News briefs: Motorcyclist dies in crash outside Coarsegold

A solo motorcyclist was killed in a crash west of Coarsegold one day before his 20th birthday, the California Highway Patrol reported.

The Madera County Coroner’s Office identified the man as Ben McQueen of Mariposa.

The CHP said McQueen was riding west on Road 415 about 8:30 p.m. Saturday, just east of Bean Gulch Ranch Road.

Officers said he failed to follow a left-hand curve and went down a rocky bank.

He was thrown from the motorcycle and struck several rocks.

Man fatally shot in Mendota

The Fresno County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the shooting death of a man in Mendota early Saturday.

Shortly before 3 a.m. Saturday, deputies went to a home on the 1800 block of Jennings Street in Mendota after witnesses reported hearing a single gunshot.

Deputies found a compact car with a shattered driver’s-side window and found the man’s body in the carport.

The man is described as Hispanic and is believed to be in his 20s, said sheriff’s spokesman Chris Curtice.

The man’s identity is not being released.

Investigators are seeking the public’s help in identifying two women seen with the man shortly before the shooting. Curtice said they are wanted for questioning.

Anyone with information can call detective Jaime Loredo at (559) 488-3921, the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office at (559) 488-3111 or Crime Stoppers at (559) 498-STOP.

Clovis police arrest two parolees with burglary tools

Clovis police arrested two Fresno parolees early Monday after officers said they found in their car tools often used to burglarize or steal vehicles.

A little after midnight, police said they saw a car moving slowly through an apartment complex on the 1300 block of Minnewawa Avenue.

Officers stopped driver Ryan Rector, 25, with Brandon Johnson, 27, at Peach and Gettysburg avenues. Cpl. Vincent Weibert said officers learned that both men were on parole from state prison.

He said they carried gloves, flashlights and other objects often used in vehicle burglaries.

Police arrested Rector on suspicion of possessing burglary tools and Johnson on suspicion of violating prison parole and illegally possessing a hypodermic needle.

Both were taken to Fresno County Jail.

Fresnan held on federal drug charges after 9-month wiretap

A Fresno man was arrested on federal drug charges Sunday morning, capping a nine-month wiretap investigation of gangs and drugs in west Fresno.

Police and federal agents arrested Jernell Beasley, 32, on the drug charges about 1:30 a.m. on the 1200 block of Waterman Avenue.

Sherrelle Moore, 24, was arrested on suspicion of protecting a fugitive.

Fresno police Sgt. Dennis Lowry said the investigation involved more than 60 Villa Posse gang members and their associates, plus confiscation of cocaine base, marijuana and illegal firearms.

2 thefts of irrigation pipes worth more than $8,000

The Madera County Sheriff’s Department is investigating the theft of irrigation pipes valued at more than $8,000 reported taken in two thefts from an orchard at Avenue 20 and Road 21.

The first theft of $5,850 worth of pipes was reported Wednesday, and the second theft of $2,450 in pipes was reported Monday, said Erica Stuart, department spokeswoman.

Anyone with information can contact the Madera County Sheriff’s Department at (559) 675-7770 or (800) 560-4911 or Crime Stoppers at (559) 498-STOP.

Five gang members arrested in a southeast Fresno sweep

Fresno police arrested five gang members in a sweep targeting gangs, parolees and probationers Monday in southeast Fresno.

Among those taken into custody was Steve Garza, 33, of Fresno, who was arrested on suspicion of possession of marijuana for sale, child endangerment and on a parole violation.

Aurelio Garza, 23, of Fresno was arrested on suspicion of being a felon in possession of ammunition and on a parole violation.

Sgt. Israel Reyes said Steve Garza and Aurelio Garza are not related.

Miguel Contreras, 28, of Fresno was arrested on suspicion of possessing a dangerous weapon and on a parole violation.

This is the second sweep targeting southeast Fresno gangs police have conducted this year, Reyes said.

Because of the two operations, violent crimes in the area are down more than 11% and property crimes are down 19%, he said.

Hit-and-run driver sought

Fresno police sought a hit-and-run driver after a collision Monday night in north Fresno at First Street and Gettysburg Avenue about 9:30 p.m.

Witnesses said a man in a Volkswagen Jetta was northbound on First when he ran a red light and slammed into a Buick at Gettysburg. The woman driving the Buick apparently avoided serious injury when her air bag deployed. She said the driver of the Jetta got out of his car and asked her whether she was all right. Then, he indicated that he thought it would be a good idea if he moved his car, she said.

Instead, he sped off northbound with metal parts grinding against the roadway.

“I just want to kill him,” said the Buick driver.

Courts

Visalia man pleads guilty to child pornography charges

A 49-year-old Visalia man pleaded guilty Monday to child pornography charges.

As part of his plea agreement, Christopher Joseph Renga agreed to a sentence of at least eight years and one month in federal prison. Renga will be on a lifetime probation term.

Prosecutor David Gappa said Renga admitted that from around September 2006 through October 2007, he used a computer and the Internet to receive more than 600 child pornography images. Some of the images were of prepubescent children, and some depicted violence and sadistic abuse.

Renga’s sentencing is set for June 8. The maximum sentence is 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

Exeter man enters guilty plea to federal child porn charges

A 40-year-old Exeter man pleaded guilty Monday to federal child pornography charges.

Robert Thompson admitted in a plea agreement that on Nov. 28, 2007, he used a computer and modem to receive child pornography on the Internet. Thompson also admitted that the child pornography involved prepubescent minors as well as images of minors engaged in sadistic or masochistic conduct.

Thompson is scheduled to be sentenced June 1.