Latest news with #Panella
Yahoo
03-04-2025
- Yahoo
Convicted child killer out on parole not allowed back in Kern County
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) — 54-year-old Michael Todd Panella, a convicted Kern County child killer, is a free man. Panella was released on parole Wednesday morning, after 25 years behind bars. The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation said Panella is not allowed back in Kern County, where the crime occurred. He will be a parolee for life. 'First of all, I was told he was never going to come up for parole, it'll always be denied,' said Tammy Bell, mother of the victim, Johnathen Bell. At just 20-months-old, little Johnathen Bell was brutally abused and murdered by Panella, Bell's then-boyfriend of three months. Bell said even after two decades, it's a daily reminder her baby boy was taken too soon. 'I tell him I love you and he goes, I love you, like it was like cute,' said Bell. 'And I'd be like, you love momma? Mhm. And like I'd go, I love you, Johnathen. It's like, those are the last words I had with him,' said Bell. The irony for Bell, is that April is Child Abuse and Prevention Awareness Month. Bakersfield couple charged with child cruelty, drug crimes after confrontation with daughter Bell said she still too-vividly remembers young Johnathen's cold body she found in her bed the night of November 27, 1999. 'I remember laying him on the floor, trying to do CPR, which I didn't know how, I didn't know CPR, I was young,' Bell recalled. 'This is not over,' Bell said of Panella's release. 'He will not, I will make sure he's not comfortable in his own skin…If they can't protect me and keep him in there, or protect my other kids that are living, you know?' A jury in October 2000 found Panella guilty of first-degree murder and he was sentenced to 25 years to life. According to court documents, Johnathen suffered at least 50 bruises to his hips, head, face and extremities, ultimately dying from multiple blunt impacts to his abdomen, which caused internal bleeding and dehydration. Panella's parole conditions include not having unsupervised contact with minors under the age of seven. It's unclear at this time where Panella is, but he was released in San Luis Obispo. 17 News' Jenny Huh: 'Do you feel safe?' Tammy Bell: 'No, I don't feel safe for my other kids living. I don't feel safe. I don't, I shouldn't have to pack up and move. This is my town. This is where my kids were born. He don't, he is not from here.' Here's a timeline of how Panella's parole came to be. A 2020 state law on elderly parole reduced requirements for inmates at least 50 who served 20 years of their sentence — Panella became eligible for his first parole hearing in July 2021. Parole was granted, but after much appeal, including from Bell, Governor Gavin Newsom reversed the decision. Panella faced another parole hearing in February 2023. Parole was denied for three years. But for reasons undisclosed, Panella had his third hearing in October 2024. Parole was granted. This time, Newsom did not reverse the decision. 17 News' Capitol Correspondent Eytan Wallace had the chance to ask Newsom about Panella at a Wednesday morning press conference. Newsom stated, 'That's not atypical. A reversal is not always in perpetuity. There's always an opportunity to come back.' In a statement to 17 News, a Newsom spokesperson further explained the governor's decision. 'The Board of Parole Hearings determined this individual was not a public safety risk. The Governor asked the full Board to review it again and sent back the case. The full Board once again reached the same conclusion and so by law he is entitled to be released on parole.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
21-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Chicken Wing Challenge: Brighton eatery partners with ‘Hot Ones' talk show
BRIGHTON, N.Y. (WROC) – Western New Yorkers love their chicken wings, and with March Madness in full swing, you might be ordering a batch or two at home. The popular talk show 'Hot Ones' is partnering with a local eatery to share its noteworthy sauces for customers to sample, if you're up for the challenge. 'Hot Ones' is hosted by interviewer Sean Evans, where celebrities in all fields meet for questions over a plate of chicken wings and the show's name-brand hot sauces. 'Hot Ones reached out to us about a month ago. We both agreed mutually that this would be a good partnership. We sell a lot of chicken wings and we give a lot of chicken wings away. Chicken wings is sort of in our wheelhouse, and Hot Ones has got a great reputation,' said Sal Panella, who owns MicGinny's on the River, which has been running on Brighton's East River Road for 15 years. In that time, Panella says their reputation has grown strong, especially for their wings. MicGinny's is the only regional business, for now, selected to take part. 'It's just been word of mouth. This is one of those brands that's going to sell itself. You'll have to order from Uber Eats, Door Dash, or Grubhub. We won't be selling them in the actual restaurant. But, you can order them for takeout,' he said. Much like the series, News 8's Natalie Kucko decided to get in the hot seat, sampling the hottest sauce the show has to offer. Whether customers prefer their wings mild, or with the heat turned all the way up, Panella says MicGinny's is proud to take part in something so fun and unique. 'You don't have to go out and spend $120 on a whole kit with all the sauces. For less than $20, you can get a sampling and do that right at home. We consume more chicken wings in the northeast than anywhere else in the world. A brand like this has to be strong to penetrate this market. I'm confident this brand will compliment what we've been doing in upstate New York for the last 50 years,' said Panella. To try the flavors at home, you're asked to visit 'Hot Ones' website and enter the appropriate location and information. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
06-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
‘A good thing;' Community relieved to hear mobile crisis mental health services will resume
A new provider is bringing back mobile crisis response services to Montgomery County. [DOWNLOAD: Free WHIO-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] As reported on News Center 7 at 11:00, the Montgomery County Alcohol, Drug Addiction and Mental Health Services (ADAMHS) recently approved a new partnership with DeCoach Recovery Centre to provide area crisis teams. TRENDING STORIES: 'We're being proactive;' University president speaks out after announcing dozens of layoffs Teen formally charged after gun with illegal 'Glock switch' found at Springfield school Driver who caused deadly school bus crash wants conviction thrown out, says trial wasn't fair Instead of sending police to handle crises, mental health experts believe a mobile crisis team could be more effective. As previously reported on News Center 7, a 75-year-old man was arrested after an hours-long SWAT standoff in Riverside on Monday. Neighbors said the man was experiencing a mental health crisis. 'That guy had a crisis on Sunday. It started early in the afternoon and he just got worse. He was in the front yard and he needed some help,' John Panella said. Panella and other neighbors in the community stood by and watched as SWAT responded to the scene early Monday morning. ADAMHS Executive Director Helen Jones-Kelly said the board believes a mobile mental health team would have helped police during this incident. 'If a crisis is going on in one house in the community, everybody's impacted, you know. Everybody's at their door, or they're out in the street. It kind of puts that person, unfortunately, under an even deeper kind of spotlight when they're not able to manage themselves well,' Jones-Kelly said. >> PREVIOUS COVERAGE: 'It's very disappointing;' County leaders left confused after crisis service provider cuts ties ADAMHS ended its last partnership with RI International because it was too expensive to maintain. 'That was the most expensive piece of the services. So right now, we're just going to get back to having a mobile crisis team that can go out,' Jones-Kelley said. Community members like Panella said they're glad these services are returning to the county. 'I think that's a good thing to have in this area because we had a lot of issues like that right now with mental health and everything,' Panella said. The service will start up in April with plans on expanding to a 24-hour response. The suicide and crisis lifeline can be called or texted anytime at 988. News Center 7 will continue to follow this story. [SIGN UP: WHIO-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]
