Trial set for trio accused in deadly robbery at Cabazon mall
A Nov. 28 trial date was confirmed today for twin brothers and another man accused in a robbery that culminated in the shooting death of a 66-year-old man at the Desert Hills Premium Outlets in Cabazon.
Emanuel Rick Burt and Elijah Ray Burt, both 20 and of Victorville, are accused with 19-year-old Reginald Charles Trice, also of Victorville, of the slaying of Michael Moser of Palm Springs last year.
Emanuel Burt is charged with robbery, and his brother is charged with first-degree murder, a special-circumstance allegation of killing during a robbery, attempted robbery and conspiracy.
Trice is charged with murder, illegal possession of a firearm, a special-circumstance allegation of killing in the course of a robbery and sentence-enhancing gun and great bodily injury allegations.
During a status hearing Friday at the Banning Justice Center, Riverside County Superior Court Judge Jorge Hernandez conferred with the prosecution and defense regarding scheduling, and the parties agreed to work toward preparing for trial proceedings at the end of November, though it was uncertain whether the timetable would hold.
Emanuel Burt is being held on $135,000 bail at the Robert Presley Jail in Riverside, where his brother is being held without bail.
Trice is being held without bail at the Benoit Detention Center in Indio.
Sheriff's Sgt. Ben Ramirez alleged Trice confronted Moser shortly before 7 p.m. on March 24, 2022, in the 48600 block of Seminole Drive, though the specific location within the mall wasn't provided.
Ramirez said Moser was shot at least once, prompting calls to 911, after which deputies and paramedics converged on the location. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
There was no sign of the defendants when deputies reached the mall. However, Ramirez said over the ensuing weeks, detectives developed leads pointing to Trice as one of the alleged assailants. A warrant was obtained and served at his residence in the 15500 block of Morada Road on April 21, 2022, according to the sheriff's spokesman.
The defendant was taken into custody without incident.
The brothers were identified and named in the criminal complaint after Trice's arrest.
They were tracked down and taken into custody in Las Vegas at the end of April 2022. A month later, they were returned to Riverside County.
None of the men has documented prior felony convictions in Riverside County.
