Stockton Daily Local Headlines: City Hall hire, death investigation, court sentence, and shelter relief

Public safety

Three Stockton residents were found dead inside a vehicle in south Stockton after officers and medics responded near Union Street and Scotts Avenue around 10 a.m. Sunday, following a report of people unresponsive in a car. Police said there were no signs of trauma or anything suspicious, and the county medical examiner took over the investigation.

The men were later identified as Carmelino Jimenez Aguilar, 39; Pedro Gonzalez Perez, 24; and Pable Diaz Lopez, 28. As of this week, the cause of death was still pending, even as local officials pointed to the ongoing fentanyl threat as a community-wide concern.

City Hall

Stockton City Council voted unanimously Tuesday, March 3, to signal its intent to hire Marci Arredondo as the city’s next attorney, pending a background check. The proposed contract discussed at the meeting included a $315,000 annual salary and a monthly vehicle stipend, along with vacation and sick time benefits.

The move follows the prior city attorney’s resignation in January. The city attorney’s office plays a central role in advising the council, shaping legal strategy in lawsuits, and guiding the city on compliance and risk.

Courts

In a major San Joaquin County case with Stockton ties, former Lodi City Council member Shakir Khan was sentenced to three years in county jail for a 2020 election fraud scheme, with a portion of the sentence set to be served under supervision. Prosecutors said the case involved dozens of ballots and voter registrations tied to Khan’s personal information, and warned that additional prison time could be triggered if supervision terms are violated.

Community

The Stockton Animal Shelter also sent 34 cats and kittens to the San Diego Humane Society to ease crowding and support medical care needs. Animal-welfare partners said the transfer follows months of heavy intake and a respiratory illness outbreak that temporarily disrupted shelter operations.

Sources

https://www.cbsnews.com/sacramento/news/stockton-triple-car-death-possible-fentanyl-overdose/
https://stocktonia.org/news/local-government/2026/03/03/city-council-announces-intent-to-hire-marci-arredondo-as-city-attorney/
https://www.kcra.com/article/shakir-khan-sentenced-2020-lodi-election-fraud/70594269
https://stocktonia.org/news/state-news/2026/03/05/stockton-animal-shelter-cats-san-diego-overcrowding/