Crime Voice

Millions in marijuana plants destroyed in Stanislaus County
LA GRANGE, CA – Law enforcement agents in Stanislaus County harvested and destroyed more than 7,000 marijuana plants, with a street value estimated at more than $15 million, growing throughout the area Thursday. (more…)

Ruth Lee was a reluctant witness Wednesday as she testified in the murder trial of her own son, Byron Julious Wooten.

Ruth recounted what she witnessed form the passengers seat of her son’s car the day he is accused of bowling through a crowd of people in May 2005 when he was 20.

Wooten is charged with one count of second-degree murder, five counts of attempted murder and hit-and–run resulting in death.

Victims of this incident are 5 people along with a thirteen-year-old Reggie Johnson. Wooten drove two blocks before he stopped, dragging one youngster with him the entire way.

Wooten was driving South Owen Street when he saw a group of boys who were gathered with Wooten’s cousin, Ronnie hill, 24. He then drove his car into the group.

The incident was probably partly due to a long running dispute between Wooten and Hill, and a longstanding feud between lee and her sister. Hill was lucky enough to survive and was also at the trial to testify Wednesday.

This is Wooten’s second trial connected with the incident. This is because the defense was granted a mistrial September after some of the evidence was handled improperly.

Charles Cory Shults, 36, has been charged with first-degree murder of his own grandmother. Charles grandmother, Alta Marie Dodd, was 74 years old when she was killed.

A representative from the Public Defender’s office asked that the arraignment be continued while the agency investigated whether it had any conflict in representing Shults.

When Shults was asked if he agreed with the continuing arraignment he seemed confused and asked the judge “What’s best for me”.

Lewis is now on a $1 million bail and has a preliminary hearing scheduled for Feb 13.

Aptos—Fire investigators determined that the cause of a house fire that killed one woman and sent her daughter and elderly mother to the hospital was started accidentally by a small electrical appliance. Susan Wilkinson, 66, died early Monday morning following a blaze that broke out in her residence. Wilkinson’s daughter, Mary Burick, 43, and her mother, Merle Wilkinson, 89, were both hospitalized with serious injuries. Homicide detectives with the Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s department joined fire inspectors with the Aptos/La Selva Fire Department in investigating the source of the fire because of the fatality.

Aptos-Fire investigators are combing through the remains of a three-bedroom home where one woman was killed and two injured following an early morning fire Monday, Jan. 8th trying to discover how the conflagration was ignited. A 66-year-old woman who was carried out of the home by firefighters was rushed to Dominican Hospital in Santa Cruz, where she later died. The victim’s 89-year-old mother, and 43-year-old daughter were also injured in the blaze, and are expected to recover from their injuries. The victim’s names have not yet been released. Homicide detectives from the Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s department are investigating the incident, along with fire fighters who are looking for the cause of the blaze, which destroyed the home valued at $770,000.