Category: kesq-local-news

City News Service

MURRIETA, Calif. (KESQ) – A Nov. 9 trial date was set today for a Menifee policeman accused of sexually assaulting five women, including some while he was on duty.

Juan Jose Pesina Jr., 34, of Murrieta was arrested last August following an investigation by the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department’s Special Victims Unit.

Pesina is charged with five counts of sexual battery, two counts each of assault with intent to commit rape and extortion, and one count each of forcible rape, forcible oral copulation, attempted forcible sodomy, attempted forcible oral copulation, bribery and burglary, as well as sentence-enhancingallegations of perpetrating sexual offenses during a burglary.

During a pretrial conference at the Southwest Justice Center Monday, Superior Court Judge John Molloy conferred with the prosecution and defense regarding scheduling, and both sides agreed to work on clearing their calendars for trial during the first half of November, prompting him to tentatively schedule proceedings.

Pesina is being held without bail at the Smith Correctional Facility.

According to the Menifee Police Department, the defendant remains on indefinite unpaid administrative leave.

The agency released a statement soon after his arrest, saying its Professional Standards Unit had received a complaint from a woman on July 22, 2025, alleging encounters with the lawman over two years earlier in which he had sexually abused her.

“A preliminary internal investigation was immediately conducted,” Sgt. Raul Perez said. “In order to ensure a fair, thorough and impartial investigation, the department requested an independent criminal investigation by the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department.”

Sheriff’s Sgt. Jim Peters said MPD Internal Affairs detectives informed the Special Victims Unit that “Pesina was accused of sexually assaulting a victim during an on-duty investigation.”

“During the course of our investigation, additional victims were identified in incidents that had occurred between 2023 and 2024,” Peters said. “Investigators determined Pesina encountered these victims while on duty and off duty.”

According to the criminal complaint, five victims were allegedly assaulted in February and September 2023, as well as January, November and December 2024, and August 2025.

In Pesina’s first alleged target, he accessed her property illegally and perpetrated multiple offenses over an unspecified period, according to the prosecution.

A second woman was allegedly victimized 11 months later, suffering similar abuse, the complaint said.

The document didn’t specify which person, but it alleged that “after returning the victim of domestic violence to her home … the defendant entered her home and forcibly sexually assaulted her.”

“It is further alleged the offenses involved great violence, great bodily harm, threat of great bodily harm, or other acts disclosing a high degree of cruelty, viciousness or callousness,” according to the narrative.

The police department did not disclose when Pesina was hired, or in what capacities he had worked, other than patrol.

If convicted, he could face life in prison with the possibility of parole.

Click here to follow the original article.

Kiera McKinney

PALM SPRINGS, CALIF. (KESQ)- Update 8/17/2026

More than 80 animals were adopted from the Palm Springs Animal Shelter over the weekend as part of a nationwide adoption event, it was announced today.

The Clear the Shelters adoption and fundraising campaign was held from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at the shelter, 4575 E. Mesquite Ave.

Adoption fees were sponsored by Marco Colantonio Real Estate Group, according to the shelter’s website.

Shelter officials said 83 animals were adopted during the event — 31 dogs, including 14 puppies; 51 cats, including 40 kittens; and one rabbit.

Original Report

The Palm Springs Animal Shelter is waiving adoption fees for dogs, cats, puppies and kittens during a summer adoption event. The fee waivers are sponsored by Marco Colantonio Real Estate Group.state Group.

Event Details

Location: 4575 East Mesquite Avenue, Palm Springs, CA

Hours: 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. (opening an hour early)

Cost: $0

Available Pets: Dogs, cats, puppies, and kittens

Pet adoptions typically decline during the summer as families travel for vacation and participate in seasonal activities such as camps. At the same time, shelters experience a seasonal surge in animal intake. For community members unable to adopt long-term, temporary fostering options are available to help free up space in local kennels.

There is also fostering available if you cannot adopt long-term. Temporary fostering can help free up critical space in the valleys kennels.

Regional facilities face severe space shortages during the summer months. The Riverside County Department of Animal Services reported reaching 220% capacity heading into the summer peak.

Nationally, approximately 5.8 million dogs and cats enter U.S. shelters each year. Warmer weather creates a massive influx of litters, resulting in young animals under five months old making up nearly 30% of all annual dog intakes.

Jack Hagerman, associate executive director of the Palm Springs Animal Shelter, noted that springtime kitten season generates a high volume of animals just as adoption interest drops. “The summertime is really tough for most shelters because it’s when we have the highest number of animals,” Hagerman said. “So we have a lot more animals and a lot fewer people who are interested in adopting. So that just creates a really tough situation for us to shelter.”

Despite the crowded conditions, animals continue finding permanent homes through unexpected encounters. Amber Wagner, a clinic volunteer, visited the facility without intending to adopt. “I wasn’t planning on adopting today. I was actually, a volunteer from, my own clinic myself,” Wagner said. After meeting a cat named Chicken Bake, her plans changed. “As soon as I met chicken bake, I just. I fell in love and I knew she had to come home with me,” Wagner said, adding, “I’m excited for my new life with her. I’m excited for her.”

