(Valley Springs, Ca) On 4/3/2020, at about 1630 hours, the Calaveras County Sheriff’s Office, along with the California Highway Patrol were dispatched to the intersection of Nall Street and Westhill Road in Valley Springs, for a vehicle accident involving a pedestrian. When deputies arrived, they learned 29-year-old Thomas Bechtold was involved in a verbal argument with 47-year-old James Leslie. Bechtold got into his vehicle and struck Leslie with vehicle, knocking him unconscious before fleeing the area. The Sheriff’s Office conducted an investigation and left seeking Bechtold in connection to what occurred.
At around 1930 hours, the Sheriff’s Office received a report Bechtold had been dropped off near the same intersection. When deputies arrived, they found Bechtold, battered with his hands tied behind his back and tethered to a telephone pole. He was arrested and booked into the Calaveras County Jail where he is being held on $2,195,000 bail for charges of attempted murder, assault with a deadly weapon, battery with serious injury and felony hit and run. The investigation is ongoing, and anyone with information is asked to contact the Calaveras County Sheriff’s Department Anonymous Tip Line at (209) 754-6030 or Sheriff Office at (209) 754-6500.
