Subject: Rape/Kidnap Arrests

Press Release Humboldt County Sheriff's Office

Date Released: 3/17/2006
Subject: Rape/Kidnap Arrests
Contact: Brenda Godsey, PIO
Case No#: 200601525
Released By: Brenda Godsey
Location: Redway/Whitethorn

Humboldt County Sheriff’s Deputies arrested three men in Southern Humboldt yesterday in connection with a kidnapping and rape that was reported on March 13, 2006. The investigation led to four suspects. One of the suspects was already in custody on unrelated matters.

Thursday morning, deputies from the Sheriff’s Garberville Station, Special Enforcement Team (SWAT), Criminal Investigation Division, and Drug Enforcement Unit were en route to serve a search warrant for this case at a residence on Gibson Creek Road in Whitethorn. As they were traveling, deputies saw driving past them, one of the suspects.

Deputies turned around and initiated a car stop. The driver, Levi Cole Garza, 21 of Whitethorn, pulled over and was taken into custody without incident.

At the same time, other deputies were watching a second suspect’s vehicle at a residence in Redway. The owner of the car, Nate Robin Garza, 21 of Whitethorn (and Levi’s brother) left the Redway residence and was stopped by deputies. He was also arrested without incident.

Deputies continued to the Garza brothers’ Whitethorn residence on Gibson Creek Road to serve the search warrant. Once there, deputies found a small indoor marijuana growing operation and several pounds of processed marijuana.

As the Whitethorn residence was being processed for evidence, deputies continued to look for the third outstanding suspect in the rape and kidnapping case.

Sheriff’s Deputies, who were on foot searching for the suspect, flagged down a car driving near the Garza residence. They found the third suspect, Gregory Donald Scheider, 31 of Whitethorn, riding inside the car. He was also taken into custody without incident.

In summary, the four suspects and their charges are as follows:
Levi Cole Garza: Kidnapping, Torture, Threatening with the intent to Terrorize.
Bail is $500,000

Nate Robin Garza: Kidnapping, Rape, Torture.
Bail: $500,000

Gregory Donald Scheider: Kidnapping, Rape, Torture, Sodomy.
Bail: $500,000

Deshawn Lee Moore (who was already in custody on unrelated charges): Kidnapping, Rape, Torture, Sodomy.
Bail: $500,000

All four men are expected to be arraigned on Monday. No other details regarding the sexual assault can be released due to the confidential nature of the case.

Update:
Sentencing continued in statutory rape trial 5/21/2007