MADERA COUNTY – After three months of testimony and five days of deliberation, the jury in the Kenneth Jackson/Alice Waterman arson and conspiracy trial has reached its verdict. Jackson was found guilty on 21 counts of arson, one count each of assault on a peace office and resisting arrest. Waterman was found guilty on 6 counts of arson. Both defendants ...

MADERA COUNTY – A Coarsegold man on parole for vehicular manslaughter in Arizona, is behind bars facing felony narcotic charges and vehicle theft. Brandon Carl Whetten, 36, remains jailed on a no-bail hold after his arrest on Monday, Apr. 28, during a mountain probation search at his home on Wells Road.

OAKHURST – A single vehicle accident on Highway 49 just south of Road 600 closed the northbound lane for abut 40 minutes yesterday morning. On Wednesday, Apr. 30, a 19-year-old Coarsegold man was northbound on Highway 49 when, for unknown reasons, he allowed his 1987 Nissan pickup to drift off the right shoulder of the road, striking a large oak ...

The first fire in the series was on Saturday, May 11, along Yosemite Springs Parkway, the second the next day, Mothers Day, on Ranger Circle. Both were what Moreno referred to as “road fires,” distinguishing them from the 10 that burned near the defendants’ home on East Revis Circle. On Saturday, May 18, a fire broke out behind the home ...

Waterman testified at trial that she had been going in and out of the house, had her soccer uniform in the dryer, and that Jackson and his father were in the pool when they saw the smoke. Waterman said that she hurried to move her truck out of the driveway so she could leave for her soccer game before the ...

MARIPOSA COUNTY – In the early morning hours of Wednesday Apr. 30, the Mariposa County Sheriff’s Office, assisted by Yosemite National Park law enforcement and other partner law enforcement agencies, served search warrants at three Mariposa County residences. One warrant was served in the town of Mariposa, on Mariposa Street, and the other two were served within a few miles ...

MARIPOSA COUNTY – The Mariposa County Sheriff’s Office has launched a new sex offender registration and public notification website called OffenderWatch®. The Mariposa County Sheriff’s Office will now be part of a nationwide network of over 5,000 law enforcement agencies. The new service is a citizen-friendly, easy to use website that enables citizens to search for potentially dangerous sex offenders ...

MARIPOSA COUNTY – The Mariposa County Sheriff’s Office will introduce a new communications service, effective Apr. 28, that allows them to send important, valuable community information directly to residents using the latest technology. “Nixle Community Information Service allows us to create and publish messages to be delivered to registered users instantly via cell phone text message, voice dial and/or email,” ...

CALIFORNIA – Are you ready for wildfire? The National Fire Protection Association is inviting everyone to participate in their Inaugural Wildfire Community Preparedness Day on Saturday, May 3. Everyone is urged to commit a couple of hours, or the entire day, and watch as your actions positively contribute to reducing your community’s wildfire risk.

MARIPOSA – The Madera-Mariposa-Merced Unit of the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) would like to say thank you to all the residents who have been working on your defensible space projects. While traveling in the Unit we have noticed your hard work in eliminating brush and pruning up trees. We are pleased you are taking advantage ...