A local gold dealer has been charged with a total of 32 counts of possessing and selling counterfeit gold and three counts of financial elder abuse so far — with even more alleged victims coming forward since the news first broke of the arrest of Gregory Arnoldi, the owner of Grass Valley Gold and Silver.

Arnoldi, 46, was arrested at his business in the 100 block of Mill Street in late February, and initially was charged with three felony counts of possessing and selling counterfeit gold.

He was arrested again the day after his arraignment in Superior Court, reportedly because he was making further gold and silver transactions at the store, and two more counts were filed against him.

Several alleged victims filed a complaint with the District Attorney’s office in December 2014, stating they purchased $175,500 worth of gold bullion bars from Arnoldi at his business on two different dates in April 2014.

The victims said they discovered the bars they purchased were fake when they tried to redeem them at another dealer.

A joint investigation was then launched by District Attorney investigators and the Grass Valley Police Department.

Additional victims were subsequently identified, with some of those victims making multiple purchases; a third case was filed in late March.

Arnoldi appeared in Nevada County Superior Court April 2. Nevada County District Attorney Cliff Newell told Judge Linda Sloven that eight more victim interviews are currently scheduled, and that potentially more charges could be filed.

“I hate trickling this in, but I don’t know any other way to do this,” Newell said; the cases likely will be consolidated at some point.

Arnoldi is set to return to court May 1.

In other court news:

— A 23-year-old Grass Valley man arrested on burglary and sexual assault charges is set to have a psychological examination.

Nevada City Police officers had responded to a call at Café Mekka on Commercial Street, and found a large window at the front of the business had been shattered.

The interior of the coffeehouse had been ransacked; the suspect stole approximately $200 in cash, ate several pastries and defecated on the floor.

The same suspect — identified as Daniel Vandoren — reportedly broke into a residence in the 300 block of South Pine Street.

Vandoren has pleaded not guilty to one count of second-degree burglary in that case.

He is also facing two counts of lewd acts on a child, involving a young girl with whom he reportedly had inappropriate sexual contact.

He has pleaded not guilty in that case as well, and is set to return to court April 30.

To contact City Editor Liz Kellar, email lkellar@theunion.com or call 530-477-4229.