Press Release

Due to numerous media calls and questions, Fresno County Sheriff Margaret Mims wants to correct an error published in today’s Fresno Bee.

Regarding the Kerman double homicide, it is the focus of the Sheriff’s Office to investigate and prosecute those persons responsible for the crime.

In today’s article, the byline stated, “[Leroy] Johnson was freed because of Fresno Co. Jail crowding”. The byline is not factual and is not supported by the story.

Leroy Johnson was arrested for violating his parole on June 30th. State Parole officials did not violate Johnson’s parole which required his release on July 2nd.

Leroy Johnson was not released from the jail due to overcrowding issues.

The Sheriff’s Foundation For Public Safety will host a “Career Day” tomorrow for approximately 100 students that participate in the Sheriff’s Activity League (SAL).

The Sheriff’s Office operates SAL summer day camps as a crime prevention activity in the communities of Malaga, Del Rey, and San Joaquin. The motto “Positive Reinforcement For Positive Behavior” is the foundation used by the SFPS to instill in students that making the right choices in life will open many doors in the future.

Sheriff’s canine Reno will be present along with other specialty unit personnel from the Mounted Unit, Search & Rescue, Boating Enforcement Unit, Jail Program Services, and Off Highway Unit.

There will also be representatives from Fresno County Probation, American Ambulance, Selma Community Hospital, the Gang Task Force, North American Traffic Seminar Inc, the CA Army National Guard 40th Combat Aviation Brigade, the CA Army National Guard Drug Demand Reduction Unit, and Panda Express.

The event will take place Thursday, July 3oth at Sunset View in Woodward Park. Check in is at 11:30am, lunch from 12:00-12:30pm, and presentations from 12:30-2:30pm.

Members of the media are invited to attend.

Kailey Luther, 17 years

Fresno County Sheriff Margaret Mims is asking for the public’s help in locating a missing Fresno County teenager. 17 year old Kailey Luther was reported missing on July 21st.

Luther is considered at risk and may be in need of medication. She may be despondent over a recent relationship and has been avoiding family and known friends.

She was reportedly last seen as recently as this past Saturday in Clovis, in the Shaw and Sunnyside area

Luther is described as a Hispanic female, 5-0, 130 pounds, Black hair and Brown eyes. She wears black rim glasses and also has a mole on her left cheek.

Anyone with information on Luther’s whereabouts is asked to contact the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office at 488-3111, the Clovis Police Department at 324-2800 or CrimeStoppers at 498-STOP(7867).

Fresno County Sheriff Margaret Mims is pleased to announce that missing hiker, Wayne Richard Morgan has been located safe and sound.

Earlier this afternoon, shortly after 2:00pm, Morgan was located by citizens as he hiked out of the Pine Creek trailhead in Inyo County. The Fresno Sheriff’s Office was called who in turned contacted Inyo County Sheriff’s officials who made contact with Morgan.

Morgan refused a ride to his vehicle, instead wishing to hike the final portion.

The Sheriff’s Office is attempting to get all of their SAR personnel out of the area but efforts are being slowed because of heavy hailstorms in the area.

Kassandra McKenna, 26 years

Fresno County Sheriff Margaret Mims is asking for the publics help in locating a wanted parolee who is also wanted in connection with a home invasion robbery that occurred yesterday at home located in the 3000 block of N. Howard Ave. Wanted is 26 year old Kassandra McKenna of Fresno.

At approximately 11:00am, deputies responded to the Howard address in regards to a robbery call. When they arrived, they found two victims, one who had been beaten by the suspects.

During the investigation McKenna was positively identified as one of three suspects involved in the robbery. Two other men have not been identified.

Cash and several items of property were stolen by the suspects before they fled in a small, black colored car, possibly a Mitsubishi.

McKenna is described as white, 5-11/150 pounds with brown hair and brown eyes. In addition to being wanted for the home invasion robbery, McKenna is a wanted parolee.

Anyone with information on McKenna’s whereabouts is asked to contact Detective Donna Davis at 693-2437, the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office at 488-3111, or CrimeStoppers at 498-STOP(7867).

Fresno County Sheriff Search & Rescue personnel are currently searching for an overdue hiker in the mountains of eastern Fresno County.

48 year old Wayne Richard Morgan, from Riverside, California, was reported missing by family members yesterday morning when he failed to return from a 10 day hike. He started his hike on July 18th, at Mosquito Flats in Inyo County and had planned to visit different areas in Fresno County during his trip.

The Sheriff’s Office received the call yesterday afternoon from the Inyo County Sheriff’s Office. 12 deputies and 3 volunteers, assisted by Eagle One, started searching at daybreak this morning. The search area is approximately 100 square miles near the Pacific Crest Trail. The command Post has been set up at Florence Lake.

Morgan is described as being white, 6-0/220 pounds with gray colored hair and blue eyes. He was last seen wearing green camo pants, and a blue/gray colored Northface shirt. Morgan is an experienced hiker and was carrying a tan camo colored backpack.

Juan Diego Vasquez, 32 years

Fresno County Sheriff Margaret Mims today announced the arrest of a 32 year old Mendota man on several charges including the rape of a 14 year old girl. Arrested was Juan Diego Vasquez.

