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Category: 2022 Press Releases

Visalia Man Convicted of Attempted Murder, Arson

On August 24, 2022, in Department 10 of the Tulare County Superior Court, a jury found Mark Martin, age 37, guilty of attempted murder of four people and arson. Around 6:38 pm on February 7, 2021, Super Bowl Sunday, Martin broke into the garage of his ex-girlfriend with whom he has two young children. His…
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Arson Charge for Teen in Connection with 2020 Porterville Library Fire

Yesterday in Tulare County Juvenile Court, Judge Hugo Loza dismissed murder charges against two 15-year-old minors in the deaths of two Porterville firefighters. Witnesses testified that on the afternoon of February 18, 2020, the minors, who were both 13-years-old at the time, were present in the children’s reading area. Evidence showed that one minor said…
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Department of Corrections Advocates for Reduced Sentence of Career Criminal, Superior Court Grants Request

Today in Department 6 of the Tulare County Superior Court, the court granted re-sentencing for Hector Salazar, age 39, for the 2013 home invasion of a Ducor residence. On May 29, 2013, Salazar and two men entered the home of a Ducor man. Upon entering, they pummeled the victim and restrained his arms, legs, and…
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Exeter Man Who Buried His Wife Alive Denied Parole

At a virtual hearing on August 2, 2022, TCDA prosecutors secured a 5-year denial of parole for Cesar Navarro, age 44, for the 1998 murder of his wife. Also in attendance were victim advocates and the victim’s family. Navarro is currently serving his sentence at the California Men’s Colony in San Luis Obispo. On December…
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Man Convicted of Attempted Murder of Police Officers

On August 8, 2022, in Department 17 of the Tulare County Superior Court, TCDA prosecutors secured a guilty verdict for Marwin McDarment, age 44, for the attempted murder and assault with a firearm of multiple peace officers during a 2011 shootout on the Tule River Reservation. On September 9, 2011, after an argument in the…
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Life Sentence Handed Down in 2018 Farmersville Murder

On August 5, 2022, in Tulare County Superior Court, the court sentenced Harbhajan Mundi, 65, to 77 years-to-life in prison for the 2018 murder of a man in Farmersville. On December 16, 2021, a jury found Mundi guilty of first-degree murder, mayhem, and assault with a firearm with the special allegations that he personally and…
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District Attorney Launches Cold Case Website, Asks for Public Assistance

District Attorney Tim Ward has announced the launch of a cold case website in an effort to shine new light on unsolved Tulare County homicides. “In 2019, we created the Cold Case Homicide Unit to assist allied law enforcement agencies in their efforts to bring justice to waiting families,” said District Attorney Ward. “The unit…
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DNA Leads to Murder Charges in 2008 Tulare Cold Case

District Attorney Tim Ward has announced criminal charges related to the 2008 shooting death of Tulare man Hernan Diaz, age 21. Luis Villarreal, age 34, is charged with one count of murder with the special allegations that he personally and intentionally discharged a firearm causing great bodily injury, that he possess multiple prior strike and…
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Registered Sex Offender Sentenced to Life in Prison

Today in Department 10 of the Tulare County Superior Court, the court sentenced Sidney Russell, age 64, to 75 years-to-life in prison for child molestation. On May 17, 2022, a jury convicted Russell of two felony counts of forcible lewd act upon a child under the age of 14. The court further found true that…
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Felony Charges Filed in Drug Transportation Arrests

District Attorney Tim Ward has announced criminal charges against two Washington men for transporting large quantities of controlled substances through Tulare County. According to police reports, just before 7:30 pm on Friday, June 24, 2022, Tulare County High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Unit investigators were called to the area of Highway 99 and Tulare Ave.…
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Visalia Man Sentenced to Life in Prison for Murder of Girlfriend

Today in Department 5 of the Tulare County Superior Court, the court sentenced Anthony Martin, age 23, to life in prison for the 2019 murder of his girlfriend in Visalia. In the early morning of October 5, 2019, Martin and his girlfriend of two years had an argument on the drive back to her Visalia…
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Parole Denied in 1994 Double Murder

In a virtual hearing on June 15, 2022, TCDA prosecutors secured a 3-year denial of parole for Aristeo Alvarado, age 58, for the 1994 shooting deaths of two men and the wounding of a third in the south county. Alvarado is currently serving a life sentence at Folsom State Prison. On April 24, 1994, Alvarado…
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Six Charged with Drug Offenses, Human Trafficking, Sex Crimes

District Attorney Tim Ward has announced criminal charges against six people involved in an alleged drug cultivation and human trafficking operation located in Tulare County. The crimes are believed to have started in 2021. Charges were formally filed with the court on Friday, June 10, 2022. Charged are 22-year-old Oswald Lopez of Farmersville, 43-year-old Armando…
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Parents Sentenced for Death of Baby

