Two local men nabbed in car robbery case

Three reported car burglaries and one explosive device have been tied to two Willows men, police reported.

Donald Hagerty, 22, and Steven Prince, 25, were arrested Friday on suspicion of possession and receiving stolen property, Willows police Chief Bill Spears said.

Hagerty also was booked on suspicion of possession of an explosive device, which police reported they discovered during a consensual search of his home on Saturday.

Spears described the explosive as homemade and said it will be sent to the state Department of Justice for analysis.

"It's probably equivalent to about a quarter-stick of dynamite," Spears said. "It's definitely more than just a firecracker."

Spears said Officer Kelly Meek was investigating an unrelated theft case in which Hagerty was considered "a person on interest only."

"Officer Meek was able to recognize some the property believed taken from the cars and then adjusted her investigation," Spears said. "It was really excellent police work."

The details of the other theft case were not available Tuesday.

Police recovered several tools, video cameras and stereo equipment from Hagerty's home, Spears said.

"There was some money - just change, really - taken from the vehicles that has not been recovered," Spears said.

Hagerty has been the subject of numerous theft and assault investigations in recent years, both as a victim and "a person of interest," Spears confirmed.

Court records show Hagerty pleaded guilty in January to a felony burglary charge and was sentenced to three years of probation and 120 days of jail time, which he was supposed to begin serving this Friday.

Hagerty and Prince remain in custody at the Glenn County Jail. Hagerty's bail is set at $35,000. Prince's bail is $30,000.

Both are due in court Friday for a bail review, a jail spokeswoman confirmed.

Contact Rob Parsons at 934-6800 or rparsons@tcnpress.com.