A highway shooting, then the arrest of Madera Ranchos man on human trafficking charges

Investigators in Madera County say a man believed responsible for a Highway 41 shooting early Monday is in custody in connection with sex trafficking, elder abuse and other charges.

Dylan Colby Nichols Dobbs, 27, of Madera Ranchos was arrested Wednesday after an investigation into the trafficking of a 22-year-old woman, and was booked into jail, where he is being held on a $1 million bail.

Dobbs also faces weapons charges, along with theft and elder financial abuse charges.

Madera County Sheriff’s spokeswoman Sarah Jackson said Dobbs is accused of abusing and coercing the victim and that detectives believe he used social media to traffic several women and girls from the Bay Area and Las Vegas.

Jackson said California Highway Patrol investigators also booked Dobbs in connection with the shooting near near Avenue 12 on Highway 41 early Monday, in which at least one person was wounded. She said the shooting was not believed to be related to the other charges. She added that Dobbs has a prior history of offenses involving weapons, domestic violence and drugs.

This story was originally published July 30, 2020 at 5:50 AM.