A Jan. 10 trial date was scheduled Friday for a 23- year-old probationer accused of fatally beating a Riverside senior after breaking into her home.

Sixto Jesus Garcia Pena of Palm Springs was arrested in 2021 following a Riverside Police Department investigation into the slaying of 78-year-old Denise Irene Wong.

Pena is charged with first-degree murder, as well as special- circumstance allegations of killing in the commission of a robbery, killing in the commission of a burglary and inflicting torture.

Prosecutors intend to seek capital punishment if the defendant is convicted.

During a status hearing at the Riverside Hall of Justice Friday, Superior Court Judge Matthew Perantoni conferred with the prosecution and defense regarding future proceedings, and both sides agreed to be prepared to move forward with trial at the beginning of next year.

An intervening hearing is set for Oct. 25 to confirm everything is on track.

Pena is being held without bail at the Robert Presley Detention Center.

Pena was located in mid-January 2021 at the Imperial County Jail, where he was awaiting adjudication of an unrelated attempted vehicle theft case, according to the District Attorney’s Office. Riverside police detectives served an arrest warrant there, then transferred him to the downtown Riverside jail.

According to Riverside police Officer Ryan Railsback, Pena allegedly killed Wong in her single-story house in the 1200 block of East Manfield Street, near Masters Avenue, on Jan. 6, 2021.

“Denise was a loving mother, grandmother, sister, friend and a good and kind person,” police Chief Larry Gonzalez said after Pena’s arrest.

The victim had been a resident of the city for five decades.

Patrol officers were called to her home that evening after her loved ones requested a welfare check because she hadn’t responded to phone calls. She was found dead from injuries inflicted a few hours earlier, Railsback said.

He alleged Pena accessed the residence by breaking a rear window.

“Officers observed some items … out of place and consistent with a burglary,” the police spokesman said, adding that the victim’s car had been stolen.

Detectives confirmed the sedan was involved in a hit-and-run collision in Indio a few hours after the alleged break-in.

Indio police impounded the abandoned vehicle, and homicide investigators went to the impound yard, collecting evidence from the car that helped them identify Pena as the alleged assailant, Railsback said.

Three days later, with the help of the county’s Gang Impact Team, they confirmed Pena had been arrested in Imperial County, and arrangements were made for his transfer.

According to court records, Pena has prior convictions for child abuse, auto theft and receiving stolen property.

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The suspects, all residents of Jurupa Valley, were identified by the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department as:

• Thomas Balandran, 50
• Sherri Alvarez, 48
• Brianna Balandran, 19
• Unidentified juvenile, 17

On April 24, deputies responded to a business in Temecula where thieves attempted to steal over $1,000 worth of merchandise.

Investigators identified the suspects and discovered they were responsible for at least 10 retail thefts throughout Riverside, San Bernardino, and Los Angeles counties. The family had reportedly stolen over $7,000 worth of items during those incidents, authorities said.

On May 13, a search warrant was served at a home in the 6800 block of Valley Way in Jurupa Valley.

During the search, deputies found a large amount of stolen merchandise with price tags still attached. Other items, including narcotics and paraphernalia, were also found in the home.

Detectives learned there were additional homes connected to the thefts that involved suspects knowingly buying stolen goods to resell for profit, also known as “fencing.”

On May 14, two additional warrants were served in Moreno Valley where over $3,000 worth of stolen items were found.

The adult family members were arrested on charges of organized retail theft, burglary, conspiracy, and grand theft. The 17-year-old juvenile was released to a family member and charges will be filed with juvenile probation.

Deputies discovered that Balandran was on probation for grand theft at the time and additional charges were added to include violation of probation and drug-related offenses.

Investigators believe there are more retail thefts involving the family that have not been reported.

Anyone with additional information can call Deputy Christina Weber at 951-696-3133.

“The Riverside County Sheriff’s Office has zero tolerance for these offenses and will continue to work proactively with our allied agencies, loss prevention partners, and the District Attorney’s Office to combat organized retail crime,” authorities said.

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File # T240310058

Details:

On January 31, 2024, at 1:41 p.m., deputies from the Palm Desert Sheriff’s Station responded to the 43000 block of Elkhorn Trail, Palm Desert, reference a burglary in progress. Deputies arrived at the location and determined the suspect, later identified as Mizahel Morales, 26-year-old resident of Palm Desert, had brandished a firearm and forced his way into the victim’s residence.

