Parolee Sought In Temecula, Lake Elsinore, Wildomar Break-Ins: Sheriff

SOUTHWEST RIVERSIDE COUNTY, CA — A 22-year-old parolee accused of breaking into nearly a dozen businesses in Lake Elsinore, Temecula and Wildomar was at large Tuesday, his whereabouts unknown and a warrant pending for his arrest, authorities said.

K'John Henry Sands of Compton was taken into custody in March following a Riverside County Sheriff's Department investigation.

Sands was released from the Byrd Detention Center in Murrieta on a $160,000 bond soon afterward, and he has had several hearings scheduled since then at the Southwest Justice Center, but he has been a no-show at each one, according to court records.

In May, Superior Court Judge F. Paul Dickerson signed a $320,000 bench warrant for the his arrest. Following a status hearing Monday, Dickerson reaffirmed the warrant.

Sands was charged with 11 counts of burglary and sentence-enhancing allegations of being a prior strike felon who committed crimes while on parole.

According to sheriff's Sgt. Jeff Reese, Sands burglarized eateries during the overnight hours between Feb. 14 and Feb. 16.

The value and type of property taken during the alleged break-ins weren't disclosed.

Court papers alleged the defendant 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 an unnamed establishment on Winchester Road in Temecula.

Reese said the sheriff's Special Enforcement Team handled the ensuing investigation and ultimately identified Sands, though no other details were provided.

The convicted felon was tracked down on Compton Boulevard near his home and taken into custody without incident on March 10, according to Reese.

Court records showed that Sands has prior convictions for armed robbery and attempted armed robbery.