Regional
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- Written by: LAKE COUNTY NEWS REPORTS
Thirteen suspects were arrested, and more than $800,000 in stolen merchandise was recovered following a coordinated, multi-agency operation targeting an organized retail theft network operating across Northern California.
In September, the California Highway Patrol Valley Division Organized Retail Crime Task Force, or ORCTF, was alerted to a pair of retail theft suspects who stole merchandise in Placer County and at multiple other locations throughout the state.
The Valley Division ORCTF includes investigators from the CHP, Sacramento Police Department and the Placer County District Attorney’s Office.
On Oct. 1, the Rocklin Police Department conducted a traffic stop involving the suspects and requested assistance from the Valley Division ORCTF.
During the investigation, the suspects provided information identifying individuals who were purchasing stolen merchandise from them and reselling it for profit. Investigators also learned the stolen goods were being distributed and sold at flea markets in Oakland, San Jose, Galt, Modesto and Stockton.
Based on this information, ORCTF investigators conducted surveillance operations that corroborated the suspects’ statements and established links among the theft suspects, those purchasing and reselling the stolen merchandise, and the flea-market distribution locations.
Investigators subsequently obtained multiple search warrants covering six residences, three storage lockers, and one storage lot.
On Dec. 11, a coordinated multi-agency enforcement effort, Operation Silent Night, was executed in Oakland, Richmond, San Leandro and Galt. The operation resulted in the arrest of 13 suspects.
Investigators seized two firearms, more than $10,000 in cash, five vans, two passenger vehicles and two trailers. More than 400 boxes and 200 bags of stolen merchandise were recovered, including cosmetics, household goods, clothing, power tools, toys, alcohol and diapers. All suspects were transported to the Placer County Jail for booking.
On Dec. 12, Cal Expo provided an exposition hall to assist with the processing and cataloging of the recovered merchandise. In partnership with affected retailers, investigators documented a total of 44,140 stolen items valued in excess of $800,000.
The following are those who were taken into custody:
• Isaid Garcia Chapas, 41, Oakland.
• Irene Cruz Barragan, 35, Oakland.
• Daniela Cruz Barragan, 33, Oakland.
• Robert Lorenzo Luna-Varela, 34, Oakland.
• Jefferson Isaed Garcia-Rivera, 22, Oakland.
• Jennifer Garcia Cruz, 19, Oakland.
• Elan Rosales Montes, 35, Oakland.
• Claudia Ivet Cruz Barragan, 42, Oakland.
• Yolanda Carrillo Martinez, 45, Oakland.
• Ivan Miranda Espinoza, 33, Oakland.
• Bach Ngoc Thi Bui, 53, El Sobrante.
• Yuridia Sandoval Ramirez, 35, Oakland.
• Eryn Wilfred Corea Guevara, 29, Oakland.
“Organized retail theft is not a victimless crime. It impacts businesses, workers, and communities across California. This investigation highlights the strength of collaboration between law enforcement and our retail partners, and our commitment to holding organized theft networks accountable,” said CHP Valley Division Chief Tyler Eccles.
Since the ORCTF's inception in 2019, the CHP has been involved in over 4,200 investigations, leading to the arrest of more than 4,700 suspects and the recovery of nearly 1.5 million stolen goods valued at over $68.7 million statewide as of November 30.
The CHP extends its appreciation to all participating law enforcement agencies, task force members, Cal Expo, and retail partners whose collaboration led to the success of this investigation.
The case remains ongoing.
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- Written by: GOVERNOR’S OFFICE
Gov. Gavin Newsom on Monday announced a $50,000 reward payment to three individuals who provided information leading to the arrest and conviction of Marvin Markle for the murder of De Anna Lynn Johnson.
In 1982, 14-year-old De Anna Lynn Johnson was found dead near her home in Vacaville. In 2003, then Gov. Gray Davis issued a reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the individual responsible for her murder.
In 2017, investigators from the Vacaville Police Department and the Solano County District Attorney’s Office identified the suspect through witness statements. In 2025, he was convicted of 1st degree murder and sentenced to life in prison.
“After 43 years, justice has prevailed for De Anna Lynn Johnson — at just 14 years old, her life was taken far too soon. I am thankful that our law enforcement partners and prosecutors never gave up hope and spent decades in order to provide closure to her family, while honoring her memory,” said Newsom.
"The murder of De Anna Lynn Johnson, a young Vacaville student, rocked our entire community. I am grateful for the dedicated work of the men and women of the Vacaville Police Department and the Solano County District Attorney’s Office, who after all of these years, never gave up on the pursuit for justice,” said Solano County District Attorney Krishna Abrams. "I’m especially thankful for the citizens who were willing to come forward as they helped bring closure to De Anna Lynn’s loved ones after 40+ years.”
Help solve these murders
Gov. Newsom also announced that he has made available two $50,000 rewards for information leading to unsolved cases in Alameda and San Diego counties.
The rewards announced Monday involve the following cases:
Oakland, Alameda County — Antonio Nunez: Governor Newsom is offering a $50,000 reward for information leading to an arrest and conviction for the murder of Antonio Nunez. In 2009, 16-year-old Antonio Nunez was fatally shot by an unknown assailant outside of his home. Investigators from the Oakland Police Department conducted interviews and pursued leads on possible suspects, but have not identified the assailants. The Oakland Police Department has exhausted all investigative leads and requested that a reward be offered to encourage anyone with information about this murder to contact Sergeant Yun Zhou at 510-238-3821. Anonymous tips can be submitted to 510-238-7950.
