A federal prison guard has been indicted after being accused of beating an inmate with a flashlight.
Lt. Eric McEachern is charged with violating the Atwater inmate's civil rights and obstructing the investigation. He has not been arrested, but is set to appear in court this week.
Esparza
An Atwater softball coach accused of molesting a 14-year-old girl did not enter a plea Wednesday because his Modesto-based attorney could not make the hearing.
Henry Esparza Jr., 41, appeared in Merced County Superior Court on a video link from the John Latorraca Correctional Center. His hearing Tuesday was delayed for the same reason.
Barrett
WINTON -- A domestic disturbance late Tuesday night ended with the stabbing death of a mother of six -- the third homicide in the county in less than two weeks, Merced County Sheriff's investigators said Wednesday.
The suspect, 28-year-old James Barrett, is in custody at Merced County Jail facing murder charges.
ATWATER -- The irrigation water situation for farmers and growers has gone from dry to worse.
To law enforcement officials, Robert Gerald Eaton was a small-time vandal with an arrest record stretching back 17 years, but to his family, he was a loving father who liked to play guitar and go fishing with his two teenage children at Lake Yosemite
Close to 1,000 strawberry waffles topped with whipped cream will be served Sunday morning by "celebrity chefs" at the Castle Air Museum's semi-annual fund-raising brunch.
Merced County is planning to chisel out a few pieces of Castle Commerce Center to be able to sell to existing tenants.
ATWATER -- Henry Esparza Jr., 41, was arrested Friday by Atwater police on four felony counts of having lewd or lascivious acts with a child under the age of 14.
The man accused of beating his aunt to death with a phone pleaded not guilty to homicide charges in Merced County Superior Court on Wednesday.
In honor of Earth Day, Joseph Gallo Farms in Atwater will be featured on NBC's "Today" show Friday morning.
ATWATER -- Two people were arrested after Atwater police allegedly found methamphetamine and marijuana in their car during a vehicle stop on Saturday.
As students crossed the 50-yard dash finish line during PE at Elmer Wood Elementary on Monday, Principal Sylvia Nelson was there to give many of them a high-five.
ATWATER -- WARNING: Charging fire inspection fees can ignite some business owners.
ATWATER -- A man, who allegedly called 911 and told a dispatcher that he had killed his 73-year-old aunt, was arrested after the call led Atwater police to a grim discovery.
ATWATER -- Designs to superclean sewage water so that it can safely be put back into environment will cost the city $4.2 million.
Copyright © 2007 The Merced Sun Star.
