Category: kesq-local-news

City News Service

RIVERSIDE (CNS) – Today marks the 20th anniversary of a monster wildfire near Banning that killed five federal firefighters — in what may be Riverside County’s most notorious case of arson.

The “Esperanza Fire” erupted in the predawn hours of Oct. 26, 2006, ignited by now 56-year-old Raymond Lee Oyler near the intersection of Esperanza Avenue and Almond Way amid a Santa Ana windstorm.

Before the blaze was stopped almost a week later in the San Bernardino National Forest, five U.S. Forest Service firefighters were dead, 41,000 acres consumed, 39 homes and other buildings destroyed, a highway damaged and a large number of livestock lost.

Riverside County Fire Department and USFS personnel are expected to mark the two-decade anniversary via social media tributes and moments of silence Monday.

“Twenty years later, the courage and selflessness of the Esperanza firefighters, and the lives of the families forever changed by their loss, remain close to my heart,” District Attorney Mike Hestrin, who prosecuted Oyler early in his career, told City News Service. “It was an honor to pursue justice for these brave men and their loved ones. Their sacrifice will never be forgotten.”

Last year, the California State Supreme Court put an end to Oyler’s appeals to have his capital murder convictions overturned, ruling his arguments that alleged trial court errors occurred were invalid and that “the defendant is not entitled to relief on appeal.”

Oyler was convicted in March 2009 of five counts of first-degree murder and more than 30 counts of arson and possession of incendiary devices, along with special circumstance allegations of perpetrating murder by arson and taking multiple lives.

The same four-man, eight-woman jury that found him guilty recommended capital punishment, with which then-Superior Court Judge Charles Morgan concurred.

The crew of USFS Engine 57 was decimated by the Esperanza blaze after deploying to protect an outlying property on a hillside. Capt. Mark Allen Loutzenhiser, 43, and firefighters Pablo Cerda, 24, Daniel Hoover-Najera, 20, Jason Robert McKay, 27, and Jess Edward McLean, 27, were killed.

At its peak, the wildfire traveled at 30 mph, with flames as high as 70 feet, burning at 1,300 degrees Fahrenheit.

McKay, McLean and Hoover-Najera died within minutes of the fiery tidal wave crashing into them as they scrambled to establish defensive positions on Gorgonio View Road in Twin Pines, where a house with a pool provided a ready source from which to draw water.

Engine 57 was alone, with county and other USFS crews remaining a safe distance from the flame wall, which trial evidence showed gained speed in an uphill “chimney” effect as it blew toward the victims.

Loutzenhiser, who like his men had been gravely burned and suffered from “inhalation of superheated air,” clung to life for several hours after being transported off the hillside. Cerda, whose body was 90% scorched, was kept on life-support for five days, during which he was able to acknowledge the presence of others, according to testimony.

McLean’s remains were in the worst condition, covered in and out with fourth-degree burns, according to the Supreme Court’s citation of trial court testimony.

Hestrin described Oyler at the time as “obsessed with fire and a fascination with starting a fire and watching it burn.”

Testimony showed the defendant had developed a technique of creating so-called “layover” incendiary devices, binding stick and paper matches together with rubber bands, affixing debris to them, then flinging them into brushy places to trigger fires.

Hestrin said Oyler wanted to “see that mountain burn” when he lit the Esperanza blaze.

“You can go back and find the incendiary device left there by Ray Oyler, and it leads to the death of those men — directly,” Hestin told jurors.

In the aftermath of the fire, there were changes in protocols, with an emphasis on seamless communication between state and federal fire crews during a mutual aid emergency, enhanced planning before initiating a fire attack and improved mapping of fire hazard zones.

Oyler is among nearly 600 condemned inmates in California.

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City News Service

INDIO, Calif. (KESQ) – A man who shot a motorist as the victim got into his vehicle in a Coachella parking lot pleaded guilty today to attempted murder and other charges and was immediately sentenced to 24 years in state prison.

