A Modoc County man has been convicted and sentenced in the murder of a Native American man in a case that the State Attorney General says is a part of the “missing and murdered indigenous persons” crisis that’s being felt across the American West. 52-year-old Jerret Bleu Rucker of Alturas was found guilty of first degree murder in February for the 2020 stabbing death of Milton “Yogi” McGarva. Wednesday Rucker was sentenced to 26 years to life in state prison. Attorney General Rob Bonta says the prosecution was led by his office because McGarva was a member of the Pit River Tribe. The AG’s Office has been addressing an outbreak of violence against the native population with information campaigns, active prosecutions and culturally specific victim services. A bill moving through the legislature would require law enforcement agencies to collect crime data on native lands and make reports to the AG.’s Office of Native American Affairs.
– Steve Gibson