Fresno County District Attorney's Office

Copper wire theft is not a victimless crime.

Today, Fresno County and City leaders joined together to announce a coordinated effort to combat copper wire theft following the California Attorney General’s opinion confirming that Fresno County’s Copper Wire Theft Ordinance is not preempted by state law.

Copper wire theft impacts farms, businesses, utilities, transportation infrastructure, and public safety throughout our community. With this additional enforcement tool now available, local law enforcement and prosecutors will continue working together to hold offenders accountable and protect Fresno County residents.

Today’s announcement sends a clear message: Fresno County is united in combating copper wire theft and protecting the critical infrastructure our communities depend on.

County of Fresno
Fresno County Sheriff's Office

Please join us in congratulating Chief Deputy District Attorney Kendall T. Reynolds on his recent promotion within the Fresno County District Attorney’s Office. Mr. Reynolds officially assumed his new role on May 11, with a ceremonial swearing-in held on May 27. He will now oversee the Misdemeanor Unit and help mentor and develop many of our newest prosecutors.

Mr. Reynolds began his career with the Fresno County District Attorney’s Office as a law clerk while attending San Joaquin College of Law before being sworn in as a Deputy District Attorney. During his career, he has served in numerous assignments including misdemeanor, felony trials, Domestic Violence, MAGEC, the Violent Crime Unit, and Homicide. After serving as a prosecutor, Mr. Reynolds joined the Drug Enforcement Administration as a Special Agent before ultimately returning to the Fresno County District Attorney’s Office.

Known for his extensive trial experience and work prosecuting complex violent crime cases, Mr. Reynolds has become a recognized leader in fentanyl investigation and prosecution efforts throughout California. He led Fresno County’s first fentanyl overdose death homicide prosecution, helping establish an investigative and prosecutorial framework for similar cases statewide. In recognition of his leadership, dedication, and commitment to justice, he was named the Fresno County District Attorney’s Office 2025 Prosecutor of the Year.

Beyond the courtroom, Mr. Reynolds regularly trains law enforcement officers and prosecutors throughout California and remains actively involved in community education and fentanyl awareness efforts.

We are proud of Chief Reynolds’ continued service, leadership, and commitment to public safety. Please join us in congratulating him on this well-deserved promotion!

Please join us in welcoming our newest Senior DA Investigators to the Fresno County District Attorney’s Office!

Today, Edgar Aguayo and Cesar Sanchez were officially sworn in by Chief of Investigations Lisa Biggs, officially joining our office with decades of combined law enforcement experience and a wealth of investigative knowledge.

SDAI Aguayo began his career with the California Department of Corrections before serving with both the Dinuba and Hanford Police Departments, where he worked a wide range of cases including sexual assaults and gang investigations. He joins our office after serving as a Corporal with Hanford PD.

SDAI Sanchez brings more than 25 years of law enforcement experience, having served with the California Department of Justice in the Bureau of Gambling Control, Bureau of Narcotic Enforcement, and Bureau of Investigation. His experience includes narcotics, fraud, illegal gambling, and complex criminal investigations.

We are proud to welcome both investigators to our and look forward to the impact they will continue to make serving and protecting the people of Fresno County.

Please join us in welcoming our newest Deputy District Attorney, Milli Kang, who was recently sworn in and officially joined the Fresno County District Attorney’s Office.

Milli brings valuable prosecutorial experience from New York, where she handled both felony and misdemeanor cases. After passing the California Bar, she chose to continue her commitment to public service here in the community she now proudly calls home.

Milli has been assigned to our misdemeanor team, and we are honored to welcome her to the !

Today, Fresno County District Attorney Lisa Smittcamp joined the Fresno Chamber of Commerce, Californians Against Retail and Residential Theft (CARRT), local law enforcement leaders, retailers, and business owners for a Proposition 36 convening focused on retail theft and public safety.

The roundtable provided an opportunity to discuss how Proposition 36 is being implemented in Fresno County, the impact retail theft continues to have on our business community, and the importance of collaboration between prosecutors, law enforcement, and community partners.

Participants shared perspectives on the tools Proposition 36 provides to address repeat theft and drug-related offenses while emphasizing the continued need for treatment resources and sustained state funding to fully implement the measure as California voters intended.

We appreciate the Fresno Chamber of Commerce for hosting today’s discussion and thank our partners at CARRT for bringing stakeholders together for this important statewide conversation.
By working together, Fresno County remains committed to protecting local businesses, supporting victims, and enhancing public safety for our entire community.

Fresno County Sheriff's Office
Fresno Police Department

BUFORD KING SENTENCED TO LIFE WITHOUT PAROLE FOR THREE MURDERS

On May 8, 2026, Buford Jonathan King (40, of Squaw Valley) was sentenced to an aggregate term of 50 years to life plus life without the possibility of parole in state prison for the murders of three victims between 2011 and 2016. The sentence was imposed by Fresno County Superior Court Judge Alvin Harrell following King’s plea agreement entered on March 3, 2026.

During the course of the investigation and criminal proceedings, King claimed he killed the victims after witnessing or learning of alleged acts of sexual abuse involving children or vulnerable victims. Those allegations were never adjudicated in court and, in several instances, could not be independently verified by investigators. Regardless of any allegations later raised by the defendant, the criminal justice system does not permit individuals to take the law into their own hands. King ultimately admitted to committing the murders and accepted responsibility for taking the lives of Aleksey Shelest, Donnie Lee, and Albert Contreras.

On May 28, 2016, Aleksey Shelest was reported missing to the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office by his sister, who stated she had not heard from him since May 18, 2016.

