Palm Springs armed robbery suspect pleads guilty
An ex-con pleaded guilty to robbery and firearm possession counts Monday, for taking part in several Palm Springs armed robberies.
Avante Gant, 25, of Palm Springs, was scheduled to be sentenced Feb. 9. He pleaded guilty to two counts of robbery, three counts of being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm and admitted several allegations of using a firearm in the commission of a felony.
Gant was arrested last March 29 after robbing a man at gunpoint around 11 p.m., just after the victim had withdrawn cash from an ATM machine in the 1700 block of Vista Chino.
Gant was spotted by officers minutes later, trying to hide behind a tree, and was captured after a brief foot chase, according to Palm Springs police Sgt. William Hutchinson. He said a loaded handgun was found on Gant, who was positively identified by the victim.
Gant pleaded guilty to that crime and another armed robbery that occurred one week before.
Gant’s alleged cohort, 24-year-old Palm Springs resident Daron Ellis Hill, faces two counts of robbery and four counts of assault with a gun. He is due back in court Feb. 21 for a trial-readiness conference.
