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Security camera nabs TV, computer thieves

We have long-since entered the age of ubiquitous security cameras, a fact frequently overlooked by some of the less-aware elements of the criminal trades.

So it was that four Springs residents ended up in jail on burglary charges after a security camera gave Sheriff’s deputies a glance at their car.

At around noon on Monday, Aug. 20, a resident in the 900 block of Glenwood Drive reported a residence had been burglarized sometime between Aug. 17 and that morning, when they returned home. Taken were a 46-inch flat screen TV, an iMac computer and cash.

During the course of the investigation, deputies checked with a convenience store across the street to see if the surveillance camera might shed light on who they were looking for. Examining the tape, deputies noticed a red Mustang in the area of the residence.

That same day, there was a report of a reckless driver in a red Mustang carrying paper license plates. During a traffic stop on the car, deputies learned the driver was Brandon McGroaty, 27, a resident of the Springs. McGroaty was on felony searchable probation, so deputies went to a residence believed to be his, on Encinas Lane, but found nothing there. They then received information that McGroaty was actually living in the 18000 block of Sierra Drive. They searched the Sierra Drive residence and found a 46-inch flat screen TV on the wall in McGroaty’s bedroom. McGroaty told deputies he bought it from a friend and offered up the friend’s name.

That information led deputies to a residence in the 100 block of Siesta Way where theyfound the missing iMac computer. Deputies arrested the residents, Brian Webber, 28, his twin brother, Andrew Webber, 28, and Larry Sanchez-Guzman, 21, as well as McGroaty, on charges of felony burglary and felony possession of stolen property. McGroaty was also charged with a felony probation violation.

In other incidents reported to the Sheriff’s Valley substation:

Tuesday, Aug. 14:

10:40 p.m. – Bad batter. Deputies were sent to a residence in the 18000 block of Sonoma Highway on the report of an incident of domestic violence. The victim told deputies that the suspect, Richard Lormer, 43, of El Verano, hit her in the legs with a baseball bat. Lormer had left the residence but later returned and was charged with felony domestic violence, felony disabling a cellphone and misdemeanor child endangerment, as there was a 5-month-old child in the residence during the reported assault.

Friday, Aug. 17:

8:10 a.m. – Mother and child disunion. Deputies responded to a residence in the 900 block of Walnut Avenue after receiving a report from a mother that her 26-year-old daughter was under the influence of a controlled substance. When deputies arrived, they found a glass pipe and methamphetamine in the woman’s possession, and charged Jennifer Wallace, 26, of El Verano with felony possession of a controlled substance, misdemeanor being under the influence of a controlled substance, misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia and a probation violation.

Sunday, Aug. 19:

6:42 a.m. – Car as a deadly weapon. A woman residing in the 17000 block of Vailetti Drive reported that her husband had intentionally crashed his vehicle into hers. Deputies arrested David Bachelder, 61, on charges of felony assault with a deadly weapon.

10 p.m. – Victim reports sexual assault. A victim went to the Valley substation to report a sexual assault that occurred in the 2500 block of Adobe Canyon Road. The matter was turned over to the Sheriff’s Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Unit.

Monday, Aug. 20:

1:05 p.m. – Arguing with a loaded gun. Deputies responded to a residence in the 1200 block of Napa Road on the report of a domestic violence incident. The victim told deputies that her husband was verbally aggressive and was berating her. The victim also told deputies that her husband was carrying a loaded firearm. Deputies located the 48-year-old husband on Eighth Street East and charged him with misdemeanor spousal battery. After finding a loaded 9mm handgun in the console of his car, the man was also charged with misdemeanor carrying a loaded firearm.

Midnight – Another domestic. Deputies were sent to a residence in the 2400 block of London Ranch Road for a domestic incident that turned physical. A report was sent to the district attorney’s office recommending charges of misdemeanor domestic battery for both females.

Tuesday, Aug. 21:

11:30 a.m. – Entry through unlocked door. A resident in the 1100 block of Solano Avenue reported that their residence was burgled on Aug. 6. Someone entered through an unlocked door and took $200 worth of jewelry.

1:30 p.m. – Father arrested for abuse. Deputies were sent to a residence in the 200 block of Boyes Boulevard after receiving a report of abuse to a 4-year-old child. The deputies met with the father, and observed fresh red welts on the child’s torso. Adolfo Padilla-Chavarria, 28, was arrested on charges of felony child abuse.

7:20 p.m. – Entry by unknown means. A resident in the 1700 block of Adobe Canyon Road reported that sometime between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. that day, someone entered the residence by unknown means and took jewelry, a laptop computer and an iPod, cumulatively worth $5,300. There are no suspects.

Wednesday, Aug. 22:

7:20 p.m. – Stunning discovery. Deputies received a report that a woman in a residence in the 21000 block of Hyde Road was apparently under the influence and was trespassing. When they arrived, deputies concluded the woman was indeed under the influence of a controlled substance and arrested her. During a search, they found a stun gun in the woman’s pocket. The 44-year-old Willits resident was arrested for possession of a stun gun and being under the influence of a controlled substance.

Thursday, Aug. 23:

10:12 a.m. – Growing dope on Moon Mountain. The Sheriff’s narcotics unit discovered a marijuana grow in the 1300 block of Moon Mountain Road. There were 450 plants between 2-and-4-feet tall that were harvested. Later that day, the narcotics detectives discovered a second grow on Moon Mountain Road, and this time they chopped down 153 plants that were between 3-and-5-feet tall.

11:15 p.m. – Just walking down the road? Deputies responded to an attempted burglary in the 12300 block of Lovall Valley Road where a suspect was reportedly on the front porch of the residence and trying to enter. When they arrived on scene, the deputies found the intoxicated suspect, 51-year-old Daryl Titus, walking along the road. Titus was on parole with terms forbidding consumption or possession of alcohol. He was arrested for felony attempted burglary and a felony violation of county parole.

Saturday, Aug. 25:

10:30 p.m. – Drunk man allegedly drops child. Deputies were sent to Jack London State Historic Park after receiving a report of an intoxicated couple from a witness who reported seeing the male put a 14-month-old child on his shoulders and then drop the child. Deputies stopped the couple’s vehicle and called the CHP to assist with a DUI. The driver, Cassandra Teeple, 30, of El Verano, was charged with DUI and felony cruelty to a child. The male, Andrew Ohaver, 38, also of El Verano, was charged with public intoxication and felony cruelty to a child. The 14-month-old child was taken into protective custody by Child Protective Services.