A man accused of shooting a store clerk during one of eight robberies he allegedly committed throughout Cathedral City was ordered to stand trial Friday on attempted murder and robbery charges.
James Goodwin, 22, is charged with one count each of attempted murder, attempted robbery and evading arrest for a March 9, 2017 robbery at a Circle K convenience store in the 68000 block of Ramon Road during which he allegedly shot a store clerk.
He also faces 17 robbery counts for his suspected involvement in a string of robberies between January 2016 and March 2017.
Goodwin — who remains jailed on $1 million bail at Banning’s Larry D. Smith Correctional facility — is expected back in court April 12 for a post-preliminary hearing arraignment, court records show.
A declaration filed in support of an arrest warrant alleges Goodwin entered the Circle K store while wearing a ski mask and brandishing a .380 handgun. The clerk tried to escape out the back of the store, but Goodwin allegedly shot the man in a shoulder as he was running away, then forced him to open the cash register.
Prosecutors allege Goodwin robbed seven additional Cathedral City restaurants and convenience stores, taking money and items from the stores, as well as from customers present during the heists.
Along with the Circle K robbery, Goodwin is accused of robberies on:
— Jan. 6, 2016, at a Winchell’s Donut House;
— Jan. 12, 2016, at a Wienerschnitzel restaurant;
— Feb. 2, 2016, at an El Pollo Loco restaurant;
— Feb. 12, 2017, at a Circle K convenience store;
— Feb. 25, 2017, at a 7-Eleven convenience store;
— March 4, 2017, at a 7-Eleven convenience store; and
— March 12, 2017, at an El Pollo Loco restaurant.
Goodwin was arrested March 17, 2017 following a chase triggered when police conducted a parole search at his Cathedral City home. He fled out of the back of the house, over a wall and into a car, but was spotted a few hours later, still behind the wheel, according to Cathedral City police Sgt. Larry Sanfillippo.
Officers gave chase after Goodwin failed to pull over.
The pursuit led into unincorporated Desert Hot Springs, where he was taken into custody after the car broke down, Sanfillippo said.
Goodwin was a known commodity to Cathedral City police, who thought he may have matched the serial robbery suspect’s description, the declaration alleges.
A search of his bedroom yielded .380 caliber ammunition, clothing and footwear, including shoes similar to impressions found at the two of the robbery scenes, according to the declaration.
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