KUZZ News

jury deadlocks on battery charge after oildale fight

jury deadlocks on battery charge after oildale fight

BAKERSFIELD, CA (KUZZ) — A Kern County jury has deadlocked on key charges after a fight at a park in Oildale. Jurors acquitted Felix Gutierrez last week of possessing a gun and showing a weapon, but failed to convict him of misdemeanor battery. The trouble happened April 27, 2025 at Beardsley Park after a group…Read More

bakersfield couple accused of torture, murder, return to court

bakersfield couple accused of torture, murder, return to court

BAKERSFIELD, CA (KUZZ) — A Bakersfield couple accused of torture and murder are set to appear in court Thursday, December 11. A readiness hearing is scheduled for Raya Mata, Jr., 31, and Graciela Bustamonte, 27, following the death August 2, 2025, of Mata’s daughter Genesis Mata, 8. The child’s tortured remains were discovered inside a…Read More

hot car death trial begins

hot car death trial begins

BAKERSFIELD, CA (KUZZ) — Opening statements began Monday in the trial of a Visalia woman accused of murder after allegedly leaving her children inside a hot car in southwest Bakersfield. Defense attorneys told the court they plan to concede to charges of manslaughter and child cruelty, but will contest a second-degree murder charge against Maya…Read More

bakersfield man convicted of fatal stabbing

bakersfield man convicted of fatal stabbing

BAKERSFIELD, CA (KUZZ) — A Bakersfield man has been found guilty of first degree murder in a New Year’s Day stabbing. On Wednesday, jurors convicted Kenneth Landcraft, 60, of killing Paul Camarillo Jr., 35, on January 1, 2025. Surveillance video shows Landcraft step out of a car with a knife and rush Camarillo in an…Read More

bakersfield woman could be sentenced to probation for dui crash

bakersfield woman could be sentenced to probation for dui crash

BAKERSFIELD, CA (KUZZ) — A Bakersfield woman convicted of driving drunk and crashing into a house will be sentenced next week. Madison Williams, 29, was found guilty in October of felony DUI charges and could spend several years in prison after she ran a stop sign at Old River Road and Taft Highway and struck…Read More

man accused of drugging, raping teenager enters plea

man accused of drugging, raping teenager enters plea

BAKERSFIELD, CA (KUZZ) — A 49-year-old man is accused of luring two teenagers to a southwest Bakersfield hotel room where he allegedly drugged and raped a 14-year-old girl. Court documents indicate Christopher Nelson allegedly gave the girl methamphetamine, then engaged in several sex acts at a hotel in the 3600 block of Wible Road on…Read More

coroner identifies man shot by chp officers

coroner identifies man shot by chp officers

BAKERSFIELD, CA (KUZZ) — Authorities have released the name of a man shot to death by California Highway Patrol officers after a high-speed chase that ended south of Bakersfield. James Peattie, 58, allegedly began shooting at CHP officers during the pursuit Monday that started in Wasco when he reportedly showed up at the Wasco police…Read More

suspected wife killer enters plea

suspected wife killer enters plea

BAKERSFIELD, CA (KUZZ) — A northwest Bakersfield man enters a plea after being accused of shooting his wife to death. Manuel Robles, 37, appeared in court Tuesday to answer to murder charges after his wife was found dead November 26 at the couple’s home in the 6200 block of Tallulah Falls Court. Authorities say the…Read More

swat standoff in east bakersfield

swat standoff in east bakersfield

BAKERSFIELD, CA (KUZZ) — A 38-year-old man sits in jail after a police standoff in east Bakersfield. Officers responded Tuesday morningto a ShotSpotter alert to find Uriel Bonilla, 38, reportedly barricaded inside a house in the 900 block of Kentucky Street. Cops say Bonilla fired a gun from the house. The SWAT team used flash…Read More

new details in alleged sex case at del oro high school

new details in alleged sex case at del oro high school

BAKERSFIELD, CA (KUZZ) — Disturbing new information in the case of a walk-on band teacher accused of a sexual relationship with a student at Del Oro High School. Court documents reveal Salvador Fabien, 26, allegedly engaged in sexual acts at least twice with a 15-year-old student inside a car parked in the teacher’s parking lot…Read More

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