Grand Jury Finds Gang Connection In Jewelry Heist

Three men accused in a Palm Desert jewelry store robbery that triggered a 60-mile freeway chase pleaded not guilty today to robbery and other charges stemming from a grand jury indictment.

Compton residents Joshua Marquise Madison, 18, and Zaque Xavier Sykes, 28, along with Brandon Christian King, 21, of Los Angeles and 17-year-old Tajee Jehu of Compton are accused of committing the July 1 heist at Leed's & Son Fine Jewelers, 73-670 El Paseo.

The Riverside County District Attorney's Office filed charges against the foursome within two days of their arrests.

However, for reasons not immediately clear, the case was referred to the county grand jury for consideration, resulting in an indictment -- which supersedes the D.A.'s criminal complaint -- on Sept. 14.

The indictment only applies to the adults. Jehu's case is now separate, but all of the defendants are facing the same charges: three counts of robbery and one count each of burglary, evading arrest and criminal street gang activity, along with gang-related sentence-enhancing allegations.

King, Madison and Sykes appeared today before Superior Court Judge Victoria Cameron, who set a trial-readiness conference in their case for Nov. 14.

A preliminary hearing is slated for the teenager on the same day.

Jehu and Madison are alleged members of the Southside Compton Crips, according to court documents.

Madison and King are being held in lieu of $100,000 bail in county jail, while Sykes is being held in lieu of $130,000. Jehu is being held at Indio Juvenile Hall, but his bail information wasn't immediately available.

The four are accused of holding up at 73670 El Paseo on July 1.

According to investigators, one of the robbers brandished a replica handgun during the heist.

As the suspects made their getaway, their red sedan was spotted by a sheriff's K9 deputy who attempted to make a traffic stop, said sheriff's Sgt. David Florez.

He said the driver sped onto westbound Interstate 10 as the occupants threw items from the vehicle and patrol units followed. The chase transitioned to the Moreno Valley (60) Freeway.

The suspects finally stopped in Moreno Valley and ran off on foot but didn't get far before being apprehended by deputies and California Highway Patrol officers, according to Florez.

One suspect became combative while being detained, but no one was injured, the sergeant said. An extensive search along the route of the chase resulted in the recovery of "most, if not all, of the stolen property, and the simulated weapon used to commit the robbery,'' Florez said.

City News Service contributed to this report.