Volunteers are also working to find homes for older shelter residents that often remain longer in care. Doug Ogden, a cat volunteer at the shelter, noted that adult animals frequently get passed over during peak season.

“This weekend we’re adopting a lot of our older cats and residents have been here and they’re often overlooked for kittens,” Ogden said. He emphasized that the facility remains committed to placing every animal. “That is our goal here. We won’t sleep and we won’t stop until we find every cat, kitten, dog, puppy, a home forever. That’s what we do,” Ogden said.

Click here to follow the original article.

Jesus Reyes

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (KESQ) – Assemblymember Greg Wallis (R-Bermuda Dunes) announced Monday that his student-athlete heat safety bill passed the Senate and is heading to the Governor’s desk.

AB 2503 requires the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) to annually review its heat illness prevention guidelines to better account for the unique conditions faced by student-athletes in desert communities like the Coachella Valley and other inland regions, Wallis’ office wrote.

Under the current guidelines, outdoor practices and competitions must be stopped when the WBGT reaches 92 degrees until conditions cool. While the guidelines are designed to protect student-athletes from heat illness, some local coaches and school officials say the rules can also create significant challenges.

News Channel 3’s Sports Director Blake Arthur took an in-depth look at the bill and the issue

Wallis’ office said the bill was developed in direct response to conversations with community members who shared concerns about the challenges of scheduling practices and competitions during periods of extreme heat.

“This is a big win for our student-athletes and their families, who deserve common-sense protections that reflect the realities of competing in our desert climate,” said Assemblymember Wallis. “Thank you to the athletic directors, coaches, and parents who advocated tirelessly for our student-athletes and helped get AB 2503 to the Governor’s desk.”

AB 2503 is awaiting the Governor’s decision.

Click here to follow the original article.

Gavin Nguyen

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – The summer heat is on, and it’s not just in the desert. Across the nation, this summer has broken records.

According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, or NOAA, July marked the warmest month for the contiguous United States since records began in 1895. Temperatures averaged 76.9°F nationwide.

NOAA wrote that figure lies 3.3°F warmer than the 20th-century average. It also marked the warmest July (and warmest month overall) by 0.1-0.2°F, beating out July 1936 and July 2012.

Nationwide, daily maximum temperatures rose to 89.5°F, which was nearly three degrees above average. It ranked as the sixth-hottest month.

Overnight minimum temperatures hit 64.2°F and broke records by a larger margin: 0.7°F.

While the national average skyrocketed this July, the numbers in the desert showed a different story. The average high temperature in Palm Springs was 109.5°F this July. The average usually sits at 108.6°F. Still, this is shy of years past, like 2024, when Palm Springs had an average daily high temperature of 114.9°F.

“It’s, like, becoming unsustainable to an extent,” said Ashley Madera, a Cathedral City resident headed to the gym in Palm Springs. “I’d say, like, to the point where it’s just not as enjoyable going outside sometimes.”

Though still above average, Palm Springs didn’t break any records last month. Extra monsoonal moisture helped limit the air temperature for our region.

Average temperature, highs, and lows between Palm Springs and the contiguous U.S. in July 2026, according to data from NOAA.

For Palm Springs Unified School District, it led to some uncomfortable conditions for the first week of school, with humidity that made things feel worse than years past.

With heat and humidity being two of the main factors allowing students to be outside and participate in sports, we’re checking in with the district on its Perry Weather Monitoring Systems, one year after they were installed.

We asked district leaders what changed between now and then. They said it was making a positive impact.

“The Perry Weather System has all of our policies and protocols built into it. So when the wet bulb temperature or the the wind or the air quality begins to deteriorate, the sites can get an alert directly to their phone,” said Laura Dyson, the Director of Health Services for Palm Springs Unified. “So it really gives [faculty] that up-to-date, to-the-minute information on how to react and what to do.”

The data is localized to specific sites throughout the district’s 500 square miles of coverage. That allows school administrators to make decisions based on the site closest to them, rather than a single, broad decision that may be inaccurate from one end of the valley to the other.

District leaders added giving the students and their families access to the data helps create more transparency.

“Everything is just out there in the open. If you want to know what you know, what your child is going to be doing outside during the day. This is all available on the district website and that feedback’s been really good,” said Dyson.

To check real-time weather data from Palm Springs Unified, click here.

Desert Sands Unified School District also uses the Perry Weather System. Its real-time data is available here.

We’re breaking down the technology and the numbers behind the country’s hottest month on record. Stay with us for our full report tonight on News Channel 3.

Click here to follow the original article.

Matthew Pearce

THOUSAND PALMS, Calif. (KESQ) — There’s no shame in forgetting to do something. However, forgetting to wear a seat belt — that can be a life-threatening decision.

In 2024, 22,713 vehicle occupants were killed. Of those, 50% were not wearing seat belts, based on known seat belt use, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Here in Riverside County, a traffic collision-related death occurs every 32 hours. Of which, 1,200 fatalities were reported in a single year as a direct result of individuals not wearing seat belts, according to the Riverside County Sheriff.

