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Category: 2021 Press Releases

Jury Reaches First-Degree Murder Verdict in Farmersville Shooting

On December 16, 2021, a jury found Harbhajan Mundi, 64, guilty of first-degree murder, mayhem, and assault with a firearm with the special allegations that he personally and intentionally discharged a firearm causing great bodily injury or death. On December 22, 2021, the same jury determined that Mundi was sane during the commission of the…
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TCDA Bureau of Investigations Abduction Unit Recovers Children from Queens, New York

On December 16, 2021, two children, ages four and six, were returned to their father by the Bureau of Investigation’s Child Abduction Unit. Investigators traveled to Queens, New York, to locate the children and their mother, Chanel Pensotti. Pensotti violated custody orders by leaving the state with her children. Tulare County Superior Court Judge Tara…
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Visalia Man Sentenced to Life in Prison for 2018 Murder

Today the court sentenced Jeremy Kechloian, age 47, to 68 years, 8 months-to-life in prison after prosecutors secured a guilty verdict in the 2018 murder of a man at the former Visalia Kmart store and the subsequent assault of law enforcement officers during his time in custody. On May 9, 2018, around 5:30 pm, Kechloian…
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Charges Filed in Alleged Retail Theft

District Attorney Tim Ward has announced criminal charges related to an alleged theft of merchandise from a popular Visalia electronics store on December 14, 2021. Mikey Manning, 24, and Debanee Harrell, 34, both of Fresno, are alleged to have stolen several smart tablets, speakers, a doorbell camera, and other electronics from Best Buy in Visalia.…
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District Attorney Awarded Office of Traffic Safety DUI Prosecution Grant

For the fifth 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 $175,000 grant will continue to fund a Vertical Prosecution team through September 2022, primarily for felony DUI with…
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Visalia Man Convicted of Daytime Assault with a Firearm at Gas Station

Late in the afternoon of Friday, December 10, 2021, a jury found Cotis Smith, Jr., 33, guilty of felony assault with a firearm with the special allegation of use of a firearm, and felony shooting at an occupied vehicle. Prior to trial, Smith pleaded to felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition. At approximately…
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Visalia Man Convicted of Murder in 2018 Department Store Stabbing

Tulare County juries have found Visalia man Jeremy Kechloian, age 47, guilty of the 2018 murder of a man at the former Visalia Kmart store and the subsequent assault of law enforcement officers during his time in custody. On May 9, 2018, around 5:30 pm, Kechloian entered Kmart in Visalia with a knife visible in…
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Men Charged In Terra Bella Murder

District Attorney Tim Ward has announced criminal charges in the October 14, 2021, death of a man in an orchard near Terra Bella in Tulare County. On November 1, 2021, the Office of the District Attorney charged Manuel Quintero, 38, and Jesus Manjarrez, 23, with murder and felony conspiracy to commit a crime. The charges…
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Court Rules That All Charges Remain in Tulare Hospital Case

On November 16, 2021, Tulare County Superior Court Judge Michael Sheltzer ruled against a demurrer filed by former Healthcare Conglomerate Associates (HCAA) executives Benny Benzeevi, Alan Germany, and HCAA counsel Bruce Greene. The demurrer proceedings by the defendants sought to dismiss criminal charges regarding alleged public corruption related to the administration of healthcare facilities in…
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Further Information Requested in Child Death

The Office of the District Attorney is requesting further investigative information regarding the November 8, 2021, death of a child. It is alleged that the child suffered internal injuries on November 3, 2021, at a Visalia home daycare. “An incident as tragic and intricate as this requires a significant amount of information to make a…
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Porterville Man Convicted of Domestic Violence

Yesterday in Department 17 of the South County Justice Center in Porterville, a jury convicted Dylan Snow, age 26, of felony corporal injury to a spouse or girlfriend with the special allegation that the act caused great bodily injury. On September 25, 2019, Snow was invited over to the female victim’s apartment. While at the…
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Veteran TCDA Investigator Promoted to Supervisor

District Attorney Tim Ward is pleased to announce the promotion of Criminal Investigator John Lee to supervisor. John Lee has been a criminal investigator with the Office of the District Attorney for nearly 12 years. Prior to that, he was Tulare County Sheriff’s Deputy for 13 years. Lee brought with him from TCSO an extensive…
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Governor Signs TCDA Sponsored Legislation for Victims of Revenge Pornography

