Shown is the property on School Road where a dispute is underway between homeowner and county over a newly installed guardrail. This image appears to show where the guardrail ends and the property owner has access through his driveway to park vehicles on the property.
The Madera County Sheriff’s Office responded to an Oakhurst man’s claims that a newly-placed guardrail outside his home is impeding his way.
Joshua Miranda lives in a house near the bridge which is currently under construction on School Road/Road 427.
The construction project is to replace the old structurally unsound bridge on that corridor, according to county public works director, Jared Carter.
He said Miranda signed and was compensated for an easement in 2022, granting the county access to his property for construction and maintenance on the bridge project.
Miranda garnered attention after speaking out about what he said were violations of his property rights by the county. The ongoing dispute dates back to June and was revisited extensively on some local television news stations and on social media.
Some of the posts related to the story were said to be inflammatory, volatile and threatening toward county staff. Some of the posts were later voluntarily removed from social media, according to sources familiar with the situation.
Shown is the proximity of the new bridge on School Road to Miranda’s home.
In a GoFundMe account he established to support his brewing litigation with the county, Miranda described himself as a disabled military veteran and a 14-year homeowner. He is also reportedly a professional mixed martial artist.
“Recently, the county installed a guardrail on my property, blocking access to my home and preventing me from parking my vehicles where I always have,” Miranda wrote in the fundraising statement.
“When I attempted to remove the rail to regain access, I was arrested and charged with felony vandalism. Now, I am facing $20,000 in restitution fees and a legal battle that threatens my future.”
Madera County Sheriff Tyson Pogue said Miranda assaulted crew members with his vehicle. The sheriff said deputies were dispatched to the home and made aware that Miranda had a weapon on his property.
Miranda said in a televised interview he exited his home with a shotgun and leaned the weapon against his vehicle.
A portion of the exterior of Joshua Miranda’s property is pictured with signage protesting the new guardrail.
“Property line disputes are always highly volatile,” Pogue said, according to media reports.
“We know there are a lot of emotions involved. However, there are certain appropriate ways to deal with things and showing up to some poor construction worker just doing his job with a firearm … is not the correct way to handle it.”
Pogue said Miranda resisted arrest before deputies used a Taser on him. He was taken into custody and later bonded out.
Officials said Miranda still has access to his property and is able to park multiple vehicles in his yard by using the driveway.
Miranda, according to his fundraising account, wants the county to remove the guardrail. At press time he had raised $600 of his $2,600 goal.
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