An April 25 trial date was confirmed Wednesday for a Hemet man accused of robbing multiple fast food restaurants in Hemet and San Jacinto.
Melvin Raymond Means, 30, was arrested in August 2015 after he allegedly fled to Las Vegas to elude Riverside County sheriff’s investigators.
Means is charged with six counts of armed robbery, two counts each of attempted robbery and kidnapping to commit robbery, as well as sentence-enhancing allegations of using a firearm in the commission of a felony.
During a status hearing Wednesday at the Southwest Justice Center in Murrieta, Riverside County Superior Court Judge John Monterosso was informed by the prosecution and defense that they would be prepared to move forward with trial proceedings at the end of the month, prompting him to designate April 25 for pretrial motions and the likely start of jury selection.
Means is being held in lieu of $3.3 million at the Byrd Detention Center in Murrieta.
According to court documents, Means committed his first alleged robbery in September 2014 and his last one in January 2015.
Sheriff’s Sgt. Robert Duckett alleged that Means targeted fast food franchises in East Hemet, Hemet and San Jacinto. At least a half-dozen locations were robbed.
Means confronted male and female employees at each location, allegedly brandishing a handgun and demanding all cash on hand, investigators said.
In a few instances, he allegedly held his pistol on the victims while grabbing the money himself, behind the counter, according to court documents.
None of the victims were injured.
Duckett said that detectives relied on security surveillance videotape, fingerprint evidence and eyewitness descriptions to ultimately identify Means as the alleged perpetrator.
In early January 2015, the bandit allegedly held up a Del Taco at 41871 Florida Ave. in East Hemet, and a 911 call went out while the robbery was in progress, according to Duckett.
He alleged a deputy encountered Means a short distance from the eatery and tried to detain him, firing a shot when the defendant motioned with his gun.
Means fled on foot, successfully evading deputies, Duckett said. No one was injured.
Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department officers arrested Means seven months later after he wandered naked down a street, waving a pistol in the air, according to Duckett.
Court records show that Means has prior misdemeanor convictions for presenting false identification to a peace officer and possession of illegal drugs.