Three to stand trial for alleged Palm Desert gun store burglary

Three men who allegedly broke into a Palm Desert gun store and stole as many as a dozen firearms within days of a similar failed attempted at another location were ordered today to stand trial on grand theft, burglary and attempted burglary charges.

Jesse Alan Weaver, 38, of Riverside, and Colton residents Vincent Martin De La Rosa, 34, and Jess Manuel Gonzales, 31, are accused of breaking into Second Amendment Sports just after midnight last July 31, smashing the front glass doors and a display case, and taking around 10 to 12 guns that were loaded into a U-Haul van.

Investigators tracked down the van by checking store surveillance footage, which captured the license plate, according to a declaration in support of an arrest warrant.

Detectives determined the men in the footage resembled three suspects in a July 20 attempted burglary of another Palm Desert gun store, C.V. Guns and Ammo. Footage from that incident showed a trio trying to break into the store using a crowbar, but fleeing after setting off an alarm, according to the
declaration.

A truck used in the attempted burglary was identified through footage as one registered to Weaver and a rifle taken from Second Amendment Sports was found at his home, the declaration alleges.

The men will return to court May 3 for a post-preliminary hearing arraignment.