening several restaurants and an AMPM Gas Station as it ignited.

Motel 6 Murder Strikes Again Killing Three More: In Custody

FRESNO - The man who allegedly killed a security guard at a Motel 6 on Blackstone Avenue in Fresno last week has struck again, this time killing three more before police take him into custody.

Kori Ali Muhammad (39), also know in the area as "Black Jesus", was taken into custody after shooting and killing three people Tuesday. According to Fresno Police Chief Jerry Dyer the shooting were random.