Category: kesq-local-news

City News Service

INDIO, Calif. (KESQ) – A 24-year-old Desert Hot Springs man caught with hundreds of pornographic pictures and videos depicting children was sentenced today to 16 months in state prison.

Victor Christopher Lascano pleaded guilty in March to two counts of possession of child porn, as well as a sentence-enhancing allegation of possession of explicit material showing minors younger than 12 years old, under a plea agreement with the Riverside County District Attorney’s Office.

During a hearing at the Larson Justice Center in Indio on Thursday, Superior Court Judge John Ryan imposed the stipulated sentence.   

Lascano was originally arrested in August 2022 following an investigation by the Desert Hot Springs Police Department and the county’s Child Exploitation Team, which combines resources from multiple agencies to ferret out offenders.

The investigation was focused on Lascano’s residence in the 66200 block of Flora Avenue, where warrants were served on Aug. 16, 2022.  

“The defendant was found to be disseminating child porn through social media apps,” DHSPD Sgt. Christopher Saucier said in a bail-setting declaration filed immediately after the defendant’s arrest. “During a search of his residence, he was found to be in possession of 600-plus images or videos containing child sexual abuse material on his cell phone and computer.”   

The detective said Lascano “admitted downloading the videos and images and sending them via the internet.”   

There were concerns expressed about what Lascano might be capable of doing “to juvenile female relatives,” though none of them ever alleged inappropriate contact with him, according to Saucier.   

Not long after his arrest, the defendant was granted permission to be on home detention, using a GPS device that monitored his whereabouts at all times, according to court documents. However, last fall, he was evidently caught downloading child porn again, court papers showed.

That resulted in him being re-arrested in January and held in lieu of $60,000 bail at the Smith Correctional Facility.   

Lascano had no documented prior felony convictions, only infractions stemming from traffic violations.

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Kendall Flynn

INDIO, Calif. (KESQ) – The Desert Sands Unified school board has passed a resolution calling for “fairness in girls’ interscholastic sports.”

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The discussion of transgender athletes have been an ongoing across the nation, debating transgender girls’ participation in sports. Amid the controversy, the DSUSD board voted 4-0 to pass the resolution, despite highlighting the complex views on the subject from the district’s community.

The resolution upholds the district’s support for Title IX, describing it as an outstanding core value in women’s sports. Title IX, a federal law, prohibits sex-based discrimination in education and emphasizes equal opportunities for girls in sports.

District boards members discussed the need to protect fairness in girl’s sports and cited the impact of biological differences in athletics. With the resolution, the district says it will not change anything for athletes – it is an expression of opinion.

“The resolution adopted by the Board is a statement of opinion intended to express concerns related to fairness in girls’ athletics. It does not establish or alter any existing Desert Sands Unified School District policies or regulations.” – Desert Sands Unified School District

News Channel 3 reached out to other districts in the Valley about the decision and getting answers on if they have a stance on “fairness in girls’ sports.”

We received the following statement from PSUSD:

“We remain committed to upholding state directives and legal requirements regarding Title IX compliance. The California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) policy, which aligns with the California Education Code has remained in effect since 2013, and safeguards students from discrimination on the basis of gender identity. The California Department of Education (CDE) has affirmed that state law ensures equal and inclusive access to athletic programs for all students. We fully support the positions of both the CDE and CIF and reaffirm our dedication to nondiscrimination and the protection of every student’s rights in school athletics.” – Dr. Antonia Hunt, PSUSD Director of Title IX, Compliance

Stay with News Channel 3 to hear what lead DSUSD to this decision and how officials who work with the transgender youth are reacting.

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Luis Avila

PALM DESERT, Calif. (KESQ) – Two people are in jail following an overnight crash in Palm Desert. Investigators determined they were under the influence.

This comes as officials anticipate a seasonal uptick in DUI related incidents.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the summer months account for nearly 30 percent of all DUI fatalities throughout the year. Officials also see an increase in arrests as well.

