South County Justice Center employee arrested for stealing money from co-workers
Tulare County CA Sept 10 2018
On Thursday at 5 p.m., the Tulare County Sheriff’s Office arrested 40-year-old Melody Morales Montijo of Porterville following the investigation of ongoing thefts at the South County Justice Center in Porterville. Montijo is a Tulare County Court employee and is currently on paid administrative leave.
The investigation started on May 25 after several employees from the Justice Center reported missing money from their personal belongings that were stored at or near their work stations within the courthouse. Detectives from the Property Crimes Unit were notified and began the investigation.
Between May and August, 2018, the suspect stole approximately $1,067 dollars from multiple victims. The Sheriff’s Office used covert equipment, bait money and Smartwater — a traceable liquid applied to items of value to identify thieves and deter theft — from their Agricultural Crimes Unit to help solve the case.
At the time of the Montijo’s arrest, Smartwater was found on her body, as well as the clothes she was wearing at the time of the crime. Montijo was contacted and interviewed, and after confessing to the crimes, she was taken to the Porterville Sheriff’s Substation and booked into custody without incident.
Anyone with information is urged to contact Detective Richard Ramirez at the Tulare County Sheriff’s Department via telephone at #1-800-808-0488 or anonymously at tcso@tipnow.com or by text or voicemail at #559-725-4194.
