Free Republic

FRESNO, Calif. — U.S. District Judge Dale A. Drozd sentenced a Turlock man today to two years and three months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release for purposefully striking a Stanislaus County Sheriff’s helicopter with the beam of a powerful laser, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced.In March 2018, Roger Shane John, 34, pleaded guilty. According to court documents, on the evening of Oct. 22, 2017, John struck a Stanislaus County Sheriff’s helicopter, Air 101, five to six times with a powerful green laser, causing visual interference of both the pilot and tactical flight...

California Democrats are building a wall of money to defend the congressional seats they took from Republicans in 2018, new Federal Election Commission financial reports show *** In the Central Valley, Rep. Josh Harder, D-Turlock (Stanislaus County), took in $789,093 in the quarter that ended March 31, leaving him with $3.5 million in campaign cash. His Republican opponent, veterinarian Ted Howze, raised $71,147 in the first quarter, leaving him with $100,575 in the bank. *** Brian Maryott, a San Juan Capistrano city councilman, is challenging Democratic Rep. Mike Levin in a district that bridges San Diego and Orange counties. But...

Prominent Modesto criminal defense attorney Frank Carson, along with eight others including three California HIghway Patrol Officers were arrested Friday for their suspected involved in the 2012 death of Korey Kauffman. The 26-year-old Turlock man, was found dead in Mariposa County a year and a half after he went missing.

Vandals damaged about a dozen flags put up in downtown for Turlock’s big parade, jumping to pull the stars and stripes down with their weight, severely bending the poles. The flags drooped down nearly to the sidewalk. If we’re talking money, it’s about $500 worthe of damage. But of course, we’re talking about the flag, so it goes deeper than that.

"Pazin said. He called the crime "barbaric," saying the heat from the fire was so intense, the plastic zip-ties around Avina's feet had melted into her flesh. "She was bound and literally left for dead," Pazin said. Investigators believe the suspects in the case tied Avina at her hands and feet, placed a bag over her head and sometime early Wednesday morning drove her to a location on South Avenue in the Ballico area, between Pepper Street and Ballico Avenue."

TURLOCK -- Police shot and killed a man who allegedly opened fire on an officer this morning. The officer is hospitalized in stable condition. The police officer, whose name was not released, was following a Toyota Camry near Geer Road and Hawkeye Avenue about 12:30 a.m., police spokeswoman Rosemary Howser said. A computer check showed the license plate belonged to a Chervrolet. The officer called for backup to pull the car over, but did not turn his lights or siren, Howser said. The car pulled into an apartment complex parking lot in the 1000 block of Geer; two men took...