Colusa County Superior Court Judge Jeffrey A. Thompson ruled there was sufficient evidence for an alleged mail thief to be charged with the second degree burglary of the Arbuckle Post Office.
Brent Andrew Hawley, 40, of Stockton, was arrested by Colusa County Sheriff’s Office around 10:45 PM on Dec. 22, just days before Christmas.
Hawley was located inside the post office after Deputy Rowdy Piper investigated a suspicious vehicle with multiple packages parked near the facility.
Piper reportedly found the accused Grinch lying on the floor with a screwdriver in his hand attempting to pry open one of the postal boxes, according to testimony at Hawley’s Jan. 9 preliminary hearing.
According to court records, Hawley is no stranger to these sorts of court proceedings. He pleaded no contest to identity theft in Amador County in 2019 in a plea deal that dismissed charges relating to the possession of stolen property and misdemeanor shoplifting (under $950), and was placed on probation.
On Nov. 11, 2020, Placer County Sheriff deputies arrested Hawley following a routine traffic stop, after the deputy allegedly saw what appeared to be methamphetamine in plain view on the passenger side of the vehicle.
A search of Hawley’s car turned up six glass pipes, gift cards, gas cards, hotel room keys with magnetic strips (commonly used in identity theft), a U.S. Postal Service key, a black and gray backpack containing various bank cards and identification cards, approximately 80 checks, and a silver laptop, according to a Placer County Sheriff’s Office news release. During their investigation, deputies reportedly found bank cards in Hawley’s car belonged to 20 victims of identity theft. They also found suspected stolen mail ranging from the city of Stockton to the city of Sparks, NV, in addition to two printers and paper formatted like a check, containing multiple victim names and addresses.
Hawley was charged with identity theft, mail theft, false evidence of registration, driving with a suspended license, possession of methamphetamine, possession of drug paraphernalia, and forging a check for more than $950, but the case was later dismissed, according to court records.
The investigation into the Arbuckle Post Office burglary revealed that Hawley is suspected of multiple mail thefts in different locations, and he was in possession of 49 pieces of unopened mail when he was arrested, officials said. ■