Charges Filed Against Reputed Gang Members Accused in Thermal Carjacking

Charges Filed Against Reputed Gang Members Accused in Thermal Carjacking

by Contributing Editor

Felony charges were filed Tuesday against two reputed gang members accused in a Thermal carjacking.

David Luis Baker, 43, and Jose Luis Martinez, 26, were arrested Friday in connection with the Dec. 9 carjacking at 66250 Martinez Road in the unincorporated community of Thermal.

The La Quinta residents are both charged with one count of carjacking and a sentence-enhancing allegation of using a firearm during the commission of a felony. Baker is additionally charged with robbery.

They are scheduled to be arraigned Wednesday via video conference before a judge at the Banning Justice Center.

Both men are in custody in lieu of $250,000 bail, Baker at the Southwest Detention Center in Murrieta, and Martinez at the Blythe jail.

According to Riverside County sheriff’s Sgt. Mariano Matos III, the defendants were arrested during the execution of a search warrant in the 46000 block of Dune Palms Road in La Quinta.

Matos said the two are documented street gang members with felony convictions.

Baker’s convictions include assault with a gun and willful child cruelty, while Martinez’s include burglary and battery causing serious bodily injury.

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All credit goes to Contributing Editor
Originally published on https://mynewsla.com