A 21-year-old parolee accused of breaking into nearly a dozen businesses in Lake Elsinore, Temecula and Wildomar was charged Monday with multiple counts of felony burglary.
K-John Henry Sands of Compton was arrested Thursday and booked into the Byrd Detention Center in Murrieta following a Riverside County Sheriff’s Department investigation.
Along with 11 counts of burglary, Sands is charged with being a prior strike felon who committed crimes while on parole.
He’s being held without bail and is slated to make his initial court appearance Monday afternoon at the Southwest Justice Center.
According to sheriff’s Sgt. Jeff Reese, Sands allegedly burglarized eateries during the overnight hours between Feb. 14 and 16.
The value and type of property taken during the alleged break-ins were not disclosed.
The criminal complaint filed against the defendant alleges that he broke into Alberto’s Mexican Food in Lake Elsinore, Bushfire Grill in Temecula, a Chipotle in Lake Elsinore, the Earth Bistro in Temecula, Los Reyes Bar & Grill in Wildomar, a Panda Express in Lake Elsinore, Ryu Sushi in Temecula, Stadium Pizza in Temecula, Tacos Tijuana in Wildomar, Tuscany Grill in Wildomar and a building on Winchester Road in Temecula.
Reese said that the sheriff’s Special Enforcement Team handled the ensuing investigation and ultimately identified Sands as the alleged perpetrator, though no other details were provided.
The convicted felon was tracked down on Compton Boulevard near his home and taken into custody without incident, according to the sergeant.
According to court records, Sands has prior convictions for armed robbery and attempted armed robbery.