News

Madera College & SCCCD to Mandate Vaccinations Beginning October 15th

FRESNO - At a special board meeting held August 23, 2021, State Center Community College District Trustees voted to mandate vaccines for students, employees, contractors, and visitors beginning October 15, 2021. The District’s COVID-19 protective measures are subject to legally required exemptions for sincerely held religious beliefs and medical conditions.

Originally scheduled for Friday, August 20 the meeting was rescheduled when more than 700 participants tried to join the Zoom meeting, leaving some unable to access the meeting due to capacity issues. The meeting was then rescheduled for Monday as a Zoom webinar with live streaming on YouTube to allow for full access and participation. Chancellor Houston shared, “I am very proud of the governing Board for scheduling the meeting in a manner that ensures the broadest possible participation by the public, students, faculty, and staff for this very consequential decision.”

Man Charged with Traveling to Have Sex with Minor and Possession and Production of Child Pornography

FRESNO — A federal grand jury returned a five-count indictment today against Aldo David Alcaraz, 27, of Long Beach, charging him with production and possession of child pornography, attempted coercion and enticement of a minor, and attempted transfer of obscene material to a minor, Acting U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.

According to court documents, between December 2020 and January 2021, Alcaraz produced nine videos of himself engaged in sex acts with a minor victim in Tulare County. Alcaraz is also charged with possessing sexual images of minors, including minors under the age of 12 and another set of videos that Alcaraz produced of himself engaged in sex acts with a different minor victim. Finally, according to court documents, in January 2021, Alcaraz traveled to Kern County in an attempt to meet a minor to engage in sex acts, and he sent obscene images to that minor.

Modesto Men Plead Guilty to Drug Conspiracy

FRESNO - Modesto residents Genaro Serrato Calles, 49, and Antonio Valencia Hernandez, 65, pleaded guilty today to conspiring to distribute methamphetamine and heroin, Acting U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.

According to court documents, Serrato and Valencia, along with Antonio Castellanos, 38, of Whittier, and Jose Reyes Pineda, 48, of Anaheim, were charged with conspiring over a two-year period to distribute methamphetamine and heroin in Stanislaus and San Joaquin Counties. In pleading guilty, Serrato acknowledged that he supplied heroin to Valencia for distribution and also had Valencia pick up about 11 pounds of methamphetamine from Reyes in Anaheim for distribution in Modesto. Serrato also made arrangements with Castellanos to store and repackage for distribution about 20 pounds of methamphetamine at a stash house in Modesto.

Central Valley Fruit Broker Pleads Guilty and Agrees to Pay $1.25 Million to Resolve Criminal Allegations of Fraudulent Crop Insurance Claims

FRESNO - Ralph Hackett, 66, of Clovis, pleaded guilty today to aiding and abetting mail fraud and agreed to pay $650,000 in criminal restitution for helping another individual submit a fraudulent crop insurance claim for table grapes for the crop year 2013, Acting U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.

In a civil settlement with the United States, Hackett also agreed to pay another $605,000 to resolve allegations of crop insurance fraud for the crop years 2012 through 2015. According to court documents, Hackett was a member and manager of a Central Valley fruit broker through which the other individual sold various crops, including table grapes, from the individual’s farming operation in Fresno and Tulare counties.

DUI Check Point This Weekend in Madera

MADERA – Madera Police Department will hold a DUI/DL Checkpoint on August 14th from 7:30 p.m. to 2:30 a.m. at an undisclosed location within the Madera city limits. Checkpoint locations are chosen based on a history of DUI crashes and arrests. The primary purpose of checkpoints is not to make arrests, but to promote public safety by deterring drivers from driving impaired.

During the checkpoint, officers will look for signs that drivers are under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs and verify the driver possess a valid driver’s license. The Madera Police Department is committed to keeping the traveling public safe.

Chowchilla Pastor Passes at 56:Reverend Angel Louis Sotelo

CHOWCHILLA - Reverend Angel Louis Sotelo, pastor of St. Columba Church, in Chowchilla California, passed away on August 1, 2021. He was 56. Father Sotelo was born in Chicago, Illinois August 29, 1964.

He grew up with his family living in San Diego and Parlier. They finally settled in Hanford, California, where he attended elementary and middle school. He graduated from Hanford High School in 1982. While in high school, he excelled in shorthand and typing and competed statewide. At one time he was one of the top three fastest stenographers and typists in the state.

Fresno County DA Charges Suspect in Hit & Run Collision that Killed a 10-Year-Old Boy

FRESNO - Last Wednesday the Fresno County District Attorney’s Office filed two felony charges against Raymond Jay Celaya (62, of Fresno) related to a hit and run collision that killed a 10-year-old boy near Woodward Park earlier this year.

It is alleged that on June 17, 2021, at around 11:30 p.m., Celaya was driving his car southbound on Friant Road when he struck and killed a 10-year-old boy crossing the street at the intersection of Friant and Fort Washington roads. Emergency crews responded to the scene, made every effort to revive the stricken child, and transported him to Valley Children’s Hospital where he succumbed to his injuries.