Latest news with #SolanoCountySheriff'sOffice
San Francisco Chronicle
28-05-2025
- San Francisco Chronicle
Two dead, one in critical condition in Vallejo Memorial Day shooting
Two men were killed and another man is in critical condition following a shooting in Vallejo on Memorial Day, police said. Officers responded to the area of Sacramento Street and Daniels Avenue at about 5:30 p.m. Monday to find three men, each suffering from at least one gunshot wound, police said. Officers rendered aid to the victims until medical personnel arrived at the scene and pronounced two of the men dead, according to police. Their identities are being withheld pending their family being notified by the Solano County Coroner's Office. The third victim was transported to a local hospital for a life-threatening injury, police said. As That man is still in critical condition as of Tuesday afternoon, a Vallejo police spokesperson told the Chronicle. The Solano County Sheriff's Office, Napa Police Department and California Highway Patrol Air Unit helped Vallejo police create a perimeter and protect the scene following the shooting. Vallejo police are investigating the motive and circumstances surrounding the shooting, which marks the fifth and sixth homicides in the city this year. No arrests have been made in the shooting, police told the Chronicle. Staff Writer Molly Burke contributed to this report
New York Post
26-05-2025
- New York Post
Murderer who spent 4 decades in prison for drowning girl, 13, is arrested for allegedly having child porn
A California murderer who spent four decades in prison for beating and then drowning a 13-year-old girl is back behind bars after allegedly being caught with disturbing child pornography, according to officials. Marvin Lee Mutch, 68, was released in 2016 after spending 40 years in San Quentin Prison for murdering Cassie Riley in 1974, later becoming the subject of a documentary, 'The Trials of Marvin Mutch.' Mutch was just 18 at the time of the murder — and out on bail awaiting trial for allegedly kidnapping another 13-year-old girl at knifepoint when he drowned Riley. He was taken into custody in Vallejo last Thursday for possession of child sexual abuse material, booking data from the Solano County Sheriff's Office shows. 4 Freed child murderer Marvin Lee Mutch has been arrested for possession of child pornography. Hearst Newspapers via Getty Images The murderer — who has always maintained his innocence — was serving as a director of advocacy for the Prisoner Reentry Network when he was re-arrested. Several electronic devices were also seized for 'forensic examination,' the sheriff's office said. Mutch is being held on a $300,000 bail and faces charges of possession of child pornography, being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm, being a convicted felon in possession of ammunition and possession of a controlled substance while armed. 'The investigation is ongoing, and additional charges may be forthcoming,' the sheriff's office said. Mutch is due in court again on Tuesday for a hearing, booking data shows. 4 Mutch was 18 when he was arrested and later jailed for the murder of 13-year-old Cassie Riley. Marvin Mutch via KQED The body of 13-year-old Cassie Riley was discovered in September 1974 in a creek bed close to her home. She had been beaten and held underwater until she died, prosecutors said at the time. A jury took just five days to find Mutch guilty of murder. 4 Behind bars Mutch became an advocate for prisoners' rights. Marvin Mutch via KQED Mutch was sentenced to seven years in prison in 1975 but always maintained his innocence. He spent the next 40 years in San Quentin Prison after being repeatedly denied parole, eventually securing his release in 2016. 4 Electronic devices were seized from Mutch's home. Solano County Sheriff's Office Mutch's Prisoner Reentry Network rushed to his defense after his latest arrest last week, claiming he is facing 'persecution.' Mutch 'has been accused of crimes he did not commit,' the group insisted in a statement shared on Sunday along with an online fundraiser to pay for the convicted child-murderer's legal costs. 'Marvin has supported the interests of California's prisoners for the past 50 years and this persecution is the cost of his advocacy for human rights,' the post read — sparking fury in the comments. 'You must be joking,' one person wrote, while another added: 'Every single person who donated to this is sick.' The Prisoner Reentry Network did not respond immediately to requests for comment.
