For the 9th straight year, District Attorney Tim Ward is pleased to announce the award of a California Office of Traffic Safety Grant to help prosecute cases of driving under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol. The $257,000 grant will continue to fund a Vertical Prosecution team through September 2026, primarily for felony DUI with…
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On November 20, 2025, in Department 6 of the Tulare County Superior Court, the court sentenced Pauline Penaloza, age 54, to 4 years in prison for child abuse. Her husband, Jesus Penaloza, 50, was sentenced to life in prison in September 2025. In late February 2019, Sheriff’s deputies responded to a report of child abuse.…
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The Office of District Attorney is proud to announce the launch of its first podcast, Voces de Justicia (Voices of Justice), a Spanish language podcast exploring the inner workings of the DA’s office and the criminal justice system, cold cases, crime prevention, and culture. “We are excited to introduce a new way to reach our…
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On Wednesday, November 12, 2025, in Department 10 of the Tulare County Superior Court, Visalia Division, the court sentenced Derli Ramirez, age 26, to life in prison for crimes against children. Ramirez pleaded no contest to crimes in two separate cases. PCF411736 – On December 25, 2020, a California Highway Patrol officer responded to concerned…
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On November 5, 2025, TCDA prosecutors secured a 3-year denial of parole for Rogelio Barrera, age 34, in the 2015 murder of his roommate. Barrera is currently incarcerated at the Correctional Training Facility in Soledad. On June 27, 2015, Barrera and the male victim got into an argument at their rented residence in Cutler. Barrera,…
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On October 28, 2025, TCDA prosecutors secured a 5-year denial of parole for Salvador Lopez, age 65, who is currently serving a life sentence for crimes against children. Lopez is serving his sentence at Mule Creek State Prison in Ione. Between 1999 and 2001, Lopez sexually assaulted two minor female children aged 11 to 13…
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