SAN DIEGO (CNS) - A woman and three men accused of committing three armed robberies in different parts of San Diego County in less than 24 hours must stand trial on robbery charges, a judge ruled Thursday.
Marquise Bowser Ford, 21, Marquis Dontriel Brooks, 20, Tommy Jacquett, 32, and Jeremiah Caleb Jimerson, 19, were arrested the morning of Dec. 28, shortly after the final holdup in the brief crime spree, according to San Diego police.
Bowser and Brooks are each charged with three counts of robbery. Jimerson faces two robbery counts and Jacquett is charged with one count.
Authorities testified during a daylong preliminary hearing that Jimerson was the gunman in two of the robberies and Ford in the other.
Brooks was the driver in two of the holdups, according to Deputy District Attorney Melissa Vasel.
Police testified that the suspects, wearing bandanas over their faces and armed with a pistol, entered the targeted businesses three at a time and stole cash, cigarettes and personal property from employees.
The heists occurred at a Postal Annex outlet in the 6000 block of Business Center Court about 11:15 a.m. on Dec. 27; at a Circle K mini-mart in the 17000 block of West Bernardo Drive about 4:45 a.m. on Dec. 28; and at a 7-Eleven store in the 8200 block of Gold Coast Drive, just under an hour after the second holdup.
During the third crime, the thief carrying the pistol hit a clerk in the head with the weapon when the victim was unable to open a cash register, police said.
A patrol officer responding to the 7-Eleven robbery found the suspects a short distance from the store, sitting in a parked car at the Mira Mesa open-space preserve next to Miramar College.
They allegedly had items stolen during all three crimes in their possession. A loaded gun was also found in the car, Vasel said.
A fourth man who was with the alleged bandits at the time of their arrests was detained, then released after questioning.
If convicted, Jimerson faces up to 27 years in prison; Ford would face up to 17 years; and Brooks would face up to 10 years; the prosecutor said.
Jacquett, who was on parole for a 2008 robbery in Riverside County, faces up to seven years behind bars if convicted, according to Vasel.
Judge Charles Rogers ordered all defendants back to court Feb. 9 for arraignment in Superior Court.
Trial ordered for four accused in San Diego County robbery spree after Christmas
