Two arrested in string of Tuolumne burglaries

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SONORA -- Tuolumne County officials arrested a man and woman they say are suspects in several recent burglaries in the area.

The man, Richard P. Nelson, 32, of Twentynine Palms, also had a felony warrant from Southern California for his arrest in connection with a parole violation, officials said.

Authorities have chased Nelson twice in recent months, said Lt. Dan Bressler of the Tuolumne County Sheriff's Department.

At 10 a.m. Thursday, a Tuolumne County sheriff's deputy was on patrol when he saw a Dodge truck near Sonora Regional Medical Center. According to Bressler, the deputy recognized the people inside the truck, Nelson and Rachael L. Bonfadini, 25, as suspects in recent burglaries.

The deputy followed the truck to Andy's Home Center at 900 Mono Way. He then followed Nelson into the store, while others arrested Bonfadini, Bressler said.

Officials said Nelson walked through the store and out the back door. Sheriff's deputies, state parole officers, the California Highway Patrol and Sonora police searched for Nelson until almost 3:30 p.m., when someone reported to dispatchers that he was seen running across Highway 108.

Deputies spotted him as he ran through brush, then cornered him 45 minutes later in the old Lime Kiln Plant area, Bressler said. Officials said they found stolen property in the truck, as well as evidence that the two were involved in several recent burglaries and signs that both use methamphetamine.

Bonfadini of Sonora is being held on $20,000 bail. Nelson has no bail because of the parole violation.