Sonora, CA…“Oh, that’s how Sonora PD gets down, huh?”…..is what one of the suspects said to the arresting officer on Tuesday, dissatisfied that they were being taken to jail rather than just given a citation. 29-year-old Cody D. Bates and 22-year-old Kayli N. Morris of Modesto, along with 32-year-old Ashton N. Mourer and 34-year-old Jonathan P. Veldstra of Riverbank were arrested on felony charges following an investigation into a merchandise pushout from Walmart on Tuesday, October 12.

Shortly before 2:00 pm, we received a report of subjects pushing a shopping cart full of merchandise out of a side entrance of the store. The subjects fled in a silver Nissan Titan prior to our arrival. A Be-On-the-Look-Out was broadcast and our friends at the CHP spotted and stopped the vehicle for us in Jamestown.

Following the investigation, officers recovered over $1,400 in merchandise, fentanyl, and drug paraphernalia. All four subjects were arrested and booked at the Tuolumne County Jail.

Morris and Mourer were booked for possession of stolen property, conspiracy to commit a felony and possession of drug paraphernalia. Veldstra and Bates were booked for grand theft, possession of stolen property, conspiracy to commit a felony, and possession of drug paraphernalia. Bates was also booked for possession of fentanyl.

Additionally, Mourer is accused of knowingly bringing drugs into the jail after fentanyl and methamphetamine were found on her person following the booking process. This is a felony offense in California.

“Individuals identified herein were arrested on suspicion of the crimes for which they have been charged. All such charges are merely accusations and all defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.”