Kern County District Attorney's Office

Kern County District Attorney's Office The official page of the Kern County District Attorney’s Office.

"The Kern County District Attorney's Office is dedicated to seeking fair and equal justice for all people in our community. “

Cynthia Zimmer
Kern County District Attorney

Celebrating new beginnings! 🎉 North Kern County law enforcement and community leaders joined us for a ribbon-cutting cer...
09/14/2026

Celebrating new beginnings! 🎉

North Kern County law enforcement and community leaders joined us for a ribbon-cutting ceremony celebrating the much-needed remodel of the Kern County District Attorney’s Office Shafter Division, located inside the Shafter Courthouse.

The Shafter Division has called the courthouse home since the building opened in 1990. While the space is rich with history, its outdated design lacked crucial security features and a welcoming environment for both staff and crime victims.

We were especially honored to be joined by Shafter City Council Member Cathy Prout, who was also in attendance for the courthouse’s ribbon cutting in 1990.

Here’s to a fresh look, a safer space, and many more years of serving the North Kern County community! ⚖️💙

It’s a somber day for our nation as today marks 25 years since our country experienced a horrific and hateful attack. Th...
09/11/2026

It’s a somber day for our nation as today marks 25 years since our country experienced a horrific and hateful attack. Thousands of innocent lives were lost in an unimaginable act of violence.

Today, we honor those we lost, pay our respects to the families and communities forever changed, and recognize the first responders who courageously risked their own lives and health to save others.

May we always carry forward the courage and resilience our nation demonstrated in the days that followed. 🇺🇸❤️

Sentencing Update 🚨⚖️Gabriel Prieto and Romieo Narvaez were sentenced this morning to life in prison without the possib...
09/10/2026

Sentencing Update 🚨⚖️

Gabriel Prieto and Romieo Narvaez were sentenced this morning to life in prison without the possibility of parole for a 2024 Lamont murder committed during the commission of a robbery.

The sentencing hearing follows a dual jury trial that took place in June.

On June 8, 2026, a Kern County jury found Gabriel Prieto guilty of the First-Degree Murder of Emanuel Gonzalez, that occurred on July 29, 2024, at Georgetown and Field Street in Lamont.

On June 5, 2026, a separate jury also found Romieo Narvaez guilty of the First-Degree Murder of Emanuel Gonzalez. Both juries found true the special circumstance killing during the commission of a robbery.

The case was prosecuted by Chief Deputy DA Eric Smith.

The case stems from an incident that occurred on July 29, 2024, when Kern County Sheriff Deputies responded to Lamont, California regarding an initial report of a driver pinned inside his vehicle following a crash into a semi-truck. When deputies arrived on scene, they observed Emanuel Gonzalez seated in the driver seat, face covered in blood, with an apparent wound to his forehead. Detectives observed cannabis THC v**e pen boxes on the front passenger floorboard and center console, and a clear plastic bag with spilled ma*****na buds on the floorboard of the driver’s side.

An investigation was initiated. Detectives reviewed the victim’s phone messages and calls and observed contact immediately prior to the homicide between the victim and a Snapchat account that was created by Prieto that same night. The messages narrated a scheduled meeting for the victim to sell ma*****na. Surveillance footage obtained from the area depicted Romieo Narvaez with a sweatshirt tied tightly around his face, walking with Gabriel Prieto. Prieto is then seen walking over to the passenger side of the victim’s vehicle, shooting the victim, and taking ma*****na from the vehicle, with Narvaez as his accomplice.

Today, justice was served for Emanuel Gonzalez. Those responsible will now spend the rest of their lives behind bars, with no possibility of parole.

A Kern County Jury convicted Michael Angel Cervantes of second-degree murder for the shooting death of Bryan Redman. The...
09/09/2026

A Kern County Jury convicted Michael Angel Cervantes of second-degree murder for the shooting death of Bryan Redman. The victim was shot and killed by Cervantes outside of the victim’s home.

In a case prosecuted by Supervising Deputy DA Felicia Nagle, the jury also found true the allegation that Cervantes personally and intentionally discharged a firearm, causing Redman’s death. The jury further convicted Cervantes of being a felon in possession of a firearm and of misdemeanor resisting arrest arising from a separate incident on June 7, 2019.