Issac Marquez Vargas, 26, of Thermal admitted the attempted murder count, along with sentence-enhancing gun and great bodily injury allegations, and an allegation of perpetrating a felony while on bail, under a pretrial agreement with the Riverside County District Attorney’s Office. In exchange for his admissions, prosecutors dropped several related enhancements against Vargas.

During a hearing Monday at the Larson Justice Center in Indio, Superior Court Judge Elizabeth Tucker certified the terms of the plea deal and imposed the sentence stipulated by the prosecution and defense.

The shooting occurred shortly before 2 a.m. on May 30, 2022, in the 49200 block of Cesar Chavez Street, near Grapefruit Boulevard, according to the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department.

Sgt. David Aldrich said at the time that the victim, whose identity was not disclosed, had returned to his vehicle from a business in a strip mall when Vargas confronted him.

The sergeant said Vargas pulled a handgun and shot the man multiple times, then fled the scene. It was unclear whether an attempted carjacking or robbery had been planned.

Deputies and paramedics arrived minutes later and found the victim in serious condition. He was taken to Desert Regional Medical Center in Palm Springs and ultimately recovered from his wounds.

Vargas was identified as the shooter within days and taken into custody on June 16, 2022, following a brief standoff at his residence in the 84200 block of Redondo Sur.

Not long before the shooting, he had posted bail in connection with a theft-related case that was apparently disposed along with the others Monday.

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Angela Chen

COACHELLA VALLEY, Calif. (KESQ) — For generations, Native tribes across the Coachella Valley fought to preserve what remained after losing land, language and, in some cases, nearly their entire populations.

The Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians knows that history well.

Today, the tribe is one of the most influential forces in the Coachella Valley, with approximately 500 members and casino operations in Palm Springs, Cathedral City and Rancho Mirage. Yet Chairman Jeff Grubbe says his focus is not on the tribe’s successes today, but on what comes next.

“We’re not thinking about today. We’re thinking about tomorrow and the next generation,” said Grubbe.

In his first interview since being elected chairman this spring, Grubbe sat down exclusively with KESQ Morning Anchor Angela Chen to discuss his return to tribal leadership, the challenges facing Agua Caliente, and his vision for the future.

For a people who once fought simply to survive, the challenge now is different: How do you preserve prosperity, culture and opportunity for generations still to come?

Grubbe says the answer begins with remembering where the tribe came from.

“It wasn’t too long ago that we didn’t have the opportunities we have today. We have members who still remember living on Sectin 14 on dirt floors,” Grubbe said. “That’s always stayed with us and reminds us to make sure we don’t ever go back to that.”

The success enjoyed by Agua Caliente today stands in stark contrast to the hardships many tribal members experienced within living memory. The tribe’s economic growth over the past several decades has transformed both the reservation and much of the surrounding Coachella Valley.

But Grubbe says preserving culture remains just as important as building businesses.

The former chairman, who previously led the tribe from 2012 to 2022, points to ongoing cultural programs designed to ensure younger generations remain connected to their Cahuilla heritage, including weekly classes on basket making, language, preparing food, making bows and arrows, and more.

“It’s a cool mixture because it is the young ones, but it’s also you know we get some of our elders that start to participate and come back and they can remember things and offer their perspective of of their memories of how things were,” said Grubbe.

Those efforts come at a time when many tribes continue working to preserve traditions and languages that were threatened by generations of government policies aimed at assimilation and cultural eradication. Across the country, Native communities are rebuilding cultural practices that nearly disappeared.

An Unexpected Return

Grubbe’s return to leadership surprised some in the community.

After serving a decade as chairman, he relocated to the Dallas area to be closer to his wife’s family. Then, following Agua Caliente’s elections this past March, he was elected once again.

When asked about the election outcome, Grubbe emphasized that tribal governance is about the collective will of the membership, not any single leader.

