Category: kesq-local-news

City News Service

RIVERSIDE, Calif. (KESQ) – The Board of Supervisors today authorized the Riverside County Department of Human Resources to potentially increase the salaries of multiple sheriff’s administrators on the basis that not doing so would leave them at salary rates equal to or less than underlings.

In a 5-0 vote without comment, the board signed off on the agency’s proposal to modify the salary ranges of the correctional chief deputy, the chief deputy sheriff, the chief deputy sheriff designated “A” or “B” under the salary ordinance, the assistant sheriff and the assistant sheriff designated “A” or “B.”

No one was named specifically in the human resources document posted to the board’s agenda Tuesday.

“With the implementation of the adjustments, costs will be incurred only to bring incumbents below the new minimum salary up to the new minimum salary,” according to an agency statement. “Approval of the recommended adjustments will ensure adequate spacing and appropriate salary progression for the executive management level classifications. This will aid in retention and ensure that the sheriff’s department is able to provide growth opportunities into these positions as opportunities arise.”

According to officials, the board’s approval in July of a new three- year contract with the Law Enforcement Management Unit, representing upper-level sheriff’s personnel, as well as District Attorney’s Office investigators and other county peace officers, created the likelihood of “compaction,” which defines circumstances where a subordinate is making as much as or more than a superior.

It’s commonly cited as the rationale for hiking the annual salaries of elected officials, too.

The collective bargaining agreement with the LEMU — which establishes across-the-board auto pay hikes totaling 19% over the next three years — placed sheriff’s captains at pay rates in competition with their bosses, officials said.

The new range for an assistant sheriff will be $261,000 to $313,323 per year, compared to $163,099 to $221,326 previously. For an assistant sheriff “A,” the new range will be $279,000 to $335,256, compared to $172,883 to $278,479 before now. For an assistant sheriff “B,” the revised range will be $292,435 to $350,922, instead of $220,791 to $299,326 previously.   

The chief correctional deputy range will go from $161,560 to $230,613, to $191,635 to $251,516 per year. The chief deputy sheriff’s range is now $239,544 to $287,453, compared to $150,545 to $209,827 previously. The chief deputy “A” range will be $256,312 to $307,574, compared to $159,577 to $222,416 previously, and the “B” category will be $268,289 to $321,947, compared to $203,796 to $284,048 in the past.   

The new rates are retroactive to Dec. 11.   

The Department of Human Resources said there are no anticipated immediate impacts to the sheriff’s budget as a result of the changes. It was unclear how many of the positions are actually filled.

Officials said a “market survey” was conducted to determine the pay rates in neighboring counties and how best to bring the county in line with other jurisdictions.

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Jesus Reyes

COACHELLA, Calif. (KESQ) – An earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 3.1 has struckroughly 18 miles east-southeast of Coachella and 21.5 miles east-southeast of Indio, according to the U.S. Geoglogical Survey.

The quake struck shortly before 5 p.m.

There are no reports of injuries or damage.

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Shay Lawson

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ)  – A vacant former Days Inn along North Palm Canyon has been unanimously approved for transformation into “The Verb in Palm Springs,” a nearly 180 room resort, following Palm Springs commissioners’ approval of the major redevelopment project.

The project, proposed by O2 Architecture on behalf of the property owner, calls for an expansion of the hotel and restaurant at 1973 N. Palm Canyon Dr.

The development would increase the hotel’s room count from 107 to 179 rooms and add a new two-story hotel building along with a relocated restaurant and lobby.

The staff report said, “the scope of work includes the demolition of one existing hotel building, the current lobby and the diner. The remaining two hotel buildings and back of house building will be rehabilitated. The proposed design introduces five buildings: three hotel buildings, a back of house building and a combined restaurant-lobby structure.”

The project has been determined to be categorically exempt from further environmental review under the California Environmental Quality Act, with staff concluding it would not result in significant impacts to traffic, noise, air quality or water quality.

News Channel 3 has reached out to Spot On Ventures LLC, the lead developer on the project, for further comment. Xander Brown, Head of Acquisitions and Capital Markets, said:

“Our team has a history of creating hospitality projects that appeal to visitors and local residents alike and our vision for this site is to transform an outdated and vacant Days Inn location into a dynamic new amenity for our community.

Palm Springs is a community rich in culture, design and architecture, and a history that very much informs the present day. We are excited to build on that foundation and create a completely updated and revitalized 179-key hotel that will offer a spectacular design, unique interiors, and beautiful landscaping to create an updated visual identity at this important location.

We are confident that our project will offer a super experience to its guests, based on design, service and guest amenities, including meeting space, views, pool, and gardens. Equally important, we will create an accessible community amenity on the north side of Palm Springs that is anchored by a restaurant that is designed to appeal to local residents and operated by a longstanding and well-regarded local operator.

