Big Valley News
Central Valley's Independent News Source
FRESNO - The Fresno County Sheriff’s Office is asking for the public’s help in identifying three juveniles who beat and attempted to rob a thirteen year old victim as he walked home from school.
Yesterday evening, at about 6:00pm, the victim was walking in the 4000 block of Union Ave when he was approached by the three male suspects. One of the suspects, his face covered by a red bandana, produced a small handgun and struck the victim in the head.
MODESTO - The murder trial of Brittney Navarra has been delayed once again. The case which has been delayed over and over again by the Madera County District Attorney's Office faced another delay this week while the assistant district attorney travels to Mexico for a family vacation and his daughter's birthday.
Navarra, who is facing murder charges for the January 2008 murder of 18 year old Krista Pike, has been sitting in a Madera County Jail cell for the last six and a half years awaiting her day in court. A day which was delayed for numerous reasons, including the removal of Ed Gill, Madera County Deputy District Attorney, for prosecutorial misconduct and forgery charges. Gill ended up pleading his case down to misdemeanor forgery.
MODESTO - A warrant has been issued for the arrest of Samuel Browning Jr. for failure to appear in the Britney Navara case. Stanislaus County Superior Court Judge Marie Sovey Silveira issued the warrant just after 1pm in her Modesto court. This is not the first time Silveira has had to threaten Browning with a warrant.
A warrant is also being prepared for the arrest of Browning's mother, Vicki Browning, also for failure to appear. Mrs. Browning complained about appearing in court today because she said she was supervising kids showing animals at the Madera District Fair.
MADERA COUNTY – A Fresno man sits behind bars for attempted murder in Madera, accused of stabbing a Madera man and almost killing him. Jesse Galindo, Jr., age 20, is accused of stabbing a man at a residence located near Melba Drive and Avenue 17 early Monday morning.
The victim, who was taken to an area hospital, is expected to recover from his injuries. Deputies report that he suffered at least two puncture wounds – one of which just barely missed his main artery. The incident happened sometime after 4 AM.
MADERA - A Madera County Superior Court jury found Victor Alexander Smith, 38, of Chowchilla, guilty of felony domestic violence and two counts of misdemeanor resisting arrest Friday afternoon, according to Michael R. Keitz, District Attorney for Madera County.
MADERA - An inmate housed in the Madera County Department of Corrections escaped from custody early Wednesday evening. For the next three hours law enforcement agencies all around Madera County tracked down the escapee until he was re-captured three hours later near Madera County's Court House Park in the city of Madera.
Bryan Parry King (47), who was reportedly working in the facility’s kitchen area, went to take the trash out, then jumped the fence. His last direction of travel was on Olive Avenue. Bryan King’s last known residence is in Coarsegold.
MADERA - At Tuesday's meeting of the Madera County Board of Supervisors, Oakhurst CPA Todd Miller will be unanimously appointed to the position of Madera County Auditor/Controller. Miller will be the fourth auditor since 2008 and the first to be selected by the voters of Madera since former auditor Robert Dewall. Dewall was first elected in 1987.In an article published by the Sierra Star on Friday, county administrative officer Eric Fleming stated that he would advise the board to select current auditor office number two, Karl Noyes to the interim auditor position. The only problem is Noyes doesn't want the job. Following her landslide loss to Miller last Tuesday, former appointed auditor Marcia Hall cleaned out her desk and quit, leaving another void in an out-of-control office.