Today in Department 6 of the Tulare County Superior Court, the court formally sentenced married couple Daniel Ramirez and Angela Jimenez-Ramirez, both 35, for the 2014 death of their 3-month-old daughter. On April 26, 2022, a Tulare County jury found Daniel Ramirez guilty of felony involuntary manslaughter and felony child abuse. In addition, he was…
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Bakersfield Man Sentenced to Life in Prison for Elder Murder

Late yesterday afternoon at the South County Justice Center in Porterville, the court sentenced Giovanni Abujalil, age 32, to life in prison for the murder of this father. On May 16, 2022, Abujalil pleaded guilty to first-degree murder and felony elder abuse. He also admitted to using a knife during the crime. On January 27,…
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Tulare Man Found Guilty of Throwing Molotov Cocktail at Police Vehicle

Yesterday afternoon at the South County Justice Center in Porterville, a jury convicted Bruce Creamer, age 63, for attempting to destroy a Tulare Police Department vehicle. Just before 6:00 pm on November 9, 2021, Tulare Police Department officers received radio information that a marked police department vehicle, a Chevy Silverado, was on fire in the…
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Registered Sex Offender Convicted of Child Molestation

Yesterday in Department 10 of the Tulare County Superior Court, TCDA Crimes against Children prosecutors secured a guilty verdict for Sidney Russell, age 64, for child molestation. Russell was convicted of two felony counts of forcible lewd act upon a child under the age of 14. The court further found true that Russell possessed prior…
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Eleven Arrested for Welfare Fraud

Last week, criminal investigators from the District Attorney’s Bureau of Investigations served 12  felony arrest warrants and 6 misdemeanor arrest warrants for suspects wanted for allegedly committing welfare fraud in Tulare County. The following individuals were arrested and either booked into the Tulare County Jail Facilities or cited and released:      -Ja Lee See, 35,…
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Men Charged with Multiple Ag Equipment Thefts

District Attorney Tim Ward has announced criminal charges relating to recent agricultural equipment thefts in Tulare County. Today, TCDA prosecutors charged Pedro Coronado, age 37, and Alexis Avalos, age 22, both of Lamont, with four counts of felony grand theft and one felony count of receiving stolen property exceeding $950 in value. For Coronado, the…
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Men Sentenced to Life in Prison for 2021 Murder

Today in Department 17 of the Tulare County Superior Court, the court sentenced Julio Madrigal, age 32, and Jose Barraza, age 41, to life in prison for murder. On May 21, 2021, the male victim sat in the front passenger seat of a parked car in the City of Tulare with his girlfriend, the female…
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Farmersville Man Sentenced to Life in Prison for Murder

Today in Tulare County Superior Court, Visalia Division, the court sentenced Alexander Shinn, age 28, to life in prison for the 2018 murder of his roommate. In the early morning of December 8, 2018, after several weeks of tension in their Farmersville residence, Shinn bludgeoned his 25-year-old roommate with a metal bar while he was…
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Arson Charges Filed in Downtown Visalia Fire

District Attorney Tim Ward has announced criminal charges related to a fire in downtown Visalia on May 1, 2022. Jessie Hager, age 56, is charged with two felony counts of arson for allegedly starting a dumpster fire that spread to nearby businesses. An arraignment is scheduled this afternoon where a future court date will be…
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Parents Found Guilty of Child Abuse, Death of Baby

Yesterday afternoon in Department 6 of the Tulare County Superior Court, a jury found married couple Daniel Ramirez and Angela Jimenez-Ramirez, both 35, guilty in the death of their 3-month-old daughter. Daniel Ramirez was found guilty of felony involuntary manslaughter and felony child abuse. In addition, he was found guilty of the special allegations of…
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District Attorney to Host Victims of Crime Memorial Ceremony

The public is invited to observe National Crime Victims’ Rights Week 2022 at the District Attorney’s annual memorial quilt unveiling at 6 pm on Monday, May 2 at the Visalia Convention Center Charter Oak Ballroom. Since 1981, National Crime Victims’ Rights Week has brought attention to the millions of Americans impacted by crime and the…
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Exeter Man Sentenced to Life in Prison for Third Strike

On Friday April 8, 2022, in Tulare County Superior Court, Visalia Division, the court sentenced Jimmy Reed, age 47, to life in prison for violent crimes. On May 27, 2021, a jury found Reed guilty of attempted murder, assault, domestic violence, and attempted criminal threats. Numerous charges are enhanced with special allegations that Reed caused…
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