Palm Springs man who assaulted girls across SoCal sentenced

KESQ on October 30, 2026

City News Service

INDIO, Calif. (KESQ) – A Palm Springs man who sexually assaulted multiple girls throughout Riverside, Los Angeles and San Diego counties, enticing them with illegal drugs and using them to make child pornography, was sentenced today to 22 years in state prison.

Jesse James Garcia Airada, 29, pleaded guilty in August to two counts of rape, three counts of contacting a minor for the purpose of perpetrating a felony, and one count each of oral copulation of a minor, providing controlled substances to a child, using a minor to produce child porn and penetration with a foreign object, with a sentence-enhancing allegation of raping a minor.

Jesse James Garcia Airada

The plea was negotiated with the Riverside County District Attorney’s Office, and partly in exchange for Airada’s admissions, along with other factors, the agency dropped three dozen related charges against him.

During the hearing at the Larson Justice Center in Indio Friday, Superior Court Judge Dean Benjamini imposed the sentence stipulated by the prosecution and defense under the plea bargain.

D.A.’s office spokeswoman Molly Smith emphasized that prosecutors met with the victims ahead of time to gauge their sentiments regarding the proposed outcome of the case.

“The terms in the agreement were created in a collective effort with the victims’ voices at the forefront,” Smith said. “Victims may have varying perspectives about participating in the criminal justice process, including concerns about testifying, revisiting traumatic experiences, or publicly acknowledging what they have endured. Those perspectives are important, and our office takes them into consideration when working toward a resolution.”

She pointed out that some of the counts against Airada were dropped due to “overlapping or duplicative conduct.”

“Victims were relieved to know that we had reached a negotiated disposition that was not going to require them to be present in court at any point in time,” Smith said.

According to sheriff’s Sgt. Chris Gelinas, in May 2025, deputies were alerted to an assault involving an eastern Coachella Valley girl, and during the investigation, Airada was identified as the assailant.

“It was learned the suspect had contacted multiple underage females and was offering illegal substances in exchange for sex,” Gelinas said after the defendant’s arrest last fall. “Investigators were able to identify multiple underage female victims throughout Riverside County.”

Prosecutors said some of the girls were plied with marijuana and cocaine to gain their trust and cooperation.

Assaults occurred from January 2024 to November 2025 in Riverside, Los Angeles and San Diego counties, according to the criminal complaint.

Specific locations were not disclosed, and authorities didn’t elaborate on how the defendant initiated communication with the minors.

A search warrant was obtained and served on Airada last November at a property in the area of Lawrence Crossley Road and Highway 111, where he was taken into custody without incident.

He had no documented prior felony convictions in Riverside County.

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SPECIAL REPORTS: Yuma Territorial Prison Haunts

KYMA on October 30, 2026

Madeline Murray Reporter Madeline Murray spoke with some of the staff who share the paranormal history of the prison.

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) – Spooky season is here and why not celebrate the season with one the most haunted destinations in the nation, which is right here in our own backyard.

The Yuma Territorial Prison (YTP) has a dark history of housing some of the west’s most ruthless criminals, but it also has a haunted past, so what kind of paranormal things have people seen in this prison?

“Over the years, I’ve been so many stories and always say that there’s fiction fact and myth and sometimes they all converge and it’s the stories that we’ve heard that maybe I gained a little bit of mythology to them things like that and some things that seem to be sincere and we’re really brutal,” Ace Crye, YTP manager.

The prison was opened July 1, 1876 and was in operation for 33 years, housing 3,069 prisoners, and while the prison is known for its encapsulating history exhibits of the wild west, it’s also recognized for its paranormal activity, some believe is tied to the restless spirits who lived and died behind these very walls.

“If you’re into paranormal those leave reminisce…I mean when you have that much death here….I think people leave something maybe,” Crye expressed.

A lot of the prisoners died from illness, or snake bites, but others died in more violent ways.

The prison holds stories of brutal murders such as a female prisoner, who stabbed a man in the heart, a sister who took a shotgun and killed her own brother, and even prisons breaks that turned deadly.

As punishment, some prisoners were sent to the dark cell, otherwise known as the hellhole which was a cage inside of a cave said to drive men insane.

Prisoners would be stripped to their underwear chained to the floor, fed once a day, no bathroom, with a hole in the ceiling where guards would drop scorpions and snakes into the dark cell.

All these stories lead to the ghosts tales that haunt the prison and the staff.

Crye said he’s heard whispers and witnessed chairs moved right after he put them away.

“And then you think I know I did that and you’re like well. Did somebody else come in? Is somebody playing a trick on me? And then you realize that I’m the only one here,” Crye remarked.

The staff at the prison said during the day everything seems normal, but when the lights go off thats when the ghosts come out to play.

