Latest news with #StanislausCountyDistrictAttorney'sOffice
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
‘Spike' in suspected overdoses, poisonings in Stanislaus County
( — The Stanislaus County District Attorney's Office said the county saw a 'spike' in suspected overdoses and poisonings over the weekend. According to the DA's office, there were 10 non-fatal incidents reported in the span of 25 hours this past weekend. The DA's office suggested people obtain Naloxone, also known as NARCAN, which reverses opioid overdoses from Stanislaus County Behavioral Health and Recovery Services. They also advised that anyone who suspects someone is having an overdose call 911 immediately, even if Naloxone has been administered. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
CBS News
26-04-2025
- CBS News
Modesto man sentenced in 2021 shooting that seriously injured officer
The man convicted of shooting and seriously injuring a Modesto officer was sentenced to 185 years to life in prison on Friday, the Stanislaus County District Attorney said. Jesse Brooks, 45, of Modesto, was convicted on Feb. 5 on three counts of premeditated attempted murder of a police officer, three counts of assault with a firearm on a police officer, felon in possession of a gun and ammunition. There were also several allegations, including one that he seriously injured an officer in a shooting. On Aug. 14, 2021, police were serving a search warrant at a home on Orangeburg Road. The DA said Brooks was inside the home and told officers he would not go back to prison. He then told officers he would rather get into a shootout with them, according to the DA. Brooks barricaded himself in a room and had a gun when officers went into the home, the DA said. He fired 12 shots, and one officer was struck. Modesto officer Michael Rokaitis was seriously injured in a shooting in 2021. Stanislaus County District Attorney's Office The DA said Officer Michael Rokaitis was seriously injured in the shooting. Brooks was also seriously injured after several officers shot at him. Rokaitis was given a law enforcement Medal of Honor and gave a victim statement during the Friday sentencing hearing, in which he forgave Brooks.
CBS News
23-04-2025
- CBS News
Modesto man convicted of hate crimes in stalking, threats case
MODESTO – A Modesto man has been convicted of stalking and making terrorist threats toward people of Hispanic ethnicity, prosecutors said on Wednesday. The Stanislaus County District Attorney's Office said 39-year-old Anthony Ruben Rodriguez admitted to stalking and making threats towards victims because of their Hispanic ethnicity. One conviction is classified as a serious felony as it falls under California's three-strikes law. Between October 2024 and December 2024, multiple flyers containing what prosecutors described as hate speech were found throughout the Parklawn neighborhood and in other areas of Modesto. The flyers created outrage within the predominantly Latino neighborhoods, with some community members bringing the concerns forward at a community meeting. After law enforcement became aware of the flyers, Rodriguez was later arrested for making threats against a victim and stalking another. While serving a search warrant, the Stanislaus County Sheriff's Office found flyers like the ones distributed in the Parklawn neighborhood. The Modesto Police Department said a victim found "a note on their vehicle containing hate speech and threats to harm them based on their race" on Dec. 4, 2024. When Rodriguez was arrested, police said he admitted to being involved with the note. The stalking and threats charges came with special allegations that Rodriguez admitted to, making it a hate crime, prosecutors said. However, prosecutors added that many of the flyers that were distributed were protected by the Constitution. "We recognize that hate speech is deeply offensive and harms those it targets and those subjected to it," said District Attorney Laugero. "However, under the First Amendment, some offensive flyers are protected speech." Rodriquez will be sentenced on April 24. Prosecutors said any fines paid by Rodriquez will be sent to local organizations that help victims of hate crimes. "Hate has no place in our community," Laugero said.
Yahoo
16-04-2025
- Yahoo
Drunk mom crashed into canal, left to take bath while toddler drowned: DA
A California woman accused of impaired driving has been charged with murder following the death of her four-year-old daughter in a car crash. Juliette Marie Acosta, 26, was initially charged with driving under the influence after she allegedly drove into an irrigation canal on March 8 near Hickman, Calif., the Stanislaus County District Attorney's Office said in a press release. Acosta's blood-alcohol level was almost three times the legal limit at the time of the crash, prosecutors alleged. Prosecutors alleged that she left her submerged car while her daughter, Reagan Herrin, was trapped in her car seat. Acosta was 'located taking a bath while her daughter remained in peril at the crash scene,' the DA's office said. Reagan was eventually pulled from the car by her uncle, who lives near the scene, the Sacramento Bee reported, but the little girl reportedly died in hospital the next day. Acosta's attorney, Gil Somera, told the Independent that the allegation that his client was taking a bath was false. 'Timeline-wise, it's almost impossible to have done both of those,' Somera told the outlet. 'Time-wise, you can't go take a bath while your daughter's drowning if it's in (a) canal, not next to a home … logically, it just doesn't make sense.' Acosta was slapped with a slew of additional charges — including murder — on Friday. She was detained at a San Francisco hotel after she tried to flee, and her father was also taken into custody for allegedly trying to help her escape, according to the Bee. 'Any suggestion that my client was attempting to flee is completely false,' Somera said. Acosta is being held without bail, the DA's office said. If convicted, she could face life in prison. 'It's about whether it's a manslaughter versus a murder,' Somera told the Independent. 'And so I think the public always looks at this and says, 'Well, you did or you didn't do it.' He added: 'Guilt is guilt, but it's the degree of guilt, it's the circumstances that centre around with punishment is necessary, and right now everyone wants to circle around life in prison to a mother. A GoFundMe launched for Reagan's father has raised more than $22,000 US. Judge rejects defence that Gaudreau brothers contributed to their deaths by cycling while impaired CRIME SCENE: 1 dead, 1 critically hurt in suspected impaired driving crash Girl, 15, killed following crash caused by suspected drunk driver in Brampton
Yahoo
14-04-2025
- Yahoo
Prosecutors Say Mom Crashed Car into Canal, Then Left to Take Drunken Bath While Daughter, 4, Drowned Inside
A California mother is charged with murder following the death of her 4-year-old daughter in a car crash. Juliette Marie Acosta, 26, was first charged with driving under the influence after she allegedly crashed into an irrigation canal on March 8 near Hickman, Calif., the Stanislaus County District Attorney's Office said in a press release. Prosecutors alleged that Acosta's blood alcohol level was almost three times the legal limit when she crashed, and that she left her car while her daughter, Reagan Herrin, was still trapped inside. When Regan was discovered inside the car, authorities alleged that Acosta was taking a bath. Acosta's attorney told The Independent that the allegation she was taking a bath was false. 'Timeline-wise, it's almost impossible to have done both of those,' Gil Somera told the outler. 'Time-wise, you can't go take a bath while your daughter's drowning if it's in her canal, not next to a it just doesn't make sense.' Acosta has since been charged with murder for her alleged role in Reagan's death, as well as several other felony counts in addition to the DUI charge. It is not immediately clear if she has entered a plea. The Sacramento Bee reported that Reagan was eventually pulled from her car by her uncle, who lives near the scene. The girl reportedly died at the hospital the next told the Bee that he did not believe his client should be charged with murder. 'This is an incredibly tragic and devastating situation,' he said. 'I remain confident that the truth will come to light. Reckless misinformation only serves to harm our community further.' A GoFundMe started to raise money for Reagan's father has raised over $22,000. Read the original article on People
