Prosecutor: Handyman had ‘intent to kill’ in deadly attack on Coachella Valley senior

KESQ on April 25, 2025

City News Service

INDIO, Calif. (KESQ) – A pool serviceman who fatally beat a 93-year-old Palm Desert woman during a robbery at her home applied “all of his” force to snuff out her life with the motivation of taking her money, making him guilty of first-degree murder, a prosecutor alleged today, while the man’s attorney argued his client “freaked out” during the encounter and didn’t plan on taking her life.

Along with the murder count, Benjamin Cabrera Briones, 62, of Thousand Palms is charged with burglary, forgery and special-circumstance allegations of killing in the course of a robbery and murder for financial gain in the 2021 death of Jean Grace Willrich.

“She suffered massive blunt force trauma to her face,” Riverside County Deputy District Attorney Hawlee Valente said during her closing statement at the Larson Justice Center Thursday. “He beat her, bludgeoned her repeatedly. He applied all of his body weight on her collar bone. That’s intent to kill.”

Briones, who was both a pool serviceman and general handyman, had gone to the residence on the pretext of fixing a toilet. However, the prosecution argued that his real motivation was theft.

“He intended to defraud, and the victim was an easy target,” Valente said.  

On Nov. 29, 2021, the defendant arrived in his work truck clearly marked “Briones Pools” at the victim’s house in the 77000 block of Michigan Drive at 6:20 a.m. and remained for almost exactly 50 minutes — a time frame that sheriff’s detectives were able to confirm relying on tape from security surveillance video cameras at neighbors’ properties, according to the prosecution.

Valente alleged he wore latex gloves during and after the murder. Pieces of the gloves were located inside the house.   

After leaving the property, Briones drove to an ATM outside an Albertson’s supermarket in Palm Desert and deposited one of her checks into his business account, according to the prosecution.

Deputy Public Defender Richard Verlato acknowledged, “There’s no question Mr. Briones is guilty of the fraudulent check,” but he challenged the prosecution’s contention that his client was “guilty beyond a reasonable doubt” of killing for financial gain.

The attorney asserted Briones did not have an intent to kill when he arrived at the home — to which he’d been invited — but in the course of speaking with Willrich, “he freaked out,” causing him to lose control and fatally assault the woman, for whom he had once worked to maintain her pool until she fired him over a payment dispute.   

“It’s inconclusive how much pressure he applied to her,” Verlato said, insisting that the most his client could be convicted of was second-degree murder.

On Nov. 30, 2021, a concerned friend, Patricia McDonald, went to the victim’s house and used a spare key to enter, finding the victim “laying in a puddle of dried blood, her face swollen,” according to trial testimony.   

Sheriff’s Investigator Gustavo Castaneda testified previously that during an interview with Briones, the defendant admitted turning hostile when Willrich started questioning why he was walking around her home and not fixing the toilet.

“That’s when he proceeded to assault her,” Castaneda said. “Mr. Briones explained to us how he punched her, choked her and eventually got on top of her. He continued to punch her, hit her with both open and closed fists because she wouldn’t stop screaming. When she stopped moving, he got up, grabbed (her) checks and left.”   

Valente said that after a search warrant was executed at the defendant’s residence, bloodstained shoes, a shirt, pants and other items of evidentiary value were seized. A notepad bearing names and addresses was also located, and “Willrich’s name and address were the only ones crossed out,” the deputy district attorney said.   

Briones was arrested without incident on Dec. 3, 2021, during a traffic stop near Bob Hope and Frank Sinatra drives in Rancho Mirage.   

Superior Court Judge Anthony Villalobos directed jurors to return to the Indio courthouse Friday to commence deliberations in the two-week trial.   

Briones, who has no documented prior felony convictions recorded in Riverside County, is being held without bail at the Benoit Detention Center.

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Prosecution testimony to conclude in trial of pair accused in Cathedral City murder

KESQ on April 25, 2025

City News Service

INDIO, Calif. (KESQ) – The prosecution is expected to rest next week in the trial of two men accused in the murder of a Cathedral City convenience store owner who was gunned down during an attempted robbery in which the shooter fled without taking a dime.

