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Visalia Man Sentenced to Life in Prison for Wife’s Murder

Today in Department 10 of the Tulare County Superior Court, Visalia Division, the court sentenced Thomas Van Es, age 41, to 50 years-to-life in prison for the 2022 murder of his wife. Van Es had separated from the victim, his wife, in January of 2022. On June 9, 2022, he sent her a series of…
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District Attorney Promotes Two in Bureau of Investigations

District Attorney Tim Ward is pleased to announce the promotions of Gregg White to the position of Assistant Chief Investigator and Paul Esquibel to Supervising Criminal Investigator in the office’s Bureau of Investigations. Gregg White is a former Marine who started his career in law enforcement with the Tulare County Sheriff’s Office in 1996. He…
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Parole Again Denied for Tulare Woman Who Murdered Husband in 1987 for Financial Gain

At a virtual hearing on March 14, 2023, TCDA prosecutors secured a three-year denial of parole for June Gravlee, age 68, for the 1987 murder of her husband. Gravlee is currently serving a life sentence at the California Institution for Women in Corona. In 1990, Gravlee was convicted of first-degree murder with the special circumstance…
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Former Law Enforcement Officer Sentenced to Prison for Rape

Today in Department 10 of the Tulare County Superior Court, Visalia Division, the court sentenced former law enforcement officer Oscar Robles, age 30, to 10 years, 8 months in prison for a series of sexual assaults. The crimes were committed against two victims between April 2017 and January 2018 in Tulare County. In each crime,…
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Porterville Man Convicted of Child Molestation

On Friday, March 3, 2023, in Department 6 of the Tulare County Superior Court, Visalia Division, TCDA prosecutors secured a guilty verdict against Natharan Giovanni Ruiz, age 30, for child molestation against four separate victims. At trial, the jury found Ruiz guilty of one count of oral copulation with a minor under the age of…
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Victim Advocate Promoted to Supervisor

District Attorney Tim Ward is pleased to announce the promotion of long-time District Attorney staff member Nicole Burnham to the position of Supervising Victim Advocate. A native of Tulare County, Burnham has served in the Office of the District Attorney since 2003. After supporting prosecutors in the office’s juvenile division, Burnham transitioned to the position…
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Criminal Charges Filed in Visalia Murder, Hammer Attack

District Attorney Tim Ward has announced criminal charges related to a homicide and a subsequent violent incident in Visalia on February 20, 2023. Michael Major, age 54, is charged with one count of murder with the special allegations of use of a deadly weapon, and that the incident constituted a hate crime. Against the same…
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G. Daniel Walker Denied Parole 14th Time for 1973 Murder

On February 14, 2023, at a virtual hearing, TCDA prosecutors secured a three-year denial of parole for Gerald Daniel Walker, age 91, for murder. Walker is currently serving a life sentence at the California Health Care Facility in Stockton. On February 27, 1973, deputies at the Tulare County Sheriff’s Office received a call from Beverly…
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Parole Denied for Vicious 1985 Murder, Sexual Assault

At a virtual hearing on February 8, 2023, TCDA prosecutors secured a three-year denial of parole for Darrin Little, age 59, for murder and sexual assault. Little is currently serving a life sentence at Valley State Prison in Chowchilla. On the morning of May 2, 1985, first responders were dispatched to a structure fire at…
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Guilty Verdict in Dairyman’s Murder

Yesterday afternoon in Department 10 of the Tulare County Superior Court in Visalia, prosecutors secured a guilty verdict against Visalia man Jorge Rivera, age 29, in the 2019 shooting death of local dairyman Anthony “Tony” Dragt. On September 3, 2019, Rivera, an ex-employee of the victim, shot the victim multiple times with a 9mm handgun…
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Gang Member Denied Parole for 1998 Murder

At a virtual hearing on February 2, 2023, TCDA prosecutors secured a 3-year denial of parole for Jesus Legaspy, age 41, for the 1998 murder of a 17-year-old. Legaspy is currently serving a life sentence at Folsom State Prison. Around 2:00 am the morning of June 4, 1998, Legaspy, a known gang member, was walking…
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Goshen Homicide Case Update

Today in Department 16 of the Tulare County Superior Court in Porterville, Goshen homicide defendant Noah Beard, 25, was arraigned on multiple criminal charges including first-degree murder. Beard entered a plea of not guilty and is being held on no bail. A preliminary hearing conference is scheduled for February 16 at 8:30 am in Department…
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Visalia Man Found Guilty of Murdering Wife

