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Salinas
April 11, 2026

Jury convicts Greenfield man of child molestation

Law judge court
GREENFIELD — A Monterey County jury has convicted a 34-year-old Greenfield man of five counts of child molestation, the Monterey County District Attorney’s Office announced. Filberto Santiago Martinez was found guilty March 2 of three counts of sexual intercourse with a child 10 or younger,...

Soledad man found guilty in 2010 murder of ex-girlfriend

Law judge court
SOLEDAD — A Monterey County jury has found Noel Ledesma, 44, formerly of Soledad and Yuma, Ariz., guilty of first-degree murder in the 2010 killing of his ex-girlfriend, Yvette Martinez, the Monterey County District Attorney’s Office announced. Martinez and Ledesma had dated in early 2010...

Salinas Valley Police Reports | Published March 4, 2026

Police Reports are obtained from the local police departments. KING CITY Jan. 102:07 p.m. Bench Warrant on San Antonio Dr.6:00 p.m. Vandalism on N. Vanderhurst Av.8:35 p.m. Probation violation (DUI, suspended license) on Bassett St. Jan. 1111:07 a.m. Petty Theft on Division St.5:07 p.m. Bench Warrant on...

Salinas man pleads no contest in violent May 2025 domestic incident

Law judge court
SALINAS VALLEY — A Salinas man has pleaded no contest to multiple charges stemming from a May 2025 incident in which he stabbed his ex-girlfriend, threatened a relative, led police on a high-speed chase and used his 7-year-old daughter as a human shield. Oscar Villareal...

Faith & Family Farms to pay $120K in civil penalties for cannabis licensing violations

Cannabis marijuana
MONTEREY COUNTY — Monterey County District Attorney Jeannine Pacioni announced Jan. 28 that her Cannabis Enforcement Unit has resolved a case against Faith & Family Farms LLC, a licensed cannabis cultivator located at 22730 Fuji Lane, south of Salinas in unincorporated Monterey County. The case...

PG&E warns of rising utility scams during National Consumer Protection Week

Scams
CENTRAL COAST — With scams that target utility customers continuing at a high rate, Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) joins the Federal Trade Commission in recognizing National Consumer Protection Week, March 2-8, to help educate customers on how to spot the signs of...

Salinas Valley Police Reports | Published Feb. 25, 2026

Police Reports are obtained from the local police departments. KING CITY Jan. 51:05 a.m. Vandalism on N. Vanderhurst Av.10:00 a.m. Bench warrant on S. San Lorenzo Av.1:44 p.m. Bench warrant/tampering with vehicle on N. Russ Av. Jan. 612:13 a.m. Speeding on Division St.10:30 a.m. Burglary on Jayne...

King City man arrested for DUI, firearms and drugs in Greenfield

Police arrest crime
GREENFIELD — A King City man was arrested early Sunday on suspicion of driving under the influence of a controlled substance and related firearms and drug offenses, according to the Greenfield Police Department. At about 2:45 a.m. on Feb. 22, officers conducted a vehicle check...

Gonzales man sentenced to 34 years in prison for child molestationĀ 

Law judge court
GONZALES — Gonzales resident Jose Christian Montenegro, 30, was sentenced Jan. 20 to 34 years in prison for committing four counts of forcible lewd acts upon a child under 14 and one count of lewd act on a child under age 14. ā€œThese offenses are...

SVSP inmate gets life sentence for attempted murder, assault of peace officers

Law judge court
SOLEDAD — On Feb. 4, a Monterey County judge sentenced Tyrell Ainsworth, 33, to 70 years to life in prison plus an additional term of five years, both consecutive to the life sentence he is currently serving with the California Department of Corrections (CDCR). On...

Local News

Sykes Hot Springs

Monterey County Sheriff’s Office investigating suspicious death in Ventana Wilderness

MONTEREY COUNTY — Monterey County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a suspicious death in the Sykes Hot Springs area of the Ventana Wilderness in the...