“Our elections are are private. You know, we don’t really talk about it outside. And and I’ll say this: that not any one member is more important than any other member of this tribe,” said Grubbe. “It’s a tough question, but I think that it it it’s about the tribe. It’s not about me or any other chairman or any other future chairman, it’s about the tribe and will always be be about the tribe.”

Bringing Ideas Home

Grubbe says his four years away offered a valuable opportunity to observe how other tribal nations are expanding beyond gaming.

When Angela Chen asked what stood out to him while living in Texas and visiting tribes in neighboring states, Grubbe pointed to industries that could help diversify tribal revenue in the future.

“They’re manufacturing,” said Grubbe. “I don’t think we could do the farming type things. Obviously, not here in the desert, unfortunately. Energy energy projects. I think energy, especially in the state of California, there may be an opportunity to to be a player in the energy sector at some point.”

Business diversification is increasingly important as tribal governments look beyond casinos as their sole economic engine.

The Cost of Success

Even with the tribe’s economic strength, Grubbe says affordability remains one of the biggest concerns facing members.

Housing prices throughout the Coachella Valley continue to climb, creating challenges even for tribal members seeking to live within reservation boundaries.

“Our own members can’t afford to buy a home on the reserve within Palm Springs city limits specifically, even by the income that they receive. A 1,700 square foot house is over a million dollars, you know, which equates to a $6,000 house payment,” said Grubbe. “I mean that that blows my mind, you know, especially as a tribal leader. Like, how do we fix that, or what can we do to help that?”

Another concern is the future of the gaming industry itself.

Grubbe says tribes must be prepared for rapidly changing technologies and the growth of illegal online sports betting.

“There’s illegal sports baiting being operated in the state now, and it may have a minimal effect on on our businesses. But at some point, it’s it’s going to transition to that. So we need to be ready. We need to look, be prepared to, I think flip a switch where we will be offering online gaming at some point to be able to compete.”

As gaming evolves, Agua Caliente leadership is evaluating how to protect one of the tribe’s most important economic foundations while exploring new opportunities for growth.

Looking Ahead

The issues facing Agua Caliente today are dramatically different from those faced by previous generations. Instead of fighting for recognition or basic survival, tribal leaders are confronting questions about housing, economic diversification, energy development, gaming and groundwater rights.

Yet Grubbe says understanding the tribe’s history remains essential to understanding its future.

“it’s important for people to to learn and understand that you know we weren’t discovered. We’ve been here forever,” said Grubbe. “Coachella Valley is a big part of who we are, and we think every decision we make is how we can make this Coachella Valley better for not just the tribe but for everyone.”

For a tribe that survived centuries of hardship, the focus now is on ensuring the next generation inherits not only economic success, but a thriving culture, a strong community and a lasting connection to the land they have always called home.

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Tommy Gallegos

COACHELLA VALLEY, Calif. (KESQ)- The lead-up to Halloween this year brings a bunch of spooky, family-friendly events across the Coachella Valley! Looking for a fun activity leading up to Halloween Saturday, October 31st? We’ve got you covered!

Coachella Halloween Carnival

When: Wednesday, October 28, 5:30–7:30 p.m.Where: Bagdouma ParkCost: Free

Get into the Halloween spirit at Coachella’s Halloween Carnival. Families are invited to wear their favorite costumes and enjoy an evening filled with candy, games, and the annual costume contest.

The event welcomes all ages, and no registration is required, making it an easy option for families looking for a fun night out.

Cathedral City Trick or Treat Trail Ride

When: Friday, October 30, 5:30–7:30 p.m.Where: Esperanza Park and CV LinkCost: Free

Trade the traditional trick-or-treat route for a one-mile Halloween adventure. Participants can follow a scavenger hunt trail, collect treats, and solve clues along the way.

The event welcomes all human-powered wheels, making it a fun option for families who want to celebrate Halloween on the move.

Good to know: Helmets are required. Costumes must be family-friendly and safe for riding, and masks are not permitted.

