On Friday, April 27, Pine Cove resident Ronald Kimmerle, 49, was arrested at his residence in the 25000 block of Laurel Drive on suspicion of receiving stolen goods. A day later, he was released after posting bail ($500 on $5,000 bail).
The penal code section under which Kimmerle was charged can be either a felony or a misdemeanor based on the value of stolen goods received and the discretion of a grand jury or district attorney. If value is under $950, the charge can be reduced to a misdemeanor.
Hemet Station Special Investigations Supervisor Wallace Clear said that articles in Kimmerle’s possession are still being inventoried and he estimates the value will exceed $950. He also indicated the case was filed with the strongest evidence available at time of filing, but as additional items are inventoried the case and the charges are likely to grow.
No evidence exists at this time directly linking Kimmerle to any burglaries but that investigations continue, according to Clear. He added the stolen articles are unusual in their variety. Some, such as appliances, weapons and a pristine collection of sequenced $2 bills had obvious value. The presence of others such as an urn containing a deceased’s ashes with the deceased’s name on a plaque and a wedding dress seemed odd, as if taken indiscriminately.
Riverside County Sheriff’s Department had conducted a warrant search of Kimmerle’s residence and several adjoining cabins on Thursday, April 26, in response to an investigation of a previous Pine Cove burglary as well as tips from the public regarding the particular stolen property.
Kimmerle was not at his residence at the time of the warrant search but returned the next day at which time deputies arrested him.
Clear said investigators were able to return some of the stolen property to rightful owners and will continue to return more as soon as they inventory all items and locate additional owners. “It appears that items in Kimmerle’s possession were from at least 6 to 8 burglaries in the Idyllwild area including the recent Pine Cove burglary of the home in the 52000 block of Sugar Pine Drive,” said Clear. “There was stolen property in each of the cabins searched [contiguous cabins to which Kimmerle had apparent access as caretaker or handyman, according to Clear].”
Anyone with any additional information regarding this investigation is encouraged to contact Investigator Robertson of the Hemet Station at (951) 791-3400. Clear said that information and tips from the community were invaluable in the investigation leading to the warrant search and Kimmerle’s arrest. He said his team and Hemet station had no control over Kimmerle’s bail release and that it was a court matter.