Morales fled the location prior to deputies’ arrival but was later located at a nearby residence. No injuries were reported during the incident. Morales was booked at John Benoit Detention Center for burglary, assault with a deadly weapon, and violation of probation.

This is an ongoing investigation. No additional details are available at this time. Anyone with information regarding this incident is encouraged to contact Deputy Rodriguez at the Palm Desert Sheriff’s Station (760) 836–1600.

For media inquiries regarding this incident please contact the Media Information Bureau.

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File # G232990022

Details:

On October 26, 2023, at 10:02 a.m., Norco Sheriff’s Station deputies responded to a vehicle burglary near the 100 block of Hidden Valley Parkway in Norco. Upon their arrival, they learned that the victim had withdrawn a large amount of money and placed it inside the glove box of their vehicle before returning to the location.

While the victim was inside, a citizen observed a subject walk up to the victim’s vehicle, break a window, and climb inside. A getaway vehicle approached the victim’s vehicle and drove away once the vehicle burglar stole the victim’s money. The mode of operation in these thefts is commonly referred to as “jugging.”

Investigative leads on the whereabouts of the suspect’s vehicle led deputies to the Cabazon area, where Cabazon Sheriff’s Station deputies located and detained the occupants. Norco deputies responded and recovered most of the victim’s stolen money and evidence of the crime. The suspects, 34-year-old Isaiah Fitzgerald Moses and 33-year-old Denzel Tyrell Lawson, residents of Houston, Texas, were arrested and booked at the Robert Presley Detention Center for burglary and conspiracy, with bail set at $10,000.

Anyone with information on this investigation can contact Deputy Bryce Cooper of the Norco Sheriff’s Station at (951) 280–5212.

For media inquiries regarding this incident please contact the Media Information Bureau.

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File # MM-232930001/MV-232930065

Details:

On Friday, October 20, 2023, at 9:06 a.m., Moreno Valley Sheriff’s Station deputies assigned to the Robbery and Burglary Suppression Team (RBST) responded to a vehicle burglary which occurred in the 14000 block of Meridian Parkway, in the unincorporated area of Riverside. The victim witnessed three black males break the window of his vehicle and steal packaged cigarettes valued at approximately $15,000. The three suspects fled in a black Volkswagen Tiguan driven by a fourth suspect.

At 9:21 a.m., Moreno Valley Sheriff’s Station Deputies responded to the 215 Freeway and Eucalyptus Avenue regarding a vehicle fire. The vehicle was identified as the Volkswagen Tiguan the same vehicle used in the burglary. The suspects were seen running from the vehicle. Deputies conducted a search of the area and located three of the suspects who were taken into custody.

Deputies identified the suspects as 21-year-old Donovan Eubanks, 21-year-old Jerome Johnson and 28-year-old Yamonte Cross. The fourth suspect has not been identified and still outstanding.

All three suspects were booked into Robert Presley Detention Center on the following charges: robbery, burglary, felony conspiracy, and resisting/obstructing peace officers.

This is an ongoing investigation. Anyone with additional information is encouraged to contact Deputy Duran or Deputy Sultan at the Moreno Valley Sheriff’s Station (951) 486-6700.

For media inquiries regarding this incident please contact the Media Information Bureau.

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File# S232750029

Details:

On October 3, 2023, at 6:00 p.m., the Palm Desert Station’s Burglary Suppression Unit, assisted by Rancho Mirage and the Palm Desert Special Enforcement Team, served a search warrant in the 400 block of Prairie, Cathedral City.

The search warrant stemmed from a residential burglary in Rancho Mirage on October 2, 2023. As a result, Damien Robinson, a 48-year-old resident of Cathedral City, was arrested for burglary and vehicle theft. During the search warrant, approximately $10,000 in stolen property and the victim’s vehicle were recovered.

Robinson was booked at the John Benoit Detention Center in Indio for burglary.

Anyone with information regarding these incidents is encouraged to contact Corporal Fernandez of the Palm Desert Station at (760) 836–1600.

For media inquiries regarding this incident please contact the Media Information Bureau.

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File # LA232050025 / C232220024

Details:

On Monday, July 24, 2023, at about 6:25 PM, deputies from the Thermal Sheriff’s Station responded to a storage facility in the 46600 block of Adams Street in the city of La Quinta regarding a storage unit that had been burglarized resulting in approximately $50,000 in stolen property. During the investigation, a suspect vehicle was identified.

