Home Invasions At Golf Resort Near Diamond Valley Lake: Update

HEMET, CA — Two convicted felons accused of breaking into several homes surrounding a golf resort near Diamond Valley Lake, threatening and robbing the occupants, pleaded not guilty Tuesday to armed robbery and other offenses.

Andre David Ramon Johnson Jr., 32, of Hemet and Todd Anthony Thornton Jr., 27, of San Jacinto were arrested Thursday following a Hemet Police Department investigation.

In addition to the robbery count, each man is charged with burglary, making criminal threats, assault with a deadly weapon, false imprisonment and attempted burglary.

The pair were jointly arraigned Tuesday before Riverside County Superior Court Judge Joshlyn Pulliam, who scheduled a felony settlement conference for the defendants on Oct. 26 at the Banning Justice Center.

Both are being held without bail at the Robert Presley Jail in Riverside.

According to the Hemet Police Department, Johnson and Thornton engaged in a burglary spree on Oct. 9 centered in the Seven Hills Golf Resort, on the south side of the city, near Diamond Valley Lake.

Investigators said multiple properties were targeted, and the defendants allegedly threatened several victims with weapons, though no one was injured.

Patrol officers responding to 911 calls searched the area but were unable to locate the perpetrators, police said.

According to authorities, Thornton was caught in the act of trying to burglarize another property on Plumrose Street and was taken into custody without incident in the predawn hours Thursday.

Johnson was identified hours later as the second party allegedly involved in the break-ins and was arrested without a struggle by county Gang Impact Team investigators in Temecula.

According to court records, Johnson has prior convictions for spousal abuse, burglary and stalking. Thornton has priors for robbery and being a felon with a firearm.