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Category: Press Releases

Strathmore Man Sentenced to Life in Prison for Attempted Murder of Sheriff’s Deputy

On May 18, 2018, in Department 17 of the Tulare County Superior Court, South County Justice Center, Judge Michael Sheltzer sentenced Michael Yocom, age 51, of Strathmore, to 40-years-to- life in prison for attempted murder. On January 16, 2018, a jury found Yocom guilty of attempted premeditated murder on a peace officer, assault on a…
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Lindsay Peeping Tom Sentenced to Jail, Lifetime Sex Offender Registration

On Friday, May 18, 2018, in Department 19 of the Tulare County Superior Court, South County Justice Center, Judge Antonio Reyes sentenced Jose Magana Ibarra, age 32, of Lindsay, to 120 days in jail, three years supervised probation, and lifetime registration as a sex offender. On February 9, 2018, a jury convicted Ibarra of one…
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Visalia Man Sentenced to State Prison for Carjacking

Yesterday in Department 10 of the Tulare County Superior Court, Visalia Division, Judge Kathryn Montejano sentenced Jose Contreras Casarez Jr, age 36, of Visalia, to 17 years in state prison for carjacking and other crimes. On March 23, 2018, Casarez pleaded no contest to one count of carjacking, one count of second-degree robbery, one count…
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District Attorney Investigators Arrest 27 for Welfare Fraud

On May 7 and 8, 2018, criminal investigators from the District Attorney’s Bureau of Investigationsserved 27 felony and misdemeanor arrest warrants for suspects wanted for allegedly committing welfare fraud in Tulare County. In addition, another four individuals wanted for felony welfare fraud charges surrendered themselves to the Tulare County Superior Court. The following individuals were arrested…
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Dinuba Man Sentenced for Lewd Act at Highway Rest Area

Today in Department 11 of the Tulare County Superior Court, Visalia Division, Judge Jennifer Shirk sentenced Brian Huerta, age 29, of Dinuba, for indecent exposure. On the previous day, a jury found Huerta guilty of one count of indecent exposure and one count of lewd conduct in public. Both counts are misdemeanors. On July 29,…
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Dinuba Man Denied Parole for 1989 Murder of Eight-Year-Old

On May 1, 2018, at the Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility near San Diego, a California parole board denied parole for Ramiro Bautista, age 71, for the 1989 shooting death of a child in Dinuba. Bautista was given a five-year denial and is not scheduled for another hearing until 2023. On April 16, 1989, the…
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Attempted Murderer Denied Parole for 1999 Shootings

On April 12, 2018, at Pelican Bay State Prison, a parole board denied parole for Eric Robles, age 40, for multiple shootings near downtown Visalia in 1999. Roble was given a five-year denial and is not eligible for another hearing until 2023. Early on July 15, 1999, Robles and a friend were drinking beers at…
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Dinuba Gang Member Sentenced to Life in Prison for Attempted Murder, Home Invasion

Yesterday afternoon in Department 5 of the Tulare County Superior Court, Visalia Division, Judge Joseph Kalashian sentenced Enrique Carrizales, age 29, of Dinuba, to 81 years-to-life in prison for committing attempted murder, and a violent gang home invasion attempted- robbery of a family of four including two young children. On November 17, 2017, a jury…
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Visalia Man Convicted of Child Molestation

Today in Department 6 of the Tulare County Superior Court, Visalia Division, Judge Gary Paden presiding, a jury found Joseph Baltezor, age 42, of Visalia, guilty of child molestation. Baltezor was convicted of 20 counts of lewd act on a child under the age of fourteen, one count of lewd act on a child aged…
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Governor Reverses Parole Board’s Decision to Release Murderer

On March 30, 2018, Governor Jerry Brown reversed the decision of a California parole board’srecommended release of convicted murderer Gerardo Zavala, age 46. The Office of the District Attorney strongly objected to Zavala’s release at his most recent parole hearing on November 8, 2017. On January 24, 2001, Zavala and two others lured a 17-year-old African-American minor…
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Porterville Man Convicted of First-Degree Murder

Today in Department 19 of the Tulare County Superior Court, South County Justice Center, Judge Antonio Reyes presiding, a jury convicted John Moisa IV, age 26, of Porterville, of one count of first-degree premeditated murder with the special allegation of intentional discharge of a firearm. Around 1:30 in the morning on August 25, 2013, the…
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Tulare Gang Member Sentenced to Life in Prison for Murder

Yesterday in Department 5 of the Tulare County Superior Court, Visalia Division, Judge Joseph Kalashian sentenced Frankie Hernandez, age 27, of Tulare, to 40 years-to-life in prison for murder. On January 24, 2018, a jury found Hernandez guilty of second-degree murder with the special allegations of using a gun and committing the murder for the…
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District Attorney’s Office to Observe National Crime Victims’ Rights Week with Memorial Quilt Unveiling

