News

Commercial Burglary Results in Multiple Felony Arrests

MADERA - On Sunday, shortly before 5 a.m., the Madera County Sheriff's Office received a call for service for an alarm at Pedal Forward Bikes & Adventure, located in the 40000 block of Highway 41 in Oakhurst. The alarm company reported two males with their faces covered inside the store stealing bicycles and loading them into a white van. Sergeant Hernandez arrived within 5 minutes and confirmed a burglary had occurred, but the van was nowhere in sight.

Deputy Eichman was in the Coarsegold area and noticed a white Ford E-350 van pass him as it was traveling southbound on Highway 41. When he attempted to initiate a traffic stop, the van failed to yield and led Deputies on an 11-mile pursuit. After Deputy Cox successfully deployed spike strips at Highway 41 and Highway 145, the van continued driving with flat tires, ultimately crashing into the barrier near the Madera Canal south of Avenue 15.

Attempted Homicide of Corcoran Prison Officer Under Investigation

CORCORAN – California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) officials are investigating an attack on a peace officer at California State Prison, Corcoran (COR), as an attempted homicide. On Sept. 3, 2024, at approximately 4:10 p.m., incarcerated person Bobby Dominguez allegedly reached through the bars of a shower door and attacked a correctional officer.

Staff immediately responded to assist the officer from the area, medical personnel were summoned, and 911 was activated. At 4:43 p.m., the officer was transported to an outside medical facility, where he was treated and released that evening. An inmate-manufactured weapon was found at the scene.

Texas Man Indicted for Sexual Exploitation of Kingsburg Children

FRESNO - A federal grand jury returned a four-count indictment today, charging Thomas Henry Lopez, 49, of Spring, Texas, with two counts of sexual exploitation of children, one count of distribution of a visual depiction of a minor engaged in sexually explicit conduct, and one count of transfer of obscene material to a minor, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.

According to court documents, between June 2024 and July 2024, Lopez contacted two minors in California through TikTok and then communicated with them through text messages and the encrypted application JusTalk. Lopez purported to be a 12-year-old male from Texas and requested that the victims create and then send to him still and video images of themselves engaged in sexually explicit conduct.

All-Electric Bollinger B4 Truck Sales & Service Locations to Open in the Central Valley of California

OAK PARK, Mich. - Bollinger Motors, Inc. ("Bollinger Motors"), a commercial electric vehicle ("EV") manufacturer, has named Affinity Truck Center an official Bollinger Motors dealer. With sales locations in Bakersfield and Fresno, California, and service locations in Paso Robles and Salinas, California, Affinity Truck Center is a California Hybrid and Zero-Emission Truck and Bus Voucher Incentive Project (HVIP) certified dealership.

Founded in 2015 by Robert Bollinger, Bollinger Motors, Inc. is a U.S.-based company headquartered in Oak Park, Michigan. Bollinger Motors is developing all-electric commercial chassis cab trucks, Classes 4-6. In September of 2022, Bollinger Motors became a majority-owned company of Mullen Automotive, Inc.

Madera Man Convicted of Jan 6th Riots Now Guilty of Firearms Violations

FRESNO - Following a one-day trial in Fresno, Benjamin Martin, 46, of Madera, was convicted today of illegally possessing firearms and ammunition, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.

According to evidence presented at trial and other court records, in September 2021, the FBI executed a search warrant at Martin’s residence in Madera, where he maintained a real estate business, and arrested him on charges filed by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia for the breach of the U.S. Capitol that occurred on Jan. 6, 2021.

2024 Old Timers Day Parade to Be Held September 28th

MADERA - Mark your calendars for Saturday, September 28, 2024, at 10:00 AM. This day will mark the 93rd year of the Old Timers’ Day Parade! Leading this year’s parade as Grand Marshall will be Veteran and former City Councilmember Herman Perez. Accompanying him as the Honorable King and Queen of the Parade will be lifelong Madera residents Phil and Klina Oberti.

At the conclusion of the parade, a ribbon-cutting ceremony will be held in Courthouse Park for the newly renovated park, which will feature a new accessible playground area, performance stage, exercise equipment, musical instruments, walking paths, and various other improvements. This year also marks the 50th anniversary of the Historic Courthouse, which will be open to the public to enjoy.

Bakersfield Felon Charged in Connection with Destructive Device

FRESNO - On Aug. 29, 2024, a federal grand jury returned a three-count indictment charging Robert Lawrence Hunt, 40, of Bakersfield, with being a felon in possession of a firearm, unlawful possession of an unregistered firearm, and manufacturing a firearm, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.

According to court documents, in July 2022, Hunt possessed a destructive device that consisted of parts designed for conversion into an explosive and incendiary device containing screws, which meet the federal definition of a firearm. Hunt was previously convicted in Kern County Superior Court of two robberies and a burglary and is prohibited from possessing firearms.