COARSEGOLD – A Craigslist post, advertising an estate sale, became the catalyst for a carefully orchestrated heist that suddenly turned into a home invasion, and a man described by the Madera County Sheriff’s Office as a Fresno Gypsy is accused of being the mastermind. George Xury Sterio, 55, currently sits behind bars in Fresno County on an unrelated charge. In ...

MADERA COUNTY – Two suspects wanted in connection with the Oct. 9 Chukchansi Casino takeover attempt have turned themselves in to authorities, according to the Madera County Sheriff’s Office. Tex McDonald, 64, of Madera, and Vernon James King, 59, both agreed to turn themselves in at 1 p.m today. They arrived at the Sheriff’s main office in Madera at approximately ...

OAKHURST – An accident involving a pickup rolling over in the ditch near the Oakhurst Lutheran Church slowed traffic this afternoon for about an hour on Road 426. Joanne Hodgeman, 56, of Oakhurst was eastbound on Road 426 just after noon on Saturday, Nov. 1, when her 2004 Toyota pickup skidded on the rain soaked roadway.

MADERA COUNTY – Sheriff John Anderson has launched an investigation into a drug related home invasion where the suspects, wearing black military-type uniforms with a SWAT patch, raided a residence in search of money and dope. According to the victims, they were still asleep at around 7 a.m. on the morning of Thursday, Oct. 30, when three armed subjects stormed ...

MADERA COUNTY – Anyone who does their banking online should be aware of a bogus email containing a potentially dangerous attachment. “If you receive an email with a warning, and request to open an attachment from what, at first glance, might appear to come from a reputable financial institution, do NOT open it,” says Sheriff John Anderson. Just this morning ...

O’NEALS – A two-vehicle accident just north of Road 200 blocked Highway 41 for about 15 minutes this morning, and slowed traffic for about 30 minutes more as one-lane traffic control was put in place. At about 11 a.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 29, Michael Simpson, 35, of Oakhurst, was southbound on Highway 41 near the Black Hawk Lodge in a ...

MADERA COUNTY – Here is this week’s lineup of individuals wanted by the Sheriff’s Office on Fugitive Friday. If you have information on their whereabouts call the Madera County Sheriff’s Office at 559-675-7770, or Valley Crime Stoppers 559-498-STOP. You can remain anonymous, and may be eligible to collect $1,000 for your information. How Valley Crime Stoppers works: If you have ...

OAKHURST – A Jeep CJ-7 stolen from the McDonald’s parking lot on Monday has been recovered by the California Highway Patrol. James Ghent, 22, of Oakhurst, was taken into custody this morning after a neighbor called and said the Jeep parked next door looked suspiciously like the one that had been reported missing. When officers responded to the location about ...

OAKHURST – CHP is searching for a Jeep CJ-7 stolen from the McDonald’s parking lot in Oakhurst this morning around 9 a.m. The owner reportedly left his keys in the vehicle to run into a business, when someone jumped into the Jeep and drove away. The vehicle is described as a brown 1981 Jeep CJ-7, personalized license plate number CAEQUN1, ...

MADERA COUNTY – Two overdue hunters have been located by Madera County Sheriff’s Search & Rescue Team. They are reportedly in OK condition and are heading home. Earlier today, the Sheriff’s Office mobilized a search for the pair, reportedly missing in the area of Muglers Meadow, located in the Sierra National Forest. Muglers Meadow is located off Beasore Road near ...