(Vallecito, CA) On April 20, 2013 at approx. 12:23 am, Calaveras Sheriff’s deputies responded to a residence on the 10 block of Rufe Lane in Vallecito for a report of a verbal altercation. Calaveras Sheriff’s Dispatch Center also received several 911 calls reporting gun shots from the same area. Upon arrival the deputies contacted the victims who stated that the alleged suspects, Steven Scharf (25) and Jana Scharf (24), both from Douglas Flat, had left the scene in a vehicle. Sheriff’s deputies and officers from the Angels Camp Police Department searched the immediate area but were unable locate the Arrestees.
According to the four victims, all from Angels Camp, while at the Nugget bar in Murphys one of the victims became involved in a physical altercation with Arrestee Steven Scharf. Arrestee Scharf’s wife, Jana, was present during the altercation. According to the victims, both Arrestees left the bar and waited for the victims to leave. The Arrestees then followed the victims to the Rufe Lane residence in Vallecito. The Arrestees then drove back to their house in Douglas Flat where they switched cars and retrieved a hand gun and a shotgun from their house prior to returning to the Rufe Lane residence. Once at the residence Arrestee Steven exited his car and became involved in a verbal altercation with the victims. One of the victims reported that Arrestee Steven pointed a handgun at her. The victim stated that she was able to strike the gun away from it being pointed at her, at which time one shot was fired. During this altercation Arrestee Jana stood outside their car holding a shotgun pointed at the ground. After the gunshot the Arrestees fled the area. A spent shell casing from a Glock .40 caliber handgun was found at the scene.
On the same date at approx. 1:20 am as the deputies were completing their investigation, Angels Camp police officers spotted the Arrestees’ vehicle pulling up to a residence on Sugar Pine Drive in Douglas Flat. The Arrestees were detained and the firearms were located and seized from the Arrestees’ vehicle. All involved parties were allegedly under the influence of alcohol. Arrestee Jana, upon being interviewed, confirmed the above events.
Both Steven and Jana Scharf were arrested and booked into the Calaveras County Jail on the charges of Assault with a Firearm (felony) and Conspiracy to Commit a Crime (felony).
