Man and woman accused of Palm Desert jewelry store robbery enter pleas of not guilty

A man and woman, along with two juveniles, who are suspected of robbing a jewelry store at the Palm Desert mall, pleaded not guilty to a felony charge of robbery. Mason Tyler Barron, 21, from Hemet, and Cleopatra Tredai Jones, 25, from Los Angeles, entered their pleas at the Larson Justice Center in Indio.

According to Sgt. Daniel Milbrandt of the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department, deputies responded to a report of an assault with a deadly weapon at the 72-800 block of Highway 111 around 5:15 p.m. on Tuesday. “Deputies arrived and discovered that a jewelry store at the location had been robbed by four suspects using sledgehammers and glass-breaking tools,” Milbrandt stated. “Witnesses saw the suspects flee in a red sedan, and deputies quickly located the speeding vehicle heading northbound on Monterey Avenue.”

Milbrandt reported that the suspects were apprehended after their sedan collided with another vehicle. The suspects then allegedly fled on foot in the area of Monterey Avenue and Dinah Shore Drive, where Jones, Barron, and the two juveniles were arrested.

Barron is currently held without bail at the John J. Benoit Detention Center, as stated by inmate records. Jones, on the other hand, is held at the Larry D. Smith Correctional Facility on $250,000 bail. The juveniles have been booked into Juvenile Hall.

In terms of prior convictions, Barron has one prior conviction of grand theft over $950 in Riverside County, while Jones has no prior felony convictions. Investigators are now examining if the suspects may be linked to other robberies in Riverside and Orange counties. Anyone with relevant information is urged to contact Investigator Roman Lugo of the Palm Desert sheriff’s station at 760-836-1600.