Two Desert Hot Springs men have been named in connection to a home invasion robbery that happened earlier this month, police announced Friday.
Police suspect that Elijah Edney, 18, and Kevin Avila, 18, robbed two women inside their Desert Hot Springs home on November 1. They had knocked on the house's door and pointed what's described as a "large semi-automatic handgun" at the women when they answered, according to a Desert Hot Springs Police Department press release.
The two men are suspected of then rummaging through the residence and stealing a laptop computer and a jar of (50) U.S. Dollar coins before fleeing, police said.
Detectives say they found evidence a few days later that linked both 18-year-olds to the home invasion robbery at their homes.
Avila allegedly had the stolen laptop on his bed, along with a pound of marijuana and a loaded handgun, and four baggies of marijuana in his Chevy Camaro, police said. He was arrested for possessing stolen property, sales of marijuana, and possessing a handgun with serial numbers removed.
Both men were arrested Nov. 11.
Edney pleaded not guilty Monday to a robbery charge and is set to appear in court on Nov. 30 for a felony settlement conference. He is being held at the Larry D. Smith Correctional Facility in Banning in lieu of $100,000. Avila is free on $5,000 bail and is set to be arraigned Dec. 10.
