A convicted felon who broke into vehicles to steal credit cards that he later used to make purchases in Temecula and Wildomar pleaded guilty Wednesday to burglary and identity theft.

Jeremy Lloyd Foster, 35, of Wildomar was arrested in early May following a Riverside County sheriff’s investigation triggered when he tried to buy goods with a stolen charge card at the Pechanga Resort & Casino.

During a status hearing at the Southwest Justice Center in Murrieta, Foster admitted the felony charges as part of a plea agreement with the District Attorney’s Office. In exchange for his admissions, prosecutors dropped two related identity theft counts against him.

Superior Court Judge Mark Mandio scheduled a sentencing hearing for Aug. 17.

Foster is being held without bail at the Southwest Detention Center.

According to sheriff’s Sgt. Jon Wade, on the morning of May 8, deputies were sent to the casino to investigate reports that the defendant was attempting to fraudulently use a credit card.

When deputies approached Foster, he “initially refused directions (to submit to a search) and appeared to destroy evidence,” Wade said.

After Foster was detained, deputies discovered stolen identity cards in his pockets, Wade said, prompting them to check his car, where “a spring- loaded window punch commonly used to break into vehicles, a Taser and drug paraphernalia” were seized.

“In addition, Foster was in possession of multiple women’s purses and other items which appeared to be stolen property,” Wade said.

Further investigation revealed that Foster had visited several merchants the previous day and had made various purchases using stolen  cards that he’d swiped during recent vehicle break-ins, according to Wade.

Court records showed that Foster has prior convictions for identity theft and burglary.

–City News Service

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