On October 4, 2021, Governor Gavin Newsom announced the signing of Senate Bill 23. Authored by Senator Susan Rubio and co-sponsored by the Tulare County District Attorney’s Office and the California District Attorneys Association (CDAA), the bill strengthens protections for victims of revenge porn by extending the statute of limitations to one year from discovery,…
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Mother Sentenced for Child Death in Hot Car

Over the fervent objection of prosecutors, Department 5 of the Tulare County Superior Court sentenced Eustajia Dominguez Mojica, 29, to one year in jail with time served, four years felony probation, and 8 years, 8 months suspended state prison for the heat exposure death of her three-year-old daughter. A ‘suspended’ term means that it is…
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Porterville Man Convicted of Attempted Murder

Late in the afternoon of October 4, 2021, at the South County Justice Center in Porterville, a jury found Carlos Santos Moreno, age 41, guilty of premeditated attempted murder with the special allegation of using a firearm causing great bodily injury, shooting at an occupied vehicle, assault with a firearm, and being a felon in…
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Prosecutors Secure First-Degree Murder Conviction in 1994 Shooting

In the late afternoon of October 1, 2021, a Tulare County jury returned a guilty verdict for Marlon Darnell Edwards, age 47, in the 1994 shooting murder of a man during a drug deal. After a night of drinking on January 4, 1994, the victim, Mario Castaneda, and his friends decided to get drugs and…
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Convicted Child Molester Sentenced to 900+ Years in Prison

On Friday, October 1, 2021, the Tulare County Superior Court sentenced Visalia man Armando Kassaz, age 64, to 960 years-to-life for child molestation. On August 20, 2021, Kassaz was convicted by a jury of 64 counts of lewd act upon a child under the age of 14. Each count is a felony. The jury also…
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Husband and Wife Gang Members Sentenced for Tulare Violent Crimes

Today at the South County Justice Center in Porterville, the court concluded sentencing for Johnny Garcia, age 39, and his wife Kristy Flores, age 41, for gang crimes committed in the city of Tulare in late 2020. On November 19, 2020, Garcia and Flores, both Fresno gang members, were staying at the Hampton Inn in…
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Men Who Violently Killed Dogs Sentenced

On September 24, 2021, the Tulare County Superior Court sentenced Angel Valencia, age 53, and Carlos Rivera, age 21, for the violent abuse of two dogs that resulted in their deaths. On August 12, 2021, both men pleaded to all charges filed against them: four felony counts of cruelty to an animal with the special…
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Pier Fire Defendants Sentenced

Today in Department 5 of the Tulare County Superior Court, the court sentenced four defendants for their involvement in the 2017 Pier Fire near Springville. On August 19, 2021, the defendants pleaded to the following felonies: Isiac Renteria, 23 – arson of a structure or forest, 4 counts of taking a vehicle without consent. Richard…
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Murder Charges Filed in DUI Car Vs. Motorcycle Crash

District Attorney Tim Ward has announced murder charges stemming from an alleged DUI crash in the early morning hours of September 22, 2021, on Orange Belt Drive in Porterville. The crash took the life of an adult male motorcyclist. On September 23, 2021, Dominic Casarez, age 23, was charged with second-degree murder, gross vehicular manslaughter,…
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Visalia Man Sentenced to Life in State Prison for Child Molestation

Yesterday in Department 6 of the Tulare County Superior Court, Visalia Division, the court sentenced Dennis Saenz Moreno, age 69, to 25 years-to-life in prison for child molestation. Moreno will also be required to register as a sex offender for the remainder of his life. On July 21, 2021, Moreno pleaded no contest to two…
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Man Convicted of Attempting to Kill Police Officer Sentenced to Life in Prison

Today in Department 17 of the South County Justice Center in Porterville, the court sentenced Fresno man Ignacio Lopez, age 37, to life in prison. On August 18, 2020, Tulare Police Department officers were on the lookout for a Chevy Impala thought to be involved in a shooting earlier that morning. An undercover unit located…
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District Attorney’s Office Mourns Passing of Veteran Criminal Investigator

Socrates said, “He is a man of courage who does not run away but remains at his post and fights against the enemy.” A fitting description for the finest of police officers, the requirement to be brave and to demonstrate courage. Courageous and brave was one such police officer, from the beginning of her career…
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Prison Sentences Handed Down in 2019 Tulare Murder

Today at the South County Justice Center in Porterville, the Court sentenced Fabian Nilo, age 27, to 36 years-to-life in prison for murder. Nilo’s sentencing was the final sentence handed down against five defendants involved in the case.   Around 1:45 am on May 21, 2019, Tulare Police Department officers were dispatched to Howard and…
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