After a judge found insufficient evidence to hold a 32-year-old man to answer on four felony burglary counts two weeks ago, amended misdemeanor counts were dismissed Thursday during his pre-trial conference.
The burglary charges against Juan Daniel Rodriguez were discharged during a preliminary hearing July 10 at the Larson Justice Center in Indio. The Riverside County District Attorney’s Office orally amended the complaint, adding four misdemeanor counts of vandalism and three misdemeanor counts of trespassing at the conclusion of the hearing, according to spokesman John Hall.
A sentence-enhancing allegation for previously serving jail time was stricken on July 10 as well. The misdemeanor charges were stricken as a notice of bail bond exoneration was filed Thursday, according to court records.
Around 7 p.m. on Aug. 8, 2022, the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department’s Rancho Mirage Special Enforcement Team investigated a report of four burglaries, all in the city, that occurred on July 13, 2022, authorities said.
Rodriguez was alleged to have committed each burglary by kicking in a door to gain entry into the residences. According to inmate records, he was arrested July 27, 2022 in Cathedral City on a separate suspicion of violating parole.
Sheriff’s officials said he confessed to the four burglaries when members of the RMSET interviewed Rodriguez.
Court records indicate that Rodriguez was convicted in April 2011 of felony charges for robbery and assault with a gun.