Palm Desert Wiener Dog Race

When: Saturday, October 31Schedule: Check-in begins at 7:45 a.m.; costume contest at 8:15 a.m., followed by the raceWhere: Palm Desert Civic Center Park AmphitheaterCost: $20 for residents; $30 for nonresidents

Halloween weekend gets an adorable start with Palm Desert’s Wiener Dog Race. Watch dachshunds compete on the course and show off their Halloween looks during the costume contest.

The event is a great pick for dog lovers and families looking for something a little different this Halloween.

Good to know: Participating dogs must be vaccinated, wear a name tag, and be between six months and 15 years old. Registration space is limited.

Palm Springs Halloween at VillageFest: Monsters on Main Street

When: Thursday, October 29, starting at 6 p.m. until candy runs outWhere: Tahquitz Canyon Way, between Indian Canyon Drive and Palm Canyon DriveCost: Free

Downtown Palm Springs will get a spooky makeover with Monsters on Main Street, a Halloween-themed edition of VillageFest.

Families can enjoy games, candy stations, a haunted bus, and a costume contest scheduled for 7 p.m. With activities for all ages and no admission fee, it is a festive way to celebrate Halloween in the heart of Palm Springs.

Halloween Carnival & Haunted House

When: Friday, October 30, 4–7 p.m.Where: James O. Jessie Desert Highland Unity Center, 480 W. Tramview RoadCost: Free

Keep the Halloween fun going with a community carnival and haunted house experience. The event features games, candy, and a range of activities in a welcoming community setting.

Families looking for a free Halloween outing can enjoy an evening of seasonal entertainment and activities.

Día de los Muertos

When: Sunday, November 1, 10 a.m.–1 p.m.Where: Demuth Community Center, 3601 E. Mesquite Avenue

Celebrate Día de los Muertos with family and friends during a special Day of the Dead brunch. The gathering will feature food, cultural traditions, and an opportunity to remember and honor loved ones who have passed away.

The event offers a meaningful way to continue the seasonal celebrations beyond Halloween night.

Desert Hot Springs 11th Annual Desert Hot Springs Rotary Happy Healthy Halloween

When: Saturday, October 31, 2026 | 5–9 PMWhere: Mission Springs Park 14510 Palm Dr., Desert Hot Springs

Cabot’s Pueblo Museum Haunted House

When: October 30–31, Times: 4:00 – 9:00 PMWhere: Cabot’s Pueblo Museum, 67616 Desert View Ave., Desert Hot SpringsCost: Haunted House Admission: $10 for one person or $20 for four people

Thousand Palms Halloween Spooktacular

When: Saturday, October 31, 6–8 p.m.Where: Thousand Palms Community Center & ParkCost: Free

Families in Thousand Palms can celebrate Halloween with an evening of spooky crafts, ghostly games, and a costume contest.

The event welcomes all ages and offers a festive community gathering for those looking to enjoy Halloween activities close to home.

Indio Indio Movie Night: Hocus Pocus

When: Thursday, October 29, 6 p.m.Where: Center Stage, 82881 Miles Ave, IndioCost: Free

Halloween Themed Food Truck Fridays

When: Friday, October 30, 5 p.m.Where: Downtown Indio, Towne St. and Bliss Ave. Cost: Free

Día de los Muertos Family Day

When: Sunday, November 1, 10 a.m.–3 p.m.Where: Coachella Valley History Museum, 82616 Miles Avenue, IndioCost: Free

Celebrate Día de los Muertos at the Coachella Valley History Museum during a family-friendly event presented by Desert Recreation District.

The celebration will feature games, food, entertainment, cultural traditions, and activities for all ages. It is an opportunity for families to come together, celebrate cultural heritage, and honor the memories of loved ones.

Thermal Fifth Annual Día de los Muertos

When: Monday, November 2, 5:30–7:30 p.m.Where: Jerry Rummonds’ Community & Senior CenterCost: Free

Thermal will mark Día de los Muertos with its fifth annual community celebration. Families can gather to honor the lives and memories of loved ones while enjoying refreshments, snacks, and themed activities.