Charles Lamar Campbell of Beaumont and Joel Ortiz Hidalgo of Desert Hot Springs, both 23, allegedly conspired in the 2021 slaying of 61-year-old Chris Sgouromitis of Cathedral City.

Both men are charged with first-degree murder, attempted robbery and a special circumstance allegation of killing in the course of a robbery. Campbell is additionally charged with sentence-enhancing gun and great bodily injury allegations.

Testimony got underway Tuesday at the Larson Justice Center in Indio before two juries —  one for each defendant.   

Each man is being held without bail at the Benoit Detention Center.   

According to a trial brief filed by the Riverside County District Attorney’s Office, on the night of Feb. 21, 2021, Campbell and Hidalgo were driving around the Coachella Valley in the latter’s Acura sedan, seeking to purchase a “plug” of marijuana. When a transaction fell through in Palm Springs, the men headed into Cathedral City, where Campbell directed Hidalgo onto Shifting Sands Trail and, ultimately, the Outpost Market at the intersection of Shifting Sands and Ramon Road, court papers said.

While Hidalgo sat behind the wheel of his car, Campbell entered the convenience store, long owned and operated by Sgouromitis and his family, prosecutors said.

Although no one else was in the outlet, security surveillance video cameras inside were operating, capturing almost all of the ensuing encounter between the victim and defendant, according to the brief.

“The victim had the cash register open and appeared to be counting or organizing cash in the register as Campbell walked in … holding a black semiautomatic handgun,” the narrative stated.

There were words between the men, which the video cameras did not record. The images, however, revealed Campbell allegedly raising the pistol, holding it with both hands and aiming it at the victim. The defendant fired a shot while backing toward the double doors, striking Sgouromitis in the left hip, prosecutors alleged.   

When the store owner tried to run away from the counter, Campbell allegedly fired two more shots, hitting the victim in the chest and lower back, according to the brief.

The gunfire evidently frightened Hidalgo, who accelerated away from the location as Campbell immediately exited the store, the prosecution said. Campbell was forced to flee on foot through the residences lining Shifting Sands, and during his getaway, he accidentally fired his 9mm pistol into ayard, where the homeowner was watching, according to court papers.

Sgouromitis’ brother, who had been resting in a room at the back of the store when the shots rang out, initiated CPR on his sibling until Cathedral City Police Department officers arrived and took over, followed by paramedics moments later. However, the victim was pronounced dead at the scene.

He was a beloved member of the community, and CCPD released a statement within a few days of his murder, saying he was a “father of four with strong local ties, who was not involved in criminal activity and died in his longtime place of business.”

Hidalgo’s Acura was soon identified as the vehicle that had parked outside the convenience store, and the license plate was confirmed via Flock law enforcement camera recordings in Palm Springs, leading to his being tracked down and detained for questioning less than a week later.

The defendant provided details regarding what allegedly had transpired, insisting that he was only giving Campbell a ride to get some marijuana and had no foreknowledge of the planned robbery, according to the brief. He was formally arrested at the police station.

Campbell was located staying in a Beaumont motel, where detectives went to serve an arrest warrant, listening through the door as he conversed via speaker phone with his mother, allegedly telling her, “The driver was arrested, and all he has to do is give me up,” according to the prosecution.

Officers ordered him out of the room, at which point the defendant was taken into custody without incident.   

Neither man has documented prior felony convictions in Riverside County.

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Inmate at Jefferson City Correctional Center charged with first-degree assault, armed criminal action

KMIZ on April 25, 2025

Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

An inmate at Jefferson City Correctional Center has been charged with several felonies after authorities say he stabbed his cellmate in 2023.

Robert Zimmer, 21, was charged on Wednesday in Cole County with first-degree assault, three count of armed criminal action, having a weapon at a correctional center and violence toward an inmate.

The probable cause statement says Zimmer stabbed his cellmate with a “prison made weapon” several time to the left side of his back, thigh and hand.

The victim had multiple stab wounds and authorities found the weapon in the cell, the statement says.

