MADERA COUNTY – Reports of attempted witness tampering led both sheriff’s deputies and CHP officers to a home in Eastern Madera County where two men were arrested.
One is a self-admitted white supremacist from Torrance, Calif., and the other is an Oakhurst man found to be in possession of methamphetamine, according the the Sheriff’s Office.
Kevin Lynn Runyon (AKA “Terrible”), age 24, and Erik Thomas Hopkin, 23, of Oakhurst, were booked into Madera County Department of Corrections early Thursday morning, May 1.
On Apr. 30, the Madera County Sheriff’s Office received reports that someone was attempting to intimidate an individual involved in a case currently under investigation by the California Highway Patrol.
At the same time deputies were alerted to the alleged threats, the CHP was also receiving similar reports. Both agencies discovered that Runyon, the man suspected of the crime, was staying somewhere in the foothills, possibly in the Oakhurst area.
Deputies and CHP officers located the suspect late Thursday night at a home in Oakhurst, where both he and Hopkins were taken into custody.
A motorcycle reported stolen on Apr. 7 was recovered, along with methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia.
Runyon, on parole for possession of stolen property, remains jailed without bail on charges of attempting to intimidate a witness and possession of the stolen motorcycle.
Hopkins was booked for felony narcotics with bail set at $5,000.
