Alleged Serial Burglar Has Criminal History

A Palm Desert man suspected in a string of burglaries -- mostly restaurants -- has a criminal history in the Coachella Valley dating back to the mid-to-late 1990s, according to a Patch investigation.

Marc Allen Swyers, 46, of Palm Desert pleaded not guilty earlier this month to 17 counts of felony burglary stemming from a string of crimes that took place from June through September at 17 businesses during late-night and early morning hours, according to court records and sheriff’s officials.

Swyers was arrested on Oct. 4 at an apartment in the 74600 block of Shadow Hills Road in Palm Desert on suspicion of the burglaries, according to jail records.

This was not his first run-in with the law.

Swyers pleaded guilty in 1997 to a felony count of burglary and was sentenced to 60 months probation, according to eastern Riverside County court records.

He pleaded guilty to a felony count of receiving stolen property in 1994 and was sentenced to two years in state prison.

A year earlier, he pleaded guilty to a felony count of a felon in possession of a firearm and was sentenced to a year in state prison.

In his latest case, Swyers allegedly burglarized the following businesses:

• located in the 73100 block of Country Club Dr., Palm Desert.
• located in the 74000 block of Hwy. 111, Palm Desert.
• located in the 34500 block of Monterey Ave., Palm Desert.
• located in the 74000 block of Hwy. 111, Palm Desert.
• located in the 72300 block of Hwy. 111, Palm Desert.
• located in the 74600 block of Hwy. 111, Palm Desert.
• located in the 73100 block of Country Club Dr., Palm Desert.
• located in the 72700 block of Hwy. 111, Palm Desert.
• located in the 73100 block of Country Club Dr., Palm Desert.
• located in the 72300 block of Hwy. 111, Palm Desert.
• located in the 73000 block of Hwy. 111, Palm Desert.
• located in the 36900 block of Cook St., Palm Desert.
• located in the 74600 block of Hwy. 111, Palm Desert.
• Elephant Car Wash located in the 71400 block of Hwy. 111, Rancho Mirage.
• Lamps Plus located in the 71900 block of Hwy. 111, Rancho Mirage.
• Rancho Mirage Library located in the 71100 block of Hwy. 111, Rancho Mirage.

Swyers, who is being held in lieu of $55,000 bail at the Indio Jail, is due in court on Oct. 19 for a felony settlement conference.