Category: kesq-local-news

City News Service

BANNING, Calif. (KESQ) – A jury is slated to be seated before week’s end for the trial of an ex-substitute teacher in the Coachella Valley accused of perpetrating lewd acts during online contact with a female student, as well as sexually assaulting another woman.

Edward Noel Alvarado Valadez, 31, of Coachella was arrested in 2019 following a Riverside County Sheriff’s Department investigation.   

Valadez is charged with exhibiting harmful matter to a minor, sexual penetration with a foreign object and annoying a child. He’s free on a $10,000 bond.

Jury selection for Valadez’s trial got underway toward the end of last week at the Banning Justice Center. Superior Court Judge Jonathan Mendoza was expected to swear in a panel before Friday.

According to a sheriff’s arrest warrant declaration filed in December 2019, during the fall of that year, Valadez allegedly began a relationship with a teen girl, whom he contacted multiple times via social media.   

At the time, the defendant was employed as a substitute instructional aide at Coachella Valley High School in Thermal.   

The declaration alleged Valadez at one point called the victim, whose name was not disclosed, via Snapchat and proceeded to pleasure himself during the video call — exposing everything to the youth.

Investigators alleged the defendant also tried to arrange personal meetings with the girl with the intent of smoking marijuana and engaging in sex acts.  

The victim became increasingly uncomfortable with the communications and finally went to campus administrators, divulging her experiences, according to court documents. Sheriff’s detectives then began an investigation that resulted in charges.

On Dec. 5, 2019, Valadez was taken into custody without incident while he was working on the campus of Valle Del Sol Elementary School in Coachella. Afterward, he was dismissed from his CVUSD position. He had worked for the district about 10 months, according to officials.

In March 2021, while still awaiting trial for the lewd acts case, Valadez was accused of sexually assaulting another woman. The woman conveyed her alleged experiences to law enforcement sometime later, culminating in additional charges being filed against the defendant.

He has no documented prior felony convictions.

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City News Service

INDIAN WELLS, Calif. (KESQ) – Two people were arrested and 28 drivers were cited during a DUI checkpoint conducted over the weekend in Indian Wells.   

The checkpoint was held from 6 p.m. Friday to 2 a.m. Saturday at Highway 111 and El Dorado Drive, according to the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department.

Of the 921 vehicles screened, two drivers were arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence, 19 people were cited for driving without a license, one person was cited for having a suspended driver’s license, seven were cited for miscellaneous traffic violations and one person was cited on an outstanding warrant, the department said.   

The checkpoint location was selected based on data related to impaired- driving crashes, authorities said.  

Funding for the program was provided by a grant from the Office of Traffic Safety Grant Program.

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Isaiah Mora

RANCHO MIRAGE, Calif. (KESQ) – One woman is dead after she was hit by a car in Rancho Mirage on Sunday night.

Just before 10 p.m., deputies responded to a traffic collision near Highway 111 and Frank Sinatra Drive. Upon arrival, authorities located a crash involving a vehicle and a pedestrian, with a woman in the roadway suffering from significant injuries.

First responders performed life-saving measures, but the woman was ultimately pronounced dead at the scene. The coroners have identified the victim as 62-year-old Alicia Miller of Palm Desert.

Investigators say it does not appear that alcohol or drugs were a factor in the crash. The investigation is ongoing.

Anyone with information regarding this incident is encouraged to contact the Palm Desert Sheriff’s Station at (760) 836-1600.

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Gavin Nguyen

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – Locals with close ties to Puerto Vallarta are reacting to the cartel violence that erupted there over the weekend.

Some part-time residents who split time between the valley and Puerto Vallarta said the Mexican resort town shares many similarities with Palm Springs.

“Puerto Vallarta is now ‘Palm Springs South,'” said Wesley Eure, who is still in Puerto Vallarta as of Monday. “So many people I know from Palm Springs bought places here, or traveling here, or vacationing here, or here long term.”

Eure said it was a scary experience. He recounted he first saw smoke, which he thought was from a brush fire. That smoke began to grow, and he noticed several large pillars of black smoke rising.

“We jumped on the Internet. And we saw that the city was suddenly coming on fire. They were starting fires on trucks and tires blocking the roads. It was – it got pretty scary. And it happened all day,” Eure said.

Eure recounted trucks and cars being lit on fire, tires blocking roads, and explosions from propane tanks.

Authorities like the State Department have announced some flights are departing and arriving as normal at Puerto Vallarta International Airport as of Monday afternoon.

Still, government authorities advise American citizens still in the area to seek shelter and avoid law enforcement activity. More information on what you or your loved ones, if impacted by the unrest in Mexico, can be found here.

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Garrett Hottle

EL CENTRO, Calif. (KESQ) Abraham Feinbloom returned to court Monday morning for a scheduled preliminary hearing, but the matter was continued until Wednesday.

According to the Imperial County District Attorney’s Office, Feinbloom is now represented by private attorney Melanie Roe.

In a conversation with Melanie Roe this morning, she tells News Channel 3 at this time the matter was put over to Wednesday.

Melanie Roe, says she’ll be asking the court to substitute her in as Feinblooms attorney of record.

Court records previously uncovered by News Channel 3 reporter Garrett Hottle show Feinbloom faced felony kidnapping charges in Imperial County in an earlier case. Those charges were dismissed in January 2019.

Roe confirmed to News Channel 3 last week, that she represented Feinbloom in that prior case. In a statement to News Channel 3, she said the district attorney dismissed all charges at the time because prosecutors were “unable to proceed.”

Addressing the current case, Roe emphasized the presumption of innocence.

