judge

Enjoying nature around Lake Tahoe comes with a responsibility

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - With throngs of people heading to Lake Tahoe over the holidays, not only did they travel during a regional and state stay-at-home order, they also failed to remove their broken sleds and other trash when they left. What was left behind has drawn numerous complaints left on social media and with local authorities.

Gary S. Slossberg appointed as El Dorado County Superior Court Commissioner

EL DORADO COUNTY, Calif. - A new court commissioner has been announced by the El Dorado County Superior Court. After an extensive search and vetting process, Gary
S. Slossberg was appointed by Presiding Judge Suzanne Kingsbury.

Slossberg will be based in Placerville but will serve in all of the courts in El Dorado County. He will specialize in cases involving family law, child support, domestic violence and civil harassment, juvenile dependency and delinquency, traffic, limited civil cases, as well as overflow matters as assigned by the Presiding Judge.

Election result updates for El Dorado County - Updates for Douglas County expected Friday

More ballot counts have been released by the elections departments at both El Dorado and Douglas Counties.

EL DORADO COUNTY

El Dorado County election officials have released another tally of ballots counted. The results remain the same as of the November 10 count. Votes Cast: 116,744 of 135,554, or 86.12 percent of eligible voters.

Douglas County election results - Over 86 percent of vote counted

DOUGLAS COUNTY, Nev. - Election officials have released their first post-election day tabulation of the ballots for Douglas County races. 86.27 percent of the voters have cast their vote: Mail 19,727 50.69%, Early Voting 10,448 26.85%, Election Day 3,399 8.73%. So far, ballots from 33,574 of the 38,918 eligible voters have been counted.

DOUGLAS COUNTY COMMISSIONER, DISTRICT 1

Danny Tarkanian - 25,293 75.34%

DOUGLAS COUNTY COMMISSIONER, DISTRICT 3

Mark Gardner - 21,639 64.45%
Charles Holt - 9,337 27.81%

DOUGLAS COUNTY COMMISSIONER, DISTRICT 5

Batten sentenced 26 years to life for his part in South Lake Tahoe murder

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - He was the star running back of Benicia High School before graduating in 2015. He led the Panthers with 901 rushing yards and 15 total touchdowns his senior year and was named their Most Valuable Offensive Player.

Less than one year later he was in South Lake Tahoe with a group of men accused of fatally shooting Dennis "Spike" Wright, Jr. over a drug deal at the Beverly Lodge.

Kudos: Celebrating Miles for Recovery 2020 - 2021

The month of September has come and gone. It is with much appreciation I want to thank all our participants who braved these crazy times and participated in this months Miles for Recovery Event. You did not let the smoke or COVID and its many consequences get in your way. You turned these challenges into motivation and moved forward knowing both your physical and mental health would be better for participating.

Veterinarian residing in Truckee pleads guilty to tax evasion

A world-renown veterinarian living in Truckee leaded guilty today to one count of tax evasion.

Jack Ray Snyder, 63, was indicted in 2018 after it was alleged he failed to report significant income and filed false tax returns between 2012 and 2014. Besides the income discrepancy, Snyder was charged with deducting non-deductible personal expenses and overreporting his property taxes.

Road Beat: Hyundai Venue affordable front row fun

The nosebleeds usually refer to the worst seats in the house; they’re the highest up, and furthest away from the action. At any venue, the nosebleeds are also always the cheapest. The adage ‘you get what you pay for’ defines them perfectly. The Venue may be priced like the nosebleeds, but with the fun and style of the much more expensive floor seats.

Local Judge Richard Glasson awarded Lifetime Achievement Award

DOUGLAS COUNTY, Nev. - Tahoe Township Justice of the Peace Richard Glasson was recently awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Nevada Judge's of Limited Jurisdiction (NJLJ), the first such honor to a judge from the group since 2016.

The ceremony was held on Zoom with a group of judges, politicians and court administrators, all telling funny tales of the longest serving Douglas County judge. He has long been appreciated for his sense of humor and appreciation for family and the law.

Plea expected in deadly South Lake Tahoe tanker crash

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - It has been 11 months since the deadly tanker crash on US50 and Elks Club Road claimed the life of a 36-year-old North Highlands man. The thick black smoke from the wreckage could be seen for miles as emergency response crews worked on extinguishing the blaze.

South Lake Tahoe man sentenced to 26 years in prison for multiple counts of child molestation

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - A South Lake Tahoe man who was found guilty on four counts of felony child molestation has been sentenced to 26 years in state prison.

