On August 23, 2022, Justin Edward Maughs, 27, of Yreka, CA, was sentenced to 15 years and 4 months in state prison for a series of crimes committed over a 16 month period.
On January 5, 2021, Maughs, who had previously been convicted of felony burglary charges in 2015 and 2016, was found to have been driving a stolen pickup truck without a license, while under the influence of drugs and in possession of firearms and ammunition. Maughs ran the truck off the road and marijuana was found littered around the interior. He had discarded a firearm at the time of the crash and was in possession of 3 different types of ammunition, 2 handgun holsters and a high-capacity magazine.
Later that day Etna Police Department, Probation Officers and narcotics investigators searched the property where Maughs was living near Greenview. Officers recovered over 300 pounds of marijuana product, five firearms, a stun gun, several firearm magazines, firearm parts and ammunition.
On July 21, 2021, the defendant failed to appear in Court after being ordered to do so. On September 1, 2021, the defendant failed to appear in Court after being released on bail.
On September 2, 2021, Maughs was contacted by Siskiyou Sheriff’s deputies who attempted to arrest him on a warrant. Maughs fled on foot but was quickly arrested.
On October 27, 2021, Maughs was convicted in Siskiyou County Superior Court of 7 felony charges including being a felon in possession of an assault weapon, a firearm and ammunition, vehicle theft, and of destroying evidence. He was placed on probation.
On January 26, 2022, the defendant failed to appear in Court as ordered after being released on his own recognizance.
On February 26, 2022, the defendant stole a work truck from a hotel in Yreka. The truck had thousands of dollars worth of tools in the back. The vehicle was recovered south of Sacramento over two weeks later.
On March 1, 2022, the defendant stole a utility trailer containing two ATV’s and a dirt bike from in front of a residence in Yreka.
On March 4, 2022, a Yreka Police Department officer observed a truck on Main Street in Yreka that had been stolen from a property in Big Springs. Maughs was the driver. When the officer attempted a traffic stop on the truck Maughs accelerated, fled north of town, and drove up Hawkinsville Humbug Road. The truck left the road, drove over a ridgeline, and down into brushy hills. The officer located the truck in a ravine several miles up the mountain.
On April 8, 2022, a Siskiyou Sheriff’s deputy noticed Maughs as a passenger in a truck in Yreka. After conducting a traffic stop the defendant refused to exit the truck upon command and eventually jumped from the passenger seat to the driver seat—on top of the driver—and accelerated down the street with the deputy attached to the side of the truck. The deputy was struck by the side mirror of a parked vehicle and fell from the side of the truck. The truck then ran over the deputy’s leg. Maughs drove away, jumped out of the truck and fled.
On July 26, 2022, the defendant pled guilty to 13 felony charges including assault with a deadly weapon on a peace officer, 7 charges of vehicle theft, failure to appear, recklessly evading a peace officer, and 3 charges of false imprisonment by violence. He was also convicted of 8 misdemeanors including driving under the influence, possession of marijuana for sale, possession of a stun gun, possession of a large capacity magazine, and resisting arrest. On August 23, 2022, Maughs was sentenced to 184 months in state prison.
