Felon, GF Suspected Of Using Minors To Steal From Elsinore Stores

MORENO VALLEY, CA — Felony charges are expected to be filed Tuesday against a probationer and his girlfriend, who allegedly used their underage family members to perpetrate numerous thefts at stores in Moreno Valley, Lake Elsinore and other locations.

Darrell Lynne Campbell, 32, and Jeammie Ann Preston, 31, both of Moreno Valley, were arrested last week on suspicion of robbery, grand theft, conspiracy and child endangerment following a Riverside County sheriff's investigation that began over a year ago.

Campbell is being held in lieu of $245,000 bail at the Smith Correctional Facility in Banning, while Preston is in custody in lieu of $210,000 bail.

According to sheriff's Sgt. Jeremy Harding, the pair are accused of orchestrating multiple thefts last month at businesses throughout Moreno Valley.

Harding alleged that the suspects sent juvenile relatives, who were not identified, into retail outlets to snatch "specific merchandise" from shelves and run out to a getaway vehicle driven by Preston.

Campbell is suspected of positioning himself in the parking lot of each store and threatening "loss prevention officers with a knife" if they attempted to chase after the minors stealing the goods, Harding said.

The investigation determined that the couple allegedly orchestrated similar thefts dating back to October 2017 in Menifee, Eastvale, Riverside, Lake Elsinore, Glendora and San Bernardino, the sergeant said.

Sheriff's detectives coordinated with personnel from other police agencies to amass evidence that culminated in arrest warrants for both suspects, who were taken into custody without a struggle last Thursday at a residence on Alessandro Boulevard, Harding said.

Three children were removed from the home and placed under the supervision of county Child Protective Services agents, he said.

According to court records, Campbell has a prior conviction for robbery. Preston has no documented prior felony convictions in Riverside County.

— By City News Service / Image via Shutterstock