KRKC COUNTRY

  SALINAS, California -- Monterey County District Attorney Jeannine M. Pacioni announced on June 17 that 38-year-old Karen Rodriguez and 34-year-old Elizabeth Vargas both current residents of Arizona, have pleaded no contest to 2 counts each of felony embezzlement and sentencing enhancements for theft over $500,000 because of their $3 million dollar embezzlement scheme from Taylor Farms. Rodriguez and Vargas will be sentenced to 6 years and 8 months in the California Department of Corrections. Rodriguez and Vargas were employed in the Human Resources department of Automated Harvesting LLC, a subsidiary of Taylor Farms, between 2019-2023. During that time, Rodriguez and Vargas issued and cashed hundreds of fraudulent checks that were made out to former H1B Visa employees who had returned to Mexico and were no longer working for the company. Salinas Police Department Detectives Byron Gansen and Pete Gomez began an investigation after Taylor Farms discovered the theft in 2023. The Dis...

  The Monterey County Sheriff’s Office has arrested 2 adults and 2 juveniles related to an early morning burglary at a cannabis greenhouse facility that resulted in 2 vehicle pursuits ending in San Benito County and San Francisco. Two additional adults are facing multiple felony charges. On Sunday, June 14 just after 4:00 AM, deputies were dispatched to a burglary in progress at a cannabis greenhouse facility along the 26,800 block of Encinal Road in the unincorporated area of Monterey County just south of Salinas. A security guard reported multiple vehicles, and multiple armed subjects had accessed the business by cutting through a fence. The suspects were reported to be taking processed cannabis. While responding, deputies were able to locate vehicles they believed were involved in the burglary. One deputy encountered and attempted to stop a red Honda Accord which failed to yield. The vehicle led deputies on a pursuit into San Benito County and then into Santa Clara County. San J...

The Monterey County Sheriff’s Office is investigating an early morning burglary that has led to multiple vehicle pursuits and has resulted in multiple arrests. On Sunday, June 14 just after 4:00 AM, deputies were informed of a burglary in progress at a cannabis greenhouse facility along the 26,800 block of Encinal Road in an unincorporated area of Monterey County. Multiple vehicles and armed subjects were reported to be involved. Deputies responded and encountered vehicles believed to be involved, traveling along Old Stage Road. Both vehicles failed to yield to deputies. One vehicle was pursued into San Benito County and was ultimately stopped in San Francisco by the California Highway Patrol. A second vehicle was also pursued and came to a stop after losing control in the area of Highway 101 and Highway 129. This is an active investigation. Multiple people have been arrested, and property has been recovered. The Monterey County Sheriff’s Office wishes to thank the Salinas Police Depar...

  The Monterey County Sheriff’s Office Agricultural Crimes Unit has been investigating a series of ongoing copper wire thefts throughout Monterey County. During the investigation, detectives identified a suspect using surveillance cameras and Flock automated license plate readers. The suspect was identified as 30-year- old, Filadelfo Osorio Diaz, of Patterson. Detectives authored search warrants and conducted surveillance as part of the investigation. On June 11, 2026, detectives contacted Diaz who agreed to come in and speak to them. During an interview, Diaz admitted to the theft of copper wire from multiple agricultural properties in Monterey County and other thefts in surrounding counties. The estimated total loss associated with the thefts in Monterey County alone exceeds $50,000. Diaz was recycling the stolen copper wire at metal recycling businesses in the Central Valley. Diaz was taken into custody and booked into the Monterey County Jail for multiple felony violations incl...

  GREENFIELD, Calif. – June 10, 2026 – The City of Greenfield announced on June 12 that its temporary building moratorium on certain new development projects is now in effect following final review and approval by the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD). The moratorium was originally adopted by the Greenfield City Council through Ordinance No. 575 on August 26, 2025, in response to critical wastewater treatment capacity constraints at the City’s wastewater treatment plant (WWTP). The ordinance temporarily suspends the issuance of new building permits for projects that would require new wastewater connections or increase wastewater flows to the City’s wastewater system. The moratorium became effective on June 10, 2026. “This action is necessary to protect public health, safeguard the environment, and ensure compliance with state and regional water quality requirements while the City advances critical wastewater infrastructure improvements,” said Paul Woo...

  The Monterey County Sheriff’s Coroner Office announceD on June 11 that the family of 53-year-old Pedro Sousa Garcia has been located.  On June 9, 2026, the Monterey County Sheriff’s Coroner Office requested the public’s help in locating the family of 53- year-old Pedro Sousa Garcia, who passed away on May 7, 2026, in the City of Salinas. The Coroner’s Office had exhausted all available information and attempts to locate his family were unsuccessful. “Social media has become a powerful tool for connecting with our community and reaching people in ways that traditional databases and records searches sometimes cannot,” said Sheriff Tina Nieto. “In this case, our public request for assistance generated valuable information that helped us locate Mr. Garcia’s family. The response we received demonstrates the strength of community partnerships and how, by working together, we can help reunite families and provide the closure and dignity their loved ones deserve during a difficult t...