San Francisco Chronicle
24-05-2025
- San Francisco Chronicle
Child pornography arrest for Vallejo man who served four decades for murder
A Vallejo man who served 41 years in prison for murdering a 13-year-old girl and whose experience inspired a feature-length documentary has been arrested on suspicion of possessing child pornography, drugs and a firearm. Deputies raided Marvin Mutch's home Thursday in connection with a child pornography investigation, according to a news release from the Solano County Sheriff's Office. Mutch, 68, was previously convicted in the 1975 Union City murder of 13-year-old Cassie Riley and served 41 years of a life without parole sentence, though he always denied any connection to the crime. He was granted parole in 2016. After his release, he became the subject of KQED News' first feature-length digital documentary, ' The Trials of Marvin Mutch, ' which is part profile, part detective story and part exposé. Mutch spent much of his time advocating for incarcerated inmates, appearing in Chronicle stories about prison suicide after a friend at San Quentin State Prison killed himself. After his arrest Thursday, Mutch was taken to a local hospital because of an ongoing medical condition and remains in custody, Sgt. Rexall Hawkins said. Mutch is set to be booked into Solano County Jail on three weapons charges, a charge of possessing child pornography and a drug charge.
USA Today
16-05-2025
- USA Today
Spider monkey, snakes, drugs: Traffic stop, search of man's home leads to bizarre bust
Spider monkey, snakes, drugs: Traffic stop, search of man's home leads to bizarre bust A traffic stop in California's North Bay area led authorities to search a man's home and find a spider monkey, rattlesnakes, and over $25,000 worth of methamphetamine. Deputies in Vallejo, about 34 miles southwest of Sacramento, first made contact with a man named Clifford Vincenty on May 6, the Solano County Sheriff's Office said in a news release. Deputies stopped the 50-year-old that day, and when they searched his vehicle, they found half a pound of methamphetamine, the sheriff's office said. Vincenty was arrested and charged with possession of a controlled substance for sale. The next day, Solano County Vice Detectives and the Solano County Sheriff's Enforcement Team secured a search warrant at the man's home. They found another pound of methamphetamine, $26,000 worth of meth, more than $2,000 cash, a live spider monkey, and two live rattlesnakes. Vincenty is facing additional charges, including possession of a controlled substance for sale and potential violations related to the possession of exotic animals, the sheriff's office said. Animal Control took the animals and evaluated them, the sheriff's office said. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife helped place the spider monkey at the Oakland Zoo. The Solano County Sheriff's Office did not immediately respond to requests for information on the whereabouts of the rattlesnakes. It was not immediately clear if Vincenty had legal representation as of May 16. How is the spider monkey doing now? The spider monkey, now named Violeta, was taken to the Oakland Zoo's veterinary hospital. The organization said she underwent a physical exam and is around 18 months old. So far, she has undergone UV light treatments and calcium supplementation, the zoo said. She will also undergo a CT scan, a more thorough physical exam, and bloodwork to see how her organs are functioning and rule out infectious diseases. 'Veterinary Hospital staff are taking measures to ensure Violeta's overall wellbeing and have reported that she is doing well in her temporary home where keepers have set up enrichment, along with blankets and toys to keep her comfortable and stimulated,' the Oakland Zoo said about her. She has been eating lots of fruits and vegetables. The Oakland Zoo said Violeta is also drinking formula to minimize the chances of bone fractures. According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature – IUCN – spider monkeys are endangered, and two species within the group are classified as critically endangered and nearing extinction, the zoo said. More news: Man sentenced in California for trafficking spider monkeys: 'Disrupted fragile ecosystems' Act reintroduced to protect primates, and more on Violeta While it is illegal to privately own primates in California, there is 'an underground market' for it, the zoo said. There are also no federal laws regulating primate ownership, and state laws include anything from total bans to species-specific permits. The Captive Primate Safety Act was introduced to congress as early as 2005, according to GovTrack. The act was recently reintroduced on May 5, said Oakland Zoo Chief Executive Officer Nik Dehejia. Calling the act 'a critical step toward ending this exploitation,' Dehejia said the act