The paranormal activity has such an effect on that staff that one volunteer in particular goes out of her way to greet the spirits that live in the cells before she starts her shift.

Katherine Cargos, YTP volunteer, said, “I always go through and greet them because I know that they’re still here and they are part of this prison.”

One of her favorite stories is a time where she was giving a tour to a group of people, as she was waiting in a cell to scare them something was trying to push her outside.

“All I felt was icy fog not let me know any further. It just kind of held me there and so the group went by. I did my boo I stepped out and that was it I was I’m done it kind of flew out of that cell and I was done for the rest of the night and drink. It was very draining,” said Cargos.

Other workers like Junior Valle, a YTP guest services representative, said it feels as if someone was right behind them.

“Turn off all the lights…When I’m heading out, I feel like someone’s blowing into the side of my ear and I’m not really like superstitious or anything like that, but that was probably like one thing…I was like okay that’s just a bit odd,” Valle explained.

But despite all the ghost takes staff say, if your a historian or a paranormalist, your going to love the prison, which is admired by the community and one of the most visited places in Yuma County.

“I believe it’s a uniqueness here and I believe it could be very scary but I choose to believe if there’s something here and if they’re alive here then they just want you to know they’re here. They’re not looking to hurt you but they’re looking to let you know, they still live here and by the way, that’s my cell,” Crye said.

Whether you believe in ghosts or not, one thing is certain YTP has creepy stories passed down throughout the years, and for those who dare to step inside after dark, you may just leave with a haunting story of your own.

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Man wanted out of El Paso for assault arrested in New Mexico

KVIA on October 30, 2026

Gabrielle Lopez

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) — An El Paso man wanted out of El Paso for aggravated assault has been arrested in New Mexico, according to the U.S. Marshals Service.

Authorities said 25-year-old George Gilbert Marez was wanted out of El Paso for offenses of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.

Thursday, the Southwest Investigative Fugitive Taskforce found and apprehended Marez near the intersection of Wyoming Boulevard and Candelaria Road in Albuquerque.

Marez booked into the Bernalillo County Metropolitan Detention Center, jail records show, where he awaits extradition back to Texas.

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Sherwood Glen residents face eviction after loss of USDA assistance

KMIZ on October 30, 2026

Stephi Smith

MOBERLY, Mo. (KMIZ)

Some residents at Sherwood Glen Apartments are facing eviction after losing access to a federal rental assistance program.

Tenants at Sherwood Glen Apartments, located at 1000 S. William St. in Moberly, previously received rental assistance through a U.S. Department of Agriculture program designed to help lower-income households in rural communities afford housing.

The apartments were previously managed by Maco Management Co. Property manager Ivan Thomas said the complex was sold June 15, and the new owners hired HomeWise Properties, a Moberly-based rental property management company, to manage the apartments.

Thomas said the original USDA program was only available to the property’s original owners, meaning the new owners could not continue participating in it.

Thomas said USDA initially told HomeWise that residents would be able to receive replacement vouchers through a separate assistance program within 60 to 90 days.

But after about 90 days, Thomas said the USDA told the property owners that it had run out of funding and residents would have to wait for additional federal funding to become available.

ABC 17 reached out to the USDA for comment and has not yet received a response.

Thomas said HomeWise has encouraged residents to apply for a separate USDA voucher program. He said the property owners are also accepting reduced rent payments from residents who previously received assistance while they wait for their applications to be approved.

Thomas said management has accepted, on average, approximately one-third or less of the full rent from those tenants.

“Say the previous program was paying $900 and the tenant had to pay $76. Well, if they don’t pay $76, then we’re going to evict because you’re not even doing what … you were doing before,” Thomas said. “… The property owner is losing, you know, tens of thousands of dollars in an effort to give the USDA time to hopefully be funded.”

Thomas estimated the property owners are losing about $10,000 a month because of the reduced rent payments. He said the owners do not want to evict residents simply because the federal assistance program ended.

“We’ve opted to generally only evict those who have not contributed towards their rent amount the same as they were prior to the sale because the vouchers and the program only pay part of the rent,” Thomas said. 

HomeWise has filed 15 petitions for recovery of possession for nonpayment of rent this year, according to records on Case.net. The filings show amounts claimed ranging from approximately $1,000 to $5,000.

One resident said nearly all of their rent was previously covered through the USDA program. The resident said their monthly housing costs could increase to approximately $1,000 without the assistance.

This resident said they have concerns about eviction after receiving a court summons last month. 

Thomas said residents facing eviction generally have not paid their previous portion of the rent or have not completed applications for the replacement USDA voucher program. He said management has given residents nearly five months to complete the applications.

Also, Thomas said not all of those 15 petitions were related to the USDA funding. He said 

Thomas said one resident who had applied for the replacement voucher program and continued paying their portion of the rent is also facing eviction, but for a separate lease violation.

