SANTA NELLA, CA — A Santa Nella man was arrested this week after deputies recovered specialized movie set lighting equipment valued between $35,000 and $50,000, according to the Merced County Sheriff’s Department.
Deputy Casas initially responded to a report on December 3 of a vehicle burglary in the 12300 block of Highway 33, where the victim reported that film production lighting had been stolen from a semi-truck.
Detectives tracked leads and, around 9 p.m. that evening, executed search warrants at two residences — one near Henry Miller Avenue and Highway 33, and another in the Santa Nella trailer park. Authorities recovered a range of stolen property linked to other cases at both locations, with the missing movie set lights located at the trailer park residence.
Aaron Avila, 37, of Santa Nella, was arrested and booked into the Merced County Jail on suspicion of possessing stolen property.
The investigation is ongoing, and authorities ask anyone with information to contact Detective Darren Stevens at 209-385-7472.
