Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/422804
SACRAMENTO The California Highway Patrol is reminding mo- torists to be careful as one of the busiest travel periods of the year takes place over the Thanksgiv- ing holiday weekend. "Something as simple as buck- ling up before your trip can save your life and avoid turning a non- injury collision into a tragedy," CHP Commissioner Joe Farrow said. The CHP and National High- way Traffic Safety Administra- tion is encouraging travelers to wear their safety belts, avoid driving distracted, obey posted speeds limits and never drive in- toxicated. Thanksgiving is a maximum TRANSPORTATION CHPurges safety over holiday By Andre Byik abyik@redbluffdailynews.com @andrebyik on Twitter RED BLUFF The Red Bluff man charged with vol- untary manslaugh- ter for his alleged role in an Oct. 15 fight on South Jackson Street maintained his not guilty pleas Monday. Joseph Michael Cadotte, 26, appeared in Tehama County Su- perior Court for a scheduled ar- raignment on information af- ter having previously waived a preliminary hearing earlier this month. Cadotte is next scheduled to ap- pear in court Jan. 5. Cadotte is charged with volun- tary manslaughter, battery with serious bodily injury and assault by means likely to produce great bodily injury, stemming from the RED BLUFF RB m an maintains in no ce nt pleas JosephCadottefaces manslaughter charges stemming from fight By Kirk Mitchell The Denver Post kmitchell@denverpost.com DENVER Calling the actions "a special kind of sick," a federal judge on Thursday sentenced a Colorado man to 60 years in prison for sexually assaulting a young relative from Tehama County for years and recording the abuse. "You were born a free man. I will not have you die that way," U.S. District Judge Raymond Moore told 62-year-old Mervin Edy Wolf before sentencing him. "I view you as being completely out of control." Prosecutor Judith Smith had sought a 90-year sentence. Wolf, who asked for mercy, had pleaded guilty to charges of trav- eling with intent to engage in il- licit sexual conduct and produc- tion of child pornography. The girl was living with Cali- fornia relatives of Wolf in Tehama County. Wolf moved to Colorado from California in 1999, court records show. The case stems from a report made to the Tehama County Sher- iff Sheriff's Department on Jan. 14 regarding ongoing molesta- tion, which occurred over a num- ber of years. Wolf traveled twice a year to California for Christmas holi- days and summer vacations for seven years. Wolf coaxed her to remove her clothing when she was 7 and, starting the next year, began sex- ually assaulting her. He would sexually assault her and take video of the abuse. "To do it with your relatives in the next room is a special kind of sick," Moore told Wolf. The girl, who is now 15, stood at a lectern and read a letter to the judge, describing the time when he sent her two pregnancy tests CHILD ABUSE Coloradomansentenced The Associated Press REDDING The driver of a tour bus that overturned in Shasta County, killing one man and injuring at least 30 other pas- sengers, might have been fa- tigued, authorities said Mon- day. A California Highway Pa- trol investigation of the Sun- day crash was continuing, but authorities said the bus had a minor crash at a Denny's res- taurant in Red Bluff earlier in the day, suggesting the driver may have been tired, the Los Angeles Times reported. The bus struck the restau- rant's overhang, causing mi- nor property damage, Red Bluff police Sgt. Matt Han- sen said. No one was hurt in that incident. "Most people are aware of the dangers of drinking and driving but don't realize that driving while fatigued can be just as fatal," the CHP said in a statement. Bus driver Jose Victor Gar- cilazo Palencia, 67, of Los An- geles was taken to a hospital and released. Attempts by The Associated Press to reach him were unsuccessful. The bus was en route from Los Angeles to Pasco, Wash., when it drifted off the right shoulder of Interstate 5 in Pollard Flat, which is located north of Redding. It went down an embankment and overturned, coming to rest on its roof. Passenger Francisco Co- rona told KOVR-TV in Sacra- mento that he felt blessed and lucky to be alive. "I felt like I was in a roller coaster," he said. "A lot of us were crushed between the seats." A 33-year-old man was killed and some of the passen- gers were seriously injured. A spokeswoman at Mercy Medi- cal Center Mount Shasta said one person was stable and an- other was in critical but sta- ble condition. Two other people were in serious condition at Mercy Medical Center Redding. Authorities have not re- leased information on the purpose of the bus trip. Investigators did not say whether drugs or alco- hol may have been involved or whether any citations or charges would be forthcom- ing. The man who died was from the Fresno-area city of Parlier, and was identified by the Shasta County Coro- BUS CRASH FATIGUE MAY HAVE ROLE IN FATAL CRASH Earlier on Sunday: Bus struck a restaurant overhang in Red Bluff, causing minor damage APPHOTOVIATHEREDDINGRECORDSEARCHLIGHT Emergency personnel check a tour bus that had already crashed in Red Bluff and then overturned just off Interstate 5in Shasta County, killing one person and sending dozens to hospitals near the Pollard Flat area in Redding on Sunday. Comics ............B3 Community.....A3 Health..............A4 Lifestyles........A5 Opinion............A6 Sports.............. B1 INDEX The Filipino-American Society has set its Christmas pot luck party for Dec. 7at the Veterans Hall. PAGEA3 COMMUNITY Filipino-American Society sets pot luck Lassen National Forest is selling excess office furniture and other items through an online auction. PAGE A5 LIFESTYLES Lassen National Forest selling extra property Under pressure, defense sec- retary resigning amid criticism of administration's foreign policy management. PAGE B4 DEFENSE Pentagon chief Chuck Hagel stepping down Nationwide furor followed police officer fatal shooting of unarmed black teenager; of- ficials call for calm. PAGE B5 FERGUSON Anger a er grand jury decision not to indict Convicted of molesting Tehama County relative for years "Most people are aware of the dangers of drinking and driving but don't realize that driving while fatigued can be just a fatal." — CHP statement Cadotte MAN PAGE 7 SAFETY PAGE 7 SENTENCED PAGE 7 CRASH PAGE 7 » redbluffdailynews.com Tuesday, November 25, 2014 50CENTS AN EDITION OF THE CHICO ENTERPRISE-RECORD 7 58551 69001 9 Volume130,issue3 Good morning, thanks for subscribing Michelle Proctor 4-H Orientation offered for new leaders Community A3 MLB Sandoval reaches deal with Red Sox Sports B1 FORECAST High: 66 Low: 39 B8 FollowtheDailyNews on Twitter to keep pace with breaking news and events @REDBLUFFNEWS FOLLOWUS ONTWITTER