Yuba County District Attorney's Office

06/05/2026

A Plumas Lake couple operating a self-described feral cat rescue was sentenced this week in connection with a 2024 animal-hoarding case.

When Yuba County Animal Control served a search warrant two years ago, officers discovered 160 live cats and 43 deceased cats in severe hoarding conditions. Many of the surviving animals were suffering from significant illness and more than half had to be humanely euthanized.

This week, Deputy District Attorney Kristina Joslin made arguments which resulted in Valerie Arens being convicted of felony animal abuse and sentenced to four days in county jail; two years of formal probation; and a 10-year prohibition on owning cats. Brandon Arens was convicted of misdemeanor animal abuse and sentenced to two days in county jail; one year of informal probation; and a five-year prohibition on owning cats.

This egregious case involved the coordinated efforts of Animal Control, the Sheriff's Office, Code Enforcement, veterinary partners, and the District Attorney's Office to protect animal welfare and hold those responsible accountable.

06/03/2026

Please join us in welcoming Deputy District Attorneys Morgan Lane and Joe Devlin to the Yuba County team! 🌟

Morgan graduated from Gonzaga University of Law, and Joe graduated from McGeorge School of Law.

We are proud to welcome our newest team members in helping uphold justice in Yuba County ⚖️

05/15/2026

A 19-year-old Yuba City resident, who pulled a gun on a random gym-goer at Training Zone on New Year’s Eve, has been sentenced to two years in state prison.

In a victim impact statement read in court, the victim acknowledged the significant impact this random act of violence has had on his life.

“While the defendant may be young, allowing him to walk free would send the message that pulling a gun on someone has little consequence. Meaningful accountability is necessary to protect the public and prevent this behavior from happening again.”

Sukhjit Sam, of Yuba City, confronted the victim, who was exercising and was not known to him. After the victim moved machines in an attempt to de-escalate the situation, the defendant followed him, asking to fight, then pulling a gun.

The Probation Officer who assessed the case for sentencing agreed, stating that the defendant's escalating behavior posed a serious risk to public safety.

We appreciate the work of law enforcement, prosecutors, and court personnel in holding violent offenders accountable and helping keep our community safe.

05/01/2026

Charges filed in relation to high-speed pursuit and officer-involved shooting
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The Yuba County District Attorney filed charges this morning alleging that Michael William Ginn, a 46-year-old man arrested yesterday after a high-speed pursuit and officer-involved shooting, assaulted Yuba County Sheriff’s Deputy Ballantine with a deadly weapon and drove recklessly while fleeing pursuing officers. Ginn will be arraigned at 2:00 p.m. in Yuba County.

According to the initial investigation, Ginn had no regard for public safety during the pursuit, driving more than 100 miles per hour and passing cars on the right. When Ginn approached the Dollar General in Brownsville, he drove the black GMC Yukon off the roadway to avoid a spike strip and drove at a high rate of speed toward Deputy Ballantine. Deputy Ballantine scrambled out of the path of Yukon while two other deputies fired their duty weapons at Ginn, striking the vehicle but not Ginn. Ginn continued to flee but was ultimately arrested in a wooded area off New York Flat Road. Ginn was bitten by a Yuba County Sheriff’s K-9 during his arrest. No other people were injured during the incident.

The incident is being investigated by the Yuba-Sutter Officer Involved Shooting and Critical Incident Investigation Team. The Team is led by the Chief Investigators of the Yuba and Sutter County District Attorneys’ Offices, and is made up of experienced law enforcement officers from all the law enforcement agencies in Yuba and Sutter Counties.

Ginn is currently being held in the Yuba County Jail on the charges related to the pursuit and assault, as well as a Butte County arrest warrant. Ginn is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

04/17/2026

Thank you to James Perin, Catherine Alestra, and Brandt Lowe of our office for your commitment to serving justice on behalf of victims.

Please consider joining our Yuba County Probation Victim Services team for their annual candlelight vigil honoring victims this coming Sunday, April 19 at 6:30 p.m. at the Yuba County Government Center.

We were honored this week to recognize James Perin, Cat Alestra, Brandt Lowe, Marc Carroll, Michelle Caldwell, and Garry Burdick for their tireless work to bring justice to crime victims. These folks represent the DA's Office, Marysville PD, Probation, and Sheriff's Office.

We ask that the community please consider joining us this coming Sunday, April 19 at 6:30 p.m. at the Yuba County Government Center (915 8th Street) for our annual candlelight vigil honoring homicide victims.

04/10/2026

We stand alongside the Tulare County Sheriff’s Office and law enforcement community as we mourn the loss of Deputy Randy Hoppert, who was killed in the line of duty. We hold his department, family, and friends in our hearts.

The Yuba County Sheriff’s Office is absolutely heartbroken over the loss of Tulare County Sheriff’s Deputy Randy Hoppert.

Deputy Hoppert was part of a team serving an eviction notice in Porterville when the suspect opened fire, striking him. His partners immediately moved him to safety and transported him to the hospital. Despite the valiant efforts of all involved, Deputy Hoppert succumbed to his injuries. Approximately eight hours later, the suspect, 59-year-old David Morales, was struck and killed by deputies operating a Kern County Sheriff’s Office SWAT vehicle.

Deputy Hoppert was 35 years old and had served six years with the Tulare County Sheriff’s Office. He is survived by his wife, two sons, mother, and sister.

Please keep his family, friends, and department in your prayers as they navigate this difficult time.

04/09/2026

“You used your power over me and took something that I didn’t understand how to defend.”

These are the words of a child who confronted her perpetrator in court this week.

Our community’s children are safer in part thanks to Jane Doe’s courage, and this predator has been put behind bars for the next five decades.

Alvin Flores Jr., 48, of Olivehurst, was sentenced Monday to serve 55 years to life in state prison for ra**ng a 10-year-old.

In cases like this, it truly takes a village to achieve justice. Yuba County Sheriff’s Detective Garry Burdick and prosecutor Andrew Naylor worked diligently to gather evidence and statements, building a strong case for trial. We also commend the Yuba County jury for doing their part to ensure Flores can no longer harm another child.

03/31/2026

It was an honor to spend my morning at the California State Capitol speaking with the students of TeenPact Leadership Schools.

As the District Attorney for Yuba County, I believe it is vital to engage with our youth and share how our justice system works to keep our communities safe. These students are diving deep into the legislative process, and their passion for servant leadership and public policy is truly inspiring.

The future of California is in good hands with these bright young minds. Thank you to the TeenPact team for the invitation to share a bit about justice and for the work you do in preparing the next generation of leaders.

03/24/2026

Our hearts are heavy this week. Thursday, March 26, 2026, marks one year since Marysville Police Officer Osmar Rodarte paid the ultimate price for our community. Join us Thursday morning at 8:30 a.m. at Veteran's Memorial Park in Marysville to honor his courage and sacrifice.

02/26/2026

We extend our deepest condolences to Dan's family, friends, and work partners. His loss is a great one for our Yuba County family and community.

We are heartbroken by the unexpected loss of a cherished member of our Probation family, Dan Ritner. Dan served Yuba County for over 20 years. He served our department with honor, dedication, and a deep sense of responsibility. His commitment to the community was surpassed by his devotion to his family, who meant everything to him.

He was more than a colleague- he was a mentor, a friend, and a steady presence in our department. His impact will be felt for many years to come.

Our thoughts and heartfelt condolences are with his family and loved ones during this incredibly difficult time. He will be greatly missed but never forgotten.