LAMONT — For the second time in less than a week, sheriff’s deputies from a special task force arrested two suspects for stealing farm equipment in a rural area southeast of Bakersfield, CA. on Wednesday.
Jesus Guillen, Jr., a 52-year-old convicted felon, was booked at the Kern County Jail’s Central Receiving Facility on charges of grand theft, possession of stolen vehicle, grand theft auto, felon in possession of ammunition, possession of firearm by felon and possession of tear gas. In addition, 30-year-old Richard Reyes III, was booked for grand theft and receiving stolen property. Both men are from Lamont.
According to the Kern County Sheriff’s Office, the arrests stemmed from an operation by sheriff’s office Rural Crime Investigation Unit, which was in direct response to an increase in farm equipment being stolen in and around the City of Lamont.
“Detectives placed a few pieces of farm equipment under electronic surveillance,” Ray Pruitt, spokesperson for the sheriff’s department said. “And on March 20, they received an alarm indicating the equipment had been moved.”
After tracking the equipment to a home in the 11000 block of Rose Street in Lamont, detectives obtained and served a search warrant at the residence. “During the search, the stolen farm equipment was located,” Pruitt added.
Detectives said they also located a stolen Polaris Quad and a stolen handgun. Guillen is prohibited from owning or possessing firearms and ammunition.
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Californian: Theft sting nets two arrests