would ban private ownership of primates. Violeta is being treated at the Oakland Zoo's veterinary hospital, so guests cannot see her yet, the zoo said. The zoo offers hospital tours, but guests and tourists cannot see her yet. Once she has recovered, the Oakland Zoo will work with the California Department of Fish & Wildlife and another organization to find her a permanent home at an accredited zoo or sanctuary. There, she'll be able to grow up 'as normally as possible in a troop of other spider monkeys,' the zoo said. Authorities said the investigation into the drug bust is active. They ask that anyone with information contact the Solano County Sheriff's Office at (707) 784-7050. Saleen Martin is a reporter on USA TODAY's NOW team. She is from Norfolk, Virginia – the 757. Email her at sdmartin@
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Yahoo
Baby spider monkey and 2 rattlesnakes discovered during California meth bust
A baby spider monkey and two rattlesnakes were discovered at the home of a suspect who was busted for methamphetamine during a traffic stop in California, police said. The incident began on May 6 when Solano County Sheriff's Deputies conducted a traffic stop on 50-year-old Clifford Vincenty in Vallejo, California, and discovered half a pound of methamphetamine in his vehicle, police said. MORE: Woman arrested after raccoon named Chewy found with meth pipe in driver's seat during police stop Vincenty, who is also a Vallejo resident, was taken into custody without incident and charged with possession of a controlled substance for sale. However, the following day, Solano County Vice Detectives and the Solano County Sheriff's Enforcement Team served a search warrant at Vincenty's residence in Vallejo which is when they discovered more evidence in the case against Vincenty. MORE: Over a ton of cocaine worth nearly half a billion dollars seized off Australian coast 'The Solano County Sheriff's Office has made a significant drug-related arrest following a traffic stop and subsequent search warrant that uncovered a large quantity of methamphetamine worth approximately $26,000 street value, and the discovery of additional contraband, cash, and exotic animals,' police said. 'The search yielded an additional pound of methamphetamine, more than $2,000 cash, a live spider monkey, and two live rattlesnakes.' Animal Control safely removed the animals, who were evaluated for proper care, and the spider monkey was later placed in the Oakland Zoo with the help of California Fish and Wildlife, officials said. MORE: 3 climbers dead after falling off mountain while rappelling MORE: Parents arrested after their 1-year-old tests positive for fentanyl and THC The primate, who was named Violeta by Oakland Zoo staff, was reported to be in decent health and is thought to be around 18-months-old, zoo officials said. 'Veterinary Hospital staff are taking measures to ensure Violeta's overall wellbeing and have reported that she is doing well in her temporary home where keepers have set up enrichment, along with blankets and toys to keep her comfortable and stimulated,' officials said. 'They are providing her with a healthy diet that includes a variety of fruits and vegetables, and she is drinking formula that will help to minimize the likelihood of pathologic bony fractures.' MORE: Sheila the runaway kangaroo causes car crash, shuts down Alabama highway Wildlife trafficking is one of the largest illegal trades in the world, second only to drug and human trafficking, according to the Oakland Zoo, who says the trade is often fueled by the demand for these animals as pets or for profit-driven businesses, such as photo opportunities and interactive experiences. 'Wildlife trafficking is a growing conservation crisis, driving countless species, like spider monkeys and other nonhuman primates, toward extinction. These animals are often exploited through the exotic pet trade, kept in unsafe, inhumane conditions that threaten both their welfare and public safety. The Captive Primate Safety Act, recently introduced in Congress is a critical step toward ending this exploitation by banning the private ownership of primates and reinforcing our national commitment to responsible wildlife protection,' says Nik Dehejia, CEO at Oakland Zoo. MORE: Funeral director trashed over 6,500 bodies of pets, used fake ashes to defraud customers out of $650,000: Officials Meanwhile, Vincenty now faces additional charges, including possession of a controlled substance for sale and potential violations related to the possession of exotic animals. 'This operation demonstrates our commitment to disrupting illegal drug activity in Solano County,' said Undersheriff Brad DeWall. The investigation into the case is currently ongoing. Baby spider monkey and 2 rattlesnakes discovered during California meth bust originally appeared on
