A San Bernardino County jury awarded $33 million to a survivor of child sexual abuse, finding that multiple deputy sheriffs and a welfare fraud investigator’s failure to report neglect was a substantial factor in the abuse. This landmark verdict underscores the critical importance of mandated reporting laws and the devastating consequences of neglecting a child’s safety.
With summer heatwaves hitting Southern California, many are seeking refuge in the cooler mountain elevations. However, the sheriff’s department is warning hikers to be prepared, as the mountains pose their own dangers, including injuries and heat exhaustion.
Brett David Dahl, a 45-year-old teacher at Excelsior Charter Schools in Victorville, has been arrested for alleged inappropriate conduct with a 16-year-old girl. Dahl faces charges of contacting a minor to commit a felony, meeting with a minor for lewd purposes, child endangerment, and child abduction. His bail has been set at $60,000.
Thirteen individuals were apprehended during a retail theft operation at Victoria Gardens shopping mall in Rancho Cucamonga. The bust, conducted by the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department and other law enforcement agencies, resulted in the seizure of approximately $10,926 worth of stolen property. The operation was part of SBSD’s Operation SMASH & Grab, which targets organized retail theft crimes.
Christopher Bingham, a San Bernardino County sheriff’s deputy, stands accused of possessing firearms and explosives for the benefit of the Mongols motorcycle gang. A Superior Court judge will hear arguments on April 24th to determine whether the evidence against him is sufficient for a trial. Bingham’s lawyer challenged the validity of the search warrant and argued that his client is a sworn peace officer authorized to carry firearms.
