Anderson “Grinches” who stole child’s Christmas present arrested

ANDERSON, Calif. — Authorities in Anderson say two more “porch pirates” were apprehended this week, following a weeks-long investigation that ultimately led to the couple’s arrest and the return of a child’s Christmas present that was stolen off a victim’s front porch.

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City of Anderson police officers began investigating the theft on Dec. 5, after a local resident reported the theft of a package containing a child’s Christmas present from their front porch, Anderson PD has since reported on social media.

“The resident provided surveillance video to the responding officers that showed a shirtless white male adult arriving in a black SUV walking up to their porch, and stealing their package,” APD explained; adding that through their investigation officers were able to identify the suspect vehicle’s license plate.

A pair of “grinches”, Stephanie Walton and Adam Michaels, were arrested after a weeks-long investigation into the theft of a child’s Christmas present from an Anderson victim’s front porch. APD photos

On Wednesday, Dec. 16, an Anderson police officer spotted the theft suspect’s vehicle in the area of Olinda and Peter Pan Gulch roads and conducted a traffic stop on the vehicle.

The driver, Stephanie Walton, 40, of Anderson, was found to have an active warrant for her arrest, a suspended drivers license, and was in possession of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia, according to APD.

“When questioned about the package theft Walton admitted to being the driver of the vehicle at the time of the theft, and admitted the stolen property was at her residence,” officials explained.

Continuing their investigation, officers went to Walton’s residence where they located Adam Michaels, 39, of Anderson.

“Michaels was found to have five active warrants for his arrest and was identified as the suspect in the package theft,” said APD; adding, “Michaels admitted his involvement in the theft and led officers to the stolen property so it could be returned.” 

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Based on their investigation, officers arrested Walton and Michaels for their warrants as well as possession of stolen property, and drug possession. The vehicle the couple used in the theft was also impounded.

The child’s stolen Christmas present was later returned to the grateful victim, according to APD, who later used the opportunity to remind area residents of the prevalence of package thefts that occur around this time of year and encouraged all residents to take precautions “to prevent grinches from stealing their presents.”


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Trevor Montgomery, 49, moved in 2017 to the Intermountain area of Shasta County from Riverside County and runs Riverside County News Source and Shasta County News Source. Additionally, he writes or has written for several other news organizations; including Riverside County based newspapers, Valley News, (the now defunct) Valley Chronicle, Anza Valley Outlook, and Hemet & San Jacinto Chronicle; as well as Bonsall/Fallbrook Village News in San Diego County and Mountain Echo in Shasta County.

Trevor spent 10 years in the U.S. Army as an Orthopedic Specialist before joining the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department in 1998. He was medically retired after losing his leg, breaking his back, and suffering both spinal cord and brain injuries in an off-duty accident. (Click here to see segment of Discovery Channel documentary of Trevor’s accident.)

During his time with the sheriff’s department, Trevor worked at several different stations; including Robert Presley Detention Center, Southwest Station in Temecula, Hemet/Valle Vista Station, Ben Clark Public Safety Training Center, and Lake Elsinore Station; along with other locations.

Trevor’s assignments included Corrections, Patrol, DUI Enforcement, Boat and Personal Water-Craft based Lake Patrol, Off-Road Vehicle Enforcement, Problem Oriented Policing Team, and Personnel/Background Investigations. He finished his career while working as a Sex Crimes and Child Abuse Investigator and was a court-designated expert in child abuse and child sex-related crimes.

Trevor has been married for more than 30 years and was a foster parent to more than 60 children over 13 years. He is now an adoptive parent and his “fluid family” includes 13 children and 18 grandchildren.