Today in Department 5 of the Tulare County Superior Court, Visalia Division, prosecutors secured a guilty verdict against Thomas Van Es, age 41, for the 2022 murder of his wife. Van Es had separated from the victim, his wife, in January of 2022. On June 9, 2022, he sent her a series of text messages…
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Visalia Man Sentenced for Fatal DUI Motorcycle Crash

On January 26, 2023, in Department 18 of the Tulare County Superior Court, South County Justice Center, the court sentenced Dominic Casarez, age 24, to 24 years in prison for a DUI crash that took the life of a 58-year-old victim. On September 22, 2021, around 2:30 a.m., CHP officers responded to a traffic collision…
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Porterville Man Sentenced to Life in Prison for Wife’s Murder

Today in Department 17 of the South County Justice Center in Porterville, the court sentenced Victor Lopez, age 37, to 25 years-to-life in prison for the 2018 murder of his 31-year-old wife, Samantha Quintanar-Lopez. Around 10 am on November 27, 2018, Tulare County Sheriff’s Department deputies were dispatched to 1127 E Date Ave in Porterville…
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Prosecutors Secure Guilty Verdict in Decades Old Child Molestation Case

On January 24, 2023, in Department 17 of the Tulare County Superior Court, South County Justice Center, a jury convicted Patrick McNeil, age 65, originally of Lindsay, of child molestation. In 1993, Tulare County law enforcement began an investigation into McNeil after reports of inappropriate conduct with two minor females ages 9 and 14. After…
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State Prison Sentence in DUI Death

Yesterday in Department 5 of the Tulare County Superior Court, Visalia Division, the court sentenced Bryan Buhl, age 45, of Visalia, to 19 years in state prison for a DUI crash that took the life of 55-year-old motorcyclist John Bolin. On Thursday, July 2nd, 2020, at 8:30 p.m. while driving his van on Caldwell near…
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Parole Denied for 19th Time in 1975 Double Murder

On Friday, January 20, 2023, at a virtual hearing, TCDA prosecutors secured a 3-year denial of parole for Henry Borbon, age 85. Borbon is currently serving a life sentence at the California Substance Abuse Facility in Corcoran. In the afternoon of February 28, 1975, Borbon and co-defendant Joe Perez murdered victims Richard Gaither and Rosie…
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Two Sentenced to Life in Prison for 2021 Shooting

Today the Tulare County Superior Court handed down the second of two life sentences in a 2021 Visalia murder.  On July 28, 2021, at the Bowlero Bowling Alley in Visalia, defendant Derick Patel, age 25, and others accused the victims’ group of stealing a wallet. At 11:58 pm at the intersection of Caldwell and Mooney,…
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Life Without Parole Sentence in Drug Robbery Killing

Today in Department 10 of the Tulare County Superior Court in Visalia, the court sentenced Noah Fox, age 23, to life in prison without the possibility of parole for the 2017 murder of a 19-year-old man during a drug robbery in Visalia. On May 28, 2017, Fox and Kalvin Solis, age 24, conspired to rob…
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Life Without Parole Sentence in Drug Robbery Killing

Today in Department 10 of the Tulare County Superior Court in Visalia, the court sentenced Noah Fox, age 23, to life in prison without the possibility of parole for the 2017 murder of a 19-year-old man during a drug robbery in Visalia. On May 28, 2017, Fox and Kalvin Solis, age 24, conspired to rob…
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Porterville Man Sentenced to Over 600 Years in Prison for Child Molestation

Today in Department 6 of the Tulare County Superior Court, Visalia Division, the court sentenced Armando Martinez, age 37, to 612 years-to-life in prison for child molestation. On October 19, 2022, a jury found Martinez guilty of six counts of sexual intercourse with a child ten years of age or younger, one count of oral…
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District Attorney Tim Ward Sworn In to New Term

This morning in Visalia, Tim Ward was sworn in to his third full term as Tulare County District Attorney. The oath of office was administered by Visalia Mayor Brian Poochigian. “I am again honored to lead the men and women of this office through what I believe are challenging times for prosecutors and law enforcement,”…
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Third Striker Sentenced to Life in Prison

On December 20, 2022, in Department 17 of the Tulare County Superior Court, the court sentenced Bennie Valdez, age 27, to life in prison for a 2018 crime that resulted in a third “strike” under California’s Three Strikes Law. Near midnight on November 15, 2018, Tulare Police Department officers were dispatched to an apartment complex…
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