Woman caught with stolen kids in Carmel

Five children are in child protective services after the Monterey County Sheriff’s Office discovered they had been stolen. The incident happened over the weekend.

Employees at the Safeway in Carmel called 911 after spotting teens acting suspiciously.

Deputies with the Monterey County Sheriff’s Office tried talking with the teens and quickly found out something was off.

“During the course of the investigation, the deputy uncovered what appears to be five juveniles out of the area. At least three of them from the Sacramento area,” said Captain John Thornburg, “After the adult showed up the deputy arrested the adult for what we call child stealing.”

The woman was identified as Michelle Lynn Dorsey. Dorsey allegedly stole the kids, at least three who are from the Sacramento area.

Dorsey faces felony child stealing charges and the kids have been turned over to CPS.

“Child stealing” is similar to kidnapping, but kidnapping is considered a crime against the kidnapped person. Child abduction or child stealing is also considered a crime against the parent of the abducted child.

“Two of the juveniles were reported missing out of the Sacramento area, they were not with their parents so all five juveniles were turned over to child protective services,” Thornburg said.

The sheriff’s office still doesn’t know why Dorsey brought the five teens to Carmel.