Murrieta Jury Sentences 3-Strike Felon to 52 Years to Life

By City News Service

A three-strike felon who held up a Hemet-area convenience store, robbing a clerk and customer before stealing the latter’s car at gunpoint, was sentenced today to 52 years to life in prison.

James Henry Alkema, 35, of Hemet was found guilty by a Murrieta jury in January of robbery, carjacking, being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm, reckless driving and multiple sentence-enhancing gun use allegations.

Riverside County Superior Court Judge John Davis imposed the sentence required by law, taking into account Alkema’s criminal record, including two prior violent felony convictions.

According to sheriff’s investigators, in the predawn hours of Aug. 11, 2013, Alkema walked into a store in the 33400 block of state Route 74, in a community on the southern approach to Hemet known as Green Acres, brandished a handgun and ordered the clerk to empty the cash register.

After collecting the money, Alkema turned to a female customer, leveled his gun at her and demanded that she hand over her car keys, which she did, said sheriff’s Sgt. Wally Clear.

The heavily tattooed defendant fled the location in the woman’s vehicle, driving to the nearby city of Perris and abandoning the car, Clear said.

Relying on surveillance video from the store, detectives were able to confirm the gunman’s identity the following day, according to Clear.

When deputies went to Alkema’s home -- only a few miles from where the robbery occurred -- they found the parolee hiding behind a shed, where he was taken into custody without incident.

According to court records, Alkema has convictions from 2004 for assault with a deadly weapon on a peace officer and assault resulting in great bodily injury.