The event provides a welcoming space for community members of all ages to participate in this meaningful tradition.

North Shore Día de los Muertos

When: Monday, November 2, 5:30–6:30 p.m.Where: North Shore Beach & Yacht ClubCost: Free

Families and neighbors are invited to come together for a Día de los Muertos gathering focused on remembrance and community.

The event will feature themed activities, refreshments, and snacks, offering a chance to honor loved ones and celebrate the traditions of the holiday.

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Matthew Pearce

THOUSAND PALMS, Calif. (KESQ) — After the Cathedral City location lost its veterinarian, Loving All Animals has been left with no option but to suspend care in the west valley.

However, at an event Thursday, the organization will show off its new location in Indio, marking a new chapter in how it provides care for animals in the Coachella Valley.

The new building will continue offering services, including vaccinations, parasite control, low-cost spay and neuter procedures, and wellness examinations. For more information about attending Thursday’s event or connecting with Loving All Animals, visit its website.

News Channel 3 is speaking with officials from Loving All Animals to learn more about this next chapter. Stay tuned for the full story at 5 p.m.

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Tommy Gallegos

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ)— Palm Springs Deputy Fire Chief Jeff Van Lierop has been appointed interim fire chief, City Manager Scott Stiles announced. He will succeed Paul Alvarado, who is retiring after 35 years in the fire service.

Van Lierop joined the department in 2002 and has served as a fire engineer, fire captain, battalion chief and deputy fire chief. His career includes overseeing complex emergency responses, advancing firefighter training and supporting employee wellness initiatives.

He helped establish a Joint Apprenticeship Committee to strengthen firefighter training standards and implement the department’s Peer Support and Wellness Program. He has also served as a state-certified firefighting instructor for 20 years. In 2016, he helped rescue elderly passengers following a serious bus crash on Interstate 10.

“Jeff Van Lierop is a highly respected leader who has dedicated nearly 25 years of his career to protecting the Palm Springs community,” Stiles said, expressing confidence in Van Lierop’s ability to lead the department through the transition.

As interim chief, Van Lierop will oversee fire suppression, emergency medical services, fire prevention and emergency response operations.

Van Lierop thanked city leadership for its confidence in him, saying his priorities will be “supporting firefighters, maintaining operational excellence and ensuring a smooth transition while continuing to serve Palm Springs residents and visitors.”

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Raymond Kalra

DESERT HOT SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – One year after Amazon opened its massive PSP3 warehouse in Desert Hot Springs, city officials say the company has surpassed its original job creation projections, bringing thousands of employment opportunities to the Coachella Valley.

But while Amazon is celebrating job growth and employee promotions, some nearby businesses say the economic benefits haven’t been as significant as they originally anticipated.

News Channel 3 spoke with Amazon employees, site leadership, city officials and a nearby business owner to examine the impact of the facility one year later.

Amazon exceeds original hiring projections

When Amazon announced its inbound cross-dock facility in Desert Hot Springs, officials projected it could bring between 1,400 and 2,000 jobs to the area.

Now, the City of Desert Hot Springs says the facility employs approximately 2,400 people, exceeding those initial estimates.

“Amazon has not only met its original hiring goal, but it exceeded it,” said Saida Hernandez, Government Relations and Communications Manager for the City of Desert Hot Springs. “Originally, they said that it was around 1,400 to 2,000, and now it’s 2,400.”

The facility operates as an inbound cross dock, where employees receive, sort and organize inventory before sending it to Amazon fulfillment centers across the region.

City officials say the facility has helped expand employment opportunities while bringing jobs closer to home for residents who previously had to commute outside the community for work.

For Desert Hot Springs, Hernandez said the impact goes beyond employment numbers.

The city sees the facility as an important part of its broader economic development efforts, helping attract additional investment and interest in the surrounding industrial area.

