Three men arrested in connection with auto thefts

Three men were arrested this week in connection with a spree of auto thefts from Michael Hohl Motor Company on South Carson Street.

At least two of the three are alleged to belong to a group of men involved in stealing cars and taking them to a body shop in Fresno.

Deputies arrested Jamus Cooper on Dec. 2 when called to the car lot for an attempted auto theft. Cooper told deputies he was part of the group and worked with a man named Jaime.

Deputies later learned from Cooper that Jaime's last name was Bustamonte. Bustamonte was discovered early Saturday morning near a pewter-colored GMC Jimmy believed to be stolen from Michael Hohl and was arrested for a felony charge of attempted grand larceny.

Bustamonte is in Carson City Jail in lieu of $25,000 bail.

The 26-year-old Bustamonte, also known as James, will be investigated by the Carson City Grand Jury for his alleged involvement in a 1997 incident where he and his brother John, allegedly sold drugs and kidnapped Kellie Weddell, then later tried to run over a man in her father, Ron's, construction yard.

Ron Weddell circulated a petition this summer gathering enough signatures to call a grand jury to investigate the alleged crimes committed by the two brothers. City officials were also named by Weddell in the grand jury petition for alleged crimes committed when they refused to take action against the brothers.

The city is in the process of impanneling the grand jury.

Arrested with Bustamonte on Saturday was 32-year-old Michael C. Stirk. Stirk was brought in on an arrest warrant from Pershing County where he is accused of failing to show up in court. Arrest reports say Stirk denied involvement in the theft of the vehicle, but did say he knew the vehicle was stolen. Bail was set at $750.