Local News

Madera County Man Sentenced to Prison for Marijuana Grow in the Sierra National Forest

FRESNO - Carson Shane Wilhite, 43, of Ahwahnee, was sentenced today to seven years and six months in prison for conspiring to manufacture, distribute and possess with intent to distribute marijuana and possessing firearms in furtherance of the conspiracy, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced. Wilhite was also ordered to pay $46,680 in restitution to the U.S. Forest Service for the damage caused by the cultivation operation.

On Sept. 30, 2022, Wilhite pleaded guilty to the charges. According to court documents, Wilhite was involved in a marijuana cultivation operation on public land in the Sierra National Forest adjacent to his residence and at his residence on private land. During the execution of a federal search warrant in the summer of 2019, law enforcement officers located marijuana growing outside of Wilhite’s bedroom and an indoor cultivation room containing live marijuana plants under the residence below Wilhite’s bedroom.

California Agricultural CompaniesAgree to Pay $600,000 to Settle False Claims Act Allegations Relating to Improperly Inflated PPP Loan Applications

FRESNO - Four California agricultural companies and their owner have agreed to settle allegations that they violated the False Claims Act (FCA) and the Financial Institutions Reform, Recovery and Enforcement Act (FIRREA) by knowingly submitting false information in support of the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan applications, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.

The companies, which grow, harvest, process, pack, ship, and sell processed and fresh tomatoes, among other crops, are Mendota Land Co., Sweetwood Farm Co. LLC, Sweetwood Farm Inc., and Seasholtz Co. LLC. The companies and their owner John Seasholtz (collectively, “Seasholtz”) are alleged to have improperly inflated the employee headcount on PPP loan applications by impermissibly including non-employee contract workers who were, in fact, employed by other, unrelated entities.

Property Crimes Detectives Arrest Parlier Man Moments After Two Armed Robberies

FRESNO COUNTY - Property crimes detectives with the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office have arrested 29-year-old Fernando Gonzalez of Parlier. He has been booked into the Fresno County Jail on nearly 20 felony charges, including multiple counts of robbery and being a felon in possession of a gun and ammunition. His bail is set at $845,000.

Shortly before 10:30 am on January 4th, deputies responded to an armed robbery at the EZ Stop Mini Mart located at 11024 S. Fowler Ave. in Selma. A masked man pointed a handgun at the clerk and took cash from the register. Deputies reviewed surveillance video and saw the suspect leave in a silver Honda Accord. The car’s license plate was legible thanks to a high-quality camera. The deputy provided the car’s license plate number to dispatchers, which was relayed to property crime detectives as they were responding to the store.

Fresno Man Indicted For Illegally Possessing Ammunition

FRESNO - A federal grand jury returned a one-count indictment today against Emmanuelle Padilla, 26, of Fresno, charging him with being a felon in possession of ammunition, United States Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.

According to court documents, Padilla was found in possession of ammunition on October 24, 2022. He has prior felony convictions for possessing controlled substances while armed and being a felon in possession of a firearm, and he is prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition.

Batesole’s Legacy Etched in Bulldog Lore: Fresno State Coach Retires

FRESNO - After 20 seasons at the helm, Mike Batesole is stepping down as head coach of the Fresno State baseball program. Ryan Overland will serve as interim head coach for the 2023 season. Batesole, a two-time National Coach of the Year, guided the Diamond Dogs to the 2008 national championship by winning the College World Series at Rosenblatt Stadium in Omaha.

By taking the Bulldogs from Underdogs to Wonderdogs, Batesole's squad claimed the school's first Division I national championship for any men's sport while capturing hearts across the nation. His Bulldogs won seven-straight conference titles from 2006-12 and made six NCAA appearances in that time, advancing to the regional title game three times before winning the National Championship.