Local News

Stockton Man Charged with Distributing Child Pornography

SACRAMENTO - A federal grand jury returned a three-count indictment today against Jason Solomon, 42, of Stockton, charging him with distribution of child pornography and possession of child pornography, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced.

According to court documents, in July 2016, Solomon distributed images of children engaged in sexually explicit conduct. On January 9, 2018, Solomon also possessed a video depicting a child engaged in sexually explicit conduct. Solomon has been in custody since his arrest on January 9, 2018.

Dunkin Donuts Opens in Madera This March

MADERA – As reported on the Big Valley News Facebook page last July, Dunkin' Donuts is coming to the Madera Walmart location on Cleveland Avenue. While an official date for the stores opening has not been announced, our sources within the store tells us the restaurant should open sometime in March.

The national donut-and-coffee shop will occupy the former McDonald’s space in the store. McDonald’s did not renew their lease with Walmart making this space available. The former McDonalds has been closed off to the public since June of 2017.

Assemblyman Travis Allen Calls for DMV Audit Over California Law that Could Register Non-Citizens to Vote

SACRAMENTO - Assemblyman Travis Allen announced that he is requesting a formal audit of the DMV after reports broke of potential illegal voting fraud as the State of California implements the new Motor Voter Law, under which the DMV automatically registers people to vote when they obtain or renew a driver's license - unless they opt-out. He pointed out that a million driver's licenses have been issued to illegal immigrants in the past three years.

"Californians don't believe for one second that an inefficient state bureaucracy like the DMV has put together a fraud-proof system to prevent Motor Voter from registering illegal immigrants to vote," said Allen. "California's citizens deserve to know that they have fair and honest elections. That is why I am calling for a formal audit of the DMV."

One Suspect Arrested One Outstanding in Jewelry Store Robbery

FRESNO - On January 8, 2018, at approximately 11:00 am, the owner of the El Oscar Jewelry Repair Shop at 2208 North Blackstone Avenue electronically opened the door to his business allowing two African American males wearing dark hoodies inside. They began looking at merchandise as if they were going to make a purchase.

The owner looked back down at a project he was working on as the subjects continued looking at the display cases with jewelry. The victim looked up again and saw one of the suspects was pointing a semi-automatic handgun at his head.

Detectives Searching for Men who Stole ATM Machine from Friant Gas Station

FRIANT - Around 3:30 am on January 17th, a burglary occurred at the Shell gas station located at 17822 N. Friant Road in Friant. Four men, all wearing hoods and masks, arrived in a white pickup truck pulling a small cargo trailer. They broke into the front door of the store and split up.

As the security alarm went off, two men removed an ATM, while the other two went behind the counter and removed a safe. Both contained cash. The exact amount of money is not being disclosed. After spending only one minute in the store, the men wheeled the ATM and safe into the parking lot. They loaded the ATM into the trailer, but for unknown reasons left the safe behind in the parking lot as they drove away.