Golden State Today

OAKLAND — California Attorney General Rob Bonta today announced that 52-year-old Jarrett Bleu Rucker, of Alturas, has been sentenced to 26 years to life in prison for the first-degree murder of Milton “Yogi” McGarva. McGarva, a member of the Pit River Tribe and a victim of the Missing Murdered Indigenous Persons (MMIP) crisis in California, was stabbed to death in Modoc County on March 9, 2020.

Attorney General Bonta expressed his thoughts, saying, “Today, I am thinking of the family of Milton ‘Yogi’ McGarva. I can’t begin to imagine what they have been through these past few years. My team fought hard to secure justice for them, and now, Yogi’s killer will be behind bars for a substantial amount of time.”

Modoc County Sheriff Tex Dowdy also shared his sentiments, stating, “To say that I am pleased with the outcome of this case is an understatement. Justice has been done and my hope is that the McGarva family will have some peace with this verdict.”

Morning Star Gali, Executive Director of Indigenous Justice, acknowledged the efforts of the Attorney General's Office, saying, “If it wasn’t for the Attorney General's Office, I don’t think we would have had this moment. We are extremely grateful for all of the efforts involved to bring justice for Yogi and his family.”

Attorney General Bonta has been actively addressing the MMIP crisis in California since taking office. He has organized statewide MMIP events called “Missing in California Indian Country” to provide support to tribal communities and enhance the state’s response to the crisis. Additionally, he has developed initiatives such as the Native American Marsy’s Law Information Card to inform tribal victims of their rights and access to culturally informed victim services.

Furthermore, Attorney General Bonta is supporting Assembly Bill 2695 (AB 2695) by Assemblymember James C. Ramos, which aims to improve data collection on crimes occurring on Indian lands to aid in addressing the MMIP crisis.

For more information on Attorney General Bonta’s efforts to combat the MMIP crisis in California, visit the DOJ’s Office of Native American Affairs webpage. ONAA serves as a liaison between the DOJ, justice agencies, and California’s tribes to address justice-related issues for the betterment of tribal citizens.