Zimmer is currently serving a 15-year sentence after taking an Alford plea in 2023 in Jefferson County for first-degree burglary, stealing more than $25,000, stealing, first-degree assault and three counts of unlawful use of a weapon.

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UC Santa Barbara Students Hold Protest to Commemorate Armenian Genocide Anniversary

KEYT on April 25, 2025

Christa Kurkjian

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. — Students at UC Santa Barbara marked the 110th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide with a peaceful on-campus protest Thursday, calling for greater public recognition and education about the mass killings of Armenians by the Ottoman Empire.

Organized by the Armenian Student Association, the demonstration included chants, handmade posters, and a symbolic march across campus. Participants began their protest at the Student Resource Building, made a stop at Storke Tower, and concluded at the UCSB Library.

“April 24 is a day that we mourn and remember the 1.5 million lives lost during the Armenian Genocide, which continues to be denied by the Turkish government,” said Hovan Boyajian, a second-year UCSB student. “We’re trying to spread the message that we won’t be silenced, and that Armenians in Santa Barbara are strong and passionate about our culture and our community.”

The genocide began on April 24, 1915, when Ottoman authorities arrested hundreds of Armenian intellectuals and community leaders in Constantinople, marking the start of a campaign that led to mass killings and forced deportations. Despite formal recognition by several nations, including the United States in 2021, Turkey continues to reject the term “genocide,” a stance that has fueled generations of activism.

Lilian Mkrtoumian, vice president of UCSB’s Armenian Student Association, emphasized the importance of education and visibility in their efforts.

“People don’t even know about the Armenian Genocide and that’s not necessarily their fault,” she said. “It’s a result of educational systems that have failed to teach this history.”

Beyond Thursday’s protest, student organizers have taken their message to university leadership. The group recently proposed legislation to the UCSB Associated Students Senate that would formally recognize the Armenian Genocide and designate April as Armenian Heritage Month on campus.

“If it passes, it will make our community feel more included,” Mkrtoumian said. “It will ensure that UCSB is actually acknowledging our people, which is very important for us.”

California Governor Gavin Newsom proclaimed April 24 as a Day of Remembrance, and U.S. Sen. Adam Schiff released a statement Thursday commemorating the genocide.

“Despite the trials the Armenian people have faced and continue to face, it has not broken their faith, determination, or their will to survive,” Schiff wrote. “Time and time again, the Armenian people have overcome enormous hardship and loss, and yet, still remain strong and unbowed.”

As students continue their campaign for recognition and remembrance, many say they are committed to ensuring the legacy of their ancestors is never forgotten.

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Hundreds Rally in Santa Barbara Against Proposed Social Security Cuts

KEYT on April 25, 2025

Ryder Christ

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. — More than 200 protesters lined both sides of the street outside the Social Security Administration office in downtown Santa Barbara on Wednesday, joining a nationwide outcry over proposed federal changes they say threaten the future of Social Security services.

The rally, organized by Indivisible Santa Barbara and the Hands Off Our Social Security movement, was one of 58 demonstrations held across 23 states. Protesters gathered outside the SSA field office at 122 W. Figueroa St., where local residents, federal retirees and advocacy leaders voiced alarm over efforts by the Trump administration to downsize the agency.

“This is a collective resistance to the insanity that is going on in our country right now,” said Kristi King, a nurse practitioner and local activist affiliated with both Indivisible and Hands Off. “We’re standing up for the most vulnerable and the most needy population in our country.”

King, along with U.S. Rep. Salud Carbajal, D-Santa Barbara, delivered a 35-page letter to the SSA office. The letter, addressed to Acting Commissioner Leland Dudek and signed by more than 100 congressional Democrats, urged the agency to reverse course on office closures and staffing cuts.

“Social Security is your money. It’s our money,” said Carbajal. “Over 150 individuals on the Central Coast rely on their Social Security monthly checks for Medicaid.”

