Body found in meadow identified as Tracey Megenhardt

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. – The South Lake Tahoe Police Department have released the name of the body found in a South Tahoe meadow last month.

The body was identified as Tracey Megenhardt, 50 who was a local transient.

Megenhardt was was discovered by a wildlife photographer in the meadow behind US Bank at 2850 Lake Tahoe Blvd on Jan. 22.

The cause of death is still under investigation.

Suspect in custody after allegedly stealing sheriff’s office SUV and taking it for a joyride (updated)

Update: This story was updated with the suspect’s age, charges and bail amount.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. — A suspect is in custody this morning after allegedly stealing a car from law enforcement and going on a joyride.

Jacob Randall Wolfe, 30, was booked on charges of felony vehicle theft, felon in possession of a firearm, possession of ammunition, evading the police and impersonating a police officer. 

The El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office said during a shift change Wednesday morning that a deputy discovered their fully loaded SUV was missing from the parking lot.

The office immediately began to track the SUV and found it was traveling westbound on US Highway 50.

Assistance was sought from the Placerville Police Department and other members of the sheriff’s office.

Law enforcement units tracked down the stolen SUV and got behind the car but the driver did not stop the vehicle, according to a press release.

Placerville PD used a spike strip to disable a tire on the stolen SUV on Highway 50 near Schnell School Road. 

The vehicle stopped at Highway 50 and Spring Street and the driver was taken into custody.

The suspect, Jacob Randall Wolfe, was still wearing an El Dorado County Sheriff’s baseball cap at the time of arrest. 

“We have confirmed that no items are missing from the patrol vehicle and the gear was still locked in their appropriate areas,” said Sheriff Sgt. Anthony Prencipe in the release. “We have not yet confirmed how Wolfe gained access into the patrol vehicle.”

His bail was set at $74,000.

Lake Tahoe couple receives prison in narcotics raid

A 61-year-old Lake Tahoe man, who prosecutors say was selling methamphetamine to make ends meet, received up to seven years in prison on Tuesday.

Timothy R. Hecox, 61, was arrested during a July 20 raid on his Stateline home along with Holly J. Anderson, 50, who was also sentenced on Tuesday.

Both admitted to two counts of trafficking in methamphetamine and psilocybin mushrooms.

Prosecutor Chelsea Mazza said Hecox was responsible for setting up the deals and meeting the buyer, while Anderson was present for most of the deals, including one instance where she had to unlock the apartment so the deal could occur.

Mazza agreed Anderson’s prison terms should be served at the same time, but argued in favor of setting Hecox’s sentences consecutively.

District Judge Tod Young said he didn’t see that Hecox was any more culpable in the case than Anderson and ordered both defendants to serve their terms concurrently.

Attorney Kris Brown said Hecox had no felonies on his record.

“He admitted he was doing this to make ends meet,” she said.

Attorney Andrew Bunn said Anderson had been forthright about her involvement.

“She’s essentially reached rock bottom,” Bunn said.

Under the sentences handed down on Tuesday, both would be eligible for probation after serving 32 months. They were given credit for 112 days time served.

Fairfield woman admits to burglary spree at Lake Tahoe; Local man admits drug charges

A Fairfield, Calif., woman who was arrested during a Lake Tahoe vehicle burglary spree admitted to being a principal to grand larceny.

Briana Williams, 23, faces 1-5 years in prison and a $10,000 fine on the felony. She could also receive probation.

Williams and another woman were taken into custody after a rash of vehicle burglaries at Lake Tahoe gyms around April 11.

Attorney Maria Pence asked for a Dec. 2 sentencing, because Williams is supposed to turn herself in to serve a 120-day sentence in a South Lake Tahoe case the following week.

She was also ordered to pay $282 in restitution to the victims and $350 to the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office for extradition costs.

According to the information, Williams was in possession of five credit or debt cards and a laptop.

■ A Lake Tahoe man admitted to a count of possession of a controlled substance.

Luke Andrew Cisneros, 63, appeared in Douglas County District Court on Tuesday on a warrant return.

Cisneros faces 1-4 years in prison and a $5,000 fine in connection with a Sept. 8, 2017, drug sale.

A warrant was issued for his arrest after he failed to appear in Douglas County District Court on Sept. 11, 2018.

Attorney Andrew Bunn sought a reduction in Cisneros’ bail, but prosecutor Ric Casper pointed out that he had been on the lam for more than a year.

He said that Cisneros’ criminal record dates back to 1977.

“You’ve just been gone too long,” Young said in ordering no bail.

Cisneros is scheduled to be sentenced Dec. 17.