The suspect’s identity was confirmed and she proved to be responsible for all four thefts. Investigators from the Amador County Sheriff’s Office conducted surveillance of the suspect on April 11, 2007 and observed the suspect along with another suspect watching local businesses, walking through parking lots looking into vehicles, checking vehicles for locked doors and even entering one, however they did not steal anything.  Investigators from the Sheriff’s Office began drafting a search warrant for the suspects residence as Detectives from the Jackson Police Department took over the surveillance. The Jackson Police Detectives observed the suspects involved in the same activity at businesses in their jurisdiction as well as in the Martell area.

At approximately 8:30pm Jackson Police Detectives observed one of the suspects enter CostLess in the Jackson Creek Plaza.  The suspect was carrying one purse upon entry.  The suspect was observed quickly exiting the business and attempting to conceal a second purse just a few moments later.  Jackson Police Officers and Detectives, along with officers from the California Highway Patrol detained the subjects as they attempted to flee the area.  During the detention, Jackson Police Detectives recovered the purse that had been stolen minutes earlier. 

Jackson Police arrested Celene Ann Taylor, 19, and John Alexander Kovach, 20, both of Martell for conspiracy to commit a crime, burglary and grand theft from a person. On Thursday April 12, 2007 two teams of Amador Sheriff’s Investigators and Jackson Police Detectives executed a search warrant at Kovach’s and Taylor’s residence located 10901 Hwy 49, #4 in Martell while simultaneously performing a probation search at 10901 Hwy 49, #3 in Martell. Evidence from the thefts was located and recovered from Apartment #4, Kovach’s and Taylor’s residence.  Stolen property from the thefts, controlled substances and drug use paraphernalia were located during the probation search at Apartment #3.  Shaney Lynn Adams, 32, a resident of Apartment #3 was arrested and charged with possession of stolen property, possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.  Donald Edwin Morris, 23, also a resident at Apartment #3 was arrested and charged with violation of probation, possession of stolen property and possession of drug paraphernalia.  He was also arrested on an unrelated misdemeanor warrant.  Lino Christopher Pena, 20, of Jackson, who was also present was cited and released at the scene for possession of drug paraphernalia. In addition to the charges for which Taylor and Kovach were arrested by the Jackson Police Department on April 11, additional charges are pending against both in relation to the four other purse thefts. The outstanding efforts of all involved agencies, working together resulted in five arrests, the recovery of evidence from all five thefts, the seizure of controlled substances and associated drug paraphernalia.