The demonstration followed recent announcements from the Department of Government Efficiency, led by Elon Musk, outlining plans to reduce the SSA workforce by 12%—approximately 7,000 employees—and shut down six of its 10 regional offices. While the administration said the moves are part of a broader effort to improve efficiency, critics warned of long-term consequences.

Jon “Bowzer” Bauman, president of Social Security Works PAC, delivered the letter alongside Carbajal and told demonstrators the administration’s actions were “the biggest assault on Social Security in the history of the program.”

“Donald Trump and his unelected co-president, Elon Musk, are doing the best they can to destroy the entire Social Security system. And we’re doing the best we can to stop them,” Bauman said.

Carbajal condemned the staffing cuts and praised constituents for speaking out.

“The Trump administration’s attacks on the Social Security Administration threaten the services millions of Americans depend on,” he said. “We must protect these lifelines—not dismantle them.”

Bauman pointed to protest efforts as already having an impact.

“They had 47 offices planned for closure. They have backed off that plan already because of demonstrations like this,” he said.

While the White House has denied any planned cuts to Social Security benefits, many protesters expressed skepticism. King cited concerns not only about payment reductions, but also about broader access to services and job security for federal workers.

“What sparked it today was part of the proposed cuts to people’s checks, the elderly, and the cutbacks in service,” she said. “We got together and just said no.”

Alongside the Santa Barbara protest, a similar demonstration was held outside the SSA office in Santa Maria, where local residents delivered the same letter of protest. Another rally is scheduled for Thursday, May 1, at the Sunken Garden at the Santa Barbara County Courthouse.

“It’s very grassroots,” King said. “But the message is clear: Hands off our Social Security.”

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MU Health Care says it has lowered its rate proposal amid Anthem contract dispute

KMIZ on April 25, 2025

Erika McGuire

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Contract negotiations between MU Health Care and Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield remain at a standstill.

MU Health Care Chief Operating Officer Tonya Jackson told ABC 17 News on Thursday that no future meetings are scheduled between the two sides.

MU Health Care has not been considered “in-network” for Anthem customer since April 1 after the two sides failed to meet an agreement.

The health system says it has lowered its proposal to a single-digit increase over three years compared to its original proposal of a 13% increase over three years. Anthem has said MU Health Care wanted a 39% increase.

Johnson said the exact number proposed by MU Health Care was not immediately available.

“We have come down considerably in our ask we’re just asking for parity with other medical centers we are not asking for 39%, we are not asking for 13% each year over three years we are asking in single digits each year over three years,” Johnson said.

According to Johnson, the standstill is about wanting to cover the increasing cost of care.

“We are waiting for a meaningful proposal from anthem at this point and time we continue to see proposal that offer 1-to-2% each year and cost of care that are rising by 7.3% each year that math doesn’t add up for us and it doesn’t add up for our patients being a sustainable source of health care for the future,” Johnson added.

Anthem disputed the figures from MU Health Care in a statement to ABC 17 News.

“The numbers MU Health care has shared are not accurate. Anthem proposed rate increases that exceed the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for each year of a three-year agreement–offers that are consistent with what other Missouri health systems have accepted. MU Health Care is asking for rate increases that are the highest we have seen from any health system-anywhere. We remain open to reasonable and fiscally responsible conversations with MU Health Care,” the statement says.

MU Health Care claims Anthem owes them more than $20 million in unpaid claims that are more than 90 days past due. Anthem however, disputes that. The company said in Missouri it pays 96% of claims in 14 days and 99% in 30 days.

According to MU Health Care the amount of unpaid claims continues to increase each day and it’s becoming an administrative burden.

Johnson said patients will not be impacted financially but could see a delay in getting a bill or care but it’s more an administrative burden.

MU Health Care says it has dedicated resources to managing its claims with Anthem and has had a team of 30 people whose main job is to process just Anthem claims.

That team has been in place since the contract with the insurance provider began, according to Johnson. MU Health Care has another group of 25 that handles claims from other insurance providers.

“We are stewards of our members’ and our employers’ dollars, and we take that responsibility serious. Ensuring they are accurately and appropriately billed for healthcare services is and always has been among the most import aspects of our work,” Anthem said in response to the claims.

