Ione Man Arrested in Pioneer-area Truck Theft

By Staff Report

A 24-year-old Ione man was arrested last Wednesday with the help of an El Dorado County grocery store employee, authorities said in a news release.

Jakob Kent Marhefka, 24, of Ione was arrested Wednesday and charged with vehicle theft, possession of stolen property and a controlled substance, resisting arrest and being armed in the commission of a felony, District Attorney Todd Riebe said.

According to an Amador County Sheriff´s Office report, five of the charges were felonies, plus Marhefka was charged with misdemeanor burglary and his bail was set at $50,000.

The arrest was the result of a DA and Sheriff´s office investigation prompted by the report of numerous vehicle and property thefts around the county in recent months, Riebe said.

Marhefka was identified as a suspect in a recent truck theft and was reported being seen in the Mt. Aukum area of El Dorado County. Last Wednesday, during surveillance, he was spotted arriving at the Mt. Aukum General Store and driving the stolen truck, Riebe said.

“Marhefka was contacted inside the store and when investigators attempted to arrest him, he fled,” Riebe said. “Store employee Rod Chronister subdued Marhefka before he could exit the store and Marhefka was taken into custody by investigators without further incident.”

Riebe said that Amador sheriff´s detectives, who were participating in the investigation, identified and recovered numerous items of property stolen during a recent theft in the Fiddletown area.