Local News

Fresno Man Pleads Guilty to Credit Card Fraud & Possession of Stolen Mail

FRESNO - On Friday, Feb. 21, Justin Deger, 28, of Fresno, pleaded guilty to two counts of access device fraud and one count of possession of stolen mail, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced. According to the plea agreement, from Dec. 5, 2018, through March 28, 2019, Deger broke into mailboxes at various Fresno area residences.

He stole over 2,000 pieces of mail, including 26 credit cards or account access devices. He subsequently activated some of those devices and made unauthorized purchases and cash withdrawals at retailers and casinos totaling thousands of dollars. As part of the plea agreement, Deger agreed to pay full restitution to the victims and forfeiture.

Inmate Roy Lewis Norris Dies of Natural Causes

VACAVILLE – Inmate Roy Lewis Norris, 72, died of natural causes at 8:40 p.m. on Monday, February 24, 2020, at California Medical Facility. Norris had been serving a 45-year-to-life sentence from Los Angeles County for four counts of first-degree murder, one count of second-degree murder, two counts of forcible rape, and robbery.

Between June 24 and Nov. 20, 1979, Norris and his crime partner Lawrence Sigmond Bittaker, kidnapped, raped, tortured and murdered five teenage girls. Norris was on parole at the time after serving time for a conviction from San Diego County for assault with a deadly weapon and rape.

Woman Faces State Prison for Double Fatal DUI Collision

MADERA - On September 7, 2018, at approximately 10:43 a.m., Sasha Marie Watson was driving a vehicle with passengers including her mother, Heidi Lynn Vanzeyl, and two minor children. While driving westbound on SR-145, the defendant drove into the oncoming lane of traffic to pass another vehicle.

She attempted to pass a second vehicle while remaining in the oncoming lane of traffic as the center dividing line changed to a double-yellow line. As the defendant crested the top of a hill, she collided with a vehicle being properly driven eastbound by Karrie Lynn Petersen. Ms. Petersen and Ms. Vanzeyl were killed in the crash. The two minor passengers and the defendant were all injured by the crash.

Amy Chavoya Convicted of Murder & Torture

MADERA - A Madera County jury convicted Amy Chavoya last week of first degree murder of her adopted daughter, Mariah, as well as torture of Mariah and her brother Christopher. She faces life in the state prison as a result of her convictions.

The defendant was charged with five counts: first degree murder of Mariah, torture of Mariah, torture of her brother Christopher, as well as two counts of felony child abuse. The abuse and torture of Christopher occurred between July 1, 2010 and March 25, 2015. The abuse and torture of Mariah occurred between July 1, 2010 and October 10, 2014, the day that the defendant murdered her.

Local Assemblyman Introduces Legislation to Strengthen California’s Firefighting Mutual Aid System

SACRAMENTO - Assemblymember Adam C. Gray (D-Merced) has introduced Assembly Bill 3198 to establish a grant program for local fire departments participating in California’s firefighting mutual aid system.

For nearly seven decades, fire departments have been part of a “neighbor helping neighbor” system of mutual aid. Under the California Fire Service and Rescue Emergency Mutual Aid System, local jurisdictions experiencing an emergency incident likely to exceed, or have exceeded, their ability to control it may request the outside assistance of other jurisdictions.