On November 9, 2016, Donnie Lee was reported missing to the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office by a sergeant with the Reedley Police Department after two concerned individuals reported they had not seen Lee since November 1, 2016. The individuals stated Lee had been living with Buford King in Squaw Valley and that the two had argued over money.

On November 22, 2016, an additional witness contacted law enforcement expressing concern for Lee’s welfare. The witness reported learning that Lee had gone to King's property to collect money owed to him and had not been seen since. The witness also reported observing fresh digging on King’s property.

Investigators began parallel missing person’s investigations into the disappearances of Shelest and Lee. Numerous witnesses were interviewed, including King and his girlfriend in January 2017. King claimed the last time he saw Lee was around November 1, 2016.

The investigation remained unresolved until March 2019, when Fresno County Sheriff’s Office Detective Jose Diaz received information that King’s girlfriend possessed information regarding the disappearances.

On March 15, 2019, detectives interviewed King’s girlfriend, who stated she came forward after becoming fearful following a recent jail visit with King. She told investigators King threatened to kill her if she ever attempted to leave him.

The witness described multiple holes dug on King’s property and on a neighboring property. She recalled King telling her that Aleksey Shelest had been shot while standing inside one of the holes. She also described hearing a gunshot one evening and later being told by King that Shelest had left the property, leaving behind his dog.

The witness further reported that on November 5, 2016, she heard a gunshot and was later shown Donnie Lee lying on the ground with catastrophic head injuries. She believed Lee had been buried on the neighboring property because the area appeared freshly disturbed and covered the following day.

On March 20, 2019, detectives executed search warrants on both properties in Squaw Valley. On March 26, 2019, investigators located the remains of Aleksey Shelest along with personal belongings, including his phone and wallet. The search for Donnie Lee continued, but his remains were not immediately located.

On April 14, 2019, detectives interviewed King at the Fresno County Jail. King confessed to killing both Shelest and Lee. He identified the location where Shelest had been buried and admitted shooting him on his property.

When questioned about Lee, King indicated Lee had suffered the same fate. He later identified an area where Lee had been buried.
During the interview, detectives asked King whether there were additional victims. King later contacted investigators regarding another homicide in Tulare County.

On April 25, 2019, King provided investigators with information regarding the killing of a man later identified as Albert Contreras. King claimed he encountered Contreras while responding to what he described as an assault involving a young girl at an apartment complex in Visalia in 2011. King admitted strangling Contreras to death, transporting the body, and burying the remains.

Detectives from the Visalia Police Department reviewed missing persons cases from that time period and identified Albert Contreras as a potential match. After being shown a photograph, King positively identified Contreras as the victim.

On April 26, 2019, coordinated searches were conducted in both Visalia and Squaw Valley for the remains of Contreras and Lee. The initial searches were unsuccessful.

On April 27, 2019, investigators transported King to both burial locations. King directed detectives to the burial sites of Contreras and Lee, and the remains of both victims were ultimately recovered.
The Fresno County District Attorney’s Office thanks the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office, Tulare County Sheriff’s Office, and the Visalia Police Department for their extensive investigative work and dedication throughout this complex multi-year homicide investigation.

The case was prosecuted by Senior Deputy District Attorneys Liz Owen and David Olmos of the Fresno County District Attorney’s Office Homicide Unit, with assistance from Commander Derek Scott of the Bureau of Investigations.

Fresno County Sheriff's Office
Tulare County Sheriff's Office
Visalia Police Department

DA Smittcamp and members of the Fresno County District Attorney's Office joined our local law enforcement partners and community members at the annual Peace Officers Memorial Service in Courthouse Park to honor the courageous peace officers who made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty.

The ceremony served as a solemn reminder of the bravery, service, and dedication of those who gave their lives to protect our communities.

Today, we honor the fallen, reflect on their sacrifice, and stand with the families, friends, and fellow officers who carry their memory forward. Their sacrifice will never be forgotten.

Today, on National Fentanyl Awareness Day, we recognize the devastating impact fentanyl continues to have on families and communities here in Fresno County and across the country.

In 2025, our office secured a historic verdict in the County of Fresno's first fentanyl-related homicide case - one of only three in the state at the time. In March 2026, that case resulted in sentencing, marking a significant step in holding those accountable who distribute this deadly substance.

While recent data shows a reduction in fentanyl-related overdose deaths in Fresno County, the impact of this crisis continues to be felt across our community.

Under the leadership of District Attorney Lisa Smittcamp, our office remains committed to pursuing justice in fentanyl-related cases while also working to prevent future tragedies through education and community awareness.

Fentanyl is a lethal drug that is often hidden in counterfeit pills and other substances, making awareness critical. We encourage our community to stay informed, talk to loved ones, and access available resources.

Learn more about fentanyl and our office’s efforts: https://www.fresnoda.org/News-Media/Fentanyl

Together, through accountability and education, we can continue working to protect our community.

Today, we wear denim.

On , we stand with survivors of sexual assault and join communities across the world in raising awareness about sexual violence. This day began as a response to harmful victim-blaming - and it carries a clear message that still matters today: clothing is never consent.

There is no excuse for sexual assault. Ever.

At the District Attorney’s Office, our dedicated Sexual Assault Unit works every day to support survivors and pursue justice while holding offenders accountable.

Wearing denim is a small act, but it represents something much bigger - support for survivors, accountability, and a commitment to changing the culture around sexual violence.

If you or someone you know has been impacted by sexual assault, help is available. You are not alone. 💙👖