Yuba County District Attorney's Office

08/10/2026

Thank you Appeal-Democrat for your work keeping the community informed. Thank you to our community for supporting Measure K in 2018. The 1-cent local sales tax has meant more deputies on patrol, and more deputy district attorneys in the courtroom. Those investments, combined with the new tools we’ve been given under Prop 36, have unleashed law enforcement to make Yuba County a safer place. Our progress in turn has helped create the conditions that are driving the rapid economic development we are seeing in Linda, Olivehurst, and Plumas Lake. I am optimistic Yuba County will grow safer and more prosperous into the future so long as we continue to invest in our local infrastructure and services.

Yuba County Supervisors wrapped-up a two-day budget workshop on Thursday where they reviewed each of the county’s government agency’s spending plans ahead of formal adoption in September.

08/07/2026

Today, we commemorated National Purple Heart Day in Yuba-Sutter by dedicating State Routes 20 and 99 within Yuba City as part of the National Purple Heart Trail. We were honored to have three Purple Heart recipients with us today, Ray Bull, Mike O’Connor, and Fred Young. Thank you, gentlemen, for your service and sacrifice. Thank you, Brock Bowen, for all your work to see Yuba City and Marysville included in the Purple Heart Trail.

Recipients of the Purple Heart live among us in Yuba-Sutter. Most of the time, you wouldn’t know the scars they carry.

I think of my wife’s grandfather, Alfred Sorenson. Alfred Sorenson fought with Company B, 54th Armored Infantry as part of Patton’s 3rd Army in both the Ardennes and Rhineland Offensives. On March 8, 1945, just a few days after helping take Trier Germany, Grandpa Sorenson was wounded by enemy fire while advancing toward the Rhine. He came home from war and was very blessed, but his walk was quietly marked by a limp the rest of his life.

I also think of Ray Bull, Mike O’Connor, and Fred Young, who all served our country in Vietnam. Ray Bull fought as an infantryman in Vietnam with the 173rd Airborne Brigade in 1967 and 1968. Ray earned a Purple Heart, as well as two Bronze Stars. Mike O’Connor served as a UH-1 Huey helicopter gunship pilot with the 1st Cavalry Division in Vietnam from August 1967 until he was shot down on February 4, 1968. O’Connor was captured and endured 1,857 days as a prisoner of war, earning three Purple Heart Awards. and a Silver Star. Fred Young served as a helicopter pilot with the 17th Calvary Regiment of the 101st Airborne in Vietnam from 1968 to 1969. Young earned a Distinguished Flying Cross and two Purple Hearts for shrapnel wounds sustained while flying his helicopter to look for the enemy.

The Purple Heart recognizes our fellow countrymen, like Ray Bull, Mike O’Connor, Fred Young, and Grandpa Sorenson, who did their duty and paid a price with their bodies. Let today be a day you remember their sacrifice, along with the sacrifices of all the recipients of the nearly 1.9 million Purple Hearts that have been awarded since 1942.

The Purple Heart was created on August 7, 1782, by General George Washington for meritorious military action. The soldier receiving the award, was thereafter permitted to wear “over his left breast, the figure of a heart in purple cloth.” After the Revolutionary War, Washington’s Purple Heart award was all but forgotten. General Douglas MacArthur revived it in 1932 on the occasion of Washington’s 200th birthday. It was at this time that the Purple Heart received its modern form, a purple, heart-shaped badge, trimmed in gold, and featuring Washington’s profile and coat of arms. Ten years later, in 1942, the Purple Heart became what we know today when it began being awarded to recognize the sacrifice made by military members wounded, injured, or killed as a result of enemy or hostile action.

07/31/2026

Thank you Appeal-Democrat for covering this week's panel on AB 2108, and the concerns your local public safety officials have with its potential impact on the voter-approved Prop 36 ('The Homelessness, Drug Addiction, and Theft Reduction Act).

While County departments — like District Attorney's Office, Probation, and Sheriff's Office — work to implement Prop 36 despite insufficient State funding and support, we are now contending with this proposed legislation, which would undermine Proposition 36. The consequences built into Prop 36 are triggered by the prior theft and drug convictions of repeat offenders. AB 2108 will allow these repeat offenders to avoid the prior convictions, which means the graduated consequences of Prop 36 would never kick in. No prior convictions equals no graduated consequences.

