Luis Medina

IDYLLWILD, Calif. (KUNA) – Un hombre de 43 años de San Mateo fue acusado oficialmente el miércoles por el asesinato de un joven de 18 años, cuyo cuerpo fue encontrado cerca de una ruta de senderismo en Idyllwild hace más de 21 años, informaron las autoridades.

James Landi fue acusado de asesinato en primer grado, entre otros cargos. Está previsto que comparezca ante el tribunal el miércoles por la tarde en el Centro de Justicia del Suroeste en Murrieta.

Los agentes respondieron a un reporte de un excursionista que descubrió restos humanos en las colinas cerca de Southfork Trail y la Carretera 74 en Idyllwild a las 2:20 p. m. del 21 de marzo de 2004, según el Departamento del Sheriff del Condado de Riverside. Al llegar, los agentes encontraron a la víctima, que presentaba signos evidentes de trauma. Posteriormente fue identificado como Reynaldo Burts, de 18 años y residente de Hemet.

Tras varios años, los investigadores identificaron a James Landi como persona de interés, pero aún no contaban con pruebas suficientes para realizar un arresto, por lo que el caso se cerró, según anunció el departamento del sheriff.

En agosto de este año, investigadores de la Unidad Central de Homicidios del sheriff revisaron el caso e identificaron pistas adicionales, lo que resultó en la reapertura del caso.

El viernes, los investigadores localizaron a Landi en San Mateo con la ayuda del Equipo de Impacto de Pandillas de la Fiscalía del Condado de Riverside. Landi fue arrestado sin incidentes bajo sospecha de asesinato y trasladado al Centro de Detención del Suroeste, donde permaneció detenido sin derecho a fianza.

Landi comparecerá ante el Centro de Justicia del Suroeste de Murrieta el miércoles.

Se recomienda a cualquier persona que tenga información adicional sobre el caso que se comunique con la Unidad Central de Homicidios del departamento al 951-955-2777.

The post Hombre de San Mateo acusado de asesinato en Idyllwild en 2004 appeared first on News Channel 3-12.

Luis Medina

INDIO, Calif. (KUNA) – Tres jóvenes de 18 años, acusados de disparar contra una casa abarrotada en Thermal, disparando numerosas balas en un ataque desde un vehículo que continuó incluso después de la llegada de los agentes del sheriff para investigar, fueron acusados hoy de múltiples cargos de intento de asesinato y otros delitos.

Eric Orozco Díaz, Guillermo Alexander Martínez y Gustavo Isbojet Barrera Peña, todos de 18 años y originarios del este del Valle de Coachella, fueron arrestados hace unos días tras una investigación del Departamento del Sheriff del Condado de Riverside. Los acusados están acusados de poco más de dos docenas de delitos, incluyendo intento de homicidio premeditado, agresión con arma de fuego semiautomática, disparos imprudentes, disparo de un arma desde un vehículo en movimiento y acusaciones que agravan la pena por usar un arma de fuego —un “arma fantasma”— en la comisión de un delito grave.

No se presentaron cargos específicos relacionados con el presunto ataque del trío contra agentes de patrulla, a pesar de que los investigadores del sheriff los arrestaron inicialmente bajo sospecha de dispararles.

Las víctimas en la propiedad de Thermal —nueve hombres y cinco mujeres— fueron identificadas únicamente por sus nombres o iniciales en la denuncia penal.

El sargento del sheriff, Jarred Bishop, alegó que poco antes de las 10 p. m. del viernes, los acusados se dirigieron a una casa en la cuadra 88000 de la Avenida 70, cerca de la calle Fillmore, y dispararon contra la propiedad, sin alcanzar a nadie dentro.

Las víctimas llamaron al 911 y varias patrullas llegaron al lugar poco después, dijo Bishop.

“Mientras estaban en el lugar, un vehículo se incorporó a la calle y uno de sus ocupantes disparó varias veces hacia los agentes, impactando a uno de los vehículos de patrulla”, dijo el sargento. “Ningún agente resultó herido”.

Los agentes no respondieron a los disparos, sino que lo persiguieron mientras el vehículo se alejaba a toda velocidad, informaron las autoridades.

“Los agentes persiguieron al vehículo sospechoso, pero lo perdieron de vista”, dijo Bishop. Poco después, localizaron un vehículo abandonado que coincidía con el del sospechoso, (el cual fue dejado) en la cuadra 63000 de Landon Lane.

Eso está aproximadamente a 10 millas noroeste de donde ocurrió el presunto tiroteo.

Bishop dijo que un registro del lugar después de la medianoche del sábado resultó en el contacto con Peña,

SOLVANG, Calif. (KEYT) – A fun holiday search is underway throughout Solvang for the next few weeks.

As part of the ongoing Julefest event there is a city-wide hunt for the Solvang Nisser, which is the Danish name for “gnome.”

A group of Nissers have been placed around downtown in public spaces. 

The Solvang visitor center has a list of clues to the various hiding spots for those who are on the quest to find the Nissers.

