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.