News

Chowchilla Pastor Passes at 56:Reverend Angel Louis Sotelo

CHOWCHILLA - Reverend Angel Louis Sotelo, pastor of St. Columba Church, in Chowchilla California, passed away on August 1, 2021. He was 56. Father Sotelo was born in Chicago, Illinois August 29, 1964.

He grew up with his family living in San Diego and Parlier. They finally settled in Hanford, California, where he attended elementary and middle school. He graduated from Hanford High School in 1982. While in high school, he excelled in shorthand and typing and competed statewide. At one time he was one of the top three fastest stenographers and typists in the state.

Fresno County DA Charges Suspect in Hit & Run Collision that Killed a 10-Year-Old Boy

FRESNO - Last Wednesday the Fresno County District Attorney’s Office filed two felony charges against Raymond Jay Celaya (62, of Fresno) related to a hit and run collision that killed a 10-year-old boy near Woodward Park earlier this year.

It is alleged that on June 17, 2021, at around 11:30 p.m., Celaya was driving his car southbound on Friant Road when he struck and killed a 10-year-old boy crossing the street at the intersection of Friant and Fort Washington roads. Emergency crews responded to the scene, made every effort to revive the stricken child, and transported him to Valley Children’s Hospital where he succumbed to his injuries.

Search & Rescue Conducted at Banner Peak for Missing Teen

MADERA COUNTY - On August 5, 2021, around 5:15 pm, the Madera County Communications Center received a call for service for a male juvenile who had become separated from his group while hiking in the Sierra Nevada Mountains near Mount Ritter and Banner Peak.

After summiting Banner Peak, a group of 9 adult and juvenile hikers descended down the mountain. At some point during the descent, the 14-year-old male became separated. Following an unsuccessful search of the area, a group leader for the hikers was able to find cell service and called 911 for help.

Man Charged with Violent Crimes in Sequoia National Park

FRESNO - A federal grand jury returned a four-count indictment today against Marvin Joseph Chang, 33, of Monterey Park, charging him with assault with a dangerous weapon, brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence, being a felon in possession of ammunition, and vandalism, Acting U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.

According to the indictment, on Feb. 19, 2021, within Sequoia National Park, Chang assaulted an individual with a firearm and brandished a semi-automatic 9 mm pistol. He also slashed the tire of a car in a parking lot inside the park. Chang subsequently was involved in a high-speed chase outside of the park that allegedly resulted in the shooting of a California Highway Patrol officer.

Condemned Inmate Rodney "The Dating Game Killer" Alcala Dies of Natural Causes

CORCORAN – Condemned inmate Rodney James Alcala, 77, an Orange County man who was on California’s death row, died of natural causes at 1:43 a.m. on July 24, 2021, at a hospital in Kings County.

Alcala was sentenced to death in Orange County in 1980 for the 1979 kidnapping and murder of 12-year-old Robin Samsoe. That judgment was reversed in 1984 by the California Supreme Court and Alcala was granted a new trial.

Auto Theft Detective Outsmarts Career Criminal

FRESNO - On the morning of July 21st, a truck attached to a trailer carrying two porta-potties was stolen from a business yard in Fresno. The suspect smashed the truck through a fence, causing thousands of dollars in damages. The owner of the truck discovered the theft and made a report to the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office. He told dispatchers he had located the truck through an onboard GPS tracker.

A deputy went to the location and spotted the truck, which belonged to United Site Services. The deputy attempted to make a traffic stop, but the suspect refused and took off. About two minutes into the pursuit, the suspect made an extremely dangerous maneuver by driving onto some railroad tracks in the area of N9rth Teilman Avenue and he continued across a bridge that passes over Highway 99.

Vice President of Modesto Hells Angels Motorcycle Club Pleads Guilty to Drug Trafficking Charges

FRESNO - Michael Shafer, 33, of Modesto, pleaded guilty today to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute heroin and conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute marijuana, Acting U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.

According to court documents, Shafer was the Vice President of the Hells Angels Motorcycle Club in Modesto in 2019. As part of a years-long investigation into the Hells Angels Motorcycle Club, investigators obtained a court-authorized wiretap for Shafer’s phone. The wiretapped calls and messages showed that Shafer was conspiring to distribute marijuana and heroin. Specifically, in April 2019, Shafer conspired with a former Hells Angels member who was incarcerated in Pleasant Valley State Prison to smuggle heroin into prison.