“Mr. Feinbloom, like all persons accused of a crime in this country, is shrouded by the presumption of innocence,” Roe said. “That means he is innocent of all charges unless, and until, the prosecution can prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.”

Roe also said the matter “is best handled in the courts and should not be tried in the media.” She noted that, to her knowledge, no death certificate has yet been authored by a medical examiner and argued that reporting the manner of death as murder before formal confirmation is premature.

During Feinbloom’s arraignment, a judge said investigators believe T’Neya died from a gunshot wound. Bullet fragments were reportedly found in a leg recovered Dec. 21 in the Vista Del Mar area near Portsmouth Avenue and Newhaven Court, less than a mile from the Harlequin Court home where Feinbloom was later arrested.

The court further indicated Feinbloom and T’Neya had been in contact since October 2025.

Prosecutors also stated in court that someone brought T’Neya to the Harlequin Court home. Authorities previously said that when Feinbloom was arrested, he attempted to run from deputies and was found with a passport and Thai currency in his possession.

The preliminary hearing is now set to resume Wednesday.

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Luis Avila

COACHELLA VALLEY, Calif. (KESQ) – The Coachella Valley Mosquito and Vector Control District is advising residents that recent rain and a warm-up this week have created ideal conditions for mosquito breeding.

Standing water left behind from last week’s storms can quickly produce mosquitoes, officials said. The advisory follows confirmation of the first mosquito-borne virus detected locally this year — St. Louis encephalitis virus.

Residents are urged to drain standing water around their homes and use insect repellent to prevent bites.

Stay with News Channel 3 for more.

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Daniella Lake

SALTON SEA, Calif. (KESQ) –  California State Parks is preparing a new general plan for the Salton Sea State Recreation Area and is inviting the public to participate in the process through a series of workshops this month. 

“It’s in need of some rehabilitation, in need of some increased public spaces. And so in order to invest significant amount of capital, we are in need of a general plan which helps guide that type of improvement,” says Enrique Arroyo, Ocotillo Wells district superintendent.

The general plan will establish a long-term vision for the park, which has changed significantly since the park was designated as a state recreation area in 1963.

“It’s really actually pretty trippy to see this big body of water in the middle of Southern California and there’s nobody in the water,” says Cyrus Chen, a visitor.

Declining water levels have reshaped recreation opportunities at the park and impacted the park’s ecosystem, leading to death of wildlife throughout the past two decades. By creating a new general plan, California State Parks is hoping to increase opportunities for land-based recreation.

“It’s really just a beautiful place for people to come in and walk around and just take in the unique natural environment that exists here,” says Joe Shea with California Natural Resources Agency.

Governor Gavin Newsom’s new proposed budget for the state includes 30 million dollars towards habitat restoration and new public access opportunities.

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Timothy Foster

SALTON CITY, Calif. (KESQ) – Dozens of family members, friends, and neighbors gathered Sunday afternoon in Salton City to honor the life of 17-year-old T’Neya “TT” Tovar.

The vigil was held outside the home of 51-year-old Abraham Feinbloom, who has been charged with murder and resisting a peace officer in connection with her death. He has pleaded not guilty and is being held without bail. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for February 23.

While the case continues to move through the court system, those in attendance said the focus of the afternoon was on remembering T’Neya and celebrating her life.

Loved ones stood together holding candles and photos of T’Neya. Balloons were released into the sky as family members embraced, shared memories, and leaned on one another for support.

According to investigators, human remains were discovered in Salton City in December. T’Neya’s mother said she was initially told the remains were believed to belong to a man. Weeks later, authorities requested a DNA sample, which confirmed the remains were her daughter’s.

T’Neya had been reported missing from a group home in Hemet in June, according to her mother. Friends described her as adventurous and said she often kept in touch with loved ones, even during difficult times.

Court records show Feinbloom previously faced felony kidnapping and false imprisonment charges in Imperial County in 2018. Those charges were dismissed in 2019 after prosecutors said they were unable to proceed.

Family members described T’Neya as bubbly, energetic, and full of personality. They said she loved to dance, sing, and make videos, bringing light and laughter wherever she went.

Her uncle said the loss still feels surreal and that he struggles to understand the motive behind what happened.

Throughout the afternoon, community members stopped by to offer hugs, prayers, and words of encouragement. Family members said the strong turnout was a reminder of how deeply loved T’Neya was and how much support surrounds them during this difficult time.

As candles continued to glow into the evening, her family said they plan to attend upcoming court hearings as they continue seeking justice.

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Gavin Nguyen

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – Visitors to the Palm Springs Art Museum were greeted with a pleasant surprise this Sunday!

The museum waived admission fees, which are typically $25 for adults, from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. It’s part of a regional push for free admission to museums throughout Southern California as a part of an annual Free-for-All Day. Over 30 museums across SoCal are participating.

Palm Springs Art Museum invited guests to enjoy hands-on workshops and art activities designed for all ages. As museums across Southern California opened their doors, they encouraged visitors to enjoy a full day of exploring art, culture, and creativity.

The museum typically invites families at its FAMILY+ day every third Sunday of the month, but that event was shifted to also line up with this Sunday’s Free-for-All event.

Admission is free for the Main Museum and the museum’s Architecture and Design Center, Edwards Harris Pavilion.

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Daniella Lake

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – Every third Sunday, The Palm Springs Retro Market features vintage clothing, furniture, jewelry, records and more. Today, they’re hosting a silent auction with all proceeds going to the Palm Springs Cultural Center.

The market runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Palm Springs Cultural Center.

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