On Thursday, August 10, 2023, members of the La Quinta Special Enforcement Team located the suspect vehicle at a residence in the 44800 block of King Street in the city of Indio. The La Quinta Special Enforcement Team, with the assistance of the Thermal Station Special Investigations Unit and the Southern Coachella Valley Community Services District Team, served a property-related search warrant at the residence. During the service of the search warrant, approximately $40,000 in property belonging to the victim was located and recovered. Additionally, a firearm and methamphetamine were located inside a separate room in the residence.

David Wilson, a 66-year-old resident of Indio, was found to be in possession of stolen property and charges will be filed out of custody. Omar Rivera, a 44-year-old resident of Indio, was found to be a felon in possession of a firearm and methamphetamine. He was not located at the residence and charges will be filed out of custody.

Anyone with information about this investigation is urged to contact Deputy Martinez of the La Quinta Special Enforcement Team at 760-863-8990.

For media inquiries regarding this incident please contact the Media Information Bureau.

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File # MM232060003

Details:

On Thursday, July 27, 2023, Moreno Valley Sheriff Station Robbery/Burglary Suppression Team (RBST) responded to the 22300 block of Van Buren Boulevard for a report of an ongoing embezzlement scheme at a warehouse. The business reported an estimated loss of $350,000 in stolen merchandise from their warehouse involving two employees. The employees were identified as 50-year-old Francisco Chavez Cuica and 19-year-old Eduardo Chavez Diaz.

During the course of the investigation, RBST personnel discovered the stolen merchandise was being sold through online marketplaces. RBST personnel conducted a search warrant service of the suspects’ residence, located in the 9100 block of Rangpur Circle, in the city of Riverside. $78,818.41 in stolen merchandise belonging to the warehouse was located and seized from the residence. Cuica and Diaz were arrested and booked into county jail for felony embezzlement, burglary, and felony possession of stolen property.

This is an ongoing investigation. Many stolen items are still outstanding including “Levy” electric scooters and “Miko” toy robots. Anyone with additional information is encouraged to contact Deputy Sultan at the Moreno Valley Sheriff’s Station (951) 486-6700.

For media inquiries regarding this incident please contact the Media Information Bureau.

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File # Multiple

Details:

January of 2023, deputies from the Palm Desert Burglary Suppression Unit began an ongoing investigation related to several commercial, residential, and Desert X vehicle burglaries. During the investigation, deputies identified Steven Porter, a 39-year-old, resident of Cathedral City as a suspect related to the burglaries.

On April 19, 2023, deputies from the Palm Desert Burglary Suppression Unit, Business District Team, and special enforcement teams from Palm Desert and Rancho Mirage served several search warrants and recovered approximately $70,000 in stolen property. Porter was arrested and booked into custody at the John Benoit Detention Center.

This investigation is ongoing and anyone with information that may be related to the burglaries or Porter is encouraged to contact Deputy Fernandez at the Palm Desert Sheriff’s Station at 760-836-1600.

For media inquiries regarding this incident please contact the Media Information Bureau.

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The post Suspect Arrested in Commercial/Residential and Desert X Burglary Series appeared first on The Hemet & San Jacinto Chronicle.

Details:

On November 3, 2022, at 11:00 AM, deputies from the Lake Elsinore Station responded to a residence in the 21000 block of Camino Arriba in the area La Cresta, reference a residential burglary. The investigation revealed the homeowner returned to their vacant residence, which they were in the process of moving into, and discovered an unknown male subject inside. Upon arrival, deputies located and detained the male subject, identified as Alfredo Hernandez, a 43-year-old resident of Wildomar. During a search of the property, four firearms and ammunition were located that belonged to Hernandez.

At 7:00 PM, members of the Lake Elsinore Station’s Special Enforcement Team served a search warrant at a residence located in the 21000 block of Wild Stallion Lane in Wildomar. Four additional firearms were located, as well as ammunition. Hernandez was arrested and booked into the Cois Byrd Detention Center on charges of burglary, vandalism, convicted felon in possession of a firearm, convicted felon in possession of ammunition, committing a felony while on bail, and possession of a high capacity magazine.

This is an ongoing investigation. Anyone with additional information is encouraged to contact Deputy Crivello of the Lake Elsinore Sheriff’s Station at 951- 245–3300.

As a reminder, “Community Policing” involves partnerships between law enforcement and community members. Business owners and residents are encouraged to report criminal activity directly to law enforcement by calling Sheriff’s Dispatch at 951–776–1099 or by calling 911 if the matter is an emergency.

For media inquiries regarding this incident please contact the Media Information Bureau.

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