LAKE ISABELLA — Three men have been arrested in connection with a theft and burglary of county property in the Kern River Valley in northeastern Kern County.
James Jesse Peale, 24, 33-year-old Daniel Mitchener and 19-year-old Kody Brooks all face various charges of burglary and theft. Peale was booked on four counts of auto theft, two counts of receiving stolen property, possession of a stolen vehicle, burglary and conspiracy. His bail has been set at $125,000.
Mitchener faces similar charges of burglary, conspiracy and four counts of auto theft. His bail has been set at $60,000. According to the Kern County Sheriff’s Office, the arrests were the result of an investigation into the theft and burglary of a Kern County Search and Rescue property that occurred on Aug. 11, in the area of Erskine Creek Road and Edna Street in Lake Isabella.
“When deputies got to the area they discovered an abandoned all-terrain vehicle and property missing from inside a nearby building belonging to the Kern Valley Search and Rescue Team,” Ray Pruitt, sheriff’s spokesperson said. “Among the items that were stolen was a motorcycle, three all-terrain vehicles, generators, winches, a flat-screen television, numerous pieces of rescue and medical equipment and several hand-held GPS devices.”
The next day, authorities said a traffic stop was made on a vehicle being driven by James Peale in the 2700 block of Irwin Avenue in Lake Isabella. During the stop deputies searched his vehicle and located possible burglary tools and stolen property, along with a small amount of suspected methamphetamine.
Later that morning, deputies executed a search warrant at Peale’s apartment in the 2900 block of Claire Street in Lake Isabella, where they located one of the stolen all-terrain vehicles along with other property taken from the Search and Rescue building, as well as 19-year-old Kody Brooks, who was suffering from injuries he had received in a recent all-terrain vehicle accident.
Brooks was transported to a local hospital for treatment, and will be charged with burglary, possession of a stolen vehicle, four counts of auto theft, conspiracy, and possession of stolen property, upon his release. Mitchener, was found later that day, at his home in the 2700 block of Commercial Avenue in Lake Isabella, where deputies found the flat screen television taken during the burglary.
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