The public is invited to observe National Crime Victims’ Rights Week 2018 at the District Attorney’s annual memorial quilt unveiling at 6 pm on Tuesday, April 10 at the Visalia Convention Center Charter Oak Ballroom “A.” Speakers will include Ed Milam, the father of Sanger native Jessica Milam, who survived the Route 91 Harvest Festival shooting…
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Cutler Gang Member Sentenced to Life in Prison for Murder

Today in Department 6 of the Tulare County Superior Court, Visalia Division, Judge Gary Paden sentenced Fernando Prado, age 21, of Cutler, to 65 years-to-life in prison for murder. On August 10, 2017, Prado pleaded guilty to first-degree premeditated murder with the special allegations of intentional use of a firearm causing great bodily injury for…
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Visalia Craigslist Rental Scammer Sentenced

Today in Department 4 of the Tulare County Superior Court, Visalia Division, Judge Brett Alldredge sentenced Juan Manual Martinez, aka, Eddie Martinez, age 35, of Bakersfield, to two-hundred and ten days in jail plus restitution for real estate fraud. On December 11, 2017, Martinez pleaded no contest to one felony count of grand theft, one…
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Gang Leader Indicted, Arraigned on Multiple Murders

On Monday, March 26, 2018, in Department 10 of the Tulare County Superior Court, Visalia Division, Pedro Sanchez, age 34, of Lindsay, was arraigned on a grand jury indictment on sixteen felony counts including murder. The grand jury handed down its indictment on March 12, 2018. Sanchez is charged with five counts of first-degree murder…
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Charges Filed against St. Patrick’s Day Vandal

District Attorney Tim Ward has announced criminal charges against Frank Higareda, age 29, related to a series of vandalism incidents that occurred in downtown Visalia on March 17, 2018. Higareda is charged with nine felony counts of vandalism over $400 in damage. If convicted on all counts, Higareda faces the possibility of over 8 years…
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Human Trafficking Task Force Participates in Undercover Operation

In the evening of March 16, 2018, in the City of Visalia, the Tulare County Human Trafficking Task Force participated in an undercover operation organized by the Visalia Police Department. As a result, law enforcement arrested five individuals: Zoe Nachbar, age 24, Norma Alvarez-Garcia, age 19, Katrina Currey, age 22, Alonie Black, age 23, for…
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Investigators Conduct Compliance Check of Local Contractors and Service Companies

Investigators from the Tulare County District Attorney’s Office Workers’ CompensationFraud Unit conducted a two-day workers’ compensation insurance compliance check onMarch 7th and 8th, 2018, in Visalia and Porterville. The purpose of the compliance check was to inform and educate local employers of the requirements of carrying the proper state-mandated contractor’s license and workers’ compensation insurance. Investigators contacted…
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Strathmore Man Sentenced to Life in Prison for Child Molestation

Today in Department 10 of the Tulare County Superior Court, Visalia Division, Judge Kathryn Montejano sentenced Steven Curbow, age 40, of Strathmore, to 38-years-to-life in prison for child molestation. Curbow will also be required to register as a sex offender for the remainder of his life. On December 20, 2017, Curbow pleaded no contest to…
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Bus Assault Suspect Charged

District Attorney Tim Ward has announced criminal charges against Teresa Ann Madrigal, age 48, related to a March 5, 2018, incident on a Greyhound bus passing through Tulare County. Madrigal is charged with one count of attempted murder with the special allegations of use of a deadly weapon and infliction of great bodily injury, three…
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Visalia Man Denied Parole for 1994 Murder

Yesterday at Ironwood State Prison in Blythe, a California parole board denied parole for Angelo Morales, age 43, for murder. Morales received a three year denial and is not eligible for another hearing until 2021. On July 2, 1994, in Visalia, Morales stole an Oldsmobile sedan belonging to the victim, who was the ex-boyfriend of Morales’ girlfriend.…
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Third Striker Sentenced to Life in Prison

Yesterday in Department 10 of the Tulare County Superior Court, Visalia Division, Judge Kathryn Montejano sentenced Frank Luna, age 49, of Farmersville, to 35 years-to-life inprison under California’s Three Strikes law. On January 22, 2018, a jury found Luna guilty of assault with a deadly weapon. On January 23, 2018, the Court also found true…
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Lindsay Peeping Tom Convicted for Lewd Acts

On Friday, February 9, 2018, in Department 19 of the Tulare County Superior Court, South County Justice Center, Judge Antonio Reyes presiding, a jury convicted Jose Magana Ibarra, age 32, of Lindsay, of one count of indecent exposure and one count of lewd acts in public. Both counts are misdemeanors. At 6:30 in the morning…
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Sexually Violent Predator Committed to State Hospital

Yesterday in Department 6 of the Tulare County Superior Court, Visalia Division, Judge Gary Paden committed Jessie Pritchett, age 44, of Visalia, to the Coalinga State Hospital as a Sexually Violent Predator. Following trial, Pritchett was found to have a mental disorder that makes it likely he will engage in sexually violent behavior without treatment.…
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