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Santa Cruz museums concerned over recent federal budget cuts, impacts on the community

KION on April 25, 2025

Jeanette Bent

SANTA CRUZ, Calif. (KION-TV) — Some people in the local museum scene in Santa Cruz are frustrated over budget cuts that are directly impacting the institutions and community.

Now, they’re hoping to save a piece of the local culture.

“Community spaces are so essential; community spaces that encourage something positive like appreciating art, appreciating cultures other than what you’re familiar with,” said Kelso Cochran a biology researcher at UCSC.

The community as well as museum employees are left to navigate how these institutions will supplement lost revenue while still providing necessary resources.

“We want to apply above and beyond services, we want to be one of the greatest museums in the country,” said Rhiannon Crain, Executive Director of the Santa Cruz Children’s Museum of Discovery (SCCMOD).

Crain says that the recent federal funding cuts to certain non-profit grants, directly impacts local museums.

“Those grants were summarily cancelled on April 8,” said Crain. “We thought that maybe there would be some sort of review process that we would go through that to see if our grants aligned with the current administration priorities, but nothing like that happened… they just sent us a letter saying, ‘You’re no longer funded.'”

Crain says that she doesn’t directly count on the grants in the museum’s daily budget, but that loss still impacts certain programming, community outreach efforts and a variety of activities that the museum could have potentially hosted.

Some other organizations aren’t so lucky.

“Our budget is $1.5 million, so to receive a $250,000 cut in federal funding has a significant impact on the museum and the community that we serve,” said Ginger Shulick Porcella, Executive Director of the Santa Cruz Museum of Art and History (MAH).

Porcella mentioned that some grant-funded staff positions may be at jeopardy, along with a handful of other future exhibits and resources.

And, as far as the cuts trickling down into the community, some fear a threat to local culture.

“Loosing that because of ridiculous spending cuts where people don’t find art and history essential, is how you loose that sense of culture that your community really fosters,” said UCSC biology researcher Kelso Cochran.

Both the SCCMOD as well as the MAH say that tens of thousands of families come through their doors annually. And, while the community may not feel the financial impacts immediately, they are likely to down the road.

“For the public, for our communities; it’s exhibits not happening, it’s programs not being offered,” said Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History Executive Director Felicia Van Stolk. “It’s perhaps underserved or historically excluded groups continuing to not be included or welcomed in because of accessibility programs that are being cut.”

One parent and second grade teacher at the Mount Madonna School, Karlee LaHue, said that her family and school depends on accessible resources like museums and libraries for cultural education.

“These programs that are available to schools–of all income backgrounds at a free or discounted rate–are so important because kids count on those to start experiencing their community,” she said.

Since 1997, Santa Cruz museums have received over $3.7 million in grant funding from the Institute for Museum and Library Services.

Now, these institutions–the SCCMOD and the MAH–are facing a total loss of $250,000, limited future programming and resources, as well as threat to other community services.

They are hoping to find alternative funding sources, and to receive support from volunteers and members.

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Santa Cruz volunteer organization facing budget shortfall

KION on April 25, 2025

jose.romo

The Santa Cruz County Volunteer Center is facing budget challenges in part due to federal budget cuts. Still, with National Volunteer Week, the organization is counting on community support to keep its services running. 

“You feel good, you know, really and truly. It just makes me feel like I’m doing something in the Santa Cruz County.

Sue Benazo donates her time as a receptionist at the local volunteer center, an organization that, since 1967, has been connecting people to more than 300 local non-profit school and government services. Their offices are home to more than 20 programs, including Adopt a Family, Empowered Aging, and an English literacy program. 

“Each of those students is cared for and supported by an individual volunteer that helps them through their journey of learning English and improving their communication with their children’s teachers, or for employment, or for their doctor visits.” Christina Thurston, director of volunteer engagement, mentions the program makes serious impacts for the community.  

Fueled by rising costs and several budget cuts, the organization is facing a close to 300 thousand dollar budget shortfall. “Even smaller budget, really it isn’t just like oh we would serve half as many students, it’s actually like maybe no students because the budget is for the rent, the computers, the classroom, those sorts of features that you can’t cut in half,” Thurston says. 

