Theft charge reduced for man found in possession of keys to stolen car

A theft case involving a man who allegedly admitting to driving a vehicle that he knew had been stolen and leaving it parked outside a grocery store has been remanded to Circuit Court. Jose Alejandro Riquelme Castaneda has entered into an agreement in which he has agreed to plead guilty to an amended misdemeanor charge.

On February 27, a Crook County Sheriff’s Office deputy responded to a report of a suspicious vehicle parked at Paradise Foods in Pine Haven. The deputy reports running the VIN and was advised that the vehicle had been stolen from Campbell County.

The deputy reports that he recognized the vehicle as having been parked outside of a Pine Haven residence the day before that he knew of due to prior law enforcement contacts. He was also aware of a male individual associated with the address being arrested the day before.

A Campbell County Sheriff’s Office deputy interviewed Riquelme Castaneda at the Crook County Sheriff’s Office. Riquelme Castenada allegedly admitted that he was aware the vehicle was stolen because he heard about it through a news report.

Riquelme Castaneda allegedly stated he drove the vehicle to Paradise Foods and left it there to get rid of it. The key fob to the vehicle was allegedly located in his property at the detention center.

Riquelme Castaneda was originally charged with one felony count of theft and will now face an amended misdemeanor charge.