Transient to be charged in theft of Romoland horses valued at $140,000

ROMOLAND, Calif. — Authorities yesterday announced the safe recovery of four horses that had been stolen last month from the unincorporated community of Romoland, east of Perris.

The horses, described as one Andalusian/Saddlebred and three Friesian Sport horses, were recovered at a Murrieta ranch and have since been reunited with their owner, according to officials; who said the horses were valued at $140,000.

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A deputy from the Perris Sheriff’s Station began investigating the thefts Sunday morning, July 12, at 8:30 a.m., after responding to a home on the 28000 block of Wendover Rd., Riverside Sheriff’s Sgt. Michael Hamilton has since reported.

The Perris Station Burglary/Robbery Suppression Team assumed the investigation and began gathering information and developing leads about the thefts.

Officials investigating the theft of four horses from a Romoland home last month, yesterday located and recovered the stolen equines, including this horse named Ducati. All four horses were later turned over to their owner. RSO photo

As their investigation was continuing officials learned the stolen horses were possibly being hidden at a ranch on the 23000 block of Adams Ave., in the city of Murrieta.

On Wednesday, Aug. 5, members of Perris Station’s Burglary/Robbery Suppression Team, along with the Investigations Bureau, Special Enforcement Team, Problem Oriented Policing Team, and other deputies served a search warrant at the ranch, according to Hamilton.

While serving the search warrant, officials located and recovered the stolen horses and identified Anaiah Powers, a 21 year-old transient, as being responsible for the thefts.

“Charges will be requested with the District Attorney’s Office for grand theft as a result of the investigation,” said Hamilton.

The horses, named Maserati, Ducati, Crimson King and Diva, were later turned over to their grateful owner.

Anyone with additional information regarding this investigation is encouraged to contact Investigator John Layos at the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department – Perris Station by calling (951) 210-1000, or by email. Callers can refer to incident file number PC201940023 and can remain anonymous.


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RSO photos


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Trevor Montgomery, 48, moved in 2017 to the Intermountain area of Shasta County from Riverside County and runs Riverside County News Source and Shasta County News Source. Additionally, he writes or has written for several other news organizations; including Riverside County based newspapers, Valley News, (the now defunct) Valley Chronicle, Anza Valley Outlook, and Hemet & San Jacinto Chronicle; as well as Bonsall/Fallbrook Village News in San Diego County and Mountain Echo in Shasta County.

Trevor spent 10 years in the U.S. Army as an Orthopedic Specialist before joining the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department in 1998. He was medically retired after losing his leg, breaking his back, and suffering both spinal cord and brain injuries in an off-duty accident. (Click here to see segment of Discovery Channel documentary of Trevor’s accident.)

During his time with the sheriff’s department, Trevor worked at several different stations; including Robert Presley Detention Center, Southwest Station in Temecula, Hemet/Valle Vista Station, Ben Clark Public Safety Training Center, and Lake Elsinore Station; along with other locations.

Trevor’s assignments included Corrections, Patrol, DUI Enforcement, Boat and Personal Water-Craft based Lake Patrol, Off-Road Vehicle Enforcement, Problem Oriented Policing Team, and Personnel/Background Investigations. He finished his career while working as a Sex Crimes and Child Abuse Investigator and was a court-designated expert in child abuse and child sex-related crimes.

Trevor has been married for more than 29 years and was a foster parent to more than 60 children over 13 years. He is now an adoptive parent and his “fluid family” includes 13 children and 16 grandchildren.