Woman charged after allegedly stealing rental car from company in Idaho Falls
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IDAHO FALLS — A 23-year-old Blackfoot woman was charged after allegedly renting a car from a business in Idaho Falls and not returning it.
According to an affidavit of probable cause filed by the Idaho Falls Police Department, Marisol Valadez rented a 2021 Kia Forte from a car rental business on Dec. 29 in Idaho Falls and was expected to return the vehicle on Dec. 30. However, she did not return it as she had agreed to.
The value of the vehicle was estimated to be over $20,000.
All attempts to contact her by phone and text had gone unanswered, court documents said. Blackfoot police attempted to contact Valadez at her last known address and did not find her or the vehicle.
In January, her mother said she had not seen or heard from her daughter in over a month.
The rental company was advised the phone number given at the time of the rental for Valadez was her mother’s number. The company was told there is no current phone number or way to contact Valadez, court documents said.
Police requested a welfare check for her if she was located.
An arrest warrant was issued for Valadez on March 8.
Idaho Falls Police Department spokeswoman Jessica Clements told EastIdahoNews.com Valadez turned herself in at the Bonneville County Jail on March 31.
The vehicle was recovered by Idaho Falls police off Northgate Mile and returned to the rental company in February.
Valadez was charged with felony grand theft. The charge is punishable by up to 14 years in prison, a $5,000 fine, and restitution. She was given a $25,000 bond and released to pretrial supervision.
She is scheduled for a preliminary hearing on April 14 at 1 p.m. at the Bonneville County courthouse.