Felons to stand trial for allegedly abducting three people, robbing them in Desert Hot Springs
Two convicted felons who allegedly abducted and robbed three people in Desert Hot Springs must stand trial for kidnapping to commit robbery and multiple other charges, a judge ruled today.
Taquan Charles Ray Doss, 22, and Thomas Anthony Nieto, 26, both of Desert Hot Springs, are accused of perpetrating the abduction in January 2022.
Following a preliminary hearing at the Banning Justice Center, Riverside County Superior Court Judge Mark Singerton found there was sufficient evidence to warrant a trial for the pair on the three kidnapping counts, as well as three counts of armed robbery. Nieto was also held to answer on a charge of being a felon in possession of a gun, while Doss was held to answer on two counts of being a felon with a gun and one count of resisting arrest.
Singerton scheduled a post-preliminary hearing arraignment for Oct. 13 at the Banning courthouse.
Each defendant is being held on of $1 million bail -- Doss at the Smith Correctional Facility in Banning, and Nieto at the Benoit Detention Center in Indio.
According DHS Police Department spokeswoman Doria Wilms, on the night of Jan. 31, 2022, Doss approached the victims, whose identities were not released, as they sat inside a vehicle in the 12700 block of Palm Drive and pulled a pistol on them.
Wilms alleged the defendant forced his way into the vehicle and ordered the victims to drive to an unspecified location. Once there, Doss, then joined by Nieto, allegedly stole money and other property from the victims before fleeing, according to prosecutors.
No one was injured.
The two felons were arrested within a month.
According to court records, Doss has prior convictions in Riverside County for illegal possession of a firearm, resisting arrest and being an unlicensed operator of a motor vehicle. Nieto has priors for possession of controlled substances while armed and assault resulting in great bodily injury.