Nobody thinks a crash will happen to them until it does. When putting your safety in the hands of other drivers, that moment can happen at any time.

Palm Desert resident Andrew Sanchez learned the consequences of non-compliance firsthand after suffering injuries as an unrestrained passenger in a motor vehicle accident.

“I was a passenger and I wasn’t wearing a seat belt and we got in an accident and my head went face first into the dashboard. I ended up in the hospital so I regret not wearing my seatbelt,” Sanchez said.

David Torres, public information officer for CHP Indio, frequently responds to crash scenes where proper restraints could have altered outcomes.

“I preach wearing your seatbelt because I know that it can save your life. When they don’t wear seat belt, it’s a devastating scene for us,” Torres said.

Other area residents emphasized that seat belt use extends beyond personal safety to shared responsibility among passengers. Carrick Kennedy, a resident of Palm Desert, highlighted the emotional burden drivers and passengers face following serious crashes.

“you get in a car accident, you know, and somebody else ain’t wearing their seat belt… You’ll feel more guilty if something happens. They fly out the car windshield or what have you… It’s all about accountability,” Kennedy said.

Although California’s seat belt compliance rate remains above the national average, law enforcement officials note that failure to buckle up continues to cause preventable deaths across the region.

Additionally, Torres emphasized the importance of properly installing children’s car seats. He tells News Channel 3 if anyone is worried about doing it wrong, they can head over to California Highway Patrol in Indio for a free car seat installation.

Click here to follow the original article.

Peter Daut

THOUSAND PALMS, Calif. (KESQ) – News Channel 3 is your back-to-school headquarters, and students headed back into the classrooms in the coming days, and with that comes a series of new programs and changes for one local school district.

News Channel 3’s Peter Daut spoke with the superintendent of Desert Sands Unified, Dr. Kelly May-Vollmar.

Click here to follow the original article.

Jesus Reyes

YUCCA VALLEY, Calif. (KESQ) – A 92-year-old man was pronounced dead after a crash involving a golf cart and a vehicle over the weekend in Yucca Valley.

The crash was reported on Saturday just before 5:45 p.m. on Highway 62 and Mohawk Trail.

Police said a golf cart driven by an elderly man was traveling into oncoming traffic and was struck by a vehicle. The man was rushed to the hospital and was pronounced dead just after 8 p.m.

The man’s identity has not been released as authorities seek to notify next of kin.

The driver of the vehicle remained at the scene and cooperated with investigators, police added.

Click here to follow the original article.

Raymond Kalra

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) — Tropical Storm Lala’s impact on Hawaii is putting a spotlight on emergency preparedness for travelers and what people should know before they leave home.

Palm Springs resident Scott Nevins was in Maui as the storm moved through the islands. He said strong winds, heavy rain and a canceled flight forced him to quickly adjust his travel plans and find another way home.

Nevins ultimately booked a different airline and took three flights back to Southern California.

His experience highlights a concern emergency officials say travelers should think about before a disaster ever happens: how prepared they are to handle an emergency in an unfamiliar place.

Daniel Hurtado, a senior management analyst with the City of Palm Desert, recommends researching the potential hazards at a destination before traveling, signing up for local emergency alerts and creating a communication plan with family members.

“Preparedness really comes down to giving yourself options,” Hurtado said. “Emergency preparedness doesn’t mean that you’re going to have a plan for every possible disaster.”

Travelers should also identify a meeting place in case they become separated, save important emergency contacts and keep medications and other essentials easily accessible.

If authorities issue an evacuation order, Hurtado says travelers should follow instructions from local officials rather than relying on the route they originally used to enter an area.

Nevins said communication from Maui officials and his hotel helped him feel informed throughout the storm.

“I felt very in safe hands with the people in charge in Maui,” Nevins said. “The mayor was very visible on TV, sending out notices. The hotel was sliding papers under every door with updates, so you didn’t feel like you were in the dark about anything.”

Emergency officials say even basic preparation before a trip can give travelers more options if severe weather or another disaster suddenly changes their plans.

Click here to follow the original article.

Jesus Reyes

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – Palm Springs Police Chief Andy Mills is nearing the final day of service for the city, and with his help, News Channel 3 has been able to give thousands of dollars to local students through the Do the Right Thing program.

Mills joined Sandy Newton on Desert Chat to reflect on the program.

Click here to nominate a student to be honored for Do the Right Thing.

Click here to follow the original article.

Jesus Reyes

WAIKIKI, Hawaii (KESQ) – Hawaii faces a massive cleanup after Tropical Storm Lala swept through the islands with heavy rain and damaging winds.

On the big island, flood waters washed out roads and highways. The governor says at least 100 homes were damaged or destroyed.

News Channel 3’s Peter Daut joined us live from Waikiki after experiencing travel delays trying to get home from his Hawaiian vacation, which is now running longer than he anticipated.

Click here to follow the original article.