California

OAKLAND, CA – Casey Robert Goonan, 35, of Oakland and Pleasant Hill, was sentenced to 235 months in federal prison on Sept. 23 after pleading guilty to a series of arson attacks and attempted firebombings targeting law enforcement and government facilities in June 2024. According to court records, Goonan admitted to placing six Molotov cocktails under a University of California Police Department patrol vehicle near the UC Berkeley campus on June 1, 2024, and setting the car on fire. He also attempted to firebomb the Ronald V. Dellums Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse in Oakland on June 11, 2024, by throwing rocks at the building and trying to ignite Molotov cocktails. Security officers interrupted the attempt, and Goonan fled, leaving the explosives burning in a planter nearby. ...

PINON HILLS, CA – A 30-year-old man was arrested after investigators uncovered evidence of cockfighting and illegal firearms during a search warrant in Pinon Hills. According to the San Bernardino County Sheriff-Coroner Department, investigators with the Rural Crimes Task Force served a warrant on September 24, 2025, at a residence in the 11500 block of Pinon Hills Road as part of an ongoing animal cruelty investigation. During the search, investigators located 35 game cocks believed to have been used in illegal cockfighting. At least one bird had injuries consistent with recent fighting. Items commonly associated with cockfighting were also recovered. In addition, investigators seized multiple firearms, including three AK-47 style rifles determined to be noncompliant with Califo...

A California man has pleaded guilty to federal charges for sexually abusing two minors while employed as a civilian with the U.S. Army overseas. According to court documents, Thelmo Meneses Santos Jr., 60, of Merced, California, engaged in unlawful sexual conduct with two children under the age of 16 between 2015 and 2023 while stationed in Japan. He admitted to the offenses during an interview with law enforcement. He was later arrested in Hawaii by Army Criminal Investigation Division (CID) special agents. As part of his plea agreement, Santos faces up to 15 years in prison, lifetime supervised release, restitution to the victims, a $250,000 fine, and mandatory registration as a sex offender under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA). Sentencing is schedul...

FONTANA, CA – A woman on parole for assaulting a police officer was arrested after allegedly assaulting a mother and attempting to kidnap her 4-year-old child in Fontana. According to the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department, the incident occurred around 6:05 p.m. on September 21, 2025, in the 15300 block of Ceres Avenue. Deputy Carriel responded to a 911 call and arrived to find the child’s parents holding an erratic woman on the ground. The suspect, identified as 23-year-old Sariaha Hannah Lopez of San Bernardino, was detained at the scene. Investigators say Lopez attacked the child’s mother, injuring her face and upper body, while trying to take the child by force. The child and the father were not hurt. A records check confirmed Lopez is on active parole for assaulti...

SANGER, CA – A former Sanger police officer has been sentenced to five consecutive life terms after being convicted of sexually assaulting four women during his time in uniform. DeShawn Torrence, 41, was convicted in January 2025 by a federal jury in the Eastern District of California on eight counts of deprivation of constitutional rights under color of law. Five of those counts involved kidnapping, aggravated sexual abuse, or attempted aggravated sexual abuse. According to trial evidence, Torrence used his authority to target women he encountered during official duties: He kidnapped a 21-year-old woman walking to a store, drove her out of town in his police car, and sexually assaulted her at an isolated location. He told her “no one is going to look for you,” and warned her...

RIVERBANK, CA – Authorities are searching for 19-year-old Keyante Aaron Reed, who is wanted in connection with the fatal shooting of 41-year-old Markesse W. Owens. According to the Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Department, the shooting occurred around 3:56 p.m. on September 19, 2025, in the 6100 block of Claus Road in the City of Riverbank. Deputies arrived to find Owens suffering from gunshot wounds. Despite life-saving efforts, Owens was pronounced deceased at the scene. Deputies securing the residence found two juveniles inside the home. Both were unharmed and safely removed. The Stanislaus County Major Crimes Unit launched an investigation and identified Reed as the suspect. A warrant for murder has been issued for his arrest. His current whereabouts are unknown. Reed is ...

REDWOOD CITY, CA – A 32-year-old woman was killed early Monday morning after being struck by a vehicle while crossing the intersection of Woodside Road and Veterans Boulevard. The incident occurred on September 22, 2025, at approximately 12:11 a.m. Redwood City Police officers responded Code 3 to reports of a female lying on the ground, believed to have been hit by a vehicle. Officers located the woman approximately 100 feet east of the intersection. She was unconscious and without a pulse. Officers initiated CPR until medical personnel arrived. The woman was transported to Stanford Hospital, where she was later pronounced deceased. The driver involved remained at the scene and cooperated with the investigation. Police determined the driver was not under the influence of drugs or...

FREMONT, CA – A Fremont man has been charged with murder following a fatal stabbing that occurred on September 18, 2025, in the 600 block of Upper Vintners Circle. According to the Fremont Police Department, officers responded to a 911 call at approximately 11:57 a.m. reporting a violent altercation between two individuals. Upon arrival, officers found a 71-year-old male victim on the ground with significant stab wounds. Despite immediate trauma care, the victim was pronounced deceased at the scene. The suspect, 29-year-old Varun Suresh of Fremont, was located outside the residence and taken into custody. A knife was recovered at the scene. Investigators determined that Suresh had specifically targeted the victim based on the victim’s age and prior offenses. Police said Suresh...

SANTA MARIA, CA – A 17-year-old male on probation for prior weapons violations was arrested after Santa Maria Police responded to reports of a laser being pointed at vehicles and pedestrians. On Sunday, September 21, 2025, at approximately 10:46 p.m., officers were dispatched to the 300 block of Lolita. During the investigation, they contacted the teen in the area. A subsequent search of his residence uncovered two loaded handguns, three loaded AR-15-style assault rifles, multiple high-capacity magazines, and ammunition. The recovered firearms included serialized, unserialized, and defaced weapons. The 17-year-old was arrested for multiple weapons violations and booked into Juvenile Hall. The Santa Maria Police Department urges anyone with information regarding illegal firearm...

SANTA CLARA, CA – A 16-year-old boy from Sunnyvale was killed Saturday night after crashing into a traffic signal pole during a two-vehicle collision on Lawrence Expressway near Benton Street. The incident occurred on September 20, 2025, at approximately 9:36 p.m. Santa Clara Police Department officers responded to the scene and located the teenage driver inside a Honda Accord and two minor passengers outside the vehicle. Santa Clara Fire Department personnel attempted life-saving measures on the driver, but he was pronounced deceased at the scene. The two passengers sustained minor injuries. Investigators determined both the Honda and a Toyota Camry, also driven by a minor, were traveling north on Lawrence Expressway when the driver of the Honda made an unsafe turning movement. ...