A judge ruled on Wednesday that a felon suspected of being involved in a residential break-in in Desert Hot Springs, where his accomplice was fatally shot by a homeowner, must stand trial for murder.
Nathan Michael Alger, a 22-year-old resident of Desert Hot Springs, is facing charges of murder, attempted murder, burglary, assault with a gun, and shooting at a dwelling. He is also facing sentence-enhancing firearm allegations.
Alger has been charged with murder under the state’s felony murder rule, which holds surviving conspirators responsible when an accomplice is killed during the commission of a felony.
After a preliminary hearing at the Larson Justice Center in Indio, Riverside County Superior Court Judge Dean Benjamini determined that there was enough evidence to proceed to trial on all charges and sentence-enhancing allegations.
An arraignment is scheduled for June 28, following the preliminary hearing.
Alger was arrested on November 19, 2020, a day after he and another individual allegedly carried out the home invasion in the 13700 block of Hacienda Heights Drive. At least one of them was armed during the incident.
Desert Hot Springs Police Department Chief Steven Shaw stated that officers were dispatched to the home around 10:40 p.m. on November 18, 2020, in response to a reported shooting. The victim, only identified as “Presley B.” in court documents, was found with at least one gunshot wound and was pronounced dead at the scene.
It is alleged that the home invasion escalated into a fatality when a resident inside the home fired at the intruders, resulting in the death of Alger’s accomplice. Alger fled the scene and was apprehended the following day in Palm Springs.
The homeowner who shot the suspected intruder will not be charged.
Court records indicate that Alger has a prior felony conviction for burglary.
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