Previous suspect arrested on fresh burglary charges

An Orland man is back in custody on possible burglary charges less then three weeks after he was released from jail.

Prosecutors opted to file unrelated burglary charges against him and two others at that time, records state.

Police believe Raul G. Montalvo has committed at least two, but likely many more, burglaries in Glenn County over the last year, authorities said.

“He never should’ve been out on the streets in the first place,” Orland police Sgt. J.C. Tolle said.

Montalvo, 26, was arrested again Tuesday night after a Willows man reportedly came home to find Montalvo inside his apartment with his wife and three toddler-age children asleep, Willows police Chief Bill Spears said.

“(Montalvo) is very fortunate the home in this case was not armed,” Willows police Chief Bill Spears said. “Fortunate in this case and the many others he’s allegedly committed.”

Spears said Anderson came home and was “totally surprised” to find the man later identified as Montalvo inside the family’s small apartment in the 200 block of West Laurel Street in Willows just before 6 p.m.

Police believe Montalvo forced entry through the front door.

No one was hurt and Spears said the family was never physically threatened.

The reported burglar ran back out the front door when Anderson returned home and fled the scene in a “green suburban type vehicle,” Spears said.

The thief reportedly made off with a wallet, a camera, an undetermined amount of cash and some jewelry, none of which have been recovered. The property’s reported value was estimated at about $1,000, Spears said.

Anderson and his wife, Mary Nouanmany, 28, both identified Montalvo as the man that entered their home from photographs that detectives showed them, but neither knew him personally, Spears said.

Attempts to reach Anderson and his family were not successful Wednesday afternoon.

Police put out suspect description for Montalvo and were notified just before midnight that he had been detained by Orland police and Glenn County sheriff’s deputies.

Montalvo was booked into the Glenn County Jail on suspicion of first-degree burglary and possession of a controlled substance, both felonies, as well as a misdemeanor drug possession allegation.

Montalvo was previously arrested by Orland police on Aug. 10, along with his brother, Daniel Gomez, and Gomez’s girlfriend, Maria D. Montez, on suspicion of burglary.

Police reportedly caught Montalvo with jewelry in his pants pockets that was reportedly stolen.

However, Montalvo and Montez were released Aug. 13 when the Glenn County District Attorney’s Office apparently did not file the case on time, authorities said.

The reported victim from earlier this month, Necia Silva, has filed for a restraining order against Montalvo in

Glenn County Superior Court. A temporary order has been issued, and Judge Peter B. Tweed will hear arguments order Sept. 10 at the Willows courthouse, court records state.

Gomez, a parolee, was transferred back to state prison Aug. 19, jail staff confirmed Wednesday.

All three are confirmed members of an Orland street gang, authorities said.

Police are still looking into the possibility that Montalvo may have committed many of the dozens of burglaries reported in Glenn County this year, Tolle said.

Montalvo’s criminal record in Glenn County includes multiple drug-related convictions, as well as convictions for obstructing police.

Montalvo was also arrested in May in connection with a reported shooting at an Orland apartment complex. Tolle said investigators believe Montalvo was involved with the shooting, but was not the trigger man. Police believe the shooting was sparked when Montalvo and others were interrupted during a car burglary.

This has been one of the worst years in recent memory for property crimes in Glenn County, with residents reporting more than $500,000 in lost or damaged property since the new year; far exceeding last year’s totals during the same time period, authorities have reported.

Police were angered when prosecutors failed keep up with the paperwork necessary to keep Montalvo behind bars earlier this month and hope that these latest charges will stick now that new reported victims have come forward, Tolle said.

“Hopefully, he stays in jail this time.”