Reasons for the increase include more:

travel

social gatherings

teenage drivers

While local DUI cases have stayed consistent in the Valley, David Torres, CHP officer, says the risks this time of year are up.

“Usually when the summertime comes around, people like to go out and celebrate. They vacation. Sometimes the consumption of alcohol is something that arises… The I-10 freeway is a major corridor for visitors and people to Arizona, LA, either way, we do have a lot of visitors out here.”

David Torres, CHP officer

During the summer months, law enforcement ramps up patrol and DUI checkpoints.

If you suspect someone is driving under the influence, report it to the authorities. But most importantly, officials are reminding drivers to avoid putting yourself in a risky position.

“When you drink and drive, you put others at risk and yourself at risk… we recommend you always think about your safety and the safety of others.”

David Torres, CHP officer

Stay with News Channel 3 for more.

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Gavin Nguyen

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – After an active week of anti-ICE protests across the nation, several protests are being planned here at home.

Organizers are making preparations for big crowds in three separate Coachella Valley protests on Saturday.

A protest in Cathedral City will push back against ICE and recent immigration enforcement. It is planned to take place from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. in front of city hall.

Two other protests are also planned in Rancho Mirage and Palm Springs and are both aligned with nationwide ‘No Kings’ protests. The protest in front of Rancho Mirage City Hall will run from 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m., while the one in downtown Palm Springs is planned from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

According to organizers, these are just two of 1,800 demonstrations being held nationwide in a day of coordinated, nonviolent protest under the ‘No Kings’ banner.

Emily Vogt, a spokesperson for Indivisible of the Desert, said in a press release on Thursday, “We’re coming together to send a clear message: No Kings. Kick out the clowns.”

Meanwhile, a birthday celebration for President Trump is also set to take place at the Patriot Store in Palm Desert. That event is happening from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. on Saturday.

News Channel 3 is speaking with organizers on these planned protests. Stay with us for the latest.

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Julia Castro

PALM DESERT (KESQ) — Two people are in custody after crashing into a business late Tuesday night and attempting to flee the scene, according to the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department.

Deputies were dispatched to the area of Monterey Street and Highway 111 at 10:33 p.m. following reports of a single-vehicle crash. When they arrived, they found that a vehicle had collided with a business.

Witnesses told deputies that both the driver and passenger fled the scene on foot. Authorities quickly located and detained both individuals.

Investigators determined the driver was under the influence and booked into jail on DUI charges. The passenger was arrested for outstanding warrants.

No injuries were reported, and the extent of damage to the business has not been released.

The investigation remains ongoing.

Stay with News Channel 3 for any updates.

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John White

RIVERSIDE, Calif. (KESQ) – Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco says more than 100 of his deputies are participating in a five-county mutual aid operation in Los Angeles as Immigration and Customs Enforcement protests continue.

The Sheriff, who is currently running for Governor, blasted Governor Gavin Newsom and L.A. Mayor Karen Bass for their lack of leadership in a social media post Tuesday night.

News Channel 3’s John White talked with the Sheriff about that, President Trump’s decision to call-in the National Guard and Marines, and how Riverside County is preparing for protests on Saturday, June 14th.

Nationwide protests are being organized by Democrats and other critics of President Trump in what’s being called “No King’s Day.”

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Cynthia White

LA QUINTA, Calif. (KESQ) – Desert Sands Unified School District is sharing that its free summer meal program is available weekdays for children and teens 18 and under.

The program includes both breakfast and lunch, and is offered Monday through Friday at multiple schools throughout the district as well as at select locations of community partners. Kids wanting to take part in the program do not need to be attending summer school – anyone meeting the age requirements may visit any participating location.

In addition to age requirements, the free meals offered must be eaten on site.

For more details on locations, service dates, and times, visit dsusd.us/news/whats_new/summer_2025_meals, or visit coolschoolmeals.com.

