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Trial date reset; Rocha to stand trial April 16
Recardo Rocha, 32, appeared in Lincoln County Superior Court on Tuesday, Feb. 18, for a readiness hearing. He is the fifth man to face trial in the Almira Burglary
ALMIRA - Another man charged in the Almira burglary case appeared in Lincoln County Superior Court for his readiness hearing in preparation for his upcoming trial.
Recardo Rocha, 32, appeared in Lincoln County Superior Court on Tuesday, Feb. 18, for a readiness hearing on multiple felony charges stemming from a residential burglary.
The defense asked the state to reschedule the trial date and readiness hearing previously set in court and moved to have the trial set for April 16 at 9 a.m. with a readiness hearing set for March 25 at 10:30 a.m.
Rocha faces charges of residential burglary, second-degree theft, motor vehicle theft, three counts of firearm theft, second-degree burglary, and first-degree trafficking in stolen property. His bail was initially set at $25,000 surety or cash.
On Jan. 9, Deputy Hudspeth responded to a reported burglary at 212 North 3rd Street.
The homeowner reported that his Jeep Wrangler was missing and his garage door was open.
According to court reports, Gary and Stephanie Peterson, who previously lived at the residence full-time but now reside in Wilbur, had not been to the property since New Year's Eve.
A neighbor noticed the shop door open on Jan. 4, alerting them to the break-in.
Missing items included a Liberty safe containing three handguns, a dark blue 1997 Jeep Wrangler, a portable generator, a paint sprayer, Chevron toy models, liquor, and stereo speakers.
The safe was valued at $1,200. The Petersons' son, Kyle Peterson, owned the stolen firearms: a Smith & Wesson M&P .40 caliber, a Kimber Custom .45 caliber, and a Sig Sauer P365 XL .40 caliber.
Records show investigators found pry marks on the shop's northside door and damage to the residence's back door, indicating forced entry.
Surveillance footage from Almira School showed a suspicious individual riding a bicycle on Jan. 6 at 4:32 p.m.
According to court documents, the man, later identified as Rocha, was confronted by a school coach who confirmed his name.
Footage from that night at 10:28 p.m. captured a white sedan circling the residence. Hours later, video showed the Jeep being driven away, appearing to tow the stolen Liberty safe. A Chevrolet Tahoe pulling a small utility trailer was seen following the Jeep's path.
Deputies traced a white 2019 Hyundai Sonata to 112 North 7th Street. The vehicle was registered to Thea R. Wenz, who was arraigned in Lincoln County Superior Court in early February and has a trial date set for April 16 at 9 a.m.
Rocha admitted to being a lookout and driver for the burglary. He identified his accomplices as Delila Reid, Thea Wenz, and Jose Medina-Lomeli. Rocha claimed Medina-Lomeli stole the Jeep alone.
According to court reports, Rocha stated that after the burglary, stolen items were transferred from his vehicle to a Tahoe that arrived at the scene. He denied involvement in the second burglary involving the Jeep and the firearm safe. Rocha also told deputies he could not provide contact information for his co-conspirators.
Records show Deputy Hudspeth questioned Rocha about firearms at the residence, to which he denied knowledge. Rocha also stated he did not drive the Jeep, as he could not operate a manual transmission.
Olivia Harnack is the award-winning managing editor/photographer/videographer/columnist at the Lincoln County Record-Times, with offices in both Davenport and Odessa, Wash. She is a University of Idaho graduate and a U.S. Army National Guardsman.
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