An 18-year-old Cathey’s Valley resident was arrested after several witnesses said he broke into an unoccupied house to have a party. Brandon Mc- Cutcheon has been charged with first degree burglary.

According to the Mariposa County Sheriff’s report, a neighbor saw four vehicles parked in front of a house on Highway 140. He knew that the homeowner was not there and that no one was supposed to be there. The neighbor was able to get license plate numbers on three of the four cars at the scene while he asked the juveniles there to wait for law enforcement to arrive. The juveniles told the neighbor they were there for a party.

Deputies found a broken window cover that was determined to be the entry point. There were a number of boxes in the front room ransacked and the carpet had been vandalized with bleach. Beer cans were on the dining room table.

The homeowner said he had been there earlier, and there was no damage. Witnesses identified McCutcheon as the organizer of the party. One girl said she stayed only until she learned the home was not Mc- Cutcheon’s. Other witnesses said they also believed the home was McCutcheon’s. One said McCutcheon had been “partying” at the home for several nights.

When deputies contacted McCutcheon, he told them he didn’t know anything about the party. He allegedly told the officers he was grounded for the weekend and therefore couldn’t have been at the party. Cell phone records, however, and witness statements, show that McCutcheon made arrangement to be picked up at the end of the road and taken to the party.