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Garrett Hottle

CATHEDRAL CITY, Calif. (KESQ) Firefighters responded to a structure fire Wednesday afternoon at a cannabis dispensary in Cathedral City, where heavy smoke and sprinkler flooding caused extensive damage but no reported injuries.

The fire broke out at the Twisted Peach Growing dispensary, located inside Vista Point Plaza. Cathedral City Fire Chief Vinny Salazar told News Channel 3 the fire appears to have started in an air conditioning unit and was knocked down quickly by crews already in the area.

“When we got inside, there was a decent amount of smoke coming from the back grill room,” Salazar said. “We’ve done a great job of locating the scene of the fire and getting it knocked down… Praise God, we got no victims at this point and we got a primary all-clear.”

As Cathedral City crews cleared from Vista Point Plaza, they began redirecting units to a second, unrelated fire at Sky Blue, according to Salazar.

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City News Service

MURRIETA, Calif. (KESQ) – A jury deliberated one day before convicting a young man of first-degree murder for fatally shooting a 17-year-old Cathedral City boy during a street confrontation that possibly stemmed from ill-will that had developed when the two worked together.

A Murrieta jury on Tuesday afternoon found Juan Alfredo Landeros Garcia, 26, of Cathedral City, guilty of the murder count, along with shooting at an occupied vehicle and sentence-enhancing gun and great bodily injury allegations, for the 2020 slaying of Isaiah Guerra.

Jurors had begun deliberations in the nearly two-week trial late Monday afternoon at the Southwest Justice Center.   

Riverside County Superior Court Judge Johnnetta Anderson did not immediately schedule a sentencing hearing, according to court minutes.   

Garcia is being held without bail at the Byrd Detention Center.   

According to a trial brief filed by the District Attorney’s Office, on the evening of April 4, 2020, Garcia was walking to a relative’s house, crossing near the intersection of Avenida Alvera and McCallum Way, when Guerra drove up in his Hyundai Elantra.

The victim got Garcia’s attention, but it was unclear what words were exchanged between them. Prosecutors said they had previously worked together at a Palm Springs Italian restaurant, though specific details about their on-the-job relationship and any conflicts were speculative.

During the roadside encounter, Garcia pulled a 9mm semiautomatic handgun and fired 10 times, striking Guerra in the chest, arms and legs as he sat in the driver’s seat of the four-door sedan, according to the brief.   

The mortally wounded motorist attempted to drive away but crashed 300feet from where the gunfire erupted, his vehicle coming to rest on a sidewalk. He died at the scene.   

Garcia ran from the location, tearing off his shirt and throwing the pistol onto a rooftop, the brief stated. Security surveillance cameras mounted on homes throughout the neighborhood captured the defendant in his flight, recording images of his tattoos and other salient marks later used to confirm he was the shooter.   

Cathedral City police detectives obtained a warrant for Garcia’s arrest less than a week later, and he was taken into custody without incident at a family member’s property on Modalo Road.

The defendant admitted to his girlfriend, whose identity was not disclosed, that he’d shot the victim, but insisted that the teenager had “banged” on him, referring to gang-related hostility, then asked him, “Do you remember me?” according to the brief.  

Garcia told the woman he’d pulled his gun and fired in self-defense.   

The defendant had no documented prior felony convictions in Riverside County.

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Jesus Reyes

CATHEDRAL CITY, Calif. (KESQ) – A fire has damaged at least four homes in Cathedral City Wednesday afternoon.

Viewers called the newsroom at around 12:30 p.m. to report a structure fire on Sky Blue Water Trail.

Cathedral City firefighters confirmed the fire damaged two duplexes.

There were no injuries reported, however, two people, including a firefighter, were evaluated.

Viewer videos shows multiple vehicles damaged by the fire, as well as a tree.

Courtesy: FLO GT DRAGO

Courtesy: FLO GT DRAGO

Courtesy: Ray Chavez

Smoke is visible as far out as Rancho Mirage.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

Stay with News Channel 3 for continuing updates.

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