Calaveras County: Two arrested after fictitious checks, fake IDs, and more reportedly discovered in vehicle
Photo: Calaveras County Sheriff’s Office
Calaveras County authorities have arrested two people in Valley Springs on a slew of charges, including identity theft and violation of probation.
Jessica James Brauer (29, of San Andreas) and Timothy Potts (46) were arrested on the afternoon of February 1 after a deputy working as a probation liaison noticed suspicious behavior in a parked vehicle.
According to the Sheriff’s Department, the deputy recognized both of them immediately and knew they were on probation.
The deputy soon noticed several credit cards, displaying various names, visible inside the car. None of these names matched Brauer or Potts.
Both individuals were taken into custody after an illegal baton was found in Potts’ possession and Brauer admitted to possessing methamphetamine.
Deputies conducted a thorough search of the pair’s vehicle, reportedly turning up numerous fictitious checks, in various amounts totaling $10,000, that appeared to have been made out to Potts.
Deputies also found a collection of social security numbers belonging to both private citizens and public businesses, as well as altered driver’s license cards. During the investigation, Potts was found to have been actively communicating with more victims of alleged identity theft-related crimes.
Both Brauer and Potts have since been booked at the Calaveras County Jail and are not eligible for bail.