A jury found John Robert Garcia, 45, guilty back in December 2019 and he was scheduled to be sentenced in April. Due to social distancing requirements and COVID-19, that was held off until June 26. Judge Dylan Sullivan conducted the sentencing utilizing remote video conferencing.

Genoa's famous and historic Candy Dance canceled for 2020

GENOA, Nev. - For the past 100 years, the Town of Genoa has held a Candy Dance but the 101st event is being canceled due to COVID-19. In a 5-0 vote Wednesday, the Genoa Town Advisory Board decided to forego the event due to health and safety concerns for residents, vendors, staff and sponsors.

Reno man arrested after allegedly stealing hundreds of surgical masks from VA Hospital

RENO, Nev. – Peter Lucas, 35, of Reno, was arrested yesterday and appeared in court today for allegedly stealing hundreds of surgical masks from a supply cart at the Ioannis A. Lougaris VA Medical Center (VA Medical Center) in Reno.

Jury trials in South Lake Tahoe and California suspended for two months

California Chief Justice Tani G. Cantil-Sakauye on Monday issued a statewide order suspending all jury trials in California's superior courts for 60 days and allowing courts to immediately adopt new rules to address the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

In South Lake Tahoe, Judge Suzanne Kingsbury had previously announced new practices in the El Dorado County courtrooms and suspension of the use of juries until April 16.

El Dorado County Superior Court limiting access in response to COVID-19

EL DORADO COUNTY, Calif. - Due to the current public health crisis, the El Dorado County Superior Court will be limited access to courthouses, effective immediately. They currently plan to resume normal operations on April 17, 2020, though with the rapidly unfolding coronavirus situation, this could change.

Courtrooms will be practice social distancing, including at least two seats between people in the gallery. Members of the public are strongly discouraged from attending court proceedings unless they are statutory support persons or those who have been subpoenaed.

21,000 more El Dorado County ballots counted: Measures M and B on way to defeat

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The El Dorado County Elections department released another count of ballots from Tuesday's primary election on Friday afternoon.

Since election night, 21,446 more ballots have been counted in the county and those results were released at 4:40 p.m. Elections officials say there are just about 1,000 left to count. These late numbers come from ballots received in the mail and left in the area drop boxes near election day. It is unknown the location where the remaining 1,000 ballots are from.

El Dorado County Election Results

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - New figures have been released by the El Dorado County Elections Department.

As of 11:38 p.m. Tuesday, all 198 of the precincts have been counted with 52,093 ballots of the 124,979 registered voters, or 41.68 percent.

Measures affecting the County portions of the South Shore, Measure B and Measure M are not meeting the required 2/3 vote to pass at this time.

The results as of 11:38 p.m. Tuesday:

Measure B, the Lake Valley Fire Protection District tax - 2/3 vote needed to pass
There are 5,917 registered voters

Yes - 1,203 - 58.60%

Solano County man found guilty of murder and robbery by South Lake Tahoe jury

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - A jury of seven men and five women took just 80 minutes on Tuesday to find Dion Jermaine Vacarro guilty of murdering Dennis "Spike" Wright, Jr. in South Lake Tahoe on January 30, 2016.

CASA brings back their Box Lunch fundraiser to South Lake Tahoe - Postponed

Event Date: 
March 17, 2020 (All day)

ALL TAX AIDE SESSIONS HAVE BEEN CANCELED DUE TO CONCERNS AROUND THE CONORAVIRUS.
SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The Court Appointed Court Special Advocates (CASA) of El Dorado County are holding their 24th annual CASA Box Lunch fundraiser on Thursday, April 2, and for the first time in years people in South Lake Tahoe can participate once again.

Surprise during South Lake Tahoe murder trial

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - In a surprise move on Thursday during the murder trial of Dion Jermaine Vacarro in South Lake Tahoe, the man who had previously pleaded guilty in the same case in exchange for a lighter sentence changed his mind.

Fours years after man killed in South Lake Tahoe over pot deal, one trial begins

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - It was a snowy night on January 30, 2016, when Dennis Wright, Jr. brought at least 100 pounds of pot to the Beverly Lodge on Lake Tahoe Boulevard to sell to an interested party. Wright, who was better known as Spike, never made it back to his home in River Pines, Amador County that night. Instead, he was shot and killed at about 7:45 p.m. in the parking lot of the motel.

