Author: KYMA

Dillon Fuhrman

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – A Yuma man has been sentenced to 17 years in prison for sexually abusing a teenage girl.

26-year-old Ricardo Zavala-Esparza will serve time for one count of sexual conduct with a minor.

Police say he sexually abuse a 13-year-old girl over the summer of last year.

Zavala-Esparza was also sentenced to 10 years of probation for attempted molestation of a child following the conclusion of his prison sentence.

The victim’s family said Zavala-Esparza deserved the maximum sentence of 24 years.

“Over the past several months, our entire family has been impacted in every way imaginable, including financials, but most importantly we have all been mentally and emotionally traumatized,” the victim’s family expressed.

Prior to sentencing, Zavala-Esparza accepted a plea deal.

He received over 200 days of credit served.

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Miriam Ordonez

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – The Yuma Police Department (YPD) is teaming up with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) for National Take Back Day.

According to YPD, the event is a way to give the community a safe alternative to get rid of unwanted or expired prescription medication.

Yuma residents can drop them off this Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the YPD headquarters on South First Avenue.

No ID is needed and the service is free and anonymous.

YPD says it is a way to help prevent drug misuse and keep old medications from ending up in the wrong hands.

However, they won’t be accepting liquids, needs or illegal drugs.

To learn more about the upcoming event, read the press release below.

DEA NTB April 2025Download

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Dillon Fuhrman

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – Residents across Yuma County are reacting to the passing of Pope Francis.

According to the Vatican, the 88-year-old pontiff died Monday following a series of health challenges in recent years.

In an Instagram post, Yuma Mayor Doug Nicholls wrote, “Eternal rest grant unto Pope Francis, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him. May his soul and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.”

Mayor Nicholls, who also serves as a deacon, says each pope means something different to everyone, and says there is always a lot to learn from them.

“This pope has been really focused on the individual person, and the poor, the marginalized in society, so that was a great focus for us as a nation, as a state, just to know we need to be thinking beyond what’s right in front of us,” Nicholls explained.

Local leaders, like Timothy Kromer with Catholic Community Services of Southern Arizona, say his legacy reached far beyond the church.

“I feel like his legacy will be on of the need to help those in our society, the most vulnerable, the most in need,” Kromer shared.

His character inspired unbreakable bonds among Catholics, with Kromer adding, “I feel like a lot of Catholics has a very strong connection to him because of his pastoral nature, and because of his care.”

The papacy is more than just a single leader. It’s a part of a long tradition which continues to evolve through each generation.

“They’re balancing out the church, the spirituality, the theology, that comes throughout the centuries, so from that perspective, we look to glean from each pope, in each saint, different elements of spirituality and understanding,” Nichols expressed.

In Southern Arizona, Pope Francis’ legacy lives on in the people and organizations continuing his work of compassion and care.

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Manoah Tuiasosopo

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – A three vehicle crash in Yuma had backed up traffic on 32nd Street Sunday night.

Pictures from a viewer showed three cars involved in the crash scattered throughout the intersection, with one car even flipped upside down.

The crash happened at the intersection of 32nd Street and South Avenue 8E.

KYMA reached out to the Yuma Police Department, and we are waiting to hear back.

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Manoah Tuiasosopo

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – Many in Yuma headed to church Sunday morning for the annual Easter sunrise services.

These all-day services provide a space for those who celebrate Easter for reflection, joy and renewal.

Some common Easter traditions include Lent and vigils, along with the familiar decorations and Easter egg hunts.

Pastor Jason Taylor with the Vertical Church in Yuma shared what Easter sunrise services mean to him: “We get together, we celebrate. We open the bible which is the word of God. We preach the Gospel message and we invite everyone, just like Jesus did to come to him. It’s a big day for Jesus, it’s a big day for the church and people really tend to show up on Easter Sunday.”

Taylor expected more than a couple thousand attended the handful of Easter services hosted by the church.

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Dillon Fuhrman

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – Motorcycle and bike enthusiasts participated in the First Autism Awareness Poker Run over the weekend.

The event, hosted by Yuma BikeLife and Citadels M.C. Prison Hill Chapter, started at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, with registration taking place behind the Children’s Museum of Yuma County at 10:00 a.m.

The organizations say this was the first time they teamed up “to not only raise awareness, but also generate funds in support of the autism community” in Yuma.

For Matthew Culley, who also goes by “Heathen” and is the President of the Prison Hill Chapter, the event was very personal for him.

