Full Notification

On October 6, 2015, at about 3:08PM, Sonoma County Sheriff Office River substation Deputies were dispatched to a residential burglary on Rio Nido Road in the Russian River area of West County.

The residence is owned by an elderly couple who have owned the house since the 1940s. They use the Rio Nido house as their vacation home. The elderly couple have never had any issues with theft in the seventy years that they have owned the house.

Yesterday, when the victims arrived at their home, they discovered that it had been burglarized. There were broken windows, the doors were damaged and the house was completely ransacked. Virtually every room inside the house was in complete disarray. There were open food items strewn about and numerous empty bottles of various alcoholic beverages scattered all over the floors. Almost everything of monetary and sentimental value was missing.

Most notably missing were dozens of boxes of unopened Star Wars collectables. The memorabilia was unique and of considerable worth. The Patrol Deputies requested CSI and Property Crimes Detectives respond to the scene.

Once Detectives arrived at the scene, CSI Detectives began to process the victims’ house for evidence. Property Crimes Detectives began to canvass the neighborhood for witnesses. While Detectives were walking around the neighborhood, they saw an empty Star Wars box in front of the home of Dennis Hickox. Hickox lives on Rio Nido Road very near the victims’ house.

Detectives contacted Hickox at his home and inquired about the Star Wars collector’s item box in his front yard. Detectives searched inside the house they discovered most of the victims’ stolen property.

Hickox was cooperative with PCI Detectives and assisted in the recovery of the victims’ stolen property, which included furniture, paintings, clothing, throw rugs, tools, records, and the impressive Star Wars collection. The stolen property was inventoried, photographed and returned to the victims.

Hickox is 42 years old and was arrested and transported to the Sonoma County jail where he was booked for Residential Burglary and Possession of Stolen Property. Hickox’s bail was set at $40,000 and he is scheduled to appear before a judge on October 8 at 1:30.

Anyone with information about Hickox or this case is encouraged to call the Investigations Tip Line at 707-565-2185. That phone takes messages at any hour and you can remain anonymous if you desire.


Case #151006-022


Prepared by Sergeant Cecile Focha
Media Relations/ PIO