Kareen Delany, Executive Director, says they are receiving donations of money and volunteer services to keep these programs going. “When we’re talking about cuts in every sector of our lives, 10, 15, 20, 30% cuts are the numbers that are being batted around. What that means is if we want our community to stay whole, then all of us, the ones who are volunteering and the ones who aren’t, it’s a call to action.” She adds that the center has overcome several obstacles. She invites community members to find a way to continue providing service to the community by visiting scvolunteercenter.org/programs/volunteer/.

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Las Vegas Raiders draft Boise State star Ashton Jeanty

KIFI on April 25, 2025

Travis Richards

BOISE (KIFI)- The Las Vegas Raiders selected Boise State star Ashton Jeanty as the number six overall pick in this year’s NFL Draft.

Jeanty is the highest-picked Boise State player in NFL Draft history.

The former Bronco finished second in Heisman voting behind two-way player Travis Hunter from Colorado.

During his time at Boise State, Jeanty rushed 4,769 years and 2,601 yards in his 2024 season, which is a Boise State record.

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Key precision: St. Charles spinal surgeons are first in Oregon to use state-of-the-art 3D navigation system

KTVZ on April 25, 2025

Barney Lerten

(Update: adding video)

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — When a piece of hardware – like a screw – needs to be inserted into a patient’s spine, it’s important that it is placed in precisely the right spot.

“The margin for error is very, very small when inserting instrumentation into the spine. One to two millimeters can make a huge difference as to where you put a screw into the spine,” said neurosurgeon Dr. Raymond Tien.

Now, thanks to donors to St. Charles Foundation, spinal surgeons in Central Oregon are the first in the state to have access to a new, state-of-the-art spinal navigation system to help ensure that spinal surgeries performed at St. Charles are incredibly accurate. The Seaspine 7D spine navigation system arrived last fall and it allows surgeons to see the spine in three dimensions while inserting a piece of hardware.  

Tien just used the system for the first time to place hardware in the spine of a patient.

“The procedure went perfectly and faster than it would have gone previously. It’s eye opening how accurate this system is and how easy it is to use,” said Tien.

Patients may need this kind of procedure due to a degenerative or congenital condition or medical trauma, like a fall or car crash. When placed correctly, hardware can help stabilize an unstable spine.

For the past 20 years, surgeons performed spinal surgeries using an X-ray unit in the Operating Room to help them visualize the anatomy. Tien says surgeons took many X-rays of the spine to create as complete a picture as possible. However, he says, the two-dimensional images are not as accurate as 3D images – and the process exposed everyone in the room to a lot of radiation.

With the new system, patients get a high-resolution CT scan prior to surgery. That scan is uploaded to the computer as a reference. Surgeons then place a marker on the patient’s spine that a camera can see. The navigation system has an array of lasers and light-emitting diodes that take a flash photo of the marker exposed in the spine. With those images, surgeons then have an accurate 3D model of a patient’s spine.

“We can see directly on the computer where we are touching and see in very high fidelity where we are inserting the hardware and make adjustments on the fly,” said Tien. “This tool provides us an incredible level of accuracy and precision.”

St. Charles Foundation Executive Director Jenny O’Bryan says this piece of equipment is the largest investment the organization has made in 2024 – spending nearly $700,000 to bring the Seaspine 7D spinal navigation system to Central Oregon.

“Our donors want to ensure that Central Oregonians are receiving the best care possible from the best providers, utilizing the best equipment available. If you or your loved ones need spinal surgery, you want to know that your surgeons have the best equipment on hand. Thanks to our donors, that’s the case,” said O’Bryan.

In addition to its precision, Tien says the new tool also helps save time for patients. He also believes it will allow for surgeons to take on more complex cases.

“There is a real tangible value in the level of patient care that we can provide now that we weren’t able to prior to this,” said Tien. “Without a doubt, we are very grateful for what the donors to the Foundation have been able to do for the hospital and for the community.”

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