Two arrested in Sonoma bank robbery had been under surveillance

Catrina Hockney and Miguel Maravilla had come to the attention of law enforcement agencies weeks ago following a series of attempted robberies in Napa.

Early Friday, police legwork had found that a distinctive 2007 tan Chevy pickup identified by witnesses at other incidents was registered to Hockney. Police tailed the couple later that day as they allegedly cased numerous banks and businesses in Napa and American Canyon. Saturday, the couple drove to Sonoma, where police said they appeared to be casing businesses there.

Then the Sonoma Wells Fargo Bank at the corner of West Napa and 5th streets was robbed Saturday afternoon.

Police responded immediately. Just two blocks away from the bank both Hockney, 34, and Maravilla, 45, both of Napa, were arrested.

They were booked in Sonoma County Jail on felony robbery and conspiracy charges where they remained Monday with bail set at $500,000 each. Both are set to appear in court today at 1:30 p.m.

It was unclear Monday what the couple’s relationship was.

Hockney and Maravilla first came to the attention of Napa police Aug. 13, when employee at Lola’s Market in Napa reported to emergency dispatchers just after 7 a.m. that two armed people were sitting in a vehicle in front of the store with masks. The employee locked the door and the two couldn’t get in.

An hour later, a Napa police officer stopped the vehicle with Hockney and Maravilla inside.

The rear license plate had been covered and two masks were found inside the vehicle, but no weapons.

Neither Hockney nor Maravilla was arrested, but their vehicle was towed for expired registration.

Two weeks later on Aug. 27, a woman Napa police believe to be Hockney entered Pueblo Market in Napa just before 10 a.m. with a scarf covering her face and a semi-automatic handgun in her waistband. The suspect pulled out the gun and robbed the clerk of an undisclosed amount of money.

On Wednesday, a man Napa police believe to be Maravilla attempted to rob Amigos Market in Napa at 2 p.m. at gunpoint but was unsuccessful.

Several hours later, a man matching the description of the attempted robber in Napa tried to hold up a Taco Bell in Benicia but also failed, officials said.

A memo was circulated among law enforcement agencies afterward to be on the watch for a conspicuous tan four-door pickup with a lifted suspension and aftermarket LED lights.

Early Friday, Napa police found the vehicle. It was registered to Hockney.

Napa detectives then began to trail Hockney and Maravilla as they cased businesses and banks in Napa, American Canyon and then, Saturday, in Sonoma, police said.

Around 2 p.m. Hockney allegedly walked into the Wells Fargo Bank wearing a hat, sunglasses and a large lunchbox slung over her shoulder.

She placed the lunchbox on the counter and handed a note to the teller saying it was a robbery and demanding all the large bills from the drawer, said Sgt. Spencer Crum, spokesman for the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office.

The teller complied and handed cash to Hockey who then left the bank and walked to the tan Chevrolet pickup where Maravilla was in the driver’s seat.

But two blocks away police surrounded the truck with guns drawn. Maravilla was taken out and handcuffed. Hockney was on the floor of the truck’s back seat attempting to change her clothes, Crum said.

She was pulled out by Sonoma police while wearing pants and a bra. In her mouth police found the crumpled note she had presented to the teller, Crum said, adding she was found with a large amount of cash. It’s likely the note included threats but many words were indecipherable after she tried to eat the paper, Crum said.

No weapons were found in the truck.

After the two were taken into custody, Napa police served a search warrant to their house on 1st Street in Napa. Later, police learned a third party had asked Hockney’s mother, Shontaine Brayton, 53, to retrieve a semi-automatic handgun that detectives had missed.

Monday, Napa police stopped Brayton as she left Hockney’s house and found a handgun in a bucket in her car. Brayton was arrested and booked in the Napa County Jail on charges of felony conspiracy and felony accessory.

Aside from the charges Hockney and Maravilla face in Sonoma County, Napa police also are seeking arrest warrants for the two over their alleged crimes in the past weeks

You can reach Staff Writer Nick Rahaim at 707-521-5203 or nick.rahaim@pressdemocrat.com. On Twitter @nrahaim.