Lincoln Day Dinner

Event Date: 
Repeats every 10 days until Thu Feb 13 2020 .
February 13, 2020 (All day)

So. Lake Tahoe Republican Women's Lincoln Day Dinner is on Thursday, February 13 at 5:30 PM at Tep's Villa Roma Italian Restaurant, 3450 Lake Tahoe Blvd. Enjoy a declicious buffet dinner followed by great speakers: Judge Steven Bailey (Ret.) regarding the Election Integrity Project of California; SLT City Councilmember Tamara Wallace; and Todd White of El Dorado County Republican Party.

Enjoy a great evening, along with silent auction, for $45 per person. To reserve tickets, please email us at solaketahoerepublicanwomen@gmail.com

Jury finds South Lake Tahoe man guilty of multiple counts of child molestation

A South Lake Tahoe man has been found guilty on four counts of felony child molestation which included one count of Continuous Sexual Abuse of a Child under 14, two counts of Lewd and Lascivious Acts upon a Child under 14, and one count of Forcible Lewd Act upon a Child under 14.

John Robert Garcia, 45, was arrested in April 2019 after a five-month-long investigation by the South Lake Tahoe Police Department (SLTPD) and El Dorado County District Attorney's Office.

El Dorado County man pleads guilty to distributing designer drug that caused minor's death

Over seven years after the death of a juvenile, the person found responsible plead guilty Monday in federal court to distribution of a controlled substance known as 25I-NBOMe that caused death the death of the minor in 2012.

According to court documents, during September 2012, Elijah Richter, 28, of Camino, Calif. imported hallucinogenic drugs, including a controlled substance known as 25I-NBOMe, from Europe to his residence in El Dorado County. He placed orders on his computer through Silk Road, a now-defunct “dark” website.

Dozens of new California laws go into effect in 2020

New laws will be going into effect in California in the new year, putting into place California legislature action during 2019. There are many changes including road safety and distracted driving penalties, roadkill rules, minimum wage, independent workers and rent caps.

Except where noted, these laws are effective January 1, 2020:

Traffic Safety

The California Highway Patrol (CHP) is highlighting several new laws passed this year:

Charges to be filed against driver involved in deadly tanker crash in South Lake Tahoe

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The driver of a Prius involved in a deadly tanker crash on US50 near South Lake Tahoe will be charged with a single count of misdemeanor manslaughter.

Column: Tahoe Regional Planning Agency celebrates 50 Years

The year was 1969. And what a year it was. On July 20, 1969—the Viet Nam War was raging—American Neil Armstrong became the first person to set foot on the surface of the moon. For much of the decade, America and indeed the world had been mesmerized by the space race.

Douglas County Sheriff's Office #NoShaveNovember nets almost $3,700 for suicide prevention

DOUGLAS COUNTY, Nev. - The Douglas County Sheriff's Office (DCSO) recently concluded a month-long fundraiser to raise money for the Suicide Prevention Network (SPN).

#NoShaveNovember raised just over $3,672 for the nonprofit that provides families and individuals with support and education within the community.

Involved with the judging was Trish Hamilton who lost her son Dalton Warswick to suicide in September of this year. Dalton had attended both Whittell and Douglas High Schools.

Month full of activities during Heavenly Holidays in South Lake Tahoe

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The popular Heavenly Holidays has returned to the Heavenly Village in South Lake Tahoe. This family-friendly event runs until December 31.

Nevada Supreme Court affirms ruling of $230K owed to IVGID

INCLINE VILLAGE, Nev. - Years of legal battles between the Incline Village General Improvement District (IVGID) and resident Aaron Katz appear to be drawing to a close after the Nevada Supreme Court on Friday affirmed a 2016 ruling that Katz pay almost $230,000 of attorney fees and costs.

Judge rules that South Lake Tahoe cannabis microbusiness approvals can move forward

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - A Sacramento Superior Court Judge has narrowed the scope of the temporary injunction filed against the City of South Lake Tahoe, the City Council, and the Development Services Director Kevin Fabino on November 15.. The judge ruled on Friday, November 22 that his previous order will not affect microbusinesses, just retail sales, according to South Lake Tahoe City Attorney Heather Stroud who was in Sacramento for the ruling.

Local man files temporary injunction; South Lake Tahoe cannabis permit process on hold

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - There is another delay in cannabis businesses being able to move forward in South Lake Tahoe.