During the early morning hours of May 26, 2019, Cervantes arrived near Redman’s residence in a white vehicle. Redman was known to Cervantes as Cervantes often frequented the area near the victim’s home. Surveillance video captured the confrontation and showed a male shooter approaching Redman and firing a gun at him. Cervantes fled the area in the white vehicle.

The investigation included surveillance footage, witness identifications, physical evidence, and statements Cervantes made following the shooting. The evidence established that Cervantes was the male depicted in the surveillance footage and that he intentionally shot and killed Redman, following a dispute.

On June 7, 2019, law enforcement officers encountered Cervantes. Cervantes fled from the officers and discarded a firearm while being pursued. He was subsequently taken into custody.

DA Zimmer commented; “This verdict holds Michael Cervantes accountable for taking Bryan Redman’s life and attempting to evade responsibility for his crimes. Despite his efforts to conceal his identity and flee from law enforcement, diligent investigative work and a careful presentation of the evidence allowed the jury to reach a just verdict.”

Sentencing is scheduled for October 6, 2026. Cervantes faces 55 years to life in prison.

Kern County District Attorney Cynthia Zimmer announces that the District Attorney’s Office has filed a criminal complain...
09/08/2026

Kern County District Attorney Cynthia Zimmer announces that the District Attorney’s Office has filed a criminal complaint against Umar Faheem Waldron for the murder of James Craig Turner that occurred between August 7th and August 8th, 2026.

A complex and extensive initial investigation led by the Kern County District Attorney’s Office and the California City Police Department into the death of Turner was conducted with assistance from the Lancaster Police Department, Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, Bakersfield Police Department, Federal Bureau of Investigation, California Highway Patrol, and the Kern Regional Crime Laboratory. On August 18, 2026, suspect Waldron was located in Las Vegas, Nevada, taken into custody, and subsequently extradited to Kern County.

On September 8, 2026, prosecutors charged Waldron with First Degree Murder. In the complaint, it is also alleged that Waldron has a prior strike conviction for an attempted murder out of Los Angeles County, that the crime involved great violence, that the victim was particularly vulnerable, and that the defendant served a prior prison term.

An arraignment hearing is scheduled for today, September 8, 2025, at 3:00pm in the Kern County Superior Court.

As with any criminal case, a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until the charges are proven in court beyond a reasonable doubt.

Nahaman Mauricio Bucato is facing up to 50 years to life in prison for the murder of his wife’s romantic partner. Recent...
09/08/2026

Nahaman Mauricio Bucato is facing up to 50 years to life in prison for the murder of his wife’s romantic partner.

Recently, a Kern County jury found defendant Bucato guilty of First-Degree Murder with an enhancement for Use of a Firearm Resulting in Death. The case was prosecuted by Deputy DA Brad Taconi.

On September 15, 2025, at approximately 3:30am, Bucato armed himself with a G***k 19 pistol and told his son not to worry about where he was going and to not chase after him. Bucato set out on foot for the mile walk to Benjamin Bernal’s residence. Mr. Bernal had been dating Bucanto’s wife for several months. Bernal and Bucanto’s wife were asleep at Bernal’s residence when Bucanto forced open Bernal’s front door and shot Bernal twice before executing him with a third shot to the back.

After murdering Bernal, Bucato called 911 and reported the killing. He remained on scene until deputies arrived and took him into custody.

Bucato had been aware of his wife’s relationship with Bernal for several months. On the night of the murder, Bucato sent taunting text messages to both Bernal and his wife, making clear that he was aware that they were together.

DA Zimmer stated; “Far from the emotionally overwhelmed spouse who acts rashly upon learning of infidelity, Bucato engaged in a cold, calculated decision to kill, and was rightfully found guilty of first degree murder.”

Sentencing is set for October 6, 2026.

A Kern County jury found Daniel Montes guilty of arson and automobile insurance fraud. The jury also found true that Mon...
09/02/2026

A Kern County jury found Daniel Montes guilty of arson and automobile insurance fraud. The jury also found true that Montes has two prior strike convictions.

The case was prosecuted by Deputy DA Louis Jameson.