“It all came to fruition because my son is autistic, so I wanted to really have a community involvement with that particular aspect of autism,” Culley shared.

In addition, the organizations held a similar event at West Wetlands Park at 11:30 a.m., with the ride starting at 12:45 p.m.

Following the run, the organizers and participants met up at Hooters for the Hooters Takeover at 2:00 p.m.

All proceeds raised will benefit “local efforts to support individuals and families impacted by autism,” the organizations says.

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Samuel Kirk

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – Yuma is quickly becoming a hotspot for hospitality growth, outpacing the national average when it comes to hotel development, and it’s not just about tourism.

The number of hotels in the Yuma metro area has jumped more than 10% since 2019, with nearly 40 hotels now open for business. That number is expected to grow, according to local tourism officials.

“We look to the next couple years…we’re looking to see 12 new hotels open and possibly getting up to 4,968 rooms,” said Marcus Carney, Director of Visit Yuma. “It’s a lot of development that’s really exciting.”

Carney says the hospitality sector plays a critical role in Yuma’s local economy, employing a significant portion of the workforce.

“6.8% of all Yumans are hospitality workers. That’s 6,200 jobs in the hospitality sector in Yuma County,” Carney said. “That’s an important part of our economy. It’s an important part of our community…that’s a lot of people that are our neighbors and our friends.”

Since 2019, the area has seen more than 150 new hotel-related jobs created, and for those helping construct the new hotels, the boom has been a source of pride.

“I actually love it, ’cause I saw some of them from the ground up to the finish,” said Juan Gallegos, a local construction worker. “It took a while, but it’s nice. I like it.”

The growth isn’t just drawing tourists. It’s improving access for families and travelers passing through the region.

“Because they’re right off the interstate, it’s convenient for anyone going through…not just for military, for anybody,” said Yuma local David Gotchie. “And they aren’t small hotels either.”

With more development on the horizon, local leaders say Yuma’s hospitality industry is helping to build a stronger, more sustainable future, one that supports the community and fuels the local economy.

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Samuel Kirk

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – A string of deadly plane crashes across the U.S. has sparked fresh concern over air travel safety, with some Yuma residents admitting they’re feeling uneasy about booking their next flight.

In 2025 alone, the United States has seen 19 fatal crashes involving planes, including a mid-air collision in January between a passenger jet and a military helicopter over the Potomac River that killed 67 people, and a small plane crash in Copake, New York, that claimed six members of the same family.

Here in Yuma, Francisco Vegel says the recent headlines have made him wary.

“I don’t know what’s going on, it’s gotta be something ’cause too many planes are going down and that don’t happen very often,” Vegel said.

David Morales, another Yuma local, acknowledged the risks but urged people to consider air travel in the context of other forms of transportation.

“I mean, it’s important to be safe and find safe ways to travel just like in buses and cars too. I mean, accidents happen, but I still believe it’s a safe way to travel,” Morales said.

Aviation safety experts agree. Former Navy TOPGUN pilot Matthew “Whiz” Buckley says despite the recent tragedies, flying is still one of the safest ways to get around.

“The immediacy of the horror is a lot more front and center so that’s scary, but I remind people, approximately 120 people die every day in car crashes. You’re not seeing that number with planes,” said Buckley.

He added that the coverage of crashes can sometimes overshadow the broader reality: “It’s a shiny red ball right now and I get it…some of these mishaps tear at the heartstrings, but the data don’t lie. You can go look it up yourself and see.”

The National Transportation Safety Board continues to investigate each crash in detail, and regulators are reviewing safety protocols.

Still, aviation professionals emphasize that commercial air travel remains remarkably safe, especially when compared to everyday travel by road.

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Karina Bazarte

EL CENTRO, Calif. (KYMA, KECY) – A San Diego man connected to several thefts in El Centro led police on a high-speed pursuit that ended in San Diego County.

El Centro police tried to stop the suspect on Eighth Street and Euclid Avenue.

That’s when the suspect headed off towards San Diego, reaching speeds of up to 100 miles per hour.

“Due to us doing our pursuit, we contacted the Border Patrol for assistance. They were able to stop him at the checkpoint using spike strips,” said Detective Richard Gabat of the El Centro Police Department.

Police say the suspect stole more than $2,500 worth of tools at the Lowes store in El Centro and has a warrant out of Riverside County.

The suspect is being held at the Imperial County Jail on four felonies including evading law enforcement and reckless driving.