Poway Woman Arrested at Valley Center Casino on Heroin Charge

Detectives investigating a carjacking at Harrah’s Rincon Casino on Thursday arrested a Poway woman on a heroin possession charge at the casino’s hotel, authorities said.

Krystana James-Nicodemus, 24, was arrested on suspicion of possessing more than 5.5 grams of heroin as well as having drug paraphernalia, syringes and a felony warrant, according to sheriff’s Sgt. Dan Lopez.

Deputies responded to the Valley Center casino at 5:15 p.m. to investigate a reported carjacking. According to Lopez, Aaron Harmon was carjacked at gunpoint by a man known only as “Cesar” that he had driven to Harrah’s as a favor to a friend, Zachary Field. Harmon drove Cesar to the casino in Field’s Ford Focus ZX3.

When they arrived, Cesar directed Harmon to a secluded area of the reservation, where he pointed a handgun at Harmon and told him to get out of the car, according to Lopez.

Cesar told Harmon that the car would be returned to Fields after he received money owed to him, Lopez said.

Detectives determined that “Cesar” was Cesar Morales Reynoso, 22, of Escondido, and that he was staying at the casino’s hotel. When detectives went to Reynoso’s room they found more than 6 grams of heroin and a loaded handgun, authorities said.

They arrested Cristian Alvarez, 19, on a charge of possessing drugs for sale.

According to the Sheriff’s Department, James-Nicodemus is Reynoso’s girlfriend, and she was arrested after she was contacted in her hotel room.

Reynoso was arrested as he walked out of the casino. According to Lopez, he had a bag with 40 grams of methamphetamine. Detectives also searched a car associated with Reynoso and found a .45-caliber handgun similar to the one used to carjack Harmon. The gun had been stolen last year in unincorporated Escondido, according to Lopez.

Reynoso was booked into the Vista Detention Facility on charges of carjacking, possession of stolen property, and possession of drugs for sale. The Ford Focus was not recovered.