2 arrested for planting drugs, weapons in woman's truck, officials say

SANTA ANA, Calif. (KABC) -- A man and woman who officials said attempted to frame a woman by planting drugs and weapons in her truck were arraigned in Santa Ana on Monday.

Kevin Brown, 42, and Jennifer Beale, 37, both of Laguna Hills, planted a BB gun, a 12-inch hunting knife, and methamphetamine in the truck of a 40-year-old woman and called the police on March 23, according to the Orange County District Attorney's Office.

Officials said Beale contacted Crime Stoppers and 911.

"She basically told them that she was alarmed, that there was something going on, and that she saw Jane Doe waving the gun," Roxi Fyad, the Orange County District Attorney's Office spokesperson said. "So they (deputies) went and found what they were talking about."

But the prosecutor's office said Beale was connected to the crime after the victim noticed the sunglasses case containing the methamphetamine belonged to Beale.

Brown and Beale were both arrested on Thursday. Officials stated the victim was not arrested at any point during the investigation.

At their arraignment on Monday, Brown and Beale both pleaded not guilty.

They each faced charges of one felony count of conspiracy to commit a crime, one felony count of false imprisonment by menace/violence/fraud/deceit, one misdemeanor count of false report of emergency, and one misdemeanor count of altering evidence.

Brown faces a sentencing enhancement for a prior conviction for burglary in 2010.

If convicted, Beale faces a maximum sentence of three years and Brown faces a maximum sentence of four years in prison.

They were being held on $50,000 bail.

The district attorney's office did not explain a motive, but said Brown, Beale and the victim all knew each other.