Fontana man suspected of retail theft in La Quinta pleads not guilty to grand theft

A man suspected with two women in a retail theft at a La Quinta cosmetic store, from which $2,300 of merchandise was stolen, pleaded not guilty today to a felony charge.

Derrick Yanders of Fontana, 18, was charged with one felony count of grand theft over $950, as was Khamyra Smith, 19, of Moreno Valley and Chynae Welch, 18, of Eastvale, according to court records. Yanders pleaded not guilty to the charge Tuesday morning at the Larson Justice Center in Indio.

His next court appearance was set for April 30.    On Dec. 15, 2023, Smith pleaded not guilty while Welch pleaded guilty and was immediately sentenced to two years of formal probation, according to court records.

Deputies from the Thermal sheriff's station responded at 4:10 p.m. Dec. 13, 2023 to a tip from the Palm Desert Special Enforcement Team about a car that was associated with organized retail theft in Palm Desert, Wildomar and Lake Elsinore, according to Sgt. Mark Chlarson of the Riverside County Sheriff's Department.  

Deputies responded to the 78700 block of Highway 111 in La Quinta and, with assistance from the Indian Wells and Palm Desert Enforcement Teams, were able to find the vehicle in the parking lot of a shopping center, according to Chlarson.

"They detained the subjects after they exited a store,'' Chlarson wrote in a statement. "The investigation found the subjects removed $2300 of merchandise from a business and made no attempts to pay for the merchandise."  

According to a declaration in support of Yanders' arrest filed by Deputy Sheriff M. Franks, they were allegedly caught with three bags of cosmetics and were seen, on video, taking the items without paying. He added that Welch's vehicle had two more bags of Ulta cosmetics from a different store.  

Immediately after, Yanders was booked into the John J. Benoit Detention Center in Indio, but was released the following day on a $10,000 bail bond, according to inmate records. Smith and Welch were released on their own recognizance the day of their arraignment.

Anyone with additional information on the thefts was asked to call Deputy B. Martinez with the Thermal sheriff station's La Quinta Special Enforcement Team at 760-863-8990 of Valley Crimestoppers anonymously at 760-341-7867 (STOP).