Local business owner John Runnels filed a temporary injunction against the City of South Lake Tahoe, the City Council and the Development Services Director Kevin Fabino in Superior Court in Sacramento Friday afternoon. That action has put a temporary halt to all cannabis-related permits being processed in the city until a December 20 court date.

27th annual CASA Gala 2019 - Be the sparkle in a child's life

Event Date: 
November 2, 2019 - 6:00pm

Child Advocates of El Dorado is holding their annual gala on Saturday, November 2 starting at 6:00 p.m. at the Serrano Country Club in El Dorado Hills. Funds raised during this special evening help support their services in the county, including South Lake Tahoe.

The 27th annual CASA Gala is a black-tie affair and the cost is $125 per ticket. Purchase tickets, or for more information, visit https://www.casaeldorado.org/product/casa-gala-2019-ticket-purchase/.

South Lake Tahoe City Council votes to defend Measure T

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Vacation Home Rentals (VHR) in South Lake Tahoe continue to be the hot topic, even months after a measure to ban most of them in the city limits narrowly passed in the November 2018 election. Voters approved Measure T by 58 votes.

The subject has created a big divide in the community and a decision by the South Lake Tahoe City Council Tuesday will not lessen that division though their intent is now clear.

Chautauqua Presentation "Sisters of the Sage" at Dangberg Historic Park

Event Date: 
August 28, 2019 - 6:30pm

August closes with a Chautauqua presentation “Sisters of the Sage” which will highlight the lives of Annie H. Martin, Lillian V. Finnegan and Anna N. Harris at the Dangberg Home Ranch Historic Park on Wednesday, August 28, at 6:30 pm.

These three influential women from the early days of Nevada will meet to reminisce about their early lives, the suffrage movement and their accomplishments as women, in both Carson Valley and Carson City.

Location

Dangberg Home Ranch Historic Park
1450 Hwy 88, Mi
United States

State rejects ten-year extention of CalTahoe JPA contract

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - For months the California Tahoe Emergency Services Operations Authority (CTESOA) has been working on a new ten-year contract to provide emergency ambulance services in the Lake Tahoe area of El Dorado County and northwestern Alpine County, just as they have since 2001. They have been providing these services through a Joint Powers Authority (JPA).

Korbel's two fun events at the ACC: The Spray-Off and Closest-to-the-Pine constests

LAKE TAHOE, Nev. - The Tahoe Prosperity Center (TPC) has been chosen as the charity that could win $125,000 during this year's Korbel Closest-to-the-Pin challenge during the American Century Championship on Friday. A total of $250,000 is on the line during this annual contest that brings together 15 of the tournament’s most popular personalities to compete. If a contestant makes a hole-in-one, the $250,000 grand prize will be split with $125,000 going home with the celebrity, and $125,000 to TPC.

Fatal DUI suspect makes Douglas County court appearance

DOUGLAS COUNTY, Nev. - The man accused of causing the death of Carson City resident Hugo Parra-Solis was in Tahoe Township Court on Tuesday.

Dressed in his jail-issued jumpsuit and shoes, the chained Jerrad Dominguez appeared in front of visiting Judge Nancy Oesterle. He does not have an attorney and told the judge he was trying to secure a Nevada attorney. Due to a lack of counsel, Dominguez did not enter any pleas.

Cannabis business applicants question evaluation scores - File appeals with City of South Lake Tahoe

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Two businesses that were not selected to go further in the process of vying for one of three cannabis retail store licenses have filed appeals with the City of South Lake Tahoe. They are questioning the fairness of the selection process, and one is stating that all three applicants who had the top scores evaluation scores should be disqualified. A third applicant said he is in the process of filing an appeal.

Former SLT City Attorney headed to new job in Santa Maria

Former South Lake Tahoe City Attorney Tom Watson has resigned from his position with the City of Tracy, California and taken a new one as the City Attorney of Santa Maria, a community south of San Luis Obispo.

Watson will start with them on June 17 after his contract was unanimously approved by the Santa Maria City Council on May 7.

"I have confidence in his abilities to manage and lead the City Attorney’s Office for years to come,” said Mayor Alice Patino in a news release. “I look forward to him effectively managing the legal needs of our city.”

All ages invited to participate in South Lake Tahoe's inaugural ChalkFest

Event Date: 
June 2, 2019 - 10:00am

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Youth and adult are invited to participate in the first ChalkFest on Sunday, June 2 from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the Ski Run Marina Promenade. It is part of the day-long Artfest which is being held along Ski Run Marina which features art and music.

Adults will get a 6'x 6' space to create their masterpiece in and ten spots are available.

