News

MADERA - Ushering in this year's Homecoming as Grand Marshal will be an educator who has dedicated his life to the community of Madera for the last 65 years, Mr. Carles Beckett.  “I have spent my last 65 years in Madera. I graduated from Madera Union High School in 1963. Became a teacher in 1967 at Ripperdan Elementary School teaching fifth grade. I was an administrator for many, many- many years. I was a student in the 50s, a teacher in the 60s, an administrator in the 70s, 80s, and 90s,” expresses Beckett.

A few of Mr. Beckett’s principalships included being the principal at Dixieland Elementary for 15 years and helping the building stages of Lincoln Elementary as the opening principal in 1994. “The students of Madera Unified mean the world to me,” states Beckett as he reviews his roles in the district. 

FRESNO  - Three members of the Modesto Hells Angels Motorcycle Club, including the Club's Vice President and Secretary, were charged yesterday in four separate indictments, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced. Hell's Angels Vice President Michael Shafer, 31, of Modesto, was charged with conspiring to distribute marijuana, conspiring to distribute heroin, distribution of marijuana, and two counts of use of a communication facility to facilitate a drug trafficking offense. Hells Angels Secretary Patrick Gonzales, 31, of Modesto, was charged with being a felon in possession of firearm and ammunition.

Hells Angels member Ricky Blackwell was charged with possession of cocaine with intent to distribute, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense, and possession of a firearm after suffering a misdemeanor domestic violence conviction.

FRESNO  -   A federal grand jury returned a three-count indictment today against Justin Deger, 28, of Fresno, charging him with credit card fraud and possession of stolen mail, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced.

According to court documents, between Dec. 5, 2018, and March 28, 2019, Deger allegedly conducted more than $1,000 in unauthorized transactions on another person’s credit card, possessed 15 or more people’s credit cards or other access devices without their authorization, and possessed more than 2,000 pieces of stolen mail.

MADERA  – Valley Children’s Healthcare launched a new partnership today to address one of the most significant healthcare needs in the region. Valley Children’s President and CEO Todd Suntrapak announced that Universal Health Services (UHS) will construct and operate a new behavioral health facility on Valley Children’s Madera campus.

This 81,600 square foot, 128-bed behavioral health hospital will provide accessible, high-quality and advanced behavioral health services in the Central Valley. One 24-bed unit will be dedicated specifically to pediatric psychiatric care, treatment, services, and educational needs, assisting Valley Children’s in addressing the needs of patients presenting to the Emergency Department. Additional units at the new behavioral health hospital will serve adults and seniors. The new hospital will employ more than 250 people, including clinicians, nurses, mental health technicians, support staff and administration.

FRESNO  -  Bert Harris, 38, of Fresno, was sentenced on Monday by U.S. District Judge Dale A. Drozd to 10 years and three months in prison for using or carrying a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime, being a felon in possession of a firearm, and possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced.

According to court documents, on Dec. 6, 2017, law enforcement officers saw Harris conducting what appeared to be hand-to-hand drug deals outside an apartment complex in Fresno. When the officers tried to arrest Harris, he fled on a bicycle. Officers chased Harris as he rode away, and eventually Harris turned into a parking lot outside an apartment complex and jumped off his bike.

FRESNO  -  Francisco Fernandez, 26, of Earlimart, pleaded guilty Monday to possessing with the intent to distribute cocaine and possession of an unregistered firearm, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced. According to court documents, a search warrant was executed at Fernandez’s residence in April 2019. During the search, federal agents found and seized scales, drug paraphernalia, and cocaine.

Fernandez admitted to possessing the cocaine for sale to others. Apart from the narcotics, federal agents also found “auto-sear” devices that are used to convert semi-automatic firearms to fire as fully automatic machineguns. In a subsequent search of Fernandez’s storage unit, agents located and seized several firearms, which included a Glock handgun that Fernandez had converted into a machinegun.