Alleged Art Thief Is Charged Again

A 38-year-old Bonita man, already charged with stealing pre-Columbian artifacts from a La Jolla museum, was arrested anew Wednesday after police searched his home and discovered two pieces stolen from a private gallery, authorities said.

Dale Edward Cletcher, 43, also known as Shelby Fletcher, was booked into County Jail Wednesday afternoon on suspicion of possessing stolen property. He was being held in lieu of $5,000 bail.

Cletcher was arrested at his Bonita home, a police spokesman said, after a search of his residence turned up two pieces--valued at $2,300--that were reported stolen last May from the Contemporary Southwest Galleries in La Jolla.

The suspect is also awaiting disposition of charges stemming from his alleged theft of three pre-Columbian artifacts--valued at $175,000--that were reported stolen in October from the Mingei International Museum of World Folk Art in La Jolla and were recovered Feb. 1 in Los Angeles.