Former teachers face jail time

The married couple and former teachers at Turlock Christian School pleaded no contest to felony charges of seducing a minor.

Parolee held for burglary

A parolee strapped with a tracking device on his ankle was arrested Monday on suspicion of burglary after a silent alarm was triggered at a Turlock business.

NAACP questions Taser use in county jail

Days after a third inmate at the Stanislaus County Jail died, the NAACP filed a complaint with the Department of Justice and called for a federal probe to look into the deaths. Also, the coroner's office released the cause of death for an inmate who died in August.

Husband and wife jailed

A Livingston couple are behind bars in the Merced County jail after the husband's actions kicked-off a multi law enforcement pursuit and search that lasted for hours, and the wife filed a false police report in an attempt to protect her husband.

Judge grants leniency in fatal drunk driving case

It was a lapse in judgment with fatal consequences that left one family grappling with the senseless loss of a beloved son and brother in a drunk driving accident, and another dealing with the heart-wrenching fact that their son and brother had been behind the wheel of the fatal crash.

18 months for Road Dog Cycle defendant

The first defendant to enter a guilty plea in the federal racketeering case involving the Denair Road Dog Cycle shop, was handed down a prison sentence Monday.

Neighborhood Watch presentation

The Turlock Police Department is extending an invitation to all Neighborhood Watch and Business Watch Captains for their Quarterly Watch Captains Meeting.

Cigarette crook caught

A man suspected of robbing a Turlock convenience store of cigarettes was taken into custody Thursday night.

Man not given a mulligan for golf theft

A Patterson man accused of swiping golf equipment from a Turlock sports store entered a no contest plea to second degree burglary on Sept. 1.

Hughson man dies of multiple stab wounds in Turlock alley

A dispute over a woman is believed to have incited an altercation that led to the death of a Hughson man Saturday in Turlock.

Convicted forger gets prison term

A Modesto woman was convicted on Tuesday of multiple forgery charges, including two that happened at Turlock businesses.

Teen escapes possible kidnapping

The Turlock Police Department is investigating a suspicious incident that involved a 13-year-old boy escaping a possible kidnapper.

Three in custody after chase

An attempted stop on a truck with several vehicle code violations turned into a pursuit and search that ended with the arrest of two men.

Stolen auto leads to arrest

A pursuit of a stolen vehicle in Turlock Tuesday morning led to the arrest of one man for possession of stolen property and another for interfering with investigators.

Drunk driving crackdown

A Labor Day weekend drunk driving crackdown by the Avoid the 12 campaign resulted in multiple arrests.

Court room packed in day one of murder hearing for former sheriff’s detective

Child molester sentenced

A 45-year-old man convicted of molesting children in Turlock was sentenced to prison Monday. David Montano of Coto De Caza, Calif. was convicted of two felony counts of lewd acts upon a child. Upon learning that her two younger sisters had been molested by Montano, a 24-year-old woman went to the Turlock Police Department in 2008 to report her sisters' molests, as well as her own, which began back in 1988. <p ...

Suspicious death reported at egg farm

The Stanislaus County Sheriff's Department is investigating the death of a man found at a Turlock egg supplier farm. The body was found Monday afternoon and the sheriff's department has not stated if it is a homicide investigation. The body did show signs of trauma, according to the sheriff's department. The name of the man or any other details, have not been released by the sheriff's department. The discovery was ...

Burglary suspect caught

A report of a suspicious person prowling in a Turlock neighborhood led to the arrest of a man on stolen property and drug charges. Around 2 p.m. Tuesday the Turlock Police Department received a report of a man sneaking around homes in the area of Marshall and N. Quincy streets. Officers arrived to find Derek Smith, 31, allegedly stealing gasoline, according to the police report. Smith had a small syringe ...

Phony claim of shooting puts schools on lockdown

A false report of a shooting prompted two Turlock schools to order lockdowns while police searched the area for the reported shooter. In the end, it was discovered the victim was hit with pepper spray during a domestic dispute and not shot, according to the Turlock Police Department. The incident began around 9 a.m. Wednesday when a man called 911 on his cell phone and told a dispatcher he had been shot. ...