In December 2025, Daniel Montes drove a Jeep Gladiator from the Hard Rock Casino to a rural area outside of McFarland to remove the rims and set the car on fire. The crime was discovered when Montes made calls to his girlfriend, who was an inmate at the Kern County jail, telling her that he had a job that would pay him enough to bail her out of jail. During the jail calls, Montes explained to his girlfriend that he was hired to take the car and burn it so the owner could make an insurance claim on the car because the owner could not afford the payments on the Jeep. After Montes was arrested, his phone was searched, revealing not only further conversations with other conspirators about the plan to take the car, but also videos of the Jeep being set on fire.

On January 8, 2025, the McFarland Police Department recovered the burned vehicle. When officers arrived, they found the Jeep destroyed and the rims stripped off. An insurance claim was filed by the owner of the vehicle, but it was quickly denied due to the results of the McFarland Police Department’s investigation.

DA Zimmer commented on the conviction, stating; “The District Attorney’s Office has a dedicated unit focused on combating the various types of insurance fraud that occur in our community. Submitting false insurance claims is a serious crime, and as insurance fraud increases, so do insurance premiums for everyone else. If you see something that appears suspicious or fraudulent, I urge the community to report it.”

Sentencing is set for October 1, 2026. Montes is a third strike offender and as such faces an elevated sentence of up to 25 years to life, plus 11 years and 4 months.

If you suspect or have reason to believe Auto Insurance Fraud is occurring in Kern County, please call the District Attorney’s Office Fraud Hotline at 1-800-619-3039 or email [email protected].

It was a pleasure to join Congressman Vince Fong and panelists from the FBI, Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Age...
09/01/2026

It was a pleasure to join Congressman Vince Fong and panelists from the FBI, Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), Valley Strong Credit Union, and the IRS for the Fraud Prevention Symposium.

The symposium brought together community leaders and experts to address the growing threat of fraud, including increasingly sophisticated impersonation scams. As technology continues to evolve, these scams are becoming more difficult to recognize and avoid, often leaving residents out thousands of dollars.

📲 Have you been the victim of fraud? Report it:
District Attorney’s Fraud Hotline
1-800-619-3039

Federal Trade Commission
ReportFraud.ftc.gov

District Attorney Cynthia Zimmer is proud to welcome the newest group of Post-Bar Law Clerks to the team! ⚖️💼🌟 These tal...
08/28/2026

District Attorney Cynthia Zimmer is proud to welcome the newest group of Post-Bar Law Clerks to the team! ⚖️💼🌟

These talented individuals recently graduated from law school, took the rigorous California Bar Exam, and are now eagerly awaiting their results as they take the next step toward becoming licensed attorneys.

📸 From left to right:
• Stefanos Koutsos, Loyola Law School
• Blye Escalante, California Western School of Law
• Jenna Samuelian, Southwestern Law School
• District Attorney Cynthia Zimmer
• Alexandra Bennett, Chapman University Law School
• Noah Massaro, Baylor Law School
• Jagr Alindajao, San Joaquin College of Law

Our Post-Bar Law Clerks are currently assisting the Misdemeanor and Preliminary Hearing Units, gaining valuable hands-on experience in the courtroom and behind the scenes.

Welcome to the team! 👏

08/26/2026

District Attorney Cynthia Zimmer announced that the District Attorney’s Office has filed criminal charges against 15-year-old Gabriel Torres Reyes, the juvenile alleged to have shot and killed 17-year-old Levi Brown on August 21, 2026, during a football game at Independence High School in Bakersfield, California.

The charges filed include first-degree murder, possession of a firearm by a prohibited person after a specific prior, and violation of probation. The filing also alleges enhancements for participation in a criminal gang and personally and intentionally discharging a firearm.

Within the past year, Reyes had a juvenile petition sustained for assault with a deadly weapon. The court subsequently placed him on probation, which included gang-related restrictions.

Under Senate Bill 1391, prosecutors are prohibited from trying a juvenile under the age of 16 in adult court, regardless of the severity of the alleged offense or the juvenile’s prior record. As a result, despite the heinous crime committed, the District Attorney’s Office had to proceed with handling the case in juvenile court where instead of facing a life sentence, the juvenile faces 4-7 years in custody.

Despite the laws that work against us, we will continue to fight relentlessly for the victim, his family, and the safety of our community.

Address

1215 Truxtun Avenue
Bakersfield, CA
93301

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 5pm
Tuesday 8am - 5pm
Wednesday 8am - 5pm
Thursday 8am - 5pm
Friday 8am - 5pm

Telephone

(661) 868-2340

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