Yuba County DA Clint Curry shared his perspective more broadly on the state’s failure to fund Prop 36 and bills like AB 2108 that would undermine it: "Prop 36 represents a compassionate pragmatic view that believes in using carrots and sticks to create incentives that encourage people mired in addiction to accept help and treatment,” Curry said. “I am disappointed that our elected officials in Sacramento are choosing to ignore the instincts, compassion and pragmatism of roughly 70% of the voters.”

As if the governor’s refusal to support the overwhelmingly voter-approved Proposition 36 wasn’t enough, some lawmakers contend that a pending assembly bill, if approved, could make it even more challenging

07/28/2026

Former Yuba County Jail employee Matthew Babb has been sentenced to three years in state prison after pleading guilty to forcible s*xual pe*******on of a female inmate. He was also ordered to register as a lifetime s*x offender.

After the allegations were reported to staff, the Yuba County Sheriff's Office immediately launched a criminal investigation. Babb was placed on administrative leave, and his employment was terminated following the investigation. Through surveillance footage, witness statements and other evidence gathered, it was determined that he had transported the inmate off jail grounds under the pretense of a medical appointment, and assaulted her at a location in Olivehurst.

“This case reflects the commitment of our Sheriff’s Office, detectives and prosecutors to thoroughly investigate allegations of misconduct and pursue justice,” said Yuba County District Attorney Clint Curry. “No one is above the law, and when a public employee abuses a position of trust, they will be held accountable.”

In her impact statement to the court, the victim acknowledged that the shame is no longer her burden to carry, but Babb's: "No one regardless of whether they are incarcerated deserves to be s*xually assaulted or exploited by someone trusted with authority over them."

06/30/2026

We’ve been seeing online chatter about this case and wanted provide details to the community:

Samantha Collins and Guillermo Gonzalez Fernandez were charged a few weeks ago with several varying felony counts related to child s*x abuse that occurred over the course of about a month in 2023. They pleaded not guilty to the charges they face.

Despite the defense's request setting bail, the courts agreed with our office and denied the request. Both Collins and Gonzalez Fernandez are being held in Yuba County Jail on NO BAIL.

Their next court appearance is scheduled for July 15, which will include a bail hearing. This will likely be the last post on this case until it reaches its conclusion.

06/26/2026

We're proud to be hosting two interns with our office this summer ⚖️

Roxanne is a certified law student at McGeorge and a UC Berkeley and Yuba City High School alumna. This summer, she is assisting with appeals, legal brief preparation, and handling select misdemeanor cases and preliminary hearings under supervision.

Kindel is completing her bachelor's degree in Criminal Justice at Sacramento State and plans to attend McGeorge Law School next year. She already has familiarity with Yuba County, having previously job-shadowed with our office during winter and summer breaks. This summer, she is helping summarize police reports and criminal histories while also observing court proceedings.

Please join us in welcoming these bright, driven future attorneys to the team! 👏

06/22/2026

🛒 𝐂𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐚 𝐕𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐒𝐩𝐨𝐤𝐞. 𝐀𝐜𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐌𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬

Sacramento politicians are trying to undermine Prop 36. In 2024, California voters overwhelmingly approved Prop 36, sending a clear message that repeat theft and property crimes must have meaningful consequences. Despite Prop 36 getting 68% of the statewide vote and passing by a majority in every county in California, politicians in Sacramento are working to make sure thieves get out of jail free.

AB 2108 will require district attorneys to "divert" almost all cases of theft and vandalism. This will undermine the clear mandate of Prop 36 by allowing repeat offenders to avoid convictions and accountability.

Retail theft affects more than store shelves. It impacts employees, business owners, consumers, and the safety and economic vitality of our communities. Accountability is not about punishment alone—it is about protecting victims, restoring public trust, and ensuring that those who repeatedly break the law are held responsible for their actions.

California voters made their intentions clear when they passed Prop 36. The Yuba County District Attorney urges lawmakers to honor the will of the voters, preserve meaningful consequences for repeat offenders, and protect the tools necessary to keep our communities safe.

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.