Crime

The plea hearing for the five suspects accused of killing Tara Romero, 14, and trying to kill three other teens Nov. 4, 2011 was postponed.

Divers from the Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office spent the afternoon searching a group of percolation ponds along Coyote Creek for evidence that might lead them to the whereabouts of Sierra LaMar, 15, who has been missing since March 16.

A shallow magnitude 3.0 earthquake was reported Tuesday afternoon two miles from Pinnacles National Monument, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. The temblor occurred at 5:30 p.m. Pacific time at a depth of 1.9 miles.

Two simultaneous drug awareness presentations held in February at San Benito High School have created a divide of perceptions, with one district trustee in attendance that night calling it a display of racism and questioning why English and Spanish programs conveyed different messages.

The sentencing of the former San Jose policer officer from Gilroy who pleaded no contest to two counts of unlawful sexual contact with two teen boys is slated for Friday.

Sierra LaMar, 15, remains missing nine days since she was last seen before leaving to catch her bus in Morgan Hill and now the public is being asked to volunteer in a search party organized by KlaasKids Foundation that could attract hundreds of people.

A fire destroyed much of a San Juan Bautista area house Saturday afternoon, while one of the two occupants was treated for smoke inhalation.

Hollister police are looking for a woman suspected of removing money from a customer’s wallet at the local Safeway store, according to a statement from police.

Hollister police and many other regional agencies conducted a gang sweep Friday and arrested seven people, according to an announcement from police.

Police Chief Jeff Miller is set to retire April 20, while the city manager plans to rotate the two captains in the position before opening it to applicants.