WASHINGTON One of the two inmates accused of killing an Atwater prison guard was so drunk on a potent brew dubbed "White Lightning," he couldn't understand an FBI agent's Miranda warnings afterward, defense attorneys claim in revealing new documents filed in federal court.
MODESTO The day after dozens of Stanislaus County gang members were picked up on warrants, jailed for violating their parole or probation, and stripped of illegal weapons and drugs, more than a quarter were back on the streets. While they are out of jail, they aren't off the hook.
ATWATER A man was arrested this week after a stolen pickup truck was crashed, police reported. Officers were dispatched to the 1000 block of Cedar Avenue in Atwater about 3 a.m. Wednesday after a black 1994 Chevrolet pickup hit a parked vehicle and crashed into a grassy embankment.
LOS BANOS A 23-year-old Los Banos man pleaded guilty Wednesday to killing an Army reservist in a hit-and-run crash in March. Jesse Ryan Fuentes stood up in court in a green-striped jumpsuit and was asked by Judge Harry Jacobs if he wanted to change his plea from not guilty to guilty. Fuentes' response: "Yes sir."
MERCED A 33-year-old Merced man who was fatally shot at Fahrens Park early Monday morning has been identified by the Merced County coroner's office as Raymond Ramos.
MERCED A Merced man was shot multiple times Tuesday evening while sitting on a bench near the Willowbrook Apartments, police reported. About 9:30 p.m., police received several calls from neighboring homes in the 1600 block of Willowbrook Drive.
The California Highway Patrol will be conducting a Motorcycle Safety Enforcement Operation throughout the Central Valley today in an effort to reduce the number of deaths and injuries. Extra officers will be patrolling areas frequented by motorcyclists and where multiple crashes have occurred.
ATWATER Three men were arrested in Atwater on Sunday after a traffic stop turned up drugs and an unloaded rifle, police reported.
A Merced motorcyclist is in critical condition after a head-on collision with a car during the weekend, the California Highway Patrol reported Tuesday.
One of five men accused in the robbery of the California State Mining and Mineral Museum entered a not guilty plea Tuesday, according to his attorney.
CALAVERAS COUNTY The father of a 12-year-old boy arrested in the fatal stabbing of his 8-year-old sister said Monday that he will believe his son is innocent until he is shown evidence that proves otherwise.
MARIPOSA One of the five men accused in the robbery of the California State Mining and Mineral Museum in Mariposa last year appeared in court Monday.
MERCED A 33-year-old Merced man died after being shot at Fahrens Park early Monday, Merced police reported.
GUSTINE Merced County sheriff's deputies and drug task force agents descended upon a massive marijuana growing operation in the Fremont Ford State Recreation Area on Thursday. More than 15,000 plants were eradicated during the operation about five miles northeast of Gustine Airport, said Sgt. Rich Howard of the Merced Multi-Agency Narcotics/HIDTA Task Force.
MERCED Merced County’s unemployment rate continues to drop, though it remains well above state and national averages. According to numbers released Friday, April’s unemployment rate was 15.5 percent, compared with a revised 17.2 percent the previous month and 18.0 percent in April 2012. Drops year-over-year signal growth in the economy.
