Ventura County – One would think that an individual still under the jurisprudential control of a term of probation would behave in a manner to avoid any further pejorative contact with members of the law enforcement community. That would certainly be a rational approach to the conduct of one’s affairs pursuant to any period of incarceration. But based upon the events of July 30th, Nicholas Wagemann, a 36-year old resident of Oxnard who was at the time a client of the Ventura County Probation Department, rational behavior can be a challenging lifestyle.
Eric Walker
According to Ventura County Sheriff’s Department spokesman Sgt. Dan Hawes, it was on that date that the City of Thousand Oaks Police Department Special Enforcement Unit learned that Wagemann, “on active probation” was residing at a local motel and “was possibly a suspect in multiple thefts and/or burglaries” that had occurred in nearby Newbury Park a day earlier.
Nichole Hammer
With that information in hand, the Special Enforcement Unit arrived at Wagemann’s motel room and—as per the terms of his probation—conducted a probation search that unearthed “numerous credit cards and personal checks that did not belong to any of the subjects in the room.” Those individuals “in the room” included Eric Walker, 29, Nichole Hammer, 29—both from Camarillo—and Taylor May, a 23-year old resident of Oxnard.
Taylor May
May and Hammer were quickly determined to be under the influence of a controlled substance, while Walker’s vehicle was searched and discovered to contain additional credit cards, checks, “and a multitude of other items that had been stolen the previous morning.”
Wagemann and Walker were taken into custody and transported to Ventura County Jail where they were booked on charges of burglary, grand theft, possession of burglary tools, and being under the influence of a controlled substance, with their bail set at $80,000 and $60,000 respectively. For their part, May and Hammer were arrested and booked for being under the influence of a controlled substance, and were released on their own recognizance pending a future court appearance.
