Key Takeaways
- A 17-year-old went missing Saturday afternoon while rafting on the Stanislaus River at Caswell Memorial State Park.
- The teen went underwater and did not resurface; the search resumed Sunday morning and was still active at midday.
- Manteca firefighters responded first because Ripon crews were fighting a brush fire off Highway 99.
- Separately, a former Napa County deputy's criminal case has been paused after a judge granted mental health diversion.
- The Napa case involves charges of recording and distributing intimate images without consent.
Two Northern California Cases Demand Attention
Rescue crews are searching for a 17-year-old who vanished in the water at Caswell Memorial State Park on Saturday afternoon. According to the Ripon Fire District, the teen was rafting when they went underwater and did not come back up.
All Ripon firefighters were already committed to a brush fire off Highway 99, so Manteca firefighters were sent first to the scene. Firefighters, EMS and law enforcement searched both the water and the shoreline of the Stanislaus River. The San Joaquin County Sheriff's Office has taken over the lead.
The search was paused Saturday night and resumed Sunday morning. As of midday Sunday, the teen remained missing. No name has been released.
Former Napa Deputy's Prosecution Paused
In a separate case, Napa County Superior Court Judge Julie M. Conger granted mental health diversion to James Robert Fotherby, 44, a former Napa County sheriff's deputy. The order pauses his criminal case for one year.
Fotherby was charged with invasion of privacy and distribution of intimate images, both misdemeanors, plus a special allegation that would require at least three years of probation if convicted. Prosecutors say he secretly recorded a woman in the shower between 2023 and 2025 and shared nude images online without her permission.
His attorney cited diagnoses of sex addiction, posttraumatic stress disorder and obsessive-compulsive disorder. The Napa County District Attorney's Office objected, but the judge ruled Fotherby fits the type of defendant the Legislature intended for mental health diversion. Under current state law, the district attorney must present clear evidence to defeat the mental health connection.
Fotherby must continue treatment, avoid pornography and pay restitution, including helping remove the images from the internet.
Local California Context
Caswell Memorial State Park is a popular recreation area along the Stanislaus River, north of Modesto. The park sits in San Joaquin County, near Ripon and Manteca. The immediate response from Manteca firefighters highlights how local agencies rely on each other when resources are stretched.
The Napa case was handled in Napa County Superior Court and involves a former officer from the Napa County Sheriff's Office.
Background
Water rescues are not uncommon on the Stanislaus River, where currents can change quickly and floaters sometimes underestimate the conditions. Caswell State Park draws large crowds on warm weekends, especially for swimming and rafting.
The mental health diversion law in California was expanded in 2023. Defendants can now seek treatment instead of trial without proving their disorder caused the alleged offense, unless prosecutors show otherwise.
Conclusion
The search for the missing teen is ongoing. Anyone with information is urged to contact the San Joaquin County Sheriff's Office. In the Napa case, if Fotherby completes his diversion program, the charges will be dismissed.