Two men who perpetrated a series of robberies targeting fruit vendors in Riverside and neighboring communities both pleaded guilty Tuesday to multiple counts of armed robbery and other offenses.
Edgar Menchaca Martinez, 32, and Arturo Romero, 28, both of Perris, admitted 11 counts each of armed robbery and assault with a firearm, for a total of 22 felony charges.
The defendants made their pleas directly to Riverside County Superior Court Judge Gary Polk at the outset of a preliminary hearing scheduled at the Riverside Hall of Justice Tuesday.
Polk set a joint sentencing hearing for July 25. No prospective terms of imprisonment were disclosed.
Each man is being held without bail — Martinez at the Smith Correctional Facility in Banning, and Romero at the Byrd Detention Center in Murrieta.
According to Riverside police, the robbery series began during the second week of November 2023, when the pair held up a fruit stand in the 2100 block of Myers Street.
They targeted another vendor in the 2100 block of Van Buren Boulevard four separate times — Nov. 18, Nov. 23, Dec. 18 and Jan. 11 — Officer Ryan Railsback said.
Court papers indicated vendors were also held up around Lake Mathews and near Perris. The victims were identified in documents as “Joel G,” “Garcia Fruit” and “La Michoacana.”
No injuries were reported in connection with the robbery series.
Railsback said that as detectives were investigating the holdups, they learned similar ones had occurred in the sheriff’s jurisdiction, and that the same two men were responsible for all of the robberies.
The ensuing joint police-sheriff’s investigation culminated in search warrants being executed last Jan. 18 at properties on McAllister Street, just north of Lake Mathews, and Penasco Grande Street in Perris.
“As a result, evidence was located linking both suspects to the robberies, and Martinez and Romero were arrested,” Railsback said.
Court records show Martinez has prior convictions for vandalism, driving under the influence of drugs and violating a domestic violence restraining order. Romero has priors for drunken driving, being an unlicensed operator of a motor vehicle and driving on a revoked license.