Location: Porterville CourtHouse

Incident Date: 08-30-18

Case Number: 18-6957/ 18-9078

City: Porterville

Posted by: Media Relations

Detectives Use SmartWater to Bust County Employee Stealing Money from Co-Workers

On 8-30-18 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, 2018, 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 Court House.  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 from our 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.  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.