Susan Lee at the Solvang Visitor Center said, "we've got people coming from all over Solvang, from all over the world even. People from other countries and doing it and it's fantastic. We love it. We love sharing all of Solvang fun."

Those who get all ten locations will be given a special Julefest keepsake.

You are asked to take pictures of the Nisser locations and show them to a visitors center staff member to get the prize.

The event runs through the first week in June.

(More details, video and photos will be added here later today.)

The post A Holiday Search is Underway in Solvang for the Nissers appeared first on News Channel 3-12.

VENTURA COUNTY, Calif. (KEYT) – A jury found Sergio Contreras of Oxnard guilty of assault with a deadly weapon, conspiracy to commit a crime, and street terrorism in connection with an August stabbing in a restaurant parking lot in El Rio.

The jury also found true the following special allegations and aggravating factors:

• PC 12022.7(a)–Great Bodily Injury in Commission of a Felony
• PC 186.22(b)(1)(C)–Violent Felony Involving Street Gang Activity
• PC 667S2-Prior Strike 2
• PC 1170(h)(3)–Prior Serious or Violent Felony with Prison Eligibility
• CRC 4.421(a)(1)– Crime Involved Great Violence
• CRC 4.421(a)(2)–Defendant was Armed with and Used a Weapon
• CRC 4.421(b)(1)–Defendant Engaged in Violent Conduct
• CRC 4.421(b)(4)–Defendant was on Probation

On Aug. 19, 2024, a man was in the parking lot of an El Rio restaurant when Contreras and three others who were all known gang members, targeted the victim of the assault stated the Ventura County District Attorney's Office in a press release Wednesday.

Surveillance video captured Contreras driving a white Honda Accord into the parking lot, park near the victim, and wait inside of the car while watching the man detailed the Ventura County District Attorney's Office.

Contreras then got out of the car, exchanged words with the victim, and then sucker punched him before putting the victim into a headlock as the three passengers from Honda Accord then began to punch and kick the restrained man explained the Ventura County District Attorney's Office.

According to the Ventura County District Attorney's Office, the man briefly broke free and attempted to run away before he was tripped and knocked to the ground and all four attackers continued to assault him.

Surveillance footage then showed Contreras removed what appeared to be a folding knife from his pocket, open it, and stab the victim in the leg and arm as the man used his limbs to shield his neck shared the Ventura County District Attorney's Office.

Contreras then folded what is believed to have been a knife and put the object back into his pocket before fleeing with the others, one of whom took the victim's shoes noted the Ventura County District Attorney's Office.

While the suspected folding knife was never recovered, detectives did find the stolen shoes during a search of one of the defendant's homes shared the Ventura County District Attorney's Office.

Two of the other defendants charged in connection with the August assault pled guilty to assault with force likely to produce great bodily injury, conspiracy to commit a crime, and street terrorism stated the Ventura County District Attorney's Office.

A third person charged for the crime was a juvenile and pled guilty to assault with force likely to produce great bodily injury, conspiracy to commit a crime, and participation in a criminal street gang added the Ventura County District Attorney's Office.

Contreras is currently scheduled to be sentenced on Feb. 9, 2026, where he faces up to 18 years in state prison and he remains in custody without bail detailed the Ventura County District Attorney's Office.

"Gang crimes continue to pose a very real threat to the safety of our community," said Senior Deputy District Attorney Lauren Malan who prosecuted the case. "The victim in this case was seriously injured by the defendant in an unprovoked attack. I am very grateful for the jury’s verdict. I also want to acknowledge the hard work of the Ventura County Sheriff's Department and the Oxnard Police Department in bringing the defendant to

Below is a press release from the City of Atascadero regarding submissions for their 2026 Summer Concert Series!

ATASCADERO, Calif. – The City of Atascadero’s Community Services Department is now accepting band applications for the upcoming 2026 “Saturday in the Park” Summer Concert Series.

We’re excited to announce that it’s time to get our bands in place for the 23rd annual Summer Concert Series. This series will consist of seven (7) concerts from June 20th through August 15th (except July 4th & 19th) and will be held at the Atascadero Lake Bandstand from 6:30-8:30 pm. The concert dates are June 20th & 27th, July 11th & 25th, August 1st, 8th, and the 15th. Concerts are free to the public and draw an average attendance of 500 people. We look forward to another fantastic season in 2026!  Band submissions will also be considered for our Signature Events for year of 2026.

The concert series is promoted through a variety of media including radio and digital advertising, social media, City websites, and printed materials. Each selected band is paid a one-time stipend of $500. In addition, the City of Atascadero will provide an audio technician for each concert.

All applications are due no later than Friday, January 30, 2026, at 5pm.  Late applications will not be accepted. Applications can be submitted via email, mailed in or dropped off to 5599 Traffic Way. 

If you have any questions, please contact Larisse “Reese” Lopez, Recreation Supervisor, at (805) 470-3360 or [email protected].

The post Band Submissions Now Open for Atascadero’s 2026 Summer Concert Series appeared first on News Channel 3-12.