Nevada Auto Larceny Suspect Arrested in Jefferson County

The suspect in a Clark County, Nevada, case asked for her extradition hearing to be continued. The suspect indicated she expected her Nevada case to soon be dismissed. However, even if that case is dismissed, she is still facing charges in Nebraska. Kulanie Marie Mendoza (aka Kulanie Marie Bennett), 45, appeared in Jefferson County Court on Wednesday, May 15, 2024. Linda Bauer was the presiding judge. In Nevada, Mendoza is accused of grand larceny of auto, with a value of less than $3,500. A warrant was issued for the suspect's arrest in Clark County, Nevada, on May 8, 2023. On April 9, 2024 at approximately 11:14 p.m., a Jefferson County Deputy on patrol received a radio communication from Jefferson County Dispatch and was sent to a residence in Fairbury, according to an arrest affidavit, “for a report of a suspect heading to that address with a possible stolen vehicle out of (G)age county.” While at the residence, the deputy reportedly received a call from a Gage County Deputy, indicating the stolen vehicle in question belonged to both the suspect and her ex-boyfriend. The Gage County Deputy said, “The vehicle would indeed be a civil matter between Kulanie and her ex-boyfriend.” However, the Gage County Deputy also indicated that Mendoza had a Nationwide Extraditable Warrant out of the state of Nevada. The Jefferson County Deputy then made contact with the suspect, who was located in a vehicle in an alley behind the residence. Mendoza was arrested at the scene. During her arrest, deputies reported the smell of marijuana. “I advised Kulanie that as I detected the odor of marijuana coming from the vehicle and that this gave me probable cause to search the vehicle,” wrote the deputy that filled out the affidavit. “While searching the vehicle I found smoking paraphernalia in the center console with a white powdery residue in the bowl of a water pipe, as well a baggie containing crystalline rocks that in my training and experience resembled crystal methamphetamine. Both the pipe and the crystalline rocks field tested positive for the presence of methamphetamine. Kulanie was transported to the Jefferson County Jail where while being booked in her purse that she requested be brought into the jail was searched in jail booking. Inside the purse was a small tool socket with a plastic guard around the middle, one end was covered in a white filmy residue that led me to believe that it had been used for the consumption or inhalation of narcotics. This device also fields tested positive for the presence of methamphetamine.” Mendoza told the judge she had obtained an attorney in Nevada and asked for a continuance. Judge Bauer granted the continuance. Another hearing is scheduled for May 29, 2024.

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