Kings deputies identify and arrest Kettleman City chainsaw theft suspects

A witness told the deputy he saw three younger Hispanic males near the shed loading items into the trunk of an older black four-door Audi sedan. The males spotted the witness and quickly fled the area.

 The deputy immediately broadcast the witness's information. Shortly deputies assigned to the Kings County Rural Crimes Task Force, who happened to be in the area, observed a black Audi matching the description provided by the witness.

A traffic enforcement stop was conducted on the vehicle and two occupants were contacted.

Deputies identified the suspect as Juan Andrade who at the time was with a 17-year-old juvenile passenger. As the investigation unfolded, Andrade admitted that he, in cohorts with his brother Christopher Andrade, and the juvenile, each stole a chainsaw from the shed in question. Andrade admitted that they stashed the three chainsaws in the bed of a black truck located at their home in Kettleman City.

Suspect Christopher Andrade

Rural Crime Detectives were unable to locate the chainsaws after visiting the residence in question. Andrade claimed that his brother, Christopher, must have recently moved them, and in fact, the younger Andrade later admitted to moving them to a different location.

Christopher Andrade took authorities to the new location where they recovered the stolen chainsaws. The chainsaws were returned to the owner.

Both Juan and Christopher Andrade were placed into custody and booked into Kings County Jail and charged with burglary, possession of the stolen property, and grand theft. Bail was set at $30,000 and both have since been released.

The male juvenile was arrested and booked into the Kings County Juvenile Center on the same charges. He has also been released.