La Quinta Retail Theft Suspects Tied To Lake Elsinore, Wildomar Heists

LA QUINTA, CA — A Fontana man suspected in a retail theft at a La Quinta Ulta cosmetics store, from which $2,300 of merchandise was stolen, pleaded not guilty Tuesday to a felony charge.

Derrick Yanders of Fontana, 18, was charged with one felony count of grand theft over $950. Moreno Valley resident Khamyra Smith, 19, and Chynae Welch, 18, of Eastvale, were also named in the robbery, court records show.

Yanders pleaded not guilty to the charge Tuesday morning at the Larson Justice Center in Indio. According to inmate records, he was released on a $10,000 bail bond. Smith and Welch were released on their own recognizance on the day of their arraignment.

His next court appearance was set for Apr. 30.

On Dec. 15, 2023, Smith pleaded not guilty while Welch pleaded guilty and was immediately sentenced to two years of formal probation, according to court records.

Deputies from the Thermal sheriff's station responded at 4:10 p.m. Dec. 13, 2023, to a tip from the Palm Desert Special Enforcement Team about a car that was associated with organized retail theft in Palm Desert, Wildomar and Lake Elsinore, according to Sgt—Mark Chlarson of the Riverside County Sheriff's Department.

Deputies responded to the 78700 block of Highway 111 in La Quinta and, with assistance from the Indian Wells and Palm Desert Enforcement Teams, found the vehicle in the parking lot of a shopping center, according to Chlarson.

"They detained the subjects after they exited a store," Chlarson said in a released statement. "The investigation found the subjects removed $2300 of merchandise from a business and made no attempts to pay for the merchandise."

In a news release, Deputy Sheriff M. Franks stated that the three suspects were "caught with three bags of cosmetics. They were seen, on video, taking the items without paying." He added that Welch's vehicle had "two more bags of Ulta cosmetics from a different store."

Anyone with additional information on the thefts was asked to call Deputy B. Martinez with the Thermal Sheriff station's La Quinta Special Enforcement Team at 760-863-8990 or Valley Crimestoppers anonymously at 760-341- 7867 (STOP).