Suspected Santa Rosa looters may be tried

A judge ruled there’s sufficient evidence to try a Monterey County couple on charges they looted a Santa Rosa apartment after last month’s wildfires, making off with jewelry, electronics and a box containing the ashes of someone’s dead dog.

Johnathon Conner, 30, and Christina Marsh, 22, were held to answer on 10 felony counts following a preliminary hearing Tuesday in Sonoma County Superior Court.

Both face about eight years in prison if convicted of all charges. A trial date may be set at their next court appearance Nov. 22.

They remain in custody with bail set at $500,000 each.

Officers testified Conner stole a truck in Monterey County and the pair drove to the Overlook apartments off Bicentennial Way in Fountaingrove on Oct. 28.

Conner made two trips inside an apartment while Marsh served as lookout, monitoring an app on her cellphone that tracks police activity, the officers said.

Witnesses called police who pursued the truck to west Santa Rosa, where they found it abandoned on Bel Air Way. Marsh and Conner were arrested on Royal Oak Place.

The stolen property, including a wooden box with the dog’s ashes in it, was recovered.

After hearing the evidence, Judge Elliot Daum ruled they may be tried on felony charges including grand theft, vehicle theft, possession of stolen property, receiving stolen property and conspiracy. Other charges include identity theft and possession of burglary tools.

They were the first of four people arrested in Santa Rosa on looting charges to be bound over for trial.

You can reach Staff Writer Paul Payne at 707-568-5312 or paul.payne@pressdemocrat.com. On Twitter @ppayne.