Authorities say Calif. man stole car to make court appearance on previous auto theft charge

Associated Press

Last update: November 6, 2009 - 10:21 PM

Print this story

More from Nation

VALLEJO, Calif. - The California Highway Patrol say a man stole a car to make a court appearance on a previous auto theft charge.

Patrol investigator Chris Linehan says he arrested Samuel Botchvaroff Tuesday as he sat inside a stolen 2000 Range Rover at the Vallejo courthouse. The 24-year-old Botchvaroff had just left his arraignment on auto theft charges stemming from an Oct. 31 arrest.

Linehan said the Range Rover's LoJack system helped him locate the vehicle, which had been stolen from Oakland earlier Tuesday morning.

Authorities say Botchvaroff told officers his car had been impounded, and he had no other way to get to his arraignment.

He was booked into Solano County Jail on suspicion of auto theft and possession of stolen property.

Recent Nation stories

2 former judges granted partial judicial immunity in NE Pa. kids-for-cash kickback lawsuit - November 6, 2009

2 former judges granted partial judicial immunity in NE Pa. kids-for-cash kickback lawsuit - Two former county judges accused of taking millions of dollars in kickbacks to send juveniles to private detention facilities are partially immune from civil lawsuits, a federal judge in Pennsylvania ruled Friday. More