We appreciate the thoughtful review by city officials; their feedback has resulted in a stronger project. We look forward to being a part of this community.”

Stay with News Channel 3 for continuing coverage.

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KESQ News Team

Palm Springs, Calif. (KESQ) – The Gulf California Broadcast Company, owners of KESQ News Channel 3, KDFX FOX 11, KPSP CBS Local 2, KCWQ CW 5, KUNA Telemundo 15, and La Poderosa 96.7 radio, is expanding its local weekend newscasts to air on KCWQ, the Palm Springs CW affiliate.

Beginning January 24, News Channel 3 Live at 6PM local newscasts will also be simulcast on KCWQ CW 5 Saturdays and Sundays.

The addition of local weekend newscasts to Palm Springs CW 5 will allow viewers to watch News Channel 3 live newscasts at 6PM year-round on Saturdays and Sundays, even when ABC affiliate KESQ is airing live network sports or other special programming.

“We’re excited to expand News Channel 3’s critical local news and First Alert weather coverage to CW 5,” said Jerry Upham, Gulf California Broadcast Company’s General Manager. “This allows us to better serve the Coachella Valley’s weekend viewers, and is a unique opportunity for the Desert’s News Leader to provide local newscasts every Saturday and Sunday at 6PM throughout the year. ABC’s programming often doesn’t allow us to provide full live newscasts during this time period due to live sports and other network coverage.”

News Channel 3 newscasts currently air on KESQ, KPSP CBS Local 2, and KDFX FOX 11. All newscasts are also available via the KESQ livestream at kesq.com/livestream/

The addition of News Channel 3 live newscasts to KCWQ now extends the Desert’s News Leader to all the company’s English-speaking stations. In addition, the Spanish-speaking newscast Noticias Telemundo 15 continues to air on KUNA Telemundo 15 weekdays at 6PM and 11PM.

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City News Service

INDIO, Calif. (KESQ) – A man accused of sexually assaulting four women, several of whom were drugged, in the Coachella Valley must stand trial on nearly a dozen felony charges, a judge ruled today.   

Juan Carlos Segura Jr., 28, of Palm Springs was arrested in 2024 following a Palm Springs Police Department investigation.   

At the end of a preliminary hearing Tuesday, Riverside County Superior Court Judge Susanne Cho found there was sufficient evidence to bound Segura over for trial on two counts each of forcible rape, rape of an intoxicated person and rape of an unconscious victim, as well as one count each of sodomy of an intoxicated person, sodomy of an unconscious victim and oral copulation of an intoxicated person, with sentence-enhancing allegations of targeting multiple victims in sex crimes.

Cho scheduled a post-preliminary hearing arraignment for Jan. 28 at the Larson Justice Center in Indio and ordered that the defendant remain held without bail at the Smith Correctional Facility in Banning.

According to police, the first alleged assault occurred on March 24, 2024, after Segura met a woman who went out with the defendant.   

Court documents indicated that during the encounter, he allegedly slipped narcotics into whatever the woman was consuming, causing her to pass out. Shortly afterward, the defendant allegedly raped her several times, court papers alleged.

The woman was left at an unspecified location. After she regained consciousness, she did not report the assault to law enforcement for reasons unclear.

On Aug. 16, 2024, Segura met a different allegedly repeating the same methods used on the prior victim, causing her to lose consciousness, after which she was raped and copulated, according to the district Attorney’s Office.   

The following day, the defendant connected with a third woman utilizing an anesthetizing substance to cause her to black out, court papers alleged. He then allegedly sodomized the victim for an unspecified period in a motel room, evidently departing before she regained consciousness, according to prosecutors.  

On Aug. 19, 2024, another woman whom Segura met casually was allegedly corralled by the defendant before he could administer any substances. Court papers alleged the defendant prevented the victim from getting away and raped her.  

She immediately reported the assault to Palm Springs police, who set about trying to find Segura.  

“He does not have an address where he resides exclusively and is known to stay at multiple places throughout the Coachella Valley,” investigators wrote in a bail-setting affidavit. “Detectives had a difficult time locating him.”  

They eventually found him on Aug. 21, 2024, taking him into custody without incident.  

The ensuing investigation, spanning almost six months, resulted in identification of all of the victims, who provided statements and physical evidence to support their allegations, according to the prosecution.

Segura has no documented prior felony convictions in Riverside County.

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Garrett Hottle

INDIO, Calif. (Jan. 8, 2026) – Grand jury transcripts unsealed in the indictment of Coachella Mayor Steven Hernandez reveal dramatic testimony alleging that the longtime mayor used his public office to enrich himself – and allegedly bullied anyone who got in his way.

