Breaking News

The San Joaquin County District Attorney’s Office has formally arraigned Joseph Trevor Forney, a former employee of Cal Fire, on multiple felony and misdemeanor charges related to the possession and distribution of child pornography. The charges stem from an investigation initiated following a cyber tip received by the Manteca Police Department from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) on May 8, 2025.

On June 9, 2025, Judge Jacot sentenced Eduardo Perez to 15 years in state prison. Perez was found guilty following Jury trial on January 17, 2025, of a felony violation of Robbery, and Misdemeanor violations of PC 314.1 (Indecent Exposure) and 148.9 (False ID to Peace Officer and was sentenced to 15 years.

On June 9, 2025, Sammy Nunez was sentenced to 23 years in state prison following his conviction for felony sex offenses involving two children. He is also required to register as a lifetime sex offender.

The San Joaquin County District Attorney’s Office proudly marks the 25th anniversary of its Youth Leadership Academy (YLA), a transformative program empowering high school students to become thoughtful, ethical, and service-oriented leaders. Open to all high school students in San Joaquin County, the YLA offers hands-on learning in leadership development, criminal law, social issues, and career exploration.

Guadalupe Felix was arraigned today, May 30, 2025, before the Honorable Judge Guiliani in Department 8C of the San Joaquin County Superior Courthouse.

San Joaquin County District Attorney Ron Freitas announced that Ricardo Basilio was sentenced to 11 years to Life in state prison for Kidnap to commit Rape 209 (B)(1), and use of a firearm during a sex offense 12022.3 (A)

Joseph Smith, the Former Executive Director of First Tee of San Joaquin, was arraigned on six counts of Embezzlement and Forgery by the San Joaquin County District Attorney’s Office this week in San Joaquin County Superior Court.

The San Joaquin County District Attorney’s Office, led by District Attorney Ron Freitas, has achieved justice with the conviction of all three Norteno gang members for the first-degree murder of Armando Salgado at the Honor Farm on June 24, 2021.

San Joaquin County District Attorney Ron Freitas announced that Salvador Reyes was sentenced to 20 years in state prison for two counts of rape by force (PC 261(A)(2)), domestic battery (PC 243(E)(1)), and driving under the influence (VC 23152(B)) in Judge Lance Jacot’s courtroom. The sentence follows Reyes’ guilty plea on March 17, 2025.

District Attorney Ron Freitas announced Bertin Melo Villanueva, 34, was sentenced to 26 years in state prison in the courtroom of The Honorable Richard Guiliani, after pleading guilty to multiple felony charges, including Continuous Sexual Abuse of a Child [PC 288.5] and Rape by Force [PC 261(a)(2)]. Both offenses are strikes under California’s Three Strikes Law. Villanueva also admitted to personally inflicting great bodily injury on the victim and agreed to waive all custody credits dating back to his arrest on April 12, 2024.

San Joaquin County District Attorney Ron Freitas has announced the conviction of Jawon Murray for the first-degree murder of William Potter, who was gunned down in front of his family while walking home from grocery shopping in Eastland Plaza on March 19, 2023. A jury also found Desiree Lopez guilty of accessory after the fact and weapons charges for her role in attempting to conceal the murder weapon.

The San Joaquin County District Attorney’s Office recently received a Felony Workers Compensation Fraud Conviction, highlighting the Office’s commitment to fighting Workers Compensation fraud and abuse in San Joaquin County.

San Joaquin County District Attorney Ron Freitas announced that Antonio Cuellar was sentenced to 25 years to life in state prison for the first-degree premeditated murder of 18-year-old Andrea Cervantes Alejandre. The sentencing, overseen by Judge Northup on April 10, 2025, follows Cuellar’s no-contest plea in case CR-2019-9541.

Today, San Joaquin County District Attorney Ron Freitas announced that Nicholas Bloed, a former law enforcement officer, pled guilty to four counts involving crimes against four victims.

San Joaquin County District Attorney Ron Freitas, announces the arraignment of Francisco Eduardo Sandoval-Baez, who was arrested on February 25, 2025, following a traffic stop conducted by the San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Department. During the stop, deputies discovered 8 kilograms of powdered fentanyl—enough to potentially kill up to 4 million people—concealed within the defendant’s vehicle. The traffic stop took place in Manteca on Highway 99.

The San Joaquin County District Attorney’s Office, under the leadership of District Attorney Ron Freitas, proudly announces a decisive step forward in restoring law and order with the aggressive enforcement of Proposition 36. Since its implementation, our office has pursued 33 felony theft cases and 22 felony drug cases, sending a clear message: crime will once again be illegal in San Joaquin County.

Today, Judge Orcutt sentenced Juan Salcedo, 46, of Stockton, to 15 years to life in prison for the second-degree murder of Moises Montes. The sentencing follows a jury’s conviction in Judge Orcutt’s courtroom for the crime, which took place on August 15, 2022, near Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and Mormon Slough.

San Joaquin County District Attorney Ron Freitas announced today that Julio Valdez, 38, of Stockton, was arraigned this afternoon at the San Joaquin County Superior Courthouse on two counts of murder under Penal Code Section 187(a), with special circumstances alleged, stemming from the brutal killings of Alicia Montejano, 43, and her 19-year-old son, Reuel Huerta.

A San Joaquin County jury delivered a first-degree murder guilty verdict against Walter Green for the barbaric killing of Loren Faria. The verdict concludes a trial arising from the brutal events of April 19, 2023, when Green tortured and murdered Faria, a vulnerable man reliant on a walker, over a perceived slight.