Deceased baby found in garbage can

The Stanislaus County Sheriff's Department is investigating the death of an infant found inside a garbage can outside a convenience store in Waterford. The discovery was made at 9:22 p.m. Thursday at the Bait Barn at 12505 Yosemite Blvd. in Waterford. A man was searching for aluminum in the small garbage cans near the gas pumps when he made the gruesome discovery. The infant was wrapped in a blanket and appeared deceased, ...

Shooting reported

The Turlock Police Department is investigating a shooting that was reported late Sunday night. Individuals riding in a vehicle in the area of Fosberg Road and Christoffersen Parkway flagged down an officer at 11:49 p.m. and said they had just been shot at by a passing vehicle. The shooter's vehicle was described as a white Jeep Cherokee. The officer could see taillights ahead, but the vehicle was quickly obscured by the ...

Family asks for justice

Through choked back tears and quavering voices, the family of a slain Hughson man made an emotional appeal to a Stanislaus County Superior Court judge to send a convicted murderer to prison for the rest of his life. The family of Donald Futch delivered victim impact statements to the court Tuesday in the hopes of obtaining a lengthy prison term for Darren Merenda, 32, of Turlock. The sentencing hearing for Merenda is ...

Rash of burglaries mar holiday weekend

While people were out enjoying Thanksgiving feasts and taking advantage of holiday shopping deals, crooks were busying themselves with breaking into homes and vehicles around town. A rash of property crimes, especially burglaries, were reported throughout the city. Between Thursday afternoon and Tuesday afternoon there were 15 residential burglaries and three commercial burglaries reported in Turlock. Additionally, there were eight larcenies, three auto burglaries and four auto thefts reported in the same time ...

Shootings gang-related, says sheriff’s office

A possible gang fight near the Delhi Fire Department and shots being fired at a house and car on Wednesday could be related, reported the Merced County Sheriff's Department. Just after 8:30 p.m. on Wednesday, the Merced County Sheriff's Office was called to a possible gang fight near the Delhi Fire Department on Acacia Street. Deputy Ralph Zyskowski was in the area and saw a car driving erratically. It was weaving and running ...

Jury finds nut schemer guilty of fraud, money laundering

A former almond buyer at a Turlock nut processing plant was convicted on multiple charges tied to a long-term scheme to defraud local processors. After a two week trial a federal grand jury convicted Ronal John Salado, 59, of Modesto for conspiring to commit mail fraud and bank fraud, two counts of mail fraud, nine counts of bank fraud, and two counts of money laundering. According to the U.S. Attorney's Office, which ...

Electrical power surge leads to pot bust

A spike in electrical usage at a Turlock residence was the tip needed to lead the Turlock Police Department's narcotics enforcement team to an indoor marijuana growing operation. As a result of the investigation, the narcotics team arrested two individuals and seized several pounds of marijuana. The team was alerted to the residence in the 900 block of Domingo Court in Turlock, after unusual power readings were recorded, said police spokesman Lt. ...

Drug deal gone bad results in shooting, arrests

Inmate attacks Merced Jail guard

A correctional officer at the Merced County Jail was injured by an inmate headed to court on a misdemeanor charge. The female deputy sustained injuries to her wrist, shoulder and face, said Merced County Sheriff spokesman Deputy Tom MacKenzie. The deputy was in the process of handcuffing 35-year-old inmate, Abel Ambrocio of Palo Alto, for court when he punched her in the face. MacKenzie said the attack was "without provocation or ...

Pit bull mauls toddler

A 3-year-old Winton boy sustained severe injuries when the family dog suddenly and viciously attacked him, the Merced County Sheriff's Department reported. The little boy was savagely bitten on his head and face, said sheriff spokesman Deputy Tom MacKenzie. The boy was flown to a hospital in Fresno and is expected to recover from his injuries, Mackenzie said. The attack was reported around 5 p.m. Monday in the 7000 block of ...