Kern County Man Takes Plea Deal in Vehicle Theft Case, Faces Eight Years in Prison
“In late June of 2023, Shafter Police Department officers investigated a vehicle theft that occurred in the city of Shafter. The suspect was identified as 29-year-old Justin Andy Saenz. At the time, Saenz had a felony warrant for his arrest for absconding from the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. During the next few months, several vehicle thefts were attributed to Saenz resulting in two additional complaints sought for vehicle theft against him. Saenz was also found to be a suspect in three burglaries in the city and county jurisdictions of Shafter. A directed effort was made to locate Saenz to apprehend him for his offenses.
In collaboration with the CDCR Central Valley Fugitive Apprehension Team, which consists of members from the US Marshals and California Department of Corrections, Saenz was seen walking in the 400 block of Klassen Street. After a brief foot chase, Saenz was taken into custody by the fugitive apprehension team. During the foot chase, Saenz discarded a backpack which was later found to contain an AR-15 rifle and ammunition. Saenz was also found in possession of stolen property from a recent burglary that occurred in the Kern County Sheriff’s Office jurisdiction just outside of the City of Shafter.
On 4/25/24, Saenz pled to being a felon in possession of firearm and ammunition, as well as to the vehicle theft case from June 2023 as result from a negotiated plea deal. Saenz is expected to be sentenced to 8 years in prison.”