Kids get a 4' x 4' space to create their masterpiece in and twenty spots are available.

Professional artists will judge the work and a prize will be awarded.

Judge's decision in South Lake Tahoe courtroom calls California law unconstitutional

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - One could feel the air let out of a South Lake Tahoe courtroom as visiting Judge Gary Mullen read his decision to the five defendants, their five lawyers and family members in attendance, one that tossed out their request to drop murder charges against all of the suspects in the robbery and murder in 2016 of Dennis Wright.

Judge Mullen declared California Senate Bill 1437 unconstitutional. The bill was signed by then-California Governor Jerry Brown in September 2018 and changed the liability for accomplices to felony murder.

El Dorado County's lone juvenile treatment center to be in South Lake Tahoe, for now

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Starting May 25, 2019, there will be no more youth staying in the Placerville Juvenile Detention Facility. After a decision by the El Dorado County Board of Supervisors in February, South Lake Tahoe's Juvenile Treatment Center (JTC) will be the only youth facility in the county to serve those in the justice system 18-years-old and younger, for now.

There are several reasons for the changes including an aging facility, increasing costs and the fact that fewer youth are working their way through the juvenile justice system.

16th annual Drug Store Project in South Lake Tahoe

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - On Tuesday, April 2, 325 6th graders from South Tahoe Middle School, Zephyr Cove Elementary School and home-schooled youth, will spend the day at Lake Tahoe Community College going through the 16th annual Drug Store Project.

Since 2004, middle school students in the Lake Tahoe Unified School District (LTUSD) have gone through the Drug Store Project (DSP), a day-long comprehensive drug prevention program designed to educate youth about the dangers of substance use and abuse.

Pollock Pines man facing 43 years in prison after found guilty of murdering six-week-old baby

EL DORADO COUNTY, Calif. - The man responsible for abusing a baby from the time he was eight days old and his death five weeks later is looking at spending the next 43 years in prison after being found guilty on March 21, 2019, in Judge Kenneth Melikian's courtroom.

Michael Swope, 32, was convicted of second-degree murder of baby Sammy as well as three counts of felony child abuse causing great bodily injury for breaking various ribs on the baby over infant's short and traumatic life.

California Supreme Court puts an end to the ''Loop Road' lawsuit

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - In 2016 a group of citizens gathered enough signatures to put a measure before the voters in November of that year to prevent the City of South Lake Tahoe from taking any action on what has been known as the Loop Road project (though the official name is the US 50/South Shore Community Revitalization Project) without first getting approval by the voters.

Today the California Supreme Court put an end to that measure.

South Lake Tahoe man headed to prison for destruction of archaeological sites

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - After illegally digging at prehistoric Native American archaeological sites on federal lands in Alpine and El Dorado counties, 50-year-old Timothy Brian Harrison of South Lake Tahoe was sentenced today to one year and one day in prison and ordered to pay $113,000 in restitution.

He was found guilty on two counts of excavation and removal of archaeological resources from public lands and one misdemeanor count of unlawful possession of methamphetamine, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced.

Column: SLTPD and EDSO saves woman's life with arrest

After a six-month investigation into drug transactions in the Lake Tahoe Basin, the El Dorado Sheriff's Department Narcotics Task Force executed search warrants at two locations in South Lake Tahoe on August 23, 2017. Large amounts of heroin, methamphetamine and approximately 12 firearms were seized in the search. Lynwood Towle, Shawn German, Melissa Griffis, Paul Ryan, and Krystal Long were all arrested, charged, and eventually pleaded guilty to various charges stemming from those searches.

Change behind bars: Two South Lake Tahoe locals speak about their time in jail

Do you know what it is like to be caged like a wild animal? Do you know what it is like to scratch at the insides of a jail cell wall as you scream for your freedom? Do you know what it is like to have your nightmares as your only company?

I can’t say that I know what it’s like. I really can’t.

Drug trafficking pair nabbed in Carson City sentenced to total of 16 years in prison

Two drug traffickers were sentenced today to a total of 16 years in federal prison after a traffic stop in Carson City for speeding led to the discovery of large quantities of methamphetamine and heroin in their car.

Danny Lyle Jensen II, 39, and Kimberly Lopes, 37, both of Henderson, Nevada, were sentenced to 130 months and 63 months, respectively, and five years of supervised release by U.S. District Judge Howard D. McKibben. They previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and to distribute at least 500 grams of methamphetamine.

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