Sheriff Dept Press release re: Valley Springs Men Arrested for Attempted Burglary

(Valley Springs, CA) On November 5, 2013 at 8:45 am, while patrolling the area of Hogan Dam Road near Harper Lane, Calaveras Sheriff’s deputies observed a man running across property located on the 2000 block of Hogan Dam Road. As they went to investigate they saw the man, later identified as Benjamin Thomas Kerr (27) of Valley Springs run from several storage containers that were on the property. The deputies also noticed that the property was posted as private property with no trespassing signs also prominently posted. Upon inspecting the storage containers they found an open door. Outside the door they noticed a motorcycle lying on the ground that appeared to have been removed from the container. The deputies searched the area where Suspect Kerr fled to and located him on the far side of the property. The deputies noticed that he had removed a shirt that they initially saw him wearing.

When questioned, Suspect Kerr admitted that he was the person that the deputies saw running from the storage containers. He also stated that someone had driven him to and dropped him off at the property. He said that he had prior knowledge that the motorcycle was stored inside the container. Suspect Kerr was arrested and booked into the Calaveras County Jail on the charges of attempted burglary (felony), attempted vehicle theft (felony), and conspiracy to commit a crime (felony).

Based on Suspect Kerr’s statement, further investigation of this crime led deputies to another man, Jeremiah Nathaniel James (28) of Valley Springs, who was also allegedly involved in the attempted burglary. The deputies located Suspect James at a Valley Springs gas station where he was questioned. He admitted to driving Suspect Kerr to the property. He was arrested and booked into the Calaveras County Jail on the charges of attempted burglary (felony), attempted vehicle theft (felony), and conspiracy to commit a crime (felony). Suspect James was recently released from a California Department of Corrections prison per AB109, and is on Post Release Community Supervision in Calaveras County.
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