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FRIDAY Writing Celebration MAY 31, 2013 Senior All-Stars Education Breaking news at: www.redbluffdailynews.com See Page 4A SPORTS 1B DAILY NEWS RED BLUFF Sunny 94/66 Weather forecast 8A TEHAMA COUNTY DAILY 50¢ T H E V O I C E O F T E H A M A C O U NTY S I N C E 1 8 8 5 Man charged with Mother's Day murder of infant By RICH GREENE DN Staff Writer A 22-year-old Red Bluff man was arraigned on the charge of murdering an 8month-old boy on Mother's Day at his apartment on Byron Avenue. Brandon Ericson Branscombe did not enter a plea Tuesday at his arraignment in Tehama County Superior Court. He was assigned an attorney, but indicated he had hired his own counsel, District Attorney Gregg Cohen said at a press conference. Assistant Sheriff Phil Johnston described the alleged murder as somewhat cruel and torturous. He said his department was 100 percent confident in its investigation of the case and that detectives had left no stone unturned. "The baby probably suffered immensely," Johnston said. Law enforcement responded to 65 Byron Ave. around 1:50 p.m. May 12 for a report of an infant not breathing. Johnston said Red Bluff police officers arrived and found the Branscombe On to the future By JULIE ZEEB DN Staff Writer A car crash injury about two weeks prior to graduation did not stop Salisbury High School student Mitch Zubiri from attending along with 38 of the 47 graduates Wednesday at the Red Bluff High School Performing Arts Center. Zubiri was flown to Mercy Medical Center after being stabilized at St. Elizabeth Community Hospital for major injuries after being thrown out of his Toyota 4Runner during a May 16 crash on Highway 36W. The senior, who spent several days in ICU, was recognized by fellow graduate Jose "Frankie" Faaola during Faaola's acceptance speech for the Comeback of the Year Award, which is given to students who went above and beyond to graduate. Each year, the winner's name is added to a perpetual plaque and while many former teachers may have said he wouldn't finish, Faaola was able to flourish at Salisbury, said teacher John Miller, who presented the award. "I'd like to start off by congratulating Mitch (Zubiri) who almost didn't make it because of a car accident," Faaola said. "Congrats and I'm thankful he's doing well. Salisbury is a successful school because it's the first school where they actually care about us. I feel a sense of pride to be included in this group." It is because of the way everyone feels like family that Faaola feels the graduates have a great chance to be great citizens and leaders, he said. "This school feels like a home away from home," baby was still warm and attempted CPR. The infant was transported to St. Elizabeth Community Hospital where it was pronounced dead by medical staff at the time. The boy's mother lived with Branscombe, her boyfriend, and had left her baby in his care when she left for work at 9:45 that morning. She returned home around 1:45 p.m. for lunch and found her son's lifeless body in his playpen and immediately summoned help. Branscombe was reportedly sleeping in a bed in a different room from the infant. He was in See INFANT, page 7A Martin gets 24 years for child molestation By JULIE ZEEB DN Staff Writer Ralph Elvis Martin, 64, of Gerber was sentenced Tuesday in the Tehama County Superior Court to 24 years in state prison after pleading guilty to charges of child molestation. In April, Martin entered a guilty plea in a deal with the Tehama County District Attorney's Office to eight counts, involving eight separate children Martin that were under the care of Martin and his wife. The children involved are between the ages of 2 and 10, District Attorney Gregg Cohen said at a press conference days after Martin was arraigned on Nov. 8, 2012. Charges initially involved four victims, both boys and girls, carrying sentences that varied from 3 to 12 See MARTIN, page 7A Final chapters of Bay Delta Conservation Plan released By HEATHER HACKING MediaNews Group Daily News photo by Julie Zeeb Salisbury High School students Destiny Wright, Izzy Driggers, Holly Driggers and Daniel Martinez pose for a picture while awaiting the beginning of the graduation ceremony Wednesday at the Red Bluff High School Performing Arts Center. Faaola said. "It's a strong unit, working together for a common goal. It's a great honor to consider you friends." Faaola said he hoped whatever the group did in the future that they pursue it with the same passion in