Shortly after the brother of a Mongolian Boys Society member was killed in a Fresno home invasion in the early hours of Nov. 17, gang members met to plan a retaliatory hit. That is some of the new information revealed in the federal criminal complaint filed against three men for...
Hmong Murders: 4 Could Face Death Penalty, 7th Suspect Named
Four suspects in the Nov. 17 shooting deaths of four Hmong men in Fresno could face death penalty charges, Fresno County District Attorney Lisa Smittcamp announced Thursday afternoon. Three other suspects will also be charged in federal court. Anthony Montes (27 of Fresno), Porge Ku (26 of Fresno), Billy Xiong...
He Buried Fresno Man Alive. DA Urges Newsom to Deny Parole.
Gov. Jerry Brown twice blocked parole for the killer of a developmentally disabled Fresno man who was buried alive in 1980. Now the state Parole Board again has granted a parole date for David Weidert, who murdered 20-year-old Michael Morganti to cover up a $500 burglary Weidert committed. Fresno County...
Council Takes Aim at Leakers, Revises Cannabis Store Rules
The City Council approved its anti-leaker ordinance, with one amendment, by a 4-3 vote. The one change: if an elected leader is accused of illegally divulging confidential information, the council would considering hiring an independent counsel to decide whether to prosecute. Councilman Luis Chavez proposed the change to not force...
DA Smittcamp Makes Endorsement in Judge Race with Former Rival
Given its political logic, Fresno County District Attorney Lisa Smittcamp took little time making her choice official: she is supporting Douglas Treisman for judge. Treisman is a Senior Deputy District Attorney. Smittcamp is his boss. "Doug Treisman is the person everyone in the district attorney's office goes to when they...
Police ID Prime Suspect in 1996 Dorian Cold Case Murder
Fresno Police Chief Jerry Dyer says his department has identified the prime suspect in the 1996 rape and murder of Debbie Dorian. It is the same suspect that Visalia police arrested Wednesday in four cold-case sexual assaults: 52-year old Nickey Duane Stane. "Nickey Stane is every woman's nightmare," Fresno County...
AMOR Wellness Center Aims to Make Mendota a Healthier City
MENDOTA — Mendota residents who need to see a doctor or specialist now might have to travel 40 miles to the nearest hospital or specialty care clinic, but that's about to change. Health care and other social services will be provided in the AMOR Wellness Center, a rural health clinic...
DA Smittcamp Talks Gangs, Stolen Guns, Sentencing Reforms
Fresno County District Attorney Lisa Smittcamp is calling for a community-wide effort to prevent children from joining gangs. She also has a message for otherwise law-abiding citizens: Lock up your guns! If you don't, they could end up used in robberies and murders. Here is what Smittcamp has to say...
What Is Advance Peace? Group's Founder Explains.
On Monday, Fresno Mayor Lee Brand vetoed $200,000 earmarked by the city council in the 2019-20 budget for Advance Peace, an anti-gun violence initiative. Council members now have 30 days to attempt an override of the mayor's veto pen. The Advance Peace proposal has sparked controversy with opponents describing it...
Fresno Judge Is Latest to Rule New Murder Law Unconstitutional
Fresno County Superior Court Judge Brian Alvarez has ruled that a change made by the Legislature to the state's felony murder law is unconstitutional. His ruling adds to the growing divide about whether SB 1437, which was signed into law last year by Gov. Jerry Brown, violates the state constitution....