A Bakersfield man has entered a guilty plea to receiving and distributing child pornography. Federal prosecutors say Roman Rodriguez, 26, used a cellphone to obtain more than 600 illicit images between February 18 and 22, 2024. Agents with the U.S. Department of Justice, Eastern District of California released the information on Monday. Rodriguez faces up…… Read More
KUZZ News
KCSO sergeant accused of rape
A Kern County Sheriff’s Office sergeant has been arrested on felony rape charges. Steven Wells, 45, was apprehended on Friday on charges which also included burglary. He’s a defendant in a lawsuit brought against Kern County by a former sheriff’s deputy who said she dated him. The woman claims Wells tried to rip her clothes…… Read More
low-cost apartments set to open soon
CityServe Network hopes to start moving tenants into its new apartment complex in central Bakersfield as soon as next month. Bakersfield.com reports the 126-unit Elevate Apartment Complex at F Street and Golden State Avenue will house people earning less than $17,350 dollars per year. Housing vouchers will cover their rent. Paving in the parking lot…… Read More
new fire in southland rampage
CBS News — Fires across the Los Angeles area, including the Kenneth Fire that broke out Thursday afternoon in the West Hills neighborhood, scorched more than 55 square miles and put roughly 179,000 people under evacuation orders, according to officials. At least 10 people are dead and more than 10,000 structures have been destroyed as strong…… Read More
police: convicted felon caught with weapons, drugs
A felon on probation was arrested in Shafter after allegedly being found with a rifle and drugs. Steven Gafner, 21, was apprehended on Wednesday after officers say he was caught with a .22 caliber rifle, over a hundred rounds of ammunition, suspected cocaine, a scale, marijuana and cash. The arrest was the result of a…… Read More
woman rescued from fire in bodfish
A woman has been rescued from a burning mobile home in Bodfish. Kern County Fire Department crews responded Wednesday night to a fire in the 200 block of Kellen Way where about half the home was engulfed in fire when they got there. Flames were seen leaping from the windows and smoke alarms were blaring…… Read More
southland fires continue to rage
CBS News — Multiple fires continue to burn in Los Angeles County after prompting evacuation orders and warnings and destroying more than 1,300 structures, officials said. Five people are dead, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department confirmed to CBS Los Angeles. Three of the blazes weren’t at all contained, including the two biggest. The National Weather…… Read More
hearing set for rosamond woman accused of setting fires
A woman who admitted setting fires in Rosamond will appear at a competency hearing in February. Stephanie Burko, 40, reportedly told Kern County Fire investigators she ignited the blazes on 100th Street West in December because people were chasing her and she feared for her life. Two mobile homes were destroyed. Firefighters say they caught…… Read More
alleged gallery vandal identified
A woman has been arrested after a surveillance camera reportedly catches her vandalizing the Portrait of a Warrior Gallery in downtown Bakersfield. Authorities say Hillary Battisti was seen on video January 3 vandalizing a glass door and trying to enter other glass doors at the gallery on Eye Street. Battisti was arrested at a nearby…… Read More
