News

Governor Brown Signs Bill for Healthier Beverages in Restaurant Kids’ Meals

DALLAS - American Heart Association CEO Nancy Brown issued the following comments on California Senate Bill 1192, the California Healthy by Default Kids Meals Beverages bill: “California has made history today by becoming the first state to ensure that water or milk comes standard for kids’ meals at all restaurants. The American Heart Association applauds California’s leaders for making it easier for parents to raise healthy kids. We strongly encourage other states and communities to follow suit, and we call on restaurants nationwide to take immediate action on their own by removing unhealthy drinks from kids’ meals.

The drinks kids are served at restaurants have an increasingly significant impact on their health—half of the meals in the United States today are purchased outside of home and children get an average of 25 percent of their calories from restaurant foods and beverages. If their meals come with sodas or other sugary drinks, our kids are at greater risk for heart disease and diabetes. But if their meals come with water or milk instead, we can help them build healthy habits that last a lifetime.

Bass Lake Court House Permanently Closing

BASS LAKE - The Superior Court of California, County of Madera, intends to permanently close the Bass Lake Courthouse located at 40601 Road 274, Bass Lake, California. Effective December 3, 2018 the Bass Lake Courthouse (Department 8) will be closed.

All new cases arising in Eastern Madera County will be filed at the Madera Courthouse located at 200 South G Street, Madera, California. Parties with existing Bass Lake cases set for hearing on or after December 3, 2018 will be notified by mail of the reassignment to a Courtroom at the Madera Courthouse. The public can call 559-416-5599 for all case information.

Mexican National Residing in Modesto Is Sentenced to 17.5 Years in Prison for Methamphetamine Trafficking

SACRAMENTO - Feliciano Ochoa Reyes, 34, of Mexico and Modesto, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Garland E. Burrell Jr. to 17 and a half years in prison for conspiring to distribute methamphetamine, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced. According to court documents, Reyes supplied methamphetamine to various distributors in the Sacramento and Modesto areas between 2014 and 2015.

Reyes was arrested on March 29, 2015, after law enforcement officers watched one of his employees receive a delivery of 15 kilograms of methamphetamine at a Modesto stash house. The methamphetamine delivery was worth approximately $50,000. When agents searched the property, they found a laboratory for converting liquid methamphetamine to crystal methamphetamine and more than $23,000 in cash. On December 3, 2014, officers pulled over the car of a Reyes customer who had just received four kilograms of methamphetamine from Reyes.

Atwater Man Charged with Sexual Exploitation of Children Through Instagram

FRESNO - A federal grand jury returned a three-count indictment today against Nikko Adolfo Perez, 26, of Atwater, charging him with one count of sexual exploitation of children, one count of coercion or enticement of a minor, and one count of receipt of child pornography, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced.

According to court documents, Perez, using the Instagram screen name captainamerica272018, victimized two boys, ages 8 and 10, in Utah by coercing them into creating and then sending to him images of them engaged in sexually explicit conduct. Perez offered to pay the boys with Google Play credits if they engaged in requested sexual acts or poses. When one of the victims said he would “call 911,” Perez threatened to disseminate images of the victims engaged in sexually explicit conduct. He also threatened to harm family members of the victims. Perez used Omegle, Instagram, Snapchat, Kik, and other social media apps.

Jury Convicts Stockton Special Education Teacher on Charges Related to Long-Term Sexual Abuse of Minors

SACRAMENTO - A federal jury has found Rodney Flucas, 49, of Stockton, guilty of transportation of minors with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity and one count of transporting an adult daughter across state lines with intent to engage in incest, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced.

“Cases like these are difficult to investigate. We must ask the victims to relive trauma and face a person they would rather forget. Rodney Flucas underestimated the strength and grace of his victims, and we thank them for their courage,” said Special Agent in Charge Sean Ragan of the FBI Sacramento Field Office. “We are grateful for opportunities to investigate crimes against minors-often in concert with local, state, and federal partners — to ensure those who exploit their naiveté and innocence face justice.”

Recent Prosecutions of Firearm and Gang-Related Offenses in Fresno Area

FRESNO - As part the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of California’s strategy to reduce violent crime, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced the following cases involving illegal firearms and gang-related offenses. A federal grand jury returned a one-count indictment on September 6, 2018, against Miguel Rodriguez, 37, of Fresno, charging him with being a felon in possession of a firearm. According to court documents, on July 17, 2018, Rodriguez was found to be in possession of a .357 revolver in Reedley.

Rodriguez had multiple previous felony convictions, and is prohibited from possessing a firearm. This case is the product of an investigation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the Reedley Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark J. McKeon is prosecuting the case. The charges against Rodriguez are only allegations; he is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

The General Election Ballots in Madera County Are Being Mailed Out October 8th

MADERA - The ballots for the 2018 general election on November 6th are being mailed out to registered voters on Monday October 8^th.Voters will have nearly a month to vote then mail or drop the ballots off at several locations throughout the county.

Unlike in years past when voters were assigned neighborhood precincts where they would cast their votes, before last June’s primary election every registered voter in Madera County was mailed a ballot that voters can mail back, drop off or vote at several locations through-out the county on accessible devices. For the general election, the Madera County Elections Department is paying for the return postage for the ballots. So now there is no excuse the not vote this November.