Crime

A 61-year-old self-employed pool serviceman accused of killing of a 93-year-old woman in Palm Desert re-entered not guilty pleas today to felony charges. Benjamin Briones of Thousand Palms was charged with one felony count each of murder, burglary and forging a signature, according to court records. He additionally faces a special-circumstance allegation of committing murder

Felony charges were filed today against two women who allegedly took part in a smash-and-grab robbery with four men at a Palm Desert jewelry store last month. Destiny Unique Baca, 18, of San Bernardino, and 24-year-old Los Angeles resident Analea Paradise Miller were charged in two separate cases with one felony count each of robbery,

Two more suspects were arrested in connection with a smash-and-grab robbery at a jewelry store in Palm Desert. On Wednesday, police arrested two women, an 18-year-old from Los Angeles and a 24-year-old San Bernardino resident after serving search warrants in both those cities. The Riverside County Sheriff’s Office has arrested six suspects in total in

A 30-year-old Desert Hot Springs man who tried to kill his father by severely beating him and setting fire to his mobile home as he lay unconscious on the floor was convicted today of attempted murder and other charges. A Banning jury deliberated less than a day before finding Miguel Angel Espino guilty of the

The Indio Police Dept. arrested a man suspected of setting a fire at a Catholic church Wednesday afternoon. The incident was reported at Our Lady of Perpetual Help on Deglet Noor at around 3:20 p.m. According to a letter to the parents of the catholic school at the church, a man threw a glass bottle

A 24-year-old man suspected in a traffic collision that killed three people last year in Palm Desert was ordered today to stand trial on murder charges. Ricardo Adrian Meza of Palm Desert was charged with three counts of murder for the Dec. 28, 2022, deaths of Elena Morron, 84, of Los Angeles, and Anza residents

A 49-year-old man from Thousand Oaks was arrested in connection with the murder of a Yucca Valley resident. On Aug. 13, deputies found Richard Dionne, 64, dead at a residence at the 2900 block of Warren Vista Drive in Yucca Valley. There were no details on the scene, however, the Coroner’s office determined that an

Four Riverside County-based members of an anti-government militia group were convicted of conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding and other federal charges related to the Jan. 6, 2021, breach of the U.S. Capitol, federal prosecutors announced today.   The attack on the building disrupted a joint session of the U.S. Congress convened to certify the results

A Coachella man was arrested on suspicion of stealing several high-value golf clubs and equipment in La Quinta. The theft was reported to Riverside County Sheriff’s deputies on Oct. 28 within the 81000 block of Contento Street, the agency reported on Tuesday. Deputies were told the items were stolen from a vehicle. The La Quinta

Update 11/7/23 Juan Reyes pled not guilty to his charges on Tuesday. He is being held without bail. Original Report 11/6/23 A man suspected in the fatal shooting of another man who was found last week outside a vehicle in Whitewater pleaded not guilty to murder today. Daniel Tomas Pacheco, 40, of Whitewater and Juan

Jury selection began Monday in the trial of a 37-year-old man accused of gunning down his octogenarian grandparents inside a gated community in Palm Desert. Frank Scott Castro III is charged with two counts of murder, along with a special circumstance allegation of perpetrating multiple killings and sentence-enhancing allegations of discharging a firearm causing great

An 18-year-old man suspected with three others in a jewelry store robbery in Palm Desert last month pleaded not guilty today to felony charges.    Julian Hermosillo, 18, of Los Angeles was charged with one felony count each of robbery, organized retail theft, and grand theft of over $950, according to court records. He pleaded

Police today were investigating a late-night shooting that resulted in two men injured in Cathedral City. Officers responded at 11:54 p.m. Thursday to a report of gunshots heard in the area of C Street and West Buddy Rogers Avenue, according to Cathedral City Police Department Commander Rick Sanchez. “Officers responded and began an area check,”