Full Notification

Public Information Release
March 25, 2014
Lieutenant Steve Brooks, Public Information Officer


The investigation into the theft of a wedding ring has resulted in the arrest of a Kelseyville man.

On March 15, 2014 at approximately 9:00 pm, deputies responded to a residence located in the 3000 block of Live Oak Drive in Kelseyville for a reported theft of a ring. The victim told deputies that he noticed his wife’s wedding ring was missing from the residence. He explained that he took possession of his wife’s wedding ring about six weeks ago, after she was admitted to the hospital. The victim said he placed the ring on a shelf in the kitchen and last remembered seeing it approximately three weeks ago. He noticed the ring was missing when his wife asked him to bring it to the hospital, so she could wear it home after getting discharged from the hospital. He described his wife’s ring as being made of platinum with three diamonds. He told deputies that he purchased the ring approximately sixty years ago for $1,000.00 and believes it is now worth eight to ten times the amount he paid for it.

The victim said the only people who have been at his house are his grandchildren and a person who works for him part time named Cesar. The victim did not know Cesar’s last name, but said he lived down the street. He remembered having Cesar complete some work in his kitchen, which was where the ring was last seen. The victim was able to provide the deputy with a contact telephone number Cesar.

The deputy conducted a search in the Sheriff’s Office computer system and located 34 year old Cesar Chavez Barba who lives in Kelseyville. The deputy noticed that the telephone number listed in the computer system for Barba was the same contact number the victim had provided. A further search of the computer system revealed that Barba was reported to have pawned a ring on March 6, 2014.

On March 18, 2014 the deputy was able to locate the original pawn slip from when Barba had pawned a ring for $30.00. The pawn slip also contained Barba’s thumb print, his driver’s license number and his date of birth. The deputy contacted the pawn shop and asked for a hold to be placed on the ring until further identification could be made. The deputy contacted the victim and showed him a picture of the ring, which was supplied by the pawn shop. He positively identified the ring as the one he purchased sixty years ago for his wife. The deputy seized the ring and gave it back to the victim.

On March 24, 2014 at approximately 10:45 am, deputies contacted Cesar Barba. The deputy showed Barba a picture of the ring obtained from the pawn shop and asked if he recognized it, which he denied. Barba then admitted to finding a ring in the victim’s driveway, which he pawned. He told the deputy that he was under the influence of alcohol when he found the ring and admitted to pawning it for $30.00.

Cesar Chaves Barba was arrested for theft of an elder, due to the fact the victim was over the age of 65 and grand theft. He was transported to the Lake County Hill Road Correctional Facility and booked. He is currently still in custody and his bail is set at $15,000.00