Mountain Ranch, CA…On March 7th, 2020, at about 6:30 PM, deputies were patrolling on Whiskey Slide Road (Mountain Ranch) when they observed a male operating an off-highway vehicle on the roadway. The deputies conducted a vehicle enforcement stop and contacted the driver; suspect Zanko James Hilderbrandt (age 48, Mountain Ranch). Zanko could not provide any registration paperwork, and there were no visible identification markings on the vehicle. Deputies requested a California Highway Patrol Officer to assist with the investigation. After several minutes, the VIN was located under a coat of paint. Upon completing a records check, deputies learned the off-highway vehicle had been stolen on October 14th, 2019 from the Doster Road area (Mokelumne Hill). Deputies also located a loaded handgun in Zanko’s backpack.

Zanko James Hilderbrandt was placed under arrest and transported to the Calaveras County Jail. He was charged with 496(A) PC Possession of Stolen Property (Felony), 25400(a) PC Concealed Firearm on Person (Felony), and 29800(b) PC (Felony) Possession of Firearm by Convicted Person. His bail was set at $25,000.

No further information available at this time.