RivCo Clown Mask-Wearing Felon Who Robbed Riverside Stores Sentenced

RIVERSIDE, CA — A probationer who robbed several Riverside convenience stores and tried to shoot someone during one of the holdups was sentenced Friday to 30 years, eight months in state prison.

Jesse James Swanson, 24, of Riverside pleaded guilty last month to attempted murder, making criminal threats, three counts of armed robbery and a sentence-enhancing gun use allegation under a plea agreement with the Riverside County District. Attorney's Office. In exchange for Swanson's admissions, prosecutors dropped several related sentence enhancements against him.

During a hearing at the Riverside Hall of Justice Friday, Superior Court Judge Helios Hernandez certified the terms of the plea deal and imposed the sentence stipulated by the prosecution and defense.

According to the Riverside Police Department, Swanson targeted the Circle K in the 1600 block of Main Street twice — in the predawn hours of Aug. 26, 2023, and again on Sept. 2, 2023 — and he robbed the 7-11 in the 1100 block of West La Cadena Drive in the predawn hours of Sept. 7, 2023.

Agency spokesman Officer Ryan Railsback said Swanson wore a clown mask and used a pistol in each robbery.

The defendant fired the semiautomatic handgun at a person during one of the hold-ups, but it was unclear from court documents whether the victim was a clerk or customer. No one was injured.

Detectives ultimately identified Swanson as the bandit, and he was taken into custody without incident in December 2023.

His alleged getaway driver during one of the robberies was identified by police as 57-year-old Daniel William Clark, who was arrested in November 2023 on suspicion of conspiracy to commit a felony. However, Clark was never charged in connection with the case.

Court documents show Swanson had prior felony convictions for receiving stolen goods, attempted grand theft auto and resisting arrest.

—City News Service