Motel owner, general manager both indicted after Desert Star Motel sex trafficking bust
Courtesy of Bakersfield Police Department
and last updated 2021-01-28 18:12:19-05
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KERO) â The owner of the Desert Star Motel and the general manager were both indicted on charges of use of facilities of interstate commerce in aid of a racketeering enterprise following the sex trafficking bust at the Desert Star Motel on Union Avenue.
According to the U.S. Attorney s Office, Jatinbhai Naresh Bhakta, 29, and Roy Gene Drees, 45, both of Bakersfield have been arrested and charged.
A release from the U.S. Attorney s Office said Bhakta purchased and began operating the Desert Star Motel in 2015, where he lived as well. They said Drees also lived at the motel and was employed as a handyman and general manager.
Documents released detailing murder of Northwest Bakersfield woman by husband, John Gardner
23ABC News
and last updated 2021-01-26 20:03:35-05
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. â As the community mourns the death of a woman, murdered by her husband John Gardner, 64, documents have recently been released detailing the night their bodies were found, and a bit of the events leading up to it.
On Wednesday, Dec. 9, 2020, Gardner was arrested for the murder of his wife Jane Gardner, 58, found killed inside their Northwest Bakersfield home.
On Dec. 6, 2020, just before 5 a.m. Bakersfield Police Officers responded to a residence in which the fire department was already responding following reports of a male needing help.
Land use fees could increase to combat illegal dumping
Funds would expand resources to combat illegal dumping.
and last updated 2021-01-27 01:24:53-05
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. â You soon could be paying more for land use fees, as officials from public works hope to use the funds to help combat what they say is a growing problem â illegal dumping.
Tuesday, during the afternoon board of supervisors meeting, the director of public works, Craig Pope, gave a presentation and formal proposal to the board, asking for the expansion of resources to fight illegal dumping.
Pope said his department is looking to increase the number of crews that work to clean up the county including using crews made up of those from local homeless shelters, as well as, expand community outreach and education programs and increase the number of bulky waste collection events in the county. Something he says could greatly help keep people from illegal dumping.
Man found guilty in deadly 2018 stabbing outside of Fox Theater
and last updated 2021-01-20 22:36:20-05
BAKERSFIELD, CA. (KERO) â One man accused in a deadly stabbing of another man near the Fox Theater nearly three years ago was found guilty Wednesday.
The Kern County District Attorney s office says Joel Rodriguez was found guilty of second-degree murder and assault for his role in the February 2018 stabbing of Kasey Villegas.
During a concert at the Fox Theater, Villegas started an argument inside the venue with another man and his family.
The altercation then spilled outside of the theater, which eventually led to Rodriguez stabbing Villegas four times in the head.
Suspect of homicide from May arrested, booked into Kern County Jail
BPD
and last updated 2021-01-21 01:02:02-05
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. â On Jan. 20, just before 7:30 p.m., the Bakersfield Police Department officers and the United States Marshal Service Task Force personnel apprehended Jennifer Maldonado, age 20, without incident, while in the 2000 block of South Chester Avenue.
Maldonado had an active felony warrant for the murder of 26-year-old Angelina Marie Carmen Betz in May of 2020.
Maldonado had an active felony warrant for murder and she was subsequently booked into the Kern County Jail.
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