life with which they had pursued graduating high school. For Kodijo Hyatt, the plan is to get a job in Red Bluff to save money and in September to move to See FUTURE, page 7A MILPITAS — The remaining chapters of the Bay Delta Conservation Plan were released Wednesday. Chapters 8 through 12 include funding sources and costs, alternative ways to avoid harm to endangered species and the scientific approach to the plan. The plan would lead management of California water for the next 50 years, and includes habitat restoration and construction of conveyance to bring water around or under the delta, through which water is delivered to two-thirds of the state. During a conference call from the Silicon Valley Wednesday afternoon, California Natural Resources Agency Secretary John Laird said conservation will remain a primary focus for California today and in the future. But reliable water supply will also be critical. The system is vulnerable to threats, something like Superstorm Sandy being the most recent example, Laird said. Cleanup costs for natural disasters can be quadruple the cost of prevention, he said. The administration of President Barack Obama is "arm-and-arm," in agreement on the "urgency of the problems," said Letty Belin, counselor to the deputy secSee DELTA, page 7A Corning man jailed on Assembly passes bill to raise minimum wage attempted rape charge S A C R A M E N T O Washington have set they say would burden harmful in areas with a A 27-year-old Corning man was arrested, charged with attempting to rape a woman on Oak Street in Red Bluff early Thursday. Around 1:43 a.m. Red Bluff police officers were dispatched to an Oak Street residence, according to a department press release. Officers contacted a 28-year-old woman who said a casual acquaintance, Mario Garcia Jr., had broken into her home, disrobed her and attempted to rape her. The victim said she 7 5 8 5 5 1 6 9 0 0 1 9 was able to fight off Garcia, who fled the residence after she stated she was calling the police. Officers observed physical evidence of the break-in and with the victim's assistance were able to locate Garcia a few blocks from the residence. Garcia was intoxicated and had fallen asleep in an armchair on the front porch of his brother's residence. Garcia had injuries that corroborated the victim's statement about her efforts to fend him off. Garcia was arrested for attempted rape, burglary and multiple outstanding warrants. His bail was $158,000. (AP) — Minimum-wage workers in California would see their first raises in six years under a bill that passed the state Assembly on Thursday. The measure from Assemblyman Luis Alejo, D-Watsonville, would increase the state's minimum hourly wage to $8.25 next year from the current $8. It would rise to $9.25 by 2016 and would be adjusted for inflation in following years. Democratic supporters say the minimum wage has not kept pace with the rising costs of food, gasoline and other necessities. Nevada, Oregon and their minimum wages higher than California, Alejo said. ''The last time the minimum wage was increased in California, gas was at $3.25 a gallon in this state,'' he said. ''I don't know about you, but I haven't seen gas prices at that level for a very long time.'' Opponents argue that minimum-wage jobs are often held by teenagers or those who soon move on to higher-paid positions. Alejo said his mother-in-law has earned the minimum wage at one of her jobs for 20 years. Business leaders oppose the bill, which employers and force them to cut jobs. A study by the National Federation of Independent Business said more than 68,000 jobs could be lost during the next decade as a result. '' S m a l l - b u s i n e s s owners at a minimum get a double whammy on Jan. 1'' when various taxes and fees from the federal health care law also will go into effect, said John Kabateck, executive director for the state's NFIB chapter. Different regions of the state face different economic challenges, making a higher wage reasonable in more expensive areas but lower cost of living, said Assemblyman Curt Hagman, R-Chino Hills. ''If we do a blanket change like this, it puts us out of competition with other states,'' Hagman said. Federal law sets a minimum wage of $7.25 per hour. Nineteen states and the District of Columbia have set their minimum wage levels higher than the federal standard. The Assembly approved AB10 on a 4224 vote, with Assemblyman Ken Cooley, DRancho Cordova, joining Republicans in opposition. It now heads to the Senate.