MADERA – A third suspect is behind bars tonight following his arrest in connection with a residential burglary in Chowchilla last week.
Sheriff John Anderson said in a press release that he credits local media for helping reach Madera County residents, who provided the information necessary for the arrest.Following up on a citizen tip, Sheriff’s Deputy Luis Padgett Thursday evening tracked 18-year-old Pedro Sanchez Virgen to a home on Olive Way in Chowchilla.
Virgen was taken into custody without incident and booked into Madera County Department of Corrections on burglary, possession of stolen property, conspiracy and drug charges.
Virgen’s arrest follows the Friday arrests of Latasha Matthews, 22, of Madera and Michael Adam Jimenez, 24, of Chowchilla.
Authorities began investigating the trio after they reportedly were confronted in an almond orchard by workers who saw them trying to steal keys to tractors parked near almond trees on Avenue 24 on Friday.
Prior to that confrontation, all three were suspected of breaking into a home on Avenue 25, off Robertson Boulevard in Chowchilla, Sheriff Anderson reported. They allegedly stole nearly $4,300 in property, including women’s jewelry, guitars, cell phones, an X-Box, DVDs, CDs, a Samurai sword and an autographed baseball.
Matthews and Jimenez were arrested at a home on Avenue 25 ½, approximately five miles away from the almond orchard.
The trio remains behind bars tonight, with bail for Virgen and Jimenez set at $30,000 each. Matthews, who was on probation at the time of her arrest is being held without bail, Anderson said.
