Three arrested for alleged mail theft in Ukiah

  On 12/24/2015 Deputies from the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office noticed several mail boxes open along the rural areas of Highway 253 and Robinson Creek Road.  Closer inspection revealed the mail boxes appeared to have been ransacked and several items of mail were strewn down the roadway.
  Due to previous mail thefts in the area, and with the approaching Christmas Holiday, the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office had begun surveillance of several locations in some of the rural areas fearing further mail thefts would occur.  Deputies viewed surveillance materials and were able to identify a vehicle associated with the theft.
  Deputies began searching the Ukiah area for the vehicle and located it at 1340 North State Street, the Discovery Inn.  Deputies learned the vehicle was associated with subjects in a particular room.  Detectives contacted Daniel Montalvo in the room and entered the room seizing it for search warrant.  Also located in this room were Shannon Archer, Joshua Dean, and Lewis Dishman.  Joshua Dean initially used a false name stating he was another person.
  Deputies received a search warrant for the room and the vehicle from a judge of the Mendocino County Superior Court and served the search warrant.  Located in the room were firearms, drug paraphernalia, pepper spray, stolen mail from multiple locations throughout the Ukiah Valley including the Highway 253 area as well as burglary tools and indicia of occupancy.
  A search of the vehicle was also completed, Deputies located stolen firearm components as well as stolen property from locations within the Ukiah valley.
  Shannon Archer was found to have convictions which precluded her from possession of firearms.  Deputies were able to positively identify Joshua Dean through photographs and learned he had outstanding arrest warrants for parole violations as well as local warrants.
  Montalvo, Dishman and Dean were arrested and booked on charges of 182 PC Criminal conspiracy, 530.5e Mail theft, 496 PC Possession of stolen property and 466 PC possession of burglary tools.  Dean was also charged with 529 PC impersonation of another.    Archer was arrested and booked on charges of 29800 PC Felon possessing a firearm and 22810a Felon possessing pepper spray.
  An investigation into this case is continuing as more victims are being located.  If you have any information regarding this crime or believe you may have been a victim in this case please contact the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office Tip Line at (707) 234-2100.