Latest news with #KGET.com
Yahoo
6 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
‘It was heartbreaking': Community reacts to plea deal reached in 2017 killing of attorney Marcos Vargas
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) — One step closer to justice for Marcos Vargas, the Kern County up-and-coming attorney who was brutally killed in 2017. His death forever left a mark on the legal community in Bakersfield. Tuesday a plea deal was reached in court for the killer, Nicholas Quintana, who now facing decades behind bars. Seven years and a mistrial later, Quintana is looking at 24 years in prison for several crimes. Ex-Kern deputy convicted of sex crimes 'It was heartbreaking, I was heartbroken when I heard the news,' said Attorney David A. Torres, former colleague of Bakersfield Attorney Marcos Vargas. The tragic stabbing death of Vargas left a hole in many hearts since 2017. The attorney was stabbed so deep he was almost decapitated, his killer accepted a plea deal on Tuesday. 'After our sessions were over Marcos would stay behind and speak to the people,' said Torres, 'He had such a great, charismatic personality that people would stay behind and just ball up around him, he would draw crowds.' Quintana, 26, pleaded no contest to voluntary manslaughter. During trial in 2021, Prosecutor Eric Smith said Quintana planned to rob and attack Vargas after meeting him on a dating app. Quintana testified he stabbed Vargas in self-defense trying to escape from his apartment. Never miss a story: Make your homepage He said the attorney had invited him over then refused to let him leave. Vargas died at the scene. He worked at Greater Bakersfield Legal Assistance at the time of his death. 'When he died we lost that significant leader, that could've been,' said Torres. 'We are never going to close the book on Marcos, because Marcos is somebody that we clearly remember and want to remember for everything that he did for us in that brief period of time.' Quintana's sentencing is scheduled for July 24. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Yahoo
Bakersfield City School District proposes formally updating policy to ban sex offenders from volunteering at schools
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) — The Bakersfield City School District is set to make a proposal to revise their policy to formally prohibit registered sex offenders from serving as a volunteer at Bakersfield schools. According to the agenda for the school district's board meeting set for May 27, the board is expected to hold a first hearing for revisions to the existing board policies regarding the sex offender notification. The revised policy would prevent those who are required to register as a sex offender from volunteering in the school district, including at schools or school functions. Hearing postponed for ex-Shafter teacher charged with child porn possession The revision would also not grant access to a school for sex offenders, unless they are a parent or guardian of a child who attends that school. If the parent or guardian is a convicted sex offender, they will need to qualify for all steps listed in the campus registration procedures, the policy says. These steps include: Letting the principal know about their visit 24 hours prior Registering at the school office Having a necessary and 'lawful business' reason to enter the school grounds, approved by the principal Getting prior written permission from the principal to enter Being accompanied by a staff member assigned by the principal at all times while at school Never miss a story: Make your homepage The revision also expanded the boundaries of children's safety to take into consideration their safety when they're traveling to and from school or a school-related activity, not just when they're attending school classes and programs. The board's sex offender policy was first adopted Jan. 27, 1998 and last revised Dec. 11, 2007. This will be the first revision to the policy in nearly 18 years if passed, according to the agenda. The board is expected to hear the revised policy for the first time on Tuesday. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- Yahoo
Court Watch with Jason Kotowski: May 23, 2025
Each week, Kern County judges hear and attorneys argue cases on issues big and small. 17 News and provide coverage of some of those cases making their way through the system. On 'Court Watch with Jason Kotowski' reporter Jason Kotowski discusses 17 News coverage of the criminal cases that have garnered the most attention from viewers and readers. This edition of 'Court Watch' was recorded on May 23, 2025. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Thousand Flags event returns with new entertainment in its 11th edition
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) — It's the 11th edition of Thousand Flags. The annual event honors fallen service members with a visual display symbolizing the larger than life sacrifice those heroes made. This year, new things are coming to the 3-day event. 'We have added a family-friendly concert in the park, it's going to be right in the park, not in the amphitheater, right in the park, right next to the flags,' said Denise Haynes, event director for Thousand Flags. Three bands will be playing from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. 22 years after construction started, angular Panorama Drive mansion is ready for occupancy — by a new owner If you like more energetic activities on Memorial Day weekend, look no further. 'Sunday morning we have our inaugural 5k, one mile fun run, or walk, you don't have to run,' said Haynes. 'That will take place right here in the park, you start off and finish running through the flags.' The event is back after suffering a hiccup six months ago, when a trailer and hundreds of flags were stolen. 'It was appalling,' said Haynes. 'And we were all in disbelief, and of course my belief is that whoever stole it had no idea what they were stealing.' With the flags replaced, the event is ready to accomplish its main goal. Never miss a story: Make your homepage 'We are to honor and to remember solemnly the men and women who gave their lives in service of this country,' said Haynes. 'And there is nothing that does that better than strolling through this thousand flags, you get goose bumps. There's nothing else like it.' For more information on the event's schedule and signup for the run click here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
02-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Anti-sex trafficking of minors bill moves forward with amendment after heated debate
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) — California lawmakers became engaged in a heated discussion after Democrats in the Assembly forced amendments to exclude 16- and 17-year-olds on the bill against the sex trafficking of minors. Assembly Bill 379, which originally intended to make it a felony to solicit and purchase any minor under the age of 18 for sex, received forced amendments by Democratic leaders earlier this week to exclude cases when minors aged 16 or 17 are purchased for sex. Democratic leaders said they were concerned about 16- and 17-year-old victims getting arrested for being forced to take part in illegal activity by traffickers. State Sen. Shannon Grove introduces bill for additional protection for sex trafficking victims They also added a new amendment saying, 'It is the intent of the legislature to adopt the strongest laws to protect 16- and 17-year-old victims and strengthen protections in support of survivors of human traffickers.' At the Assembly meeting on Thursday, Republicans and some Democrats said this amendment doesn't propose any clear action. That's when things got heated in the legislature. 'Wake up and realize you are on the wrong side of this issue,' Assemblymember Carl Demaio (R-San Diego) said. Never miss a story: Make your homepage Some Democrats argued including trafficking victims between the ages of 16 and 17 could have unintended consequences. 'There could be a situation in which there's a 18-year-old and 17-year-old that are in high school together,' Assemblymember Ash Kalra (D-San Jose) said. 'There is a wide range of conduct that prosecutor should be able to use their ability for discretion.' In the end, the majority of Democrats agreed to reject the Republican proposal to bring back the bill's original protections of 16- and 17-year-olds and instead approve their new amendments. Assembly Bill 379 now heads to the Assembly Appropriations Committee with the amendment. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
