Hell’s Kitchen thief faces decade in prison

A South Lake Tahoe man who failed to turn up for his sentencing for burglarizing Hell’s Kitchen at Lake Tahoe will have to wait in jail until Nov. 3.

Johnathan Adam Towne, 33, faces up to a decade in prison after admitted to two counts of burglary committed in April.

Towne was the subject of a May 6 Secret Witness post that resulted in his being arrested at his home on May 13. Towne admitted he made his way to the Hell’s Kitchen general manager’s office, where he took her wallet on April 17. He also stole a man’s wallet on April 27.

During his May 13 arrest, officers also found an iPad and iPhone taken April 15 from a vehicle in the Mont Bleu parking garage.

Towne was scheduled to return for sentencing on Aug. 24 but failed to appear. He was returned to Douglas custody on Oct. 7.

• A Gardnerville man who is accused of helping himself to a vehicle carrier is facing felonies for grand larceny and possession of stolen property.

Jeremy Alex Doyle, 30, appeared in East Fork Justice Court on Wednesday where attorney Matthew Ence was appointed to represent him.

The vehicle carrier was taken on Oct. 9 from behind Sharkey’s. Deputies spotted it three days later and staked it out as it appeared empty.

After a while a deputy walked up to it and saw Doyle lying in the passenger side. He reportedly told deputies that he took the carrier so he could move another car.

Doyle’s bail remained $35,000 until he appears on Wednesday with his attorney.

• A Foothill man is being held on a fugitive warrant out of El Dorado County after he was arrested Oct. 7.

Cameron Chase Wellbrock, 32, is facing Douglas County charges of petite larceny and burglary of a motor vehicle. He is scheduled to return to court on Wednesday.

An Indian Hills man was arrested early Thursday morning after it was learned a trail bike he was riding had been reported stolen.

Christopher Dutcher, 49, was stopped around 2 a.m. on Vista Grande after he passed a patrol vehicle. The deputy issued a warning and released Dutcher. A short time later the deputy was informed the vehicle identification number matched one for a motorcycle reported stolen in Reno. Deputies went to his home and asked where he got the motorcycle. He reportedly told them he bought it from a friend named Mark in Dayton for $800.

•A woman who was the subject of a $25,000 nationwide warrant after she failed to appear for her arraignment more than two years ago is due back in court on Tuesday.

Shawna Christine Vallero, 37, appeared in district court last week to confirm her identity.

She failed to appear for her arraignment on felony during charges in August 2019. She was originally arrested in April 2018 at Lake Tahoe. During a search, deputies allegedly found an ounce of methamphetamine. Vallero is denying the charge.

The driver in the car was sentenced last year to 1-3 years in prison for transport of a controlled substance.

• A Gardnerville Ranchos woman on compassionate release from prison because she has a terminal cancer diagnosis is facing going back after she was arrested in a domestic battery.

Christine Marie Racine, 41, has prison terms from three different jurisdictions, including Lyon, Washoe and Carson City.

Her sister said she wasn’t in fear of Racine.

“I don’t want her to go back to prison to die,” she said.

Justice of the Peace Cassandra Jones said she was concerned that if she released Racine on her own recognizance, she would end up being returned to the prison. She said that if the prison hold is lifted, she would consider changing the bail.

Racine had been drinking when she was arrested.