Two Sherwood Glen residents spoke with ABC 17 under the condition of anonymity, citing concerns about possible retaliation.

Thomas also confirmed that rents increased by approximately $20 following the sale of the property.

He said USDA assessed the property’s rental rates before the sale and determined that two-bedroom apartments could be rented for $998 a month and one-bedroom apartments for $898 a month.

Previously, two-bedroom apartments rented for $976 a month, while one-bedroom apartments rented for $876.

Thomas said the previous owners waited until after the sale to implement the increases. He said the new owners chose to keep rents at the amounts USDA had previously approved rather than raise them further.

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Driver identified in serious Boone County crash, could face criminal charges

KMIZ on October 30, 2026

Steven Lambson

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The Boone County Sheriff’s Office confirmed the name of one of the drivers in Wednesday’s serious crash on St. Charles Road and said they’ve sent a recommendation for charges to the prosecutor’s office.

The sheriff’s office identified 49-year-old Melvin A. Warrick as the driver they referred to the prosecutor. Warrick and the other driver went to the hospital after the crash; as of Friday afternoon, Warrick is in fair condition.

The crash happened Wednesday afternoon on East St. Charles Road near the entrance to Lake of the Woods golf course. The sheriff’s office said there was a male and a female driver, and that the male driver was driving eastbound at a high rate of speed when he crossed the center line and hit the other vehicle head-on.

At the time, the sheriff’s office said the male driver did not have a driver’s license.

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New Douglass Park basketball courts open with revised design after community input

KMIZ on October 30, 2026

Demetra Alarcon

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The Douglass Park basketball courts are now open after being under renovation since February 2025.

The court’s new design has each court highlighting an important part of the park’s history. Both courts are painted blue and gray; the west court includes “Douglass Bulldogs” on each baseline, while the east court includes “Moonlight Hoops – Est. 1989.”

Anthony Johnson, a Columbia resident who was vocal throughout the discussions about ensuring the park’s history was preserved through the new design, said it is empowering to have your voice heard.

“When the community feels so strong about something, and it’s sort of a unifying theme, it’s really empowering just to get everybody in the room on the same record,” Johnson said.

He added that he was grateful to have city staff who were open to feedback and willing to make adjustments.

The city had discussed changing the basketball courts since 2023. It was announced in 2023 that the courts would honor Willie Cox, a former assistant coach of the University of Missouri women’s basketball team who died in 2019.

Residents had voiced concerns about the design and name of the court. After holding community feedback meetings, a year later, the Columbia City Council approved the current design.

Johnson said the court holds symbolism for the community.

“A lot of times we don’t feel heard or felt. So if we come together and collaborate, we can be heard; you know, we do have power, we do have choices,” Johnson said.

He said that when he saw the original design, with the University of Missouri logo, it felt like a slap in the face.

“That’s not like an anti-Mizzou thing; it’s just the fact that there’s so much history here and then just, you know, branded as something completely,” Johnson said.

Johnson said he will continue to fight for improvements at Douglass Park.

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Desert X secures $200K donation goal for next year’s exhibition

KESQ on October 30, 2026

City News Service

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – Organizers behind Desert X, a biennial outdoor art exhibition held in the Coachella Valley, announced today they have secured $200,000 in donations ahead of its November deadline, making it possible to launch production and have next year’s 10th anniversary free to the public.

“Your generosity goes directly into the production of new site-specific works, and it keeps our exhibition free and open to our community and to visitors from around the world,” officials said.

Organizers said Desert X board member Roswitha Smale pledged to match every donation dollar-for-dollar up to $100,000 through Nov. 30.

The sixth edition will be held from Oct. 30, 2027, through May 7, 2028, overlapping with the region’s biggest events, including the Palm Springs International Film Festival, Modernism Week and the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival.

It will be curated by Artistic Director Neville Wakefield and Kaitlin Garcia-Maestas.

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Imperial County vote centers opening this weekend

KYMA on October 30, 2026

Lynette Niebla

IMPERIAL COUNTY, Calif. (KYMA) – Imperial County residents who prefer to vote in person, have election questions, or still need to register to vote can soon do it all under one roof.

Starting this weekend, 13 vote centers will open across the Imperial Valley, offering local voters increased flexibility and assistance ahead of Election Day.

The vote centers will be fully staffed on weekends and weekdays to guide residents through the voting process, including individuals who missed prior registration deadlines.

Imperial County Registrar of Voters Linsey Dale emphasized that it is not too late for eligible residents to participate.

“Anyone can register to vote, even up to Election Day,” Dale said. “You would be a conditional voter, and so you would vote a conditional ballot, but it’s still the same ballot that would’ve been mailed to you had you registered earlier. It’s just a little different process. You may have to fill out a little bit more paperwork to do the registration, but anyone can still vote even if they’re not registered as of today.”