More than 50 employees earn promotions

Along with job creation, Amazon is highlighting opportunities for employees to advance within the company.

According to Amazon, over 50 employees at the Desert Hot Springs facility earned promotions during its first year.

Those promotions include:

25 employees promoted to Process Assistant positions, helping oversee daily warehouse operations and train employees. 11 Process Assistants promoted to Area Manager positions. 10 Area Managers promoted to the next level of management. Three employees promoted to Operations Manager positions. Two employees promoted into Senior Operations leadership roles.

Amazon says those opportunities allow employees to move beyond entry-level positions and develop long-term careers within the company.

One employee who spoke with News Channel 3 described starting as a Tier 1 associate before advancing into operations management and eventually transitioning into a support role.

The employee said those opportunities came through learning new responsibilities, gaining experience and taking advantage of the company’s internal advancement programs.

Amazon also offers its Career Choice program, which provides eligible employees with educational opportunities and assistance pursuing additional training and career development.

During an interview with News Channel 3, site leadership emphasized the importance of providing opportunities for employees to learn different parts of the operation and pursue leadership positions.

The company says it plans to continue focusing on career development and employee growth during its second year.

Nearby restaurant owner remains optimistic about Amazon’s impact

While Amazon’s employment numbers have grown, nearby business owners are hopeful that the facility’s presence will continue creating economic opportunities throughout the community.

Patricia Salazar, who owns a family-operated restaurant near the warehouse, said she was excited when Amazon first began construction.

Her business was hired to provide food for construction workers on several occasions, giving her an early opportunity to benefit from the project.

Salazar said she had hoped to see more restaurant traffic following Amazon’s opening and remains optimistic about opportunities for local businesses to benefit from the facility’s presence in the community.

Her family also operates a nearby tire shop, which she said has experienced some additional customer traffic.

Despite restaurant visits being lower than she initially anticipated, Salazar views Amazon’s arrival as a positive development for Desert Hot Springs.

She hopes continued development in the surrounding area will attract more customers and create additional opportunities for local businesses.

City points to new development and community partnerships

Desert Hot Springs officials say Amazon has also helped generate additional interest in developing the city’s industrial area.

Hernandez told News Channel 3 that the warehouse helped establish momentum for further investment, including interest in a Hampton Inn, a Starbucks and additional logistics facilities.

The city views that growth as an opportunity to create more jobs and expand economic activity beyond Amazon’s warehouse.

Hernandez also said the city did not provide financial incentives or infrastructure investments specifically to support the Amazon project, instead assisting through the planning and development process.

Beyond employment and development, city officials highlighted Amazon’s involvement with local nonprofits and community organizations.

Hernandez said the company has participated in food distribution efforts, supported programs at local senior centers and helped sponsor community events.

Amazon employees also described partnerships with local organizations, including food assistance programs and the Desert Hot Springs Senior Center.

City officials say those partnerships are another way the company is contributing to the community.

Hernandez said the city hopes Amazon will continue supporting local organizations and expanding its presence as an employer and community partner.

Looking ahead to year two

As Amazon marks its first anniversary in Desert Hot Springs, the company is celebrating its workforce and the employees who have advanced into new positions.

Site leadership told News Channel 3 that continuing to create employment opportunities, support employee development and strengthen community partnerships will remain priorities.

For the city, the next chapter includes building on the development interest surrounding the warehouse and attracting additional businesses to the area.

For nearby business owners like Salazar, the hope is that continued growth will translate into more customers and increased economic activity.

One year later, the City of Desert Hot Springs says Amazon has exceeded its original employment projections.

But the experiences of surrounding businesses show that the benefits of a major development are not necessarily felt equally across the community.

As additional projects take shape, residents and local business owners will be watching to see how that growth translates into long-term economic opportunities throughout Desert Hot Springs.

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Garrett Hottle

EL CENTRO, Calif. (KESQ) – Abraham Feinbloom was sentenced Monday to 13 years to life in state prison for torturing and killing 17-year-old T’Neya Tovar, after her mother, father and sister stood in an Imperial County courtroom and told him what he took from them.

