Arson, Burglary Suspects In Court Friday

Two Groveland men and a Sonora teen are in custody after being implicated in a fire that destroyed a Jamestown home before dawn last Thursday morning.

22-year old James Albert Tyler and 22-year old John Dale Mitchell Junior face a variety of charges when they return to court on Friday morning for a preliminary hearing. Tuolumne County Sheriff´s Lieutenant Roger Dittberner says the two men and one juvenile are believed to be responsible for a number of burglaries and car thefts in the area, as well as the arson fire that destroyed a home on Jenny Court near Bell Mooney Road. The home was unoccupied at the time of the fire and there were no injuries. Damage was estimated at $400-thousand. Information on the 16-year old suspect is being withheld due to his age.

Dittberner says investigators believe the trio may be responsible for stealing four vehicles and for committing three burglaries. Three of the stolen cars have been recovered. Albert and Mitchell are scheduled to appear in court on Friday at 9 a.m. in Department three of the courthouse on Washington Street. They may enter a plea at the hearing.