A former Stallion Springs cop accused of sexually abusing a child has returned to Kern County. James Best, Jr., 53, was been booked into Lerdo Jail Monday after being transported from Maine to California. He was arrested in Maine in August after prosecutors say the alleged victim told authorities Best sexually abused her from the…… Read More
Judge Orders Rosamond Man to Stand Trial
A judge has determined there’s enough evidence to order a man to stand trial for a deadly stabbing in Rosamond. Raul Rodriguez, 43, faces a charge of first-degree murder after sheriff’s deputies responded May 31, 2024 to a stabbing near Harvell Place and Sierra Highway where they discovered the body of Gary Martin, 48, in…… Read More
Bakersfield Pimp Sentenced
A man who repeatedly threatened and hit a woman he pimped on Union Avenue will spend more than two decades in prison. Darrell Lawrence Meeken, 32, was sentenced last week to twenty one years and four months in prison after being found guilty in August of human trafficking, pimping and pandering. Authorities say Meeken pleaded…… Read More
Murder-Suicide in Southwest Bakersfield
Two women are dead after a murder-suicide in southwest Bakersfield. Police detectives went to a residence in the 7500 block of Lordsburg Drive east of Gosford Road Sunday morning at around 3 o’clock to check the welfare of a resident to find two women dead. No word yet on their identities.… Read More
Former Arvin Teacher Will Stand Trial
A former Arvin teacher accused of engaging in sex acts with an underage student will stand trial on seven felony counts. A judge last week found there was sufficient evidence for the case against Michael Parra, 44, to go to trial. Court documents indicate Parra’s wife contacted authorities in November 2023 after finding sexually graphic…… Read More
Kern DA: Charges Against Salas Unfounded
The Kern County District Attorney’s Office says a complaint filed against a candidate for county supervisor is unfounded. The DA’s office said Friday allegations of misconduct against Kimberly Salas are baseless. District 5 supervisor Leticia Perez’s chief of staff claims Salas was engaging in campaign-related communications during an event last week for her race against…… Read More
Changes to Delano Cop Car Take-Home Policy
Delano cops who live fifty miles from police headquarters can now take their patrol cars home with them. The city council has decided to adjust the distance from eight miles to fifty miles to allow for greater response times for police officers. Critics say it does no good for policing in the city of Delano…… Read More
Kern Coroner IDs Man Who Died Trimming Palm Tree
We’ve learned the name of a man who died as he trimmed a palm tree in east Bakersfield. On October 17, Kern County Firefighters found Fermin Leiva, 55, unconscious trapped beneath a heavy load of palm fronds at a house in the 800 block of Plaza Street. Rescuers say he’d been unresponsive for about thirty…… Read More
Kern County Prisoner Denied Parole
The California Parole Board has denied release of a Kern County prison inmate convicted of murder and several violent crimes. James Flores, 48, was found guilty of killing Jadesun Reyes on March 18, 2000, and assault with a deadly weapon on another victim in Los Angeles County. Flores stabbed a corrections officer in November 2000…… Read More
Ridgecrest Teenager Dies in Car Accident
Ridgecrest Police are investigating after the death of a teenager struck by a car. It happened early Saturday morning in the 400 block of West Las Flores Avenue where a girl, 15, was found unresponsive. First responders couldn’t save her. Police think the incident was an accident and not intentional. Anyone with information is urged…… Read More