The 467-page transcript, obtained by KESQ News Channel 3 provides an inside look at the nine-count indictment against Hernandez, who is charged with conflict-of-interest and perjury offenses spanning 2021 to 2023.

Hernandez, 42, has pleaded not guilty to all charges and remains in his post pending trial.

Hernandez faces one felony count of conflict of interest for approving a city contract in which he allegedly had a financial stake, four felony counts of perjury for false statements on financial disclosure forms, and four misdemeanor counts of conflict of interest for votes he cast on matters from which he stood to benefit.

If convicted on all counts, he could be sentenced to over seven years in state prison and barred from public office for life, though prosecutors acknowledge his lack of prior offenses means a probationary sentence is possible

The grand jury testimony outlines several key decisions by Hernandez that are under scrutiny.

News Channel 3’s Garrett Hottle breaks down the Grand Jury testimony. Watch his report at 6 p.m.

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Luis Avila

THOUSAND PALMS, Calif. (KESQ) – Residents around Shadow Mountain Lane in Thousand Palms are urging Riverside County to fix ongoing flood concerns they say have been ignored for years.

Neighbors point to the Thousand Palms Flood Control Program, a $90 million project currently underway, but argue it provides no flood protection for their area.

Instead of channels, the Thousand Palms Flood Control Program uses four large dikes designed to intentionally flood approximately 4,000 acres of conservation land. The goal, according to the project, is to move sand east and south so it can be blown into the Coachella Valley Preserve to support habitat for the fringe-toed lizard.

Residents argue the use of dikes—rather than channels—keeps water on the surface, increases flood risk, and prevents homes from being built, while placing nearby neighborhoods at greater danger.

Residents say no flood protection is planned for the Amity Lane area, even though it is not part of the Thousand Palms Conservation Area. They argue the County has an obligation to protect the homes there.

Community members say they have repeatedly reached out to Supervisor V. Manuel Perez’s office but say they have received no response.

Stay with News Channel 3 for more.

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Kendall Flynn

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – The Palm Springs Police Department and Fire Department are continuing to recruit new officers. After the State of Palm Springs, PSPD shared they’ve had a shortage of officers this year making their response tactics more reactive rather than proactive.

Since then, the department has shared on social media two officers graduated from the Basic Peace Officer Training Academy Class #223. While this is step toward more first responders, Captain Gustavo Araiza told News Channel 3 in December it is a longer process than people realize to gain an officer during and after training academy.

Stay with News Channel 3 to hear how both departments are doing when it comes to recruiting.

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City News Service

BANNING, Calif. (KESQ) – Concerns mounted today regarding the welfare of a 16-year-old girl who disappeared after leaving her home in Banning.   

Juliet Ruiz was last seen at about 9:40 p.m. Saturday leaving the Peppertree Apartments at 456 E. Nicolet St., according to the Banning Police Department.

“Family members advised Juliet (left) … her communication devices,” Capt. Brandon Smith said. “She was captured on a local business’ security camera … walking alone, southbound on San Gorgonio Avenue, toward the railroad tracks.”

After the girl didn’t return home within a couple of hours, her loved ones called 911 to report her missing.

Her whereabouts were unknown.

Smith said patrol officers scoured the area but couldn’t locate her. Detectives took over the investigation and began canvassing the San Gorgonio Pass, trying to ascertain whether the youth might have been seen since the weekend.

A possible sighting originated from a Ross store in Beaumont, but that turned out to be false, according to Smith.   

Ruiz stands around 5-feet-2 inches tall, weighs 100 pounds and has brown hair. She was last seen wearing a black puffer jacket and black pants.   

Anyone with information on her whereabouts was asked to contact the department at 951-922-3170.

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Daniella Lake

COACHELLA, Calif. (KESQ) – GRID Alternatives, a project partner of the Coachella Prospera intiative under the city of Coachella, is installing 75 solar systems in the area for free.

“We know the need is here with the extreme heat,” says Yoselyn Eckert, outreach director for GRID alternatives.

Today, they installed the first set of solar panels for a resident in Coachella. Officials say the goal is to reduce energy costs for residents and create a greener future for the city.

“When we talked to residents, they tell us that they know solar is a solution to help them lower their bills and invest in their home, but it’s just not attainable,” says Eckert.

GRID Alternatives also provides a training program for those interested in careers in solar. Marco Morales started off as a trainee, and is now a construction assistant installing solar panels for residents.

“It’s a real great feeling being able to help out these homes, especially these families who are probably spending way too much on their electricity bills,” says Morales.

They currently have 40 open positions for trainees. You can learn more about their training program and how to apply for a free set of solar systems on their website.

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