Linda man linked to 6 stolen vehicles

A car chase early Saturday in Linda ended with two men in custody, one of whom was linked to at least six stolen vehicles, the Yuba County Sheriff's Department reported.

Markus Lee Pace, 26, of Linda, was arrested on suspicion of two counts of vehicle theft, receiving stolen property and committing felonies while out of jail on a prior charge, according to Yuba County Jail booking records. Bail was set at $155,000.

Deputies said Pace was involved in at least six recent car thefts, including two cars that were recovered Saturday before they had been reported stolen.

"I don't know the time frame for all the thefts, but we believe he's been stealing some cars lately," Undersheriff Jerry Read said.

Agustin Sanchez, 28, of Marysville, was linked to at least two vehicle thefts, Sheriff Steve Durfor said in a statement.

Deputies tried to stop a green Acura with a defective tail light around 9:30 a.m. on Park Avenue. The vehicle turned into a parking lot at 5968 Park Ave., then into an empty field at the north end of the lot, the Sheriff's Department said.

"The driver attempted to evade the deputies by driving through the trees in the field," Read said.

During the chase, the fleeing vehicle hit a large hole and was damaged significantly, forcing the driver to stop near a fence, where both men fled on foot, the Sheriff's Department said.

Sanchez stopped running after a short distance and was arrested. Sanchez's bail was set at $36,000.

Pace, the driver, ran into the Countrywoods Apartments and was apprehended a short time later, authorities said.

Deputies said the Acura was stolen recently in Olivehurst, but had not been reported. During the investigation, another deputy connected Pace and Sanchez to a Saturn which was also an unreported stolen vehicle out of Plumas Lake.

"Video surveillance where the Saturn was located showed both Pace and Sanchez exiting the stolen vehicle," Durfor said.

Deputies eventually linked Pace to three more stolen vehicles from Olivehurst and Linda and another that was recovered Friday night on Country Club Road.

Investigators are working to identify additional suspects, Read said.

Pace has a history of theft in Yuba County, including at least two arrests earlier this year. He was picked up Jan. 11 in the Thorntree area on suspicion of receiving stolen property and arrested again Jan. 17 on Gossett Way on suspicion of petty theft with prior convictions.

Last year, Marysville police arrested Pace after they found a stolen car at his home.

He later pleaded no contest to receiving stolen property and was sentenced to 16 months in the county jail.

In 2006, Pace was arrested on suspicion of vandalizing the Veterans of Foreign Wars section of the Marysville Cemetery. Police said about $1,200 in damage was caused when headstones were toppled and broken and both the US and POW/MIA flags and flagpoles were stolen. Disposition of those cases was not available Saturday night.

CONTACT Rob Parsons at rparsons@appealdemocrat.com or 749-4785. Find him on Facebook at /ADcrimebeat or on Twitter at @ADcrimebeat.