Local leaders are encouraging all valley residents to make a plan and cast their ballots early to assist election workers with processing.

“They just need to take themselves and get out and vote. That’s the most important thing,” Dale added. “We want everyone, every eligible voter, to get out and vote. We’ve mailed ballots to you at home. If you’d rather vote in person, and we did not receive your ballot, please go to a vote center and cast your ballot. I encourage everyone to get out and vote early. It does help us in processing ballots, and it allows us an opportunity to process those ballots before Election Day, and that way we can get the results out to you much quicker.”

In addition to voting in person, residents can drop off their completed mail-in ballots at any designated drop box located throughout Imperial County. These drop boxes are open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Vote Center Hours of Operation:

Saturday through the day before Election Day: 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Election Day: 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

For a comprehensive list of all 13 vote center locations and official mail ballot drop boxes in the area, visit the county website.

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‘Pilates for a Cause’ coming to Brawley to support local battling cancer

KYMA on October 30, 2026

Lynette Niebla

BRAWLEY, Calif. (KYMA) – An opportunity to stretch, strengthen, and give back to the Imperial Valley community is coming to Brawley this weekend.

The community is invited to a special indoor “Pilates for a Cause” charity mat session this Sunday, November 1, at 9 a.m.

The class is moving with purpose to directly support Imperial Valley native Melanie Lira, who is currently battling cancer.

The event will be hosted indoors at Elevate Pilates, located at 515 Main Street in Brawley. Attendees should note that parking is accessible through the back side alley.

While the session is safely inside, any essential updates, changes, and event details will be posted directly to Instagram.

A $25 donation is requested per person, and 100% of the proceeds will go directly toward Lira’s medical treatments and personal expenses.

Beyond the workout, the event will feature refreshments, including snacks and matcha, along with special raffle drawings.

Participants are highly encouraged to wear shades of purple to show their solidarity. While pre-registration is requested to secure a spot, organizers welcome last-minute arrivals who want to join the cause the morning of the event.

“Bringing women together, moving your body, helping someone else who can’t, that’s what it’s about,” said Sheri Trejo, co-founder of Elevate Pilates and instructor for the event. “And if I can do that with this platform I have, let’s do it. If you can help someone out and get a workout in and just have fun, maybe get away for 15 minutes, maybe an hour, do it.”

Trejo shared that she hopes to continue using her platform for good, expressing a deep willingness to host similar charity events for other local community causes in the future.

To Register: Bookings can be made through the Wellness Living App under the “Store Tab” by following the link in the Instagram bio of @elevate_with_sheri. To Donate Directly: Anyone unable to attend the session but wishing to support Melanie’s battle can donate by reaching out directly to Sheri Trejo.

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Social media trend leads to multiple arrests at defunct Adventure Zone, police say

KVIA on October 30, 2026

Gabrielle Lopez

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) — A social media trend is encouraging people to trespass and break into Adventure Zone, a closed local business, according to the El Paso Police Department.

EPPD said it recently responded to four separate trespassing incidents at the property, leading to the following arrests:

Incident One: Involved three adults and three juveniles. Charges included criminal trespass and evading arrest. Incident Two: Involved five adults. Charges included burglary and evading arrest. Incident Three: Involved one adult. Charges included criminal tresspass. Incident Four: Involved five adults. Charges included criminal trespass.

The El Paso Police Department released some mugshots of people accused of breaking into the now-closed Adventure Zone.(Courtesy: EPPD)

According to arrest affidavits ABC-7 obtained, the property is enclosed by a gated fence and had signs prohibiting entry. One of the suspects allegedly stole a sign from Adventure Zone that read, “Smile, you’re on camera.”

Police said damages to the property were estimated to cost $11,000.

“Social media trends involving illegal entry or property destruction are criminal offenses, not harmless pranks. They can result in detention, arrest, and long-term criminal records,” EPPD said in a statement.

Police encouraged the community to report suspicious activity around closed commercial properties to local law enforcement immediately.

“Participating in these online challenges is not a game—it’s a crime. These actions carry severe legal consequences, including felony charges for burglary and evading arrest,” EPPD said.

EPPD posted bodycam video on social media showing the alleged incidents. Video showed broken windows and items thrown on the floor at the now-defunct Adventure Zone.

Adventure Zone closed in August 2025. Known for its tacos, bumper boats, and family-friendly environment, the entertainment center shut its doors after 23 years of business.

“We’ve had the pleasure of seeing so many smiles, so many happy birthdays, so many new friends through the years,” the closed sign read. “Unfortunately, all things must pass, and Adventure Zone has now closed. Hopefully the name Adventure Zone will give you our customers, warm and happy memories for years to come.”

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