1 Snake, 3 Suspected Burglars Apprehended By Murrieta Police

MURRIETA, CA — Two of three men suspected of burglarizing a Murrieta shoe store early Wednesday morning remained out of custody Thursday, while one snake discovered during the investigation was turned over to animal control.

Jose Manuel Leon-Navarrette, 21, Mailo Angulo, 23, and Joseph Benjamin Maestas, 29, were arrested by Murrieta police shortly after 3 a.m., but only Leon-Navarrette remains behind bars.

According to the Murrieta police department, the arrests occurred after officers responded to a commercial burglar alarm at a shoe store near Murrieta Hot Springs Road and Alta Murrieta Drive.

When officers arrived, they found the store had a broken window and a gold minivan was leaving the parking lot. Officers pulled the vehicle over and found the three men along with several pairs of new shoes and tools commonly used to commit burglaries, according to the department.

Officers also found a live snake in a container, according to the Murrieta Police Department.

Leon-Navarrette was jailed at Southwest Detention Center on suspicion of second-degree burglary, grand theft, receiving stolen property, and violating terms of his prison release — all felonies — and misdemeanor possession of burglary tools and obstruction. No bail was set for him and he was due to appear in court Friday.

Angulo's bail was set at $0, so he was released from custody after being booked at Southwest Detention Center on suspicion of conspiracy to commit a crime, second-degree burglary, grand theft, and receiving known stolen property. He was also booked on misdemeanor possession of burglary tools.

Maestas was released from custody Wednesday morning in lieu of $5,000 bail after being booked into Southwest Detention Center on suspicion of conspiracy to commit a crime, second-degree burglary, grand theft, receiving known stolen property, and misdemeanor possession of burglary tools and carrying a concealed dirk or dagger.

In 2014, Maestas was convicted of misdemeanor carrying a concealed dirk or dagger, court records show.

Maestas and Angulo are scheduled to appear in court July 23, jail records show.