Amador County – A Rancho Cordova man was arrested twice over10 days in Amador County for possession of stolen goods and drugs, and linking him to at least nine vehicle burglaries in the region.
Amador County Undersheriff Jim Wegner released details Wednesday on multiple arrests of Vitali Nikolayevich Kulinich, 27, of Rancho Cordova, stemming first from a June 8 burglary at Anytime Fitness. An unknown suspect reportedly smashed the rear window of a vehicle and stole a wallet and cell phone. An Amador County Sheriff’s Deputy using the digital security system at Anytime Fitness identified a possible suspect vehicle, a brown sedan with a distinctive black bumper.
On June 15, an Amador Deputy saw the vehicle on Highway 49, stopped it, and identified the driver as Kulinich, who was on searchable probation in Sacramento County for theft. The vehicle registration was expired by almost seven years.
A search revealed suspected heroin, suspected meth, prescription narcotics, a glass smoking pipe and a realistic looking BB air pistol. Also found was a hunting license from the wallet reported stolen June 8 from Anytime Fitness, an Ipod Touch reported stolen to Davis Police, keys stolen from Delta Flooring in Sacramento, and burglary tools.
Kulinich was arrested, booked into Amador County Jail and charged with transportation and possession of a controlled substance, and possession of narcotics, stolen property and burglary tools. He posted $20,000 bond for release.
A secondary search of the vehicle revealed a hidden compartment with numerous stolen items including drivers licenses, passports, social security cards, credit cards, and a diamond ring valued at $1,840. Also found was a video camera documenting Kulinich’s involvement in stealing vehicles and using controlled substances.
Detectives recovered stolen property related to an additional nine vehicle burglaries in Sacramento, Rancho Cordova, Sacramento County, El Dorado Hills, El Dorado County, West Sacramento and Novato. Probation searches in Sacramento and Rancho Cordova found several firearms, an assault weapon, a stolen gym bag, and a possible stolen Ipad.
About 7:40 p.m. Monday, June 25, the Sheriff’s Department responded to a report that a man had just stolen merchandise from Kmart and fled in a tan Mercedes Benz sedan. A Deputy found the vehicle in Amador Plaza and detained it with two occupants: Andrew Lee Hunter Moras, 20 of Ranch Cordova and Kulinich.
The investigation revealed that Moras had stolen a pair of shoes from Kmart. The shoes were recovered and Moras was issued a citation for theft. The Deputy also found a checkbook, driver’s license and vehicle title belonging to a couple in Antelope, who positively identified items stolen from their vehicle June 23.
Kulinich was again arrested and booked into Amador Jail charged with possession of stolen property and commission of a felony while on bail for a pending felony. Bail was set at $45,000 and a declaration was filed by Detectives requesting the court examine the source of Kulinich’s bail. Detectives were checking on other property found in Kulinich’s possession to determine if it is also stolen.
Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
