Edit 4:45PM on 3/14/24: A previous version of the story claimed that the suspect was guilty of “premeditated murder,” when it should have read “attempted murder.” We regret the error.

On Wednesday afternoon a jury found Joshua Adam Kaiser, 33, of Johnson Valley, guilty of two counts of attempted murder; two counts of arson causing great bodily injury, and one count of injuring a spouse/girlfriend.  Allegations of personal infliction of great bodily injury and weapon use were also found true.

On June 19 of last year County Sheriff’s Deputies responded to the Hi Desert Medical Center regarding two burn victims, identified as a 30 year-old male and 29 year-old female, both residents of Yucca Valley. The male victim suffered life threatening injuries and was transported to Arrowhead Regional Medical Center for more advanced treatment. Both victims have since been released from the hospital and continue to recover.  

Joshua Adam Kaiser was arrested in connection with trying to kill his former girlfriend and another man by burning them with a gasoline-fueled fire. 

Kaiser faces multiple potential life sentences when he is sentenced.  The next court date is March  29 – The case was prosecuted by Deputy District Attorney Jason Gueltzow and tried before Judge Rasheed Alexander.   

Previously reported:

Family members of a Joshua Tree man who has gone missing are seeking the public’s help in looking for him. Douglas Black was last seen on Monday, February 28th driving his 2011 white Dodge Charger in Pomona, California. Friends and family members have tried contacting him with no success.

Douglas Black is a musician and lives and plays music here in the Morongo Basin.

We have a picture of Douglas Black and his car on our website – if you have any information regarding this missing person, or see Douglas Black – do not attempt to approach him and call the Morongo Basin Sheriff’s Station at 760-366-4175

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The music, musicians and music venues of the Morongo Basin will be the subject of the Z107.7 “Up Close” show this Friday. Host Gary Daigneault will welcome Pat Kearns, host of the Z107.7 Local Musical Showcase.

Kearns will showcase some local bands and artists and talk about the Hi-Desert music scene.

Listen and call-in live for the Z107.7 “Up Close” show, this Friday at 10:00 am here on Z107.7

A man was reported to be found inside of a car at a Yucca Valley car dealership, and arrested for investigation into car theft.

Early Friday (March 8) morning just before 4 a.m., County Sheriff’s Deputies received a call that a man was seen on live security footage attempting to enter a vehicle on the lot of Joshua Tree Chrysler Dodge Jeep and Ram on Twentynine Palms Highway.

Deputies responded to the dealership, and say they found Nicholas Cirillo, 33, inside of a vehicle that was for sale, with his head down. Cirillo told the deputy that the vehicle was unlocked, and that he found the keys inside. The deputy reports that the ignition was in the “on” position, and that Cirillo was in possession of suspected prescription medication.

Nichola Cirillo was arrested on suspicion of vehicle theft and booked at the West Valley Detention Center on $30,000 bail. 

The Morongo Unified School District Board of Trustees held their regular 6 PM meeting last night at Joshua Tree Elementary.

Assistant Superintendent of Instructional Services Amy Woods started the meeting by recognizing Twentynine Palms High School Senior Joshua Corrado who recently passed the ACT with the highest possible score of 36, an achievement only reached by about 1% of the students who take the test nationally.

Director of Educational Technology Celeste Walberg and Director of Information Technology Troy Slayden presented the MUSD Technology Plan, with emphasis on Equity and Access for all students regardless of economic status, with goals including professional development, digital citizenship, typing, and technical integration.

 Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources Stacy Smalling addressed last month’s controversial Preliminary Layoff Resolution, stating that although the position layoffs are moving forward, they “have not been without hiccup” and the course and procedures has been changed based on meetings with the CSA. With the definition of “layoff” as termination and “partial layoff” as a reduction in hours or pay, Smalling was happy to report that they do not need to send any layoff notices this year, as there are available positions that allow all MUSD employees to retain their hours and pay.

However, during public comment the board received further earfuls for decrease in instructional assistants, security, and nurses on campus.

Superintendent Dr. Patricio Vargas presented a resourceful Organizational Restructure, which will consolidate positions of management into the new position of Assistant Superintendent of Elementary Education. This new aggregation will yield a net loss of one administrative position, with a savings of 25% for the affected positions.

The Board voted to increase of Certificated Substitute Teachers’ pay rate for Certificated Permit holders and Certificated Credentialed substitutes from $180 per day to $190. Classified Hourly/Substitute salary schedule is also requested to change with a 50-cent increase from $16.50 to $17.00 an hour.

Twentynine Palms Elementary School is having a parking lot sale on March 23 from 8am till 1pm.

Many families are already participating, but if you’re keen to be involved, the school is selling parking spots to anyone in the community who would like to sell their own items.

Each spot is $10. Contact the school’s office for more information at (760) 367-3545

Website: https://www.morongo.k12.ca.us/o/tpes