MERCED Testimony began Wednesday in the trial of Merced County Sheriff's Department Sgt. James Pacheco, who is accused of two misdemeanor DUI counts. Prosecutors with the state attorney general's office claim Pacheco, 45, was drinking and driving the night of April 17, 2011. He has pleaded not guilty to the charges.
ATWATER No one was hurt Sunday afternoon when the front landing gear of a plane collapsed after setting down at Castle Airport.
The case of accused drunk driver Justin Nappi took a new turn recently, as prosecutors say they've filed charges against a man who they say supplied alcohol to the defendant before he crashed. Jason Midiere, 25, will face two misdemeanor counts: furnishing alcohol to a minor, and furnishing alcohol to a person under 21, according to Chief Deputy District Attorney Harold Nutt.
ATWATER A 21-year-old Atwater woman received major injuries Thursday morning after a crash involving a big rig and two cars on southbound Highway 99 near Atwater. The crash was reported at 7:25 a.m. near Bert Crane Road.
MERCED Two teenagers accused of gunning down an 18-year-old man in Los Banos last month will be tried as adults on murder charges.
The jury trial of a couple accused of killing a Planada woman and kidnapping her baby is on track to move forward later this month.
Political consultant Mary Ward pleaded no contest Tuesday to embezzling $23,000 from a Merced County ag committee, although it remains to be seen whether she'll spend time in jail.
Los Banos police have arrested two teenagers in connection with the shooting death of an 18-year-old man earlier this month.
MERCED The pounding of island drums and a festive island atmosphere were on display this weekend at the Merced County Fairgrounds, as the 34th Kiki Raina Tahiti Fete entertained a diverse crowd.
Those who know Loretta Spence say there's hardly a day in the week she's not dedicating her time to improving the community.
A Planada man faces a maximum of four years in prison after being convicted Thursday of having a sexually explicit conversation online with a person he thought was a 13-year-old girl -- but in reality was a Merced police officer. A jury convicted Luis Miguel Munoz, 23, of two felony counts: attempting to communicate with a minor with intent to commit a sexual offense, and attending an arranged meeting with a minor for a sexual purpose.
Two people received major injuries in a crash involving three vehicles Monday afternoon in the Beachwood area, the California Highway Patrol reported.
Merced firefighters had a busy Monday morning, responding to a house fire in the Loughborough area and a gas leak hours later at the El Portal Medical Plaza.
A 25-year-old man faces DUI charges after crashing his car into a light pole Thursday in the 1700 block of Grogan Avenue in South Merced, police reported Friday.
MERCED This year is shaping up to be a remarkable time for fans of hip-hop music in Merced. Case in point, just last month, hip hop pioneer KRS-One blessed the microphone for a sold-out crowd at The Partisan. Many consider KRS-One the most prolific rap artist to visit the city in recent memory. On Saturday, hip-hop aficionados will be treated to a performance by another well-known rapper in the hip-hop pantheon, as the Gift of Gab, one half of the duo Blackalicious, takes the stage at the Partisan.
MERCED For those interested in kicking off their shoes and letting loose on the dance floor, the place to be this weekend is "Debbie Club." The dance party event is scheduled from 8 to 11 p.m. Sunday at the Make It Happen dance studio, 451 W. 18th St. It's an all-ages event, and admission is $2.
No injuries were reported Monday in a house fire near K and 10th streets in south Merced, fire officials said.
MERCED A woman who was burned in an east Merced house fire has died. Lindsea Crabb, 22, died Tuesday afternoon in a burn unit at Community Regional Medical Center in Fresno, according to family members and hospital officials. Crabb was one of six people who were injured in the fire, reported just after 5:30 a.m. Monday at the 2321 Green St. residence.
MERCED Six people were injured after a large fire broke out Monday morning inside a three-bedroom home in east Merced.
Three of the injuries were burn-related and three were because of smoke inhalation, according to Engineer Jim Evans of the Merced Fire Department. One of the injured was burned while trying to rescue others at the house.
Three former executives of the defunct nonprofit Firm Build are looking at spending nearly two years in prison after being convicted Monday of violating federal asbestos laws.
Rudy Buendia III, 50; Patrick Bowman, 46; and Joseph Cuellar, 73, each pleaded guilty to one felony count of breaking the National Emissions Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants law regarding the cancer-causing substance.
