Man steals car to face car theft charge

The California Highway Patrol say a man stole a car in order to make a court appearance on a previous auto theft charge.

Patrol investigator Chris Linehan says he arrested Samuel Botchvaroff on Tuesday as he sat inside a stolen 2000 Range Rover at the Vallejo courthouse.

The 24-year-old Botchvaroff had just left his arraignment on auto theft charges stemming from an October 31 arrest.

Linehan said the Range Rover's LoJack system helped him locate the vehicle, which had been stolen from Oakland earlier Tuesday morning.

Authorities say Botchvaroff told officers his car had been impounded, and he had no other way to get to his arraignment.

He was booked into Solano County Jail on suspicion of auto theft and possession of stolen property.