The judge followed the plea deal Feinbloom signed Sept. 28, seven years to life for torture and a consecutive six years for voluntary manslaughter. The 51-year-old gets credit for 294 days already served and must pay a $10,000 restitution fine. The judge found he had met the conditions of the deal, which required him to lead investigators to T’Neya’s remains and called for the murder charge to be dismissed at sentencing.

Charro Tovar, T’Neya’s mother, spoke for close to half an hour. She told the court about going to Feinbloom’s boarded-up house looking for her daughter and not being able to get inside, and about the photograph of a leg she had to recognize as her child’s.

“Thirteen years is not enough to me,” she said, and asked for the maximum the law allows. “You chose my daughter, and because you chose my daughter, you got me too,” she told him.

She added, “I’m the mother who wouldn’t stop, and I’m still not going away.”

Crystal Behn read statements from T’Neya’s sisters.

“You did not disappear her voice,” one said. “You gave her family a reason to speak even louder.”

Her father, Josh Carter, told the court it was “a blessing” the outcome was what it was, and that the man who killed their daughter “was caught.”

When the judge asked Feinbloom if he had anything to say, he did not apologize. Both parents said he never looked at them.

“Cowards don’t look people in the face,” Carter said outside the courthouse.

The judge said he had never seen a case “so exhaustively investigated and prepared for trial” and said the harshness of Feinbloom’s conduct was indescribable. He said motions had been filed before trial to bring in prior allegations of misconduct involving other children, some never successfully prosecuted, and invited prosecutors to pursue them if they can. The plea does not prevent it, he said.

Outside court, District Attorney George Marquez said the torture charge was how prosecutors got to a life sentence.

“The torture charge gives us the seven to life, and the manslaughter gives us the six years,” he said. “Sometimes when we’re reaching disposition on cases, we come up with charges that might be somehow connected, but it reaches the end result, which is what we wanted.”

He said prosecutors never learned exactly how T’Neya was killed, which would have made first-degree murder “problematic” to prove, and put his maximum exposure at trial at “15 or 16 years.” Feinbloom did not have to explain how she died, only lead investigators to her remains.

“He’s 51 years old,” Marquez said. “The chances are he’s probably going to die in prison.”

Defense attorney Melanie Roe called that “absolutely inconsistent with the law.” She said parole in California is “the rule, not the exception,” and she expects the board to recommend Feinbloom’s release when he is eligible.

Roe said it was “a no-body case from the beginning,” with no autopsy report until five days before the preliminary hearing, and that there are no past cases against him. The 2018 kidnapping charge was dismissed because the accuser had died, she said, and other allegations were never filed. She said reporters should ask the district attorney why.

Charro Tovar said she was told Monday the majority of her daughter’s remains have been recovered, but not all.

“We can’t get murder, but we got torture,” she said. “He tortured her to death. There’s no difference in my eyes.”

She said she will be at every parole hearing, and she still does not believe deputies took her reports seriously in December, when she went to the house with deputies four times and no one went inside.

T’Neya, of Hemet, called her mother Dec. 1, 2025, and said she was on her way to Palm Springs. She was reported missing that day. An FBI agent later testified a friend dropped her off at Feinbloom’s home on Harlequin Court in Salton City.

On Dec. 21, deputies found a human leg less than a mile away. DNA matched it to T’Neya on Feb. 6, the same day FBI agents searched the house. A week later, Feinbloom jumped a fence as a SWAT team arrived and was arrested.

He pleaded not guilty to murder and told agents he did not know her. Jury selection was set for Oct. 6. He took the deal eight days before, and a day later investigators recovered a skull and ribcage in a wash off Treadwell Boulevard, according to the District Attorney’s Office.

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Dakota Makinen

COACHELLA VALLEY, Calif. (KESQ) – As Halloween parties approach, law enforcement is warning about the dangers of fentanyl and counterfeit prescription pills.

