Originally published as a Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office press release –
“On 09-14-2021 at approximately 11:45 AM, Mendocino County Sheriff’s Deputies were dispatched to a burglary of a residence that was reported by the homeowner in the 45000 block of Pacific Woods Road in Gualala, California.
Deputies arrived, contacted the homeowner and began an investigation.
Deputies learned that the suspect had forced his way into this residence, while a 96 year-old female was inside. While Deputies were investigating at this location, a second homeowner in the same general area reported another residential burglary, with the suspect being captured on a home surveillance system a short time prior to the first burglary being reported.
Deputies, with the assistance of a Sonoma County Sheriff’s Resident Deputy and his K9 partner, responded to the second reported burglary and found an open door. The residence was checked and no persons were located at this location.
Deputies observed an empty firearm case and later confirmed with the homeowner that a loaded handgun was missing.
Deputies obtained the surveillance video from this victim and were able to identify this suspect as Michah Ray Pilgram, who is currently on Mendocino County formal adult probation for a prior burglary conviction, where he was convicted of burglarizing the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office Point Arena Substation in March of 2021.
As Deputies were checking the area for Pilgram, he was located at 2:40 PM walking in the area of Ocean Ridge Road and Old Stage Road.
Pilgram was quickly detained and searched, per his probation terms. Deputies recovered the stolen loaded handgun that was concealed in his pocket and Pilgram was arrested for the following charges:
460(a) PC – First Degree Residential Burglary
496 PC – Possession of Stolen Property
29800 PC – Possession of Firearm by Convicted Felon
25400 PC – Possession of Concealed Firearm by Convicted Felon
1203.2 PC – Felony Probation Violation
Deputies will be seeking charging enhancements through the Mendocino County District Attorney’s Office for the following:
12022(a)(1) PC – Armed During the Commission of a Felony
667.5(c) – Burglary of an Occupied Residence
A Mendocino County Superior Court Judge was contacted and briefed on this investigation. The Judge ordered that Pilgram be held on a “NO BAIL” status.
Pilgram was booked into the Mendocino County Jail, where he is being held on a “NO BAIL” status.
The Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office would like to thank our partners at the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office for their assistance with this investigation.”
