Tulare man convicted in molestation case

A Tulare County jury has convicted 52-year-old Steven Brian Arey of Tulare on 20 counts of molesting two girls and a boy. 

The verdict was reached on Friday, and Arey faces 300 years to life in prison at his sentencing on May 26. 

Deputy District Attorney Chelsea Wayt prosecuted the case, which was investigated by Sergeant Matt Muller of the Tulare Police Department. 

The Tulare County District Attorney's Office issued a news release announcing the verdict.

Funds short for Corcoran levee project

The Corcoran levee, which protects the town from the old Tulare Lake, is sinking due to subsidence caused by excessive groundwater pumping by farmers, according to a report by GV Wire.

With runoff from record-breaking snowpack expected to inundate the area, the levee needs to be raised by four feet to avoid flooding. 

However, the Cross Creek Flood Control District, which is responsible for the levee, has only $1 million to complete a project that is estimated to cost between $17 million and $21 million. The district and the city of Corcoran have urgently requested funding from various sources, including the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, but it remains uncertain whether they will receive any financial assistance.