Warehouse rampage suspect pleads guilty

An ex-con who drove his car onto a loading dock at a Jurupa Valley warehouse where he once worked — narrowly missing several employees — pleaded guilty today to felony vandalism and driving under the influence counts on the same day the charges were filed.
Scott Allen Painter, 36, of Jurupa Valley was arrested shortly after 11p.m. Monday after he rammed his vehicle into pallets at a Swift Transportation
Corp. facility in the 11000 block of Mission Boulevard.
The Riverside County District Attorney’s Office filed the case against Painter this morning, and he was brought to court for arraignment this afternoon.
According to the court minutes of the proceeding, Painter initially pleaded not guilty, but less than a half-hour later, re-entered a guilty plea to both charges under an agreement negotiated with prosecutors that specifies he will be sentenced to a maximum two years in county jail.
Superior Court Judge Becky Dugan is scheduled to certify the agreement on Oct. 11, at which time Painter will be sentenced. Meantime, he remains in
custody in lieu of $25,000 bail at the Robert Presley Jail in Riverside.
While drunk at the wheel, Painter drove into the Swift warehouse and went on a rampage, according to sheriff’s Sgt. Bryan Vig.
“The suspect started driving erratically at high rates of speed inside the warehouse and purposely crashed into several pallets containing products,”
Vig said. “The suspect also drove his vehicle directly at employees as they
were attempting to flee the area.”
An employee suffered minor injuries, and several thousand dollars worth
of merchandise was damaged, according to Vig.
He said deputies were summoned and apprehended Painter as he attempted
to flee the scene.
Court records indicate Painter has a prior felony conviction for which he served time in the last five years, though the nature and circumstances of
that conviction could not immediately be confirmed.