(Above, L to R: Yacks, Ball, Lebrun)

Humboldt County Deputy Sheriff press release: 

On Friday, November 27, 2015 at approximately 9:20 a.m. a Humboldt County Deputy Sheriff was driving through the parking lot of the Bear River Casino looking for stolen vehicles when he spotted a vehicle that matched the description of a blue Mercedes-Benz that was on the list. The Deputy conducted a records check on the vehicle’s license plate number and confirmed the vehicle was still listed as stolen.

The Deputy followed the vehicle as it exited the parking lot and drove down the road. Additional Deputies responded to the location and they conducted a traffic stop on the stolen vehicle. The Deputy questioned the driver of the vehicle, Donna Yacks, age 46, of Phillipsville, as well as passengers Steven Ball, 68, of Phillipsville, and Ronald Lebrun, 42, of Phillipsville. Yacks stated she purchased the vehicle from Jesse James Adams, age 33, of Phillipsville. Yacks stated she paid $400 for the vehicle, and it did not come with a bill of sale. Deputies located drug paraphernalia in Yacks’ purse. Ball was questioned next and he stated it did seem strange the vehicle did not come with a bill of sale. A Be-on-the-Lookout was issued for Adams. All three were arrested and transported to the Humboldt County Correctional Facility for the charges below.

  • Yacks – PC496D(a)- Possession of a Stolen Vehicle; HS11377(a) – Possession of a Controlled Substance; and HS11364(a) – Possession of Controlled Substance Paraphernalia.
  • Ball – PC496D(a) – Possession of a Stolen Vehicle
  • Lebrun – Out of County Warrants

Adams

On Saturday, November 28, 2015, Deputies noticed a bicyclist riding in the dark without lights on the 3900 block of Cedar Street, Eureka. The Deputy stopped the bicyclist and it was Jesse James Adams. Adams was arrested and transported to the Humboldt County Correctional Facility for PC496D(a) – Possession of a Stolen Vehicle; and VC10851(a) – Take a Vehicle Without the Owners Consent.

Anyone with information for the Sheriff’s Office regarding this case or related criminal activity is encouraged to call the Sheriff’s Office at 707-445-7251 or the Sheriff’s Office Crime Tip line at 707-268-2539.