FRESNO (KMJ) — The man described as a “business partner” in a massive beehive theft has his arraignment delayed to give the court time to have a Russian interpreter present.
Fresno County District Attorney’s Office states that both Fresno and Madera County Sheriff’s Ag Task Force discovered Pavel Mihauloviz Tveretinov tending to more than 100 stolen beehives in an orchard near Central and Temperance Avenues in Fresno County. That led investigators to finding more than 1,200 stolen beehives taken from different beekeepers over approximately two years. It’s alleged that Vitaliy Yeroshenko was also a part of the operation (click here to read more).
Tveretinov has already been arraigned, pleading not guilty to nine felony counts of receiving stolen property, one misdemeanor count of receiving stolen property, as well as an allegation that the value of the property exceeded $200,000.
Yeroshenko was due to have his arraignment Monday morning to face the same charges, but a continuance was granted to allow a Russian interpreter to be present. The 48 year old from Antelope is currently remanded into custody and his bail has been set at $267,750.
“There’s going to be an interview of him, by people from the court, and they’re going to make a recommendation as to what should happen in…and after that we’ll come back to court and talk about it with the judge,” explains his attorney James Hazen.
The arraignment has been put back until July 19th.
Hear the report from KMJ’s Dominic McAndrew as it aired:
