Category: Press Releases

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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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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On December 16, 2022, in Department 10 of the Tulare County Superior Court, the court sentenced Joseph Allen Hughes, age 45, to life in prison for the 2006 murder of his wife, Sonia. On September 25, 2006, Hughes was released from custody for theft related offenses. On October 6, Hughes contacted the Visalia Police Department…
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District Attorney Tim Ward has announced criminal charges related to child abuse in the city of Tulare. Michael Francis, age 46, Priscilla Roshell, age 27, are each charged with two counts of torture and child abuse under circumstances or conditions like to cause great bodily injury or death. The crimes carry a maximum of life…
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District Attorney Tim Ward is pleased to announce the promotion of District Attorney Investigator Martha Rodriguez to supervisor. A nine-year veteran of the Bureau of Investigations, Rodriguez has worked in a variety of assignments including the public integrity unit and is a founding member of the Bureau’s Peer Support Team. In addition, Rodriguez served as…
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District Attorney Tim Ward has announced criminal charges related to animal abuse in the county. Cesar Flores, age 51, is charged with 44 felony counts of cruelty to animals. He was arraigned on the charges yesterday afternoon and pleaded not guilty. The court released Flores on supervised own recognizance with a GPS monitor. Prosecutors raised…
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On Thursday, December 1, 2022, in Department 5 of the Tulare County Superior Court, the court sentenced gang member Myles Gonzales, age 20, to life in prison for two 2020 shootings. Around 4:55 pm on December 8, 2020, Gonzales, another adult male, and a male juvenile started a verbal altercation with three adult males inside…
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On November 21, 2022, the California Board of Parole Hearings issued a 5-year denial of parole for Kevin Black, age 52, for his 2002 conviction for child molestation against multiple victims. He is currently serving his sentence at Chuckawalla Valley State Prison in Blythe. The crimes were committed between September 1, 2000, and July 3,…
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At a virtual hearing on November 18, 2022, TCDA prosecutors secured a 5-year denial of parole for Mario Villa, age 60, in the 1996 murder of a man on New Year’s Day in Orosi. Villa is currently serving his life sentence at the California Men’s Colony in San Luis Obispo. On January 1, 1996, the…
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On November 15, 2022, in Department 6 of the Tulare County Superior Court, Visalia Division, the court sentenced Javier Gonzalez, age 35, to 40 years-to-life in prison for child molestation. Gonzalez will also be required to register as a sex offender for the remainder of his life. On October 13, 2022, Gonzalez pleaded no contest…
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Late yesterday afternoon in Department 17 of the South County Justice Center in Porterville, a jury convicted Victor Lopez, age 37, of 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 for a welfare…
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On October 31, 2022, in Department 17 of the Tulare County Superior Court, a jury convicted Frankie Julian Ponce, age 32, of assault with a firearm, felon in possession of a firearm, and felon in possession of ammunition. On November 3, 2022, after a second phase of trial per Assembly Bill 333, the jury also…
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For the sixth 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 $179,400 grant will continue to fund a Vertical Prosecution team through September 2023, primarily for felony DUI with…
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At a virtual hearing on November 1, 2022, TCDA prosecutors secured a 3-year denial of parole for Eddie Brown, age 60, in the 2001 murder of a Visalia woman. Brown is currently serving his life sentence at the California Men’s Colony in San Luis Obispo. Brown and the victim, 33-year-old Bridget Colmore, had been in…
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Today in Department 10 of the Tulare County Superior Court, the court sentenced Tulare man Servando Lopez, age 58, to life in prison for a DUI crash that killed two victims and injured a third. At 3:30 pm on July 8, 2017, the victims’ vehicle was stopped at a red light at the northbound intersection…
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Yesterday in Department 22 of the Tulare County Superior Court, South County Justice Center, the court sentenced Jose Cardenas, age 23, and Tony Gentry, age 24, to prison for their involvement in 2017 shooting that killed an adult male. On January 1, 2017, Porterville Police Department officers were dispatched to an apartment on North D…
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At virtual hearings on October 25, 2022, TCDA prosecutors secured two denials of parole for crimes committed in the south county. Clint Livermore, age 43, received a 3-year denial of parole for the 2001 murder of a young woman. Also in attendance at the hearing were victim advocates and the victim’s family. Livermore is currently…
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Late yesterday in Department 6 of the Tulare County Superior Court, Visalia Division, a jury found Armando Martinez, age 37, guilty of six counts of sexual intercourse with a child ten years of age or younger, one count of oral copulation with a child ten years of age or younger, nineteen counts of forcible lewd…
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Today in Department 18 of the South County Justice Center, the court sentenced Sergio Astorga-Medrano, age 42, to 4 years in custody for possessing a large quantity of narcotics for sale in his home. On August 4, 2022, deputies with the Tulare County Sheriff’s Office and agents with the Drug Enforcement Administration arrested Astorga-Medrano after…
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Today in Tulare County Juvenile Court, Judge Hugo Loza sentenced a 15-year-old minor for his role in the 2020 fire that destroyed the Porterville Library and claimed the lives of two firefighters. Witnesses testified that on the afternoon of February 18, 2020, two minors, who were both 13-years-old at the time, were present in the…
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Yesterday in Department 4 of the Tulare County Superior Court, Visalia Division, the court sentenced Marwin McDarment, age 44, to 216 years-to-life in state prison 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…
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At a virtual hearing on September 14, 2022, TCDA prosecutors secured a 3-year denial of parole for Javier Perez, age 61, for the 1995 murder of his sister in Exeter. Perez is currently serving a life sentence at San Quentin State Prison near San Francisco. On October 29, 1995, Perez, his wife, and several family…
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Yesterday in Department 6 of the Tulare County Superior Court, Visalia Division, the court sentenced Juan Gutierrez, age 30, to 40 years-to-life in prison for child molestation. Gutierrez will also be required to register as a sex offender for the remainder of his life. On July 29, 2022, Gutierrez pleaded no contest to one count…
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Today in front of nearly 500 California prosecutors and district attorney investigators, Tulare County District Attorney Tim Ward was sworn in as president of the California District Attorneys Association (CDAA) at its annual summer conference in southern California. “It has been my distinct privilege to have served on the CDAA board and today being sworn-in…
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