A teen accused in two Coachella robberies and a stolen vehicle failed to appear in court Thursday and had a warrant issued for his arrest.
Fabian Heredia Mondragon, 18, of Indio was arrested on Sept. 8, 2022 with Jason Anthony Orosco, 18, of Riverside, and a 14-year-old juvenile in connection with a pair of robberies in Coachella, Sgt. Edward Soto of the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department told City News Service.
Orosco and Mondragon are each charged with three felony counts of robbery and sentence-enhancing allegations of being armed and causing bodily harm, according to court records.
Orosco pleaded guilty Sept. 21, 2022 to one count of robbery and a sentence-enhancing allegation that he used a firearm in the commission of the crime was found true, according to court records. The other two robbery counts were dismissed subsequent to his plea and he was immediately sentenced to five years in prison, according to John Hall with the Riverside County District Attorney’s office.
The same day, Mondragon was released from jail on his own recognizance but on Thursday, he failed to appear in court for a felony settlement conference and had a warrant issued for his arrest, according to court records.
On Sept. 8, 2022 at about 6:30 a.m., deputies from the Thermal sheriff’s station responded to a location near Avenue 52 and Calle Camacho in Coachella on a report of an armed robbery in which the driver of a burgundy-colored sedan allegedly stole property from a victim after driving up to him and pointing a firearm, Soto said. Approximately one hour later, a second robbery was reported near Frederick Street and 50th Avenue.
Ben Guitron of the Indio Police Department told CNS that shortly after 7:50 a.m., officers from the Indio Police Department responded to a report of a traffic collision near Avenue 48 and Arabia Street.
The vehicle hit a red Honda Civic and the three occupants ran away from the scene, prompting a search by officers, Guitron said. The suspect vehicle was stolen from outside of the Coachella Valley and connected to the active robbery investigation by the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department.
Mondragon, Orosco and the 14-year-old were arrested within 45 minutes and Soto said the victims’ property was allegedly found in their possession.