Desert Hot Springs Police Lieutenant Saucier and Amber Royer, founder of Out of the Ashes, are urging people to avoid taking pills that weren’t prescribed to them.

According to the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), lab testing shows 16% of pills containing fentanyl have a potentially lethal dose.

The DEA seized more than 47 million counterfeit pills in 2025, along with nearly 10,000 pounds of fentanyl powder. Those pill seizures represented more than 369 million potentially lethal doses, according to the agency.

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Gavin Nguyen

CATHEDRAL CITY, Calif. (KESQ) – Voter identification is in the spotlight in California this year as Proposition 39 looks to make changes to elections.

Prop 39 would keep citizens from voting unless they present a form of government-issued identification. A “Yes” vote on the proposition would change California’s state constitution to require voters to provide additional information when they vote.

For in-person voters, they would be required to present valid government-issued identification (like a driver’s license or ID card). Citizens opting to vote-by-mail would need to write the last four digits of a government-issued number on their envelope (like their Social Security Number). If a voter fails to complete these steps, their ballot would be invalidated.

According to the official voter guide, Proposition 39 requires the state to provide a voter identification card at no cost to voters who request one. The voter identification card could be used as the government-issued identification that verifies a voter’s identity when voting.

The ballot measure would also require election officials to maintain accurate voter registration lists and use government data to verify the citizenship of voters. A State Auditor would also be required to audit government compliance during odd-numbered years.

In contrast, a “No” vote would keep things the way they are. As it stands, a voter’s signature establishes the identity of the voter when a ballot is cast.

Governor Gavin Newsom signed SB 1174 into law in 2024, which prohibits any local authority from creating a law that would require citizens to present ID before voting. If Prop 39 passes, it would supersede the state law.

Becki Robinson has volunteered as a voter registration coordinator with Indivisible of the Desert and Courageous Resistance for the past eight years. Every election cycle, you can find her at the Mary Pickford Theater, offering to help passing moviegoers fill out voter registration forms if they were new voters or needed to make changes to their registration.

She likened her work to helping people apply for jobs.

“When we’re helping somebody fill out the voter registration form, basically what we’re doing is we are helping them fill out an application for a job, and the job is to be a voter,” she said. We’ve introduced you to her before in previous election years; with those years of experience, she thinks she’s innately familiar with the process to verify voters’ eligibility.

“When a registration form gets up to Sacramento or gets up to Riverside County, depending on which one is going to go to or whatever county it is in, they then vet you through all of the different databases that they have access to state and federal,” she explained.

VoteCal is the voter registration database that California uses. Applications are run through departments like the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR), California Department of Public Health (CDPH), California Employment Development Department (EDD), and California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). Voters can access public portions of the database online.

Through this process, voters provide identifying information and attest to their citizenship and eligibility under penalty of perjury.

She continued, “They check you on all of those to make sure you are a citizen and you are eligible to vote.”

Robinson was against the implementation of additional voter ID requirements. She said it would put additional roadblocks to keep voters from casting the ballots. She was firm in her belief that California’s existing processes were robust enough.

“I am very confident in the system that’s in place. I don’t think there’s anything else that we need to do,” she affirmed.

News Channel 3 reached out to several groups that support Proposition 39, but our requests for comment went unanswered.

One of the organizations that supported the proposition, Californians for Voter ID, listed a statement from its chairman on its website.

“Support for Voter ID laws transcends party lines—it’s not a Republican or Democratic issue. Polls consistently show that majorities of Republicans, Democrats and Independents favor these measures … Voter ID is simply a common-sense policy. California needs to modernize its elections to align with the vast majority of the world’s democracies. While our state leads in so many areas, it lags behind on this issue. It’s time for California to catch up and enact Voter ID laws.”

Julie Luckey, Chairman of Californians for Voter ID, Yes on 39

You can find more details on the proposition on California’s official voter information guide. Click here to go to the Secretary of State’s website.

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