TAFT — A 19-year-old Taft man was arrested on Sunday in connection with robbing a 17-year old Maricopa resident earlier this month.
Nicholas Bethell was booked into the Taft City Jail for first degree robbery and an outstanding misdemeanor warrant. His bail has been set at $25,000 for the robbery charge, and $15,000 for being under the influence of a controlled substance.
According to the Kern County Sheriff’s Office, Bethell approached the victim, initiated a conversation, then punched the victim in the face and stole the victim’s skateboard in the area of Green Street and Hazelton Street in Maricopa on Sunday, April 12. Bethell then jumped back into the vehicle he was riding in and fled the scene.
Nearly two weeks later, Taft Police Department officers assisted deputies in locating Bethell, who was taken into custody without incident on April 26 at around 10 a.m.
Travis Owens, the 18-year old Ford City resident who was driving the vehicle Bethell was riding in, is also being sought by police for conspiracy and first degree robbery.
