Local News

Aryan Brotherhood Prison Gang Member Sentenced to Life in Prison for Murder in Aid of Racketeering

SACRAMENTO - Pat Brady, 53, of Lake Forest, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Kimberly J. Mueller to life in prison for murder in aid of racketeering, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.

According to court documents, between 2011 and 2016, Aryan Brotherhood (AB) members and associates engaged in racketeering activity, committing multiple acts involving murder, conspiracies to murder, and drug trafficking crimes. AB members oversaw a significant heroin and methamphetamine trafficking operation from their California prison cells using smuggled cellphones to direct drug trafficking activities, order murders, and oversee other criminal activities inside and outside of the prisons.

Prison Officials Investigating the Death of a Merced Man as a Homicide

DELANO – California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation officials are investigating the Aug. 9, 2024, death of an incarcerated person at Kern Valley State Prison (KVSP) as a homicide. At 10:43 a.m., two incarcerated persons, Raymond Rojas and Tyler Ostertag, allegedly attacked another incarcerated person, Johnny Victor.

Staff quickly stopped the incident and immediately called for medical assistance and 911. Both incarcerated individuals were restrained without further incident. No staff or additional incarcerated individuals were injured. Victor was taken to the prison’s triage and treatment area for injuries he sustained during the attack. Responding paramedics pronounced Victor deceased at 11:22 a.m.

Arrest Made In String of River Trail Assaults

MADERA - The Madera Police Department and the Madera County Sheriff’s Office have made an arrest following a string of violent assaults against women using our river trail over the past several months. The suspect, 36-year-old Victor Hugo Valencia Reyes, has been booked into the Madera County Jail on multiple felony charges including Kidnapping, Attempted Kidnapping, False Imprisonment, Robbery, Criminal Threats, Illegal Use of Tear Gas, Possession of Tear Gas by Prohibited Person, Possession of Firearm by Prohibited Person, Possession of Ammunition by Prohibited Person, Child Endangerment, and Battery.

The River Trail Investigation was launched following an incident on June 15, 2024, when the Madera County Sheriff’s Office received a reported attempted kidnapping from a female who had been exercising on the Fresno River Trail around 8:45 am. The female reported that she had been approached by a Hispanic male adult who brandished an unknown weapon at her, claiming he had a gun. The male forced the victim to walk towards the orchards near the Fresno River and bound her wrists. She was able to escape and ran through the orchards towards Road 23, where she was able to call 9-1-1 to alert the Sheriff’s Office.

Petrruci's Old School House Lost to Fire

MADERA - The Old School House on Howard Road, which has served as the Petrucci BBQ Pit and home to the family's secret Italian sauce and BBQ seasonings, burned down Sunday night. The over-100-year-old building was a complete loss. No one was injured in the fire, and CAL-Fire is still investigating the cause.

Owner Dina Petrucci told her followers on her Facebook page, "For many years, the Old School House served as a cherished rental venue, restaurant, and the home of Petrucci's tri-tip. Its walls held countless memories and stories for us and many of our friends and customers."

California Substance Abuse Treatment Facility Officials Investigating the Death of Prisoner as a Homicide

CORCORAN – California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) officials are investigating the July 28, 2024, death of an incarcerated person at California Substance Abuse Treatment Facility as a homicide.

At approximately 1:29 p.m., facility yard officers discovered Shawn G. Jackson Jr. unresponsive. Medical staff were immediately called for assistance, life-saving measures were taken, and Jackson was transported by ambulance to an outside medical facility. Jackson was pronounced deceased at 2:49 p.m. at the Adventist Medical Center in Hanford.