A convicted felon accused of robbing two Riverside convenience stores and trying to shoot someone during one of the holdups pleaded not guilty Monday to more than a half-dozen felony charges.
Jesse James Swanson, 23, of Riverside was arrested last week following a Riverside Police Department investigation that began in August.
Swanson is charged with attempted murder, firearm assault, three counts of robbery and two counts of making criminal threats, with sentence- enhancing gun use allegations.
He was arraigned Monday before Riverside County Superior Court Judge Emma Smith, who scheduled a felony settlement conference for Dec. 28 at the Riverside Hall of Justice.
Swanson is being held in lieu of $1 million bail at the Byrd Detention Center in Murrieta.
According to the Riverside Police Department, the probationer allegedly targeted the Circle K in the 1600 block of Main Street twice -- in the predawn hours of Aug. 26 and again on Sept. 2 -- and he allegedly robbed the 7-11 in the 1100 block of West La Cadena Drive in the predawn hours of Sept. 7.
Police spokesman Officer Ryan Railsback alleged that Swanson wore a clown mask and used a pistol in each robbery.
The defendant allegedly fired the semiautomatic handgun at a person during one of the hold-ups, but it was unclear from court documents whether the victim was a clerk or customer. No one was injured.
Detectives ultimately identified Swanson as the alleged bandit, and he was taken into custody without incident Wednesday on Jurupa Avenue.
His alleged getaway driver during one of the robberies, 56-year-old Daniel William Clark of Riverside, was arrested in November for alleged conspiracy to commit a felony. But Clark has not been charged in connection with the case and was released from the downtown Riverside jail last week on his own recognizance.
Court documents show Swanson has prior convictions for receiving stolen goods, attempted grand theft auto and resisting arrest.
No information was available on Clark.
Follow KNX News 97.1 FM
Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | TikTok