Murder Trial

February 02
Murrieta Man Accused in Deadly DUI Crash in Palm Springs Heads to Trial
- Crime
A Murrieta man accused of killing a 25-year-old motorist in an alcohol-fueled wreck in Palm Springs must stand trial on second- degree murder and other felony charges, a judge ruled Tuesday. Michael David Torrez, 36, declined to challenge the government’s evidence at a preliminary hearing Tuesday at the Larson Justice Center in Indio. The move […]

Ceci Partridge
March 10March 10
Man Accused in La Quinta Mobile Home Park Slaying to Return to Court
- Crime
- Local
A judge Tuesday is scheduled to rule if a 28-year-old man accused in the shooting death of a woman who was found dead at a La Quinta mobile home park last year will stand trial. Deputies conducting a welfare check at 5:51 a.m. on Jan. 27, 2019 found a 26-year-old woman dead inside a residence […]

Claudia Buccio
February 25February 25
Desert Hot Springs Man Previously Sentenced to Life in Prison Released from Custody
- Crime
- Local
A Desert Hot Springs man who had been serving a life-without-parole prison sentence for his role in the 1994 fatal shooting of a 17-year-old boy but had his conviction overturned by an appeals court was released from custody after striking a deal with prosecutors prior to his retrial. Ian Davis Hudgins, who had already served […]
February 24February 24
Man Who Killed Beaumont Woman in Botched Abduction Sentenced
- Crime
A convicted felon who gunned down a 21-year-old Beaumont woman during a botched kidnapping was sentenced Monday to life in state prison without the possibility of parole. A Banning jury in December deliberated less than a day before finding 34-year-old Samuel Jesus Acosta guilty of the 2017 slaying of Jasmine Zuniga. Jurors convicted Acosta of […]
February 06February 06
Closing Arguments Set in Trial of Blythe Man Accused of Killing Roomate’s Son
- Crime
- Local
Closing arguments are set to get underway Thursday in the murder trial of a Blythe man accused in the death of his roommate’s 18-month- old son almost five years ago. Jordan Bracamonte, 25, could face a life sentence if found guilty of causing the death of the toddler by allegedly intentionally letting go of the […]
January 07January 07
Man Found Guilty of Second-Degree Murder in PS Senior Citizen’s Slaying
- Crime
- Local
A man who killed a 74-year-old Palm Springs resident by driving a hatchet into his head eight times was convicted Monday of second-degree murder. Prosecutors had sought a first-degree murder conviction for Jason William Brokken, 52, but jurors found him guilty of the lesser count following two days of deliberation. He is slated to be […]
December 05December 05
Man Sentenced to 40 Years to Life for Best Friend’s Shooting Death in Indio
- Crime
- Local
A man convicted of gunning down his best friend outside an Indio house party was sentenced Wednesday to 40 years to life in state prison. Steven Lopez, 21, was found guilty in October of second-degree murder and a sentence-enhancing allegation of discharging a firearm in the May 27, 2016, killing of 22-year-old Jose Arriaga, who […]

News Staff
November 02
DHS Gang Member Convicted of Second-Degree Murder in 2016 Shooting
- Crime
- Local
A gang member who was on parole when an argument in the courtyard of a Desert Hot Springs apartment building turned deadly was convicted Friday of second-degree murder. Edwardo Stultz, 25, of Cathedral City, was found guilty after three days of jury deliberations in the Dec. 13, 2016, slaying of 37-year-old Coachella resident Johnny Rodrigues. […]

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