The incident occurred one week ago when deputies were dispatched to the intersection of Seventh & Kate in the City of Mendota regarding several subjects detaining Vasquez in the middle of the street. When deputies arrived, it was learned that Vasquez had apparently sexually assaulted the young girl.

The investigation revealed that, earlier that morning, the victim had been babysitting her younger cousins at a residence located in the 200 block of Tuft St. While she slept in a downstairs bedroom, Vasquez, a family acquaintance, entered the residence through an upstairs window. When he located the victim, Vasquez dragged her to another area of the house where the assault took place. He then fled the house. The victim immediately contacted her family members who started looking for Vasquez.

Shortly before 9:00am, family members found Vasquez near the intersection of Kate & Seventh. Vasquez attempted to flee but was held down for responding deputies.

Deputies took custody of Vasquez and later transported him to the Fresno County Jail where he was booked.

The investigation revealed that Vasquez was under the influence of methamphetamine at the time of the assault.

Raymundo Macias, 24 years

A 24 year old parolee from Fresno was arrested this past Saturday after a high speed pursuit of the stolen vehicle he was driving. Arrested was Raymundo Macias.

The incident occurred early this past Saturday morning when a Sheriff’s deputy attempted to check a brown colored Honda that was stopped in the middle of the roadway near the intersection of Hayes & McKenzie. When the driver of the car, Macias, saw the deputy, he sped away at a high rate of speed and a pursuit ensued.

Deputies pursued the vehicle at speeds of up to 80 mph as it headed towards Fresno. At one point deputies attempted to disable the car’s tires with the use of a spike strip but Macias was able to avoid them. Macias then attempted to ram a Sheriff’s patrol car that was stopped near the intersection of Highway 180 & Hughes. The deputy avoided being struck by driving off the roadway.

The pursuit was then taken over by CHP officers who followed Macias into the city of Fresno. Using a PIT maneuver, CHP officers were able to get Macias stopped near the intersection of Merced & Hawes, but not after he rammed two CHP patrol vehicles.

When the vehicle did stop, Macias got out and ran from officers. He was tased and taken into custody without further incident.

The investigation revealed that the vehicle Macias was driving had been reported stolen from Fresno. It was also learned that Macias was on parole for vehicle theft.

Macias was later booked into the Fresno County Jail on charges of vehicle theft, possession of stolen property, assault with a deadly weapon on a peace officer, felony evading, and resisting arrest.

Fresno County Sheriff Margaret Mims today announced the arrest of two Fresno men on various charges including assault with a deadly weapon and making criminal threats. Arrested were 33 year old Shon Dean East and 30 year old Brandon Michael Blancato.

The incident occurred yesterday afternoon shortly after 4:00pm, as several floaters stopped at the back yard of a private residence located in the 5000 block of S. Holbrook Ave, and started a disturbance with the homeowner.

A group of approximately 10 floaters, including East and Blancato, pulled up on the beach at the rear of the property and started urinating in the back yard of the residence. When they were asked to leave by the property owner, they became angry and started threatening the homeowner and his friends.

At one point, East tried to attack the homeowner but stopped when he was sprayed with a chemical agent. Another subject threw a plastic chair at the homeowner striking him in the leg. Blancato then produced a knife and threatened to kill the homeowner. All of the subjects left when they learned that the Sheriff’s Office had been called.

Eagle One arrived and eventually located the suspects on the river. Eagle One personnel directed responding patrol and Boating Enforcement deputies to the suspects and they were taken into custody.

While seated in the back of a patrol car, East kicked out the side window.

East was later booked into the Fresno County Jail on one charge of making criminal threats, two counts of battery on a peace officer, and two counts of felony vandalism.

Blancato was booked on one charge of assault with a deadly weapon and one county of making criminal threats.

**Sheriff’s BEU deputies reported 18 rescues over the weekend out of an estimated 2000 floaters on the Kings River. **

Fresno County Sheriff Homicide detectives are releasing the names of two people arrested in connection with the double homicide that occurred in Kerman this past Wednesday.

Arrested were 34 year old Dawn Singh and 42 year old Leroy Anthony Johnson, both of Fresno. Both were arrested Wednesday morning after fleeing from the traffic accident at Jensen & Golden State.

Earlier this afternoon, detectives submitted the case to the District Attorney’s Office. The District Attorney’s Office filed several charges against both Singh and Johnson including two counts each of murder, and two counts each of home invasion robbery. Singh was also charged with felony evading.

They are both currently in custody at the Fresno County Jail. Singh’s bail has been set at $1,065,000.00 and Johnson’s is set at $1,015,000.00.

Detectives continue to search for the third suspect, 19 year old Jose Alfredo Reyes.

The investigation has revealed that the Reyes was booked by the California Highway Patrol for vehicle theft on 7/19/09. During that weekend the jail reached capacity and the Federal Consent Decree required releasing inmates due to overcrowding. Reyes was classified as a minimum security inmate with no prior felony convictions. He was cited and released on 7/20/09 with a court date of 8/3/09.

The District Attorney did not file charges on two other subjects who were passengers in the vehicle at the time of the murders, pursuit, and accident. They are not being identified and will be released from custody.

Again, anyone with information on the whereabouts is asked to contact Detective Sergio Toscano at 488-3722, the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office at 488-3111, or Crime Stoppers at 498-STOP (7867).