Man Pleads Guilty, Sentenced For Coachella Valley Burglaries, Auto Thefts

PALM DESERT, CA --- A Studio City man who broke into homes at country clubs in Indian Wells, Rancho Mirage and Palm Desert to steal luxury automobiles, golf clubs and other personal property pleaded guilty today to burglary and auto theft charges and was sentenced to a year in county jail.

Earnie Steven Hooks, 41, entered his plea to two counts of auto theft and four counts of burglary during his scheduled trial-readiness conference today in Indio.

Hooks was sentenced to one year in county jail, plus two years of mandatory supervised parole upon his release. The terms of his parole also included paying more than $37,000 in restitution to 16 theft victims.

Hooks originally was charged with 31 counts of burglary, 10 counts of auto theft, and two counts of grand theft, but several of those charges were dismissed at a March preliminary hearing. A judge ruled that Hooks had to stand trial for 21 counts of burglary, seven counts of auto theft, and one count of grand theft, many of which were also dismissed today in return for a guilty plea.

Hooks was tied to numerous thefts and break-ins that occurred in the months of November and December 2015.

In mid-November, Riverside County sheriff's deputies began investigating a rash of residential robberies where a prowler entered garages of homes at various Coachella Valley country clubs and stole vehicles and property, sheriff's Sgt. Aaron Eller said.

Some of the stolen luxury vehicles were recovered at a Los Angeles-area chop shop, the sergeant said.

Investigators arrested Hooks at a hotel in Rancho Mirage, according to Eller, who said authorities found evidence linking him to the burglaries and auto thefts.

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--City News Service