“We are grateful to the Governor’s Office for offering this reward. Even though this crime occurred 16 years ago, we hope this renewed attention will encourage anyone with information to come forward and help us solve this case, bringing long-awaited justice to the victim’s family,” said Interim Oakland Police Chief James Beere.
San Diego, San Diego County — Arthur Jordan: Governor Newsom is offering a $50,000 reward for information leading to an arrest and conviction for the murder of Arthur Jordan. In 2018, 28-year-old Arthur Jordan was fatally shot by an unknown assailant while sitting in his car. Investigators from the San Diego Police Department have interviewed witnesses and potential suspects but have exhausted all leads. At the time of his death, Mr. Jordan was working as a barber at his family’s barber shop. The San Diego Police Department has exhausted all investigative leads and requested that a reward be offered to encourage anyone with information about this murder to contact Sergeant Joel Tien at 619-531-2323. Anonymous tips can be submitted to San Diego Crime Stoppers and 888-580-8477.
“We are very thankful for the Governor’s support in our efforts to find justice for Mr. Jordan and his family,” said San Diego Police Department Detective Chris Murray.
Governor’s rewards for unsolved cases
Under California law, law enforcement agencies may ask the governor to issue rewards in specified unsolved cases where they have exhausted all investigative leads, to encourage individuals with information about the crimes to come forward.
Public assistance is vital to law enforcement, and rewards may encourage the public cooperation needed to apprehend those who have committed serious offenses.
More information on the Governor’s Reward Program can be found here.
Authorities arrest Mendocino County journalist, high school teacher for online harassment of student
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- Written by: LAKE COUNTY NEWS REPORTS
NORTH COAST, Calif. — The Ukiah Police Department said it has arrested a Hopland man who works as a high school teacher and journalist for harassing a female high school student with sexually suggestive messages on social media and for contacting other minors as well.
Matthew Palmer LaFever, 37, of Hopland, was arrested on Monday following an investigation that began in mid-October, the Ukiah Police Department reported.
LaFever is a teacher at Ukiah High School, owner and operator of the MendoFever website — which appeared to have been taken down as of Monday night — a contributor to the Redheaded Blackbelt website and the SF Gate North Coast contributing editor.
Police said that on Oct. 16 they were notified by a concerned parent of a 17-year-old Ukiah High School student that LaFever, a journalism teacher at the high school, had made an inappropriate sexual comment towards her daughter.
Through the course of the initial investigation into that incident, Ukiah Police Department detectives learned that a different UHS student had information regarding LaFever contacting minors on social media.
Ukiah Police detectives conducted an interview with the female high school student, who told them she had conversed with LaFever on social media, informed him that she was a minor, and LaFever had persisted to make sexually suggestive comments about her and repeatedly asked her to send him inappropriate photographs.
Police said LaFever also sent the minor scantily clad and inappropriate photographs of himself.
The agency said its detectives obtained a search warrant for LaFever’s cell phone, computers and residence.
The following day Ukiah Police detectives located LaFever at the Ukiah High School campus and seized his cell phone and multiple laptops. LaFever declined to provide the detectives with a statement.
Police said LaFever's electronic devices were forensically downloaded, and detectives were able to confirm that the social media interaction described by the 17-year-old had occurred, and she had clearly informed LaFever that she was a minor.
Through the course of their investigation the detectives also located additional evidence that LaFever was reaching out to numerous minors throughout Sonoma and Mendocino counties; however, police said those victims have not been identified at this time due to the anonymity of social media.
On Monday, detectives obtained an arrest warrant for LaFever for the crime of knowingly annoying and or molesting a minor.
At approximately 7 a.m. Monday, the detectives went to LaFever’s residence, and he was taken into custody.
LaFever was booked into the Mendocino County jail for the misdemeanor charge at 8:17 a.m, with bail set at $10,000. Jail records showed he posted bail and was released just after noon on Monday.
Police said LaFever used numerous variations of the screen name “Johhnyender” across multiple social media platforms, and authorities are asking that any minors who had contact or received any messages from similar social media accounts contact them.
The Ukiah Police Department said it “remains committed to keeping the residents of Ukiah safe,” and it thanked Ukiah High School and the Mendocino County District Attorney’s Office for their assistance in the investigation.
- Details
- Written by: LAKE COUNTY NEWS REPORTS
Three crew members on a REACH helicopter were injured on Monday when it crashed into a highway in Sacramento.
The California Highway Patrol reported that on Monday shortly after 7 p.m., the CHP’s Sacramento Communications Center received calls reporting a helicopter crash on eastbound U.S. Highway 50, west of 59th Street.
The aircraft, operated by REACH Air Medical Services, was functioning as a medical transport helicopter; however, no patients were on board at the time of the incident.
Three crewmembers were aboard, all of whom suffered major injuries and were transported to local hospitals for treatment.
No vehicles were involved in the crash.
Due to debris and the active investigation, eastbound U.S. 50 from the State Route 99 connector to the crash site was closed for several hours. All lanes were reopened at 1:22 a.m. Tuesday.
The CHP is assisting the National Transportation Safety Board, or NTSB, with the ongoing investigation.
“The California Highway Patrol extends its sincere gratitude to the motorists and first responders who stopped to render aid following last night’s crash. This is a complex investigation, and we will continue to work closely with the NTSB as they work to determine the cause of the crash,” said Chief Tyler Eccles, commander of CHP Valley Division.
Anyone who may have witnessed the crash or has dash camera footage of the incident is asked to submit information or videos to Sergeant Brodie Mitchell with the CHP Valley Division Multidisciplinary Accident Investigation Team at 916-731-6400 or via email at
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