The following is a press release issued by the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office. The information has not been proven in a court of law and any individuals described should be presumed innocent until proven guilty:
Cooperative effort between the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office and members of our community has resulted in the successful conclusion of two theft-related investigations over the past several days.
Engaged members of the community are an integral part of effective law enforcement. The Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office is grateful for the public who do their part to report suspicious activity and assist with our criminal investigations.
The cases described below highlight the value of a strong relationship between the Sheriff’s Office and the communities we serve. Working together, we make Mendocino County a safer place to be. Great work to all Deputies and community members involved in solving these cases!
2023-705:
On 01-11-2023 at about 11:48 A.M, Deputies responded to a reported theft from a business in the 2200 block of North State Street in Ukiah, California.
Deputies learned two subjects entered the store, approached the register as if to pay for several items and instead ran out the door with the items and fled in a vehicle.
The female suspect, Kelly Rogers, was later contacted and found to still be in possession of the stolen items. Rogers was arrested and booked into the Mendocino County Jail.
The male suspect remained unidentified, and Deputies had no further leads on his identity. A Sheriff’s Office Facebook post was published, including a photograph of the male. Less than two hours after the posting, a community member called in and provided information identifying the male as Salvador Silva Riva.
Further follow up on this information confirmed Riva was the male suspect who stole from the business. The stolen property was returned to the business and case has been forwarded to the Mendocino County District Attorney’s Office for potential prosecution.
2023-956:
On 01-14-2023 at about 7:17 A.M, Deputies responded to a reported theft from a residential mailbox in the 2800 block of Old River Road in Ukiah, California.
An alert resident saw a vehicle pull up to his mailbox and a male adult exited the passenger door. The male removed mail from the mailbox and the vehicle sped away. The resident reported the incident promptly and with good detail.
Deputies responded to the area and were able to locate the vehicle described as being used in the mail theft.
The vehicle was being driven by Amanda Terlouw. The front seat passenger was identified as Kraig Nowlin and a rear seat passenger was identified as Nichole Sotille.
Sotille had two outstanding misdemeanor warrants for her arrest. Sotille was determined to not be involved in the theft. She was arrested on the warrants and later released with a notice to appear in court.
A search of the vehicle revealed articles of mail from (16) sixteen different residences from the Old River Road and Yokayo Tribe Ranch Road area.
Based on evidence and statements gathered, Terlouw and Nowlin were arrested for Theft of Identifying Information and Conspiracy to Commit a Crime. A search of Terlouw’s person incident to arrest revealed she was in possession of drug paraphernalia. Both subjects were booked into the Mendocino County Jail where they were to be held in lieu of $15,000 bail.
Yes folks these are the faces of the wonderful mail thieving meth heads. That make it a must to lock up every single thing of value you own Things disappear law enforcment doesnt do anything to help. And if you catch one or more of these losers in the act you cant do a damned thing. Or you will be a criminal for giving them the beating they desperately need. Things really need to change our quality of life is at stake
Mail theft needs to be punished as it was in the past, Federal offense with 5 year prison sentence. No 6 months in county and a year probation! Make the time equal the crime and